Her Story
About Melinda
Melinda Murillo serves as a software and automation integration developer for Central Valley PACE, a non-profit organization providing comprehensive care for the elderly in Modesto, California. She has spent four years in software development after transitioning from a decade-long career as a surgical technologist.
Murillo began her career in the U.S. Army as a 68Delta operating room specialist before serving in civilian hospitals, including four and a half years at a children's hospital and five and a half years at an adult facility, where she specialized in trauma, total joint, and neurospine surgeries.
Having observed technology's growing impact on medical practices firsthand in the operating room, she taught herself software development while continuing to work full-time. In her current role, she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to identify inefficiencies, build software solutions, and automate complex processes, balancing rapid technological change with the careful handling of sensitive patient data.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melinda
01What do you attribute your success to?
At the core, I think it comes down to curiosity, drive, and resilience. Overcoming challenges early on in life gave me the confidence to step into the unknown. That mindset has been the thread running through my military service, my surgical tech career, and teaching myself software development.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be willing to look like a beginner when you’re learning something new, and to never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. When you let go of the fear of looking inexperienced and just focus on your own journey, you give yourself the freedom to actually grow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't feel like you have to know everything before you start. Genuine curiosity will carry you further than knowing all the answers on day one. Let your curiosity lead the way, and get comfortable being in the unknown. Technology changes so fast that no one has it all figured out, so if you can learn to get comfortable in the unknown, you are right where you're supposed to be, and anything is possible.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Technology is moving at breakneck speed, but we are handling highly sensitive patient data and personal health information. The biggest challenge, and our greatest opportunity, is balancing those two worlds. It requires us to move fast with tech while respecting the immense responsibility of keeping data secure. Navigating that intersection forces us to be really creative in how we design and automate workflow solutions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. These three values drive everything I do in work and life. If I stay honest with myself and others, remain open to new perspectives, and have the willingness to keep learning, any challenge can be navigated.
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