Jacqueline Tzintzun
My journey into healthcare education started with a childhood dream of becoming a doctor, though I eventually realized that path wasn't quite right for me. My mom, who was a nurse in Mexico, sparked my interest in healthcare by sharing her stories with me. When I was in Running Start at Columbia Basin College, I discovered their medical assisting program, and since I wasn't competitive enough for nursing school yet, it became my way into healthcare to make sure I really liked it. I graduated in 2018 with my AA in medical assisting and spent several years working as a medical assistant in urgent cares and at Spokane County Jail, which was my favorite job because I got to use a lot of my skills and I really enjoyed the challenge of drawing blood from drug users who didn't have good veins. I never knew education was a thing for me until I found the job posting at Charter College for a medical assistant instructor. I felt like I nailed that interview, and they gave me a shot. I'm so happy they did because I found a whole new passion. I've been an instructor for a year now, and I recently got promoted to lead instructor, where I'm in charge of externships, clinicals, immunizations, and overseeing other instructors and students. Charter College has also opened the door for me to work towards my Bachelor's in Health Administration. Being the first in my family to go to college here in the U.S. is my biggest accomplishment, and seeing my brother now in his second year of RN school and being thankful that I opened that door for him makes me feel like I set a path for my siblings and my family. I'm also a BLS instructor for the American Heart Association, helping our students get certified so they can enter the workforce. What I love most about my work is watching my students grow from that very first day when they're scared and their arm is shaking as they give their first injection, to the point where they're about to go to externship and they feel super confident. That's the highlight of my day, every single day.
• BLS Instructor (American Heart Association)
• AA in Medical Assisting
• Columbia Basin College
• 2018
• AA in Allied Health
• Charter College
• Bachelor's in Health Administration (in progress)
• Dean's List
• American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, shoot for the stars. Always shoot for the stars, keep believing in yourself, even when things seem hard, because I never thought I could be in this position. A year later, I'm now the lead instructor in charge of all the other instructors and students, and it was something I never imagined. I shot for the stars, I gave it my all, and so I always say, just shoot for the stars. That's one thing I tell my students also. Shoot for the stars. The worst thing that can happen is a no. And that no will open doors for growth and improvement!
