Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
Inspired by her parents’ hard work and sacrifice, South Texas College graduate Nallely Gonzalez has always strived to make the most out of opportunities in life; so, with an associate and a bachelor’s degree in biology, she returned to STC for an associate degree in what she calls her true calling – Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
She is one of 13 students who recently graduated from the program and was awarded for her academic achievements after scoring the highest-grade point average of the class.
“Sonographers, we’re often called ‘the doctor’s eye,’ it’s our responsibility to do a good job and recognize when something’s abnormal. We must be knowledgeable in anatomy and all kinds of pathologies to correctly assist and scan for what’s needed,” she explained. “This is my third college graduation and it feels very different because I’m certain this is what I was meant to do all along.”
Gonzalez’s parents migrated from Nuevo Leon, Mexico to Orlando, Florida, before she was born, seeking a better life, in what she calls an act of love and sacrifice.
“My two sisters and I have always been dedicated students cause we’re appreciative of our parents’ hard work; they moved to Florida with nothing,” she said. “I remember seeing them packing oranges every single day, which has always motivated me to work for the best future I can achieve.”
The 23-year-old recalls growing up in a community where she had to face discrimination and hardship due to cultural differences. Due to her parents’ work, she moved to McAllen when she was 10 years old, finding a real home in the Rio Grande Valley.
“As a child I didn’t have any friends, I remember being ridiculed for speaking Spanish, which is my first language. We also lived in a sketchy neighborhood; we survived scary experiences like having people trespass into our house, it was traumatizing,” she shared. “Moving to McAllen and realizing I was finally allowed to embrace my culture was shocking, it felt like I was finally home.”
Gonzalez graduated Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) Memorial Early College High School in 2018 with an Associate of Science in Biology, thanks to STC’s Dual Credit program and was recognized as one of the top students of her class.
Two years later, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, but said she still felt like something was missing.
“I have always been interested in math and science so I pursued biology since high school, but it just wasn’t the right fit,” she said. “I decided to return to STC because I wanted a career in the medical field and the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program just called to me. It was one of the best decisions of my life.”
Gonzalez is grateful for the program’s curriculum where students are assigned to train with experienced sonographers from the very first semester.
“Many people believe sonographers work only with pregnant patients, but there’s so much more to this career; we scan for cancerous tumors or thyroid problems, we also look at arteries and veins, it’s fascinating,” she said. “On campus students practice on each other. We look at our organs and see our differences. Not everyone looks the same, it depends on what we eat and how we treat our body.”
Through her clinical rotations in various medical facilities, Gonzalez found a pathway in breast ultrasound, which she describes as her strongest scanning procedure.
“We look for any cyst or cancer pathology, we look at everything. As sonographers, we really need to know the backbone to everything, what’s considered normal or abnormal and how to efficiently measure a scan,” she explained. “I started this program thinking I would end up in obstetrics, but breast cancer detection is my strongest suit.”
Due to her outstanding skills, Gonzalez already has a job lined up at Mission Regional Medical Center, her last clinical site before graduating.
“At STC, we practice on all kinds and brands of scanning machines, which I have found to be helpful as I visit different clinical sites,” she said. “I’ve been able to gain something from every instructor and technician I have met, and I apply what’s best for what I am doing. STC has definitely helped prepare us for the real world.”
In the future, Gonzalez also wants to explore the world of radiology. “For now, I want to settle down and get more experience,” she said. “I see myself as a radiologist in the future, I just want to scan everything. I’m just so inspired by my instructor to keep learning about this wonderful field.”
For more information about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or other programs offered at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health campus, visit nah.southtexascollege.edu/ or call 956-872-3100.
