Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
With eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps and nearly a decade battling fires and saving lives as a paramedic and firefighter, South Texas College graduate Pablo Valle has dedicated most of his life to protecting others.
Having experienced everything from war zones to emergency scenes and countless lives touched along the way, he’s now embracing a new kind of mission: healing through Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
“Over the years, I started wondering what else was out there, what more I could do. And because I’m fortunate enough to work only 10 days a month as a firefighter, I decided to try sonography,” Valle said. “It was a dramatic change, completely different from what I was used to, but now I see I needed that balance. Now that I’ve graduated, I’m proud I took that leap.”
A dedicated husband and father, the 36-year-old has spent the past year and a half balancing weekend shifts as a firefighter with Nueces County while attending classes at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health campus in McAllen during the week, fully immersing himself in the world of sonography.
“I have two daughters, and in many ways, I feel like they’ve been going to school with me,” he said. “They’ve sacrificed time with me so I could study and work, but I hope I’m showing them that life is full of opportunities.”
Valle’s journey of service and opportunity began after graduating from McAllen High School in 2006, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, driven by a deep sense of pride and gratitude.
“Half of my family comes from Mexico, I’m incredibly grateful for what this country has done for us,” he said. “I signed an eight-year contract and never looked back. I even met my wife during that time and brought her home with me to the Rio Grande Valley.”
In 2014, as he transitioned back to civilian life, Valle chose to continue serving others by enrolling in STC’s Emergency Medical Services program, graduating not once, but three times with his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic and Advanced certificates and a Paramedic Associate of Applied Science.
STC remained a constant in Valle’s life as he later enrolled in the college’s Fire Academy, where he earned his Basic Firefighter Certification and began his career serving as both a firefighter and paramedic.
“I’m really grateful to Nueces County for the opportunity they gave me, I’ve grown so much in that role,” he said. “But I also owe so much of it to STC. From the moment I earned my first EMT certification, I had incredible instructors who truly encouraged me to keep going. They told me, ‘Don’t stop at EMT, explore what’s out there.’ And that’s exactly what I did.”
Now a lifelong learner who takes pride in pursuing new opportunities, Valle also earned a bachelor’s degree in Medical and Health Services Management from STC in 2017.
In 2023, a friend’s recommendation led Valle to discover STC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, where he enrolled in the Advanced Technical Certificate pathway, a shorter track designed for those who already hold a degree in the medical field.
“When I’m looking for something new, I always know I can return to STC,” Valle said. “What makes the biggest difference is the faculty. Their real-world experience and dedication show in everything they do. That level of support is what keeps me coming back and it’s helped shape who I am today.”
With his oldest daughter now considering a future in the military, Valle reflects on his own long journey of service, each milestone earned through pride and sacrifice, driven by a desire to be a strong role model for his daughters.
And having just graduated, Valle hopes to continue balancing his role in the fire service while embracing a new career in sonography, specifically aiming to specialize in OB-GYN.
“I’m excited to fully embrace sonography and get a job at an OB-GYN clinic, even though I never expected that to be the area that interested me most,” he said. “Now that I’ve earned my second associate degree, I might be done with school, but I’m still undecided about completely leaving the fire service, maybe I’ll go part time. What I know for sure is that STC gave me all these options, and for that, I’m really grateful.”
