Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
McALLEN, Texas – Nearly a decade after launching her career in health information, South Texas College faculty member Beatriz Martinez-Leal has come full circle, drawing on years of industry experience to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals.
As she marks her first year as a full-time instructor at STC, Martinez-Leal has reached another milestone, earning her Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credential through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
“I loved this profession so much that I wanted to come back and teach it,” Martinez-Leal said. “Health information technology (HIT) professionals often work behind the scenes, managing patient records, medical coding, privacy and other essential healthcare operations. Our work helps ensure patient information is accurate and secure and that healthcare services run smoothly.”
For the 31-year-old Harlingen native, that journey began in high school, when a dual enrollment medical terminology course introduced her to the profession and an instructor who would become a longtime mentor.
“She helped me discover what I wanted to do with my future,” Martinez-Leal said. “After that class, I never questioned whether I should pursue something else because I knew health information was the path for me. She’s been my mentor ever since, and I hope to have that same impact on my students.”
After graduating from high school in 2013, Martinez-Leal pursued an associate degree in HIT, beginning with medical transcription, a field transformed by advances in digital documentation, speech recognition and artificial intelligence, requiring professionals to adapt to changing technology.
In 2016, Martinez-Leal spent her spring break preparing for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exam, becoming the first in her class to pass it before graduating with her associate degree.
Eager to help support her parents, she began her career handling medical records requests for McAllen Medical Center and Edinburg Regional Medical Center. She later transitioned into remote medical coding before joining the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System, where she advanced from medical coder to coding auditor.
Throughout her career, Martinez-Leal continued her education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Medical and Health Services Management from STC in 2020 and a master’s degree in Health Information Management from Texas State University in 2023.
“My dad always told me, ‘You need to continue learning, no matter what. Don’t stop,’” she recalled. “Those words have stayed with me through every stage of my career. They’re a constant reminder to keep pushing myself, embrace new opportunities and never stop growing.”
After completing her master’s degree, Martinez-Leal began teaching evening medical coding classes part time at STC while continuing her work at the VA healthcare center. She balanced both positions for about a year before joining the college as a full-time faculty member in fall 2025.
Now a full-time instructor and HIT clinical program coordinator, Martinez-Leal draws on her industry experience to prepare students for careers in healthcare, a responsibility that inspired her to further strengthen her own expertise.
Although she had worked in medical coding for years, Martinez-Leal decided to pursue the CCS credential, an advanced certification recognizing expertise in medical coding, to further validate the skills she teaches her students. After studying for about a month, she passed the exam just before the fall semester began, adding to her existing RHIT and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credentials.
“I knew teaching was where I wanted to be, and earning this certification was an opportunity to challenge myself and grow,” she said. “I’m grateful to STC for giving me the flexibility and support to continue advancing professionally. It’s an environment where I’m encouraged to keep learning, just as I encourage my students to do the same.”
Her achievement has also earned recognition from her colleagues, including STC HIT Program Coordinator Rosa Solis, who has witnessed her dedication to teaching and professional development.
“Ms. Martinez-Leal’s recent CCS certification and dedication to her students reflect her commitment to professional growth,” Solis said. “She doesn’t just teach professionalism and lifelong learning; she models them for our students every day.”
As she looks ahead, Martinez-Leal hopes to continue advocating for a profession that often goes unrecognized while making a lasting difference in the lives of her students.
“I was on the receiving end of incredible mentorship, and now I want to be the one giving it,” she said. “I hope to spend many years providing students with the same guidance, encouragement and opportunities that I was fortunate enough to receive.”
