Medical Assistant

Kaiser Permanente, Skyline Medical Center

Kristy Spencer is currently a Medical Assistant at Kaiser Permanente Skyline with dreams of moving up in her healthcare career. After she completed her prerequisite courses with the help of the Education Fund’s College Courses program, she heard about the Health Information Management (HIM) program available through Portland Community College and jumped at the chance.

Thanks to the HIM program being offered fully online, she was able to continue going to work and raising her family without disrupting her life too much. The Education Fund’s Wage Replacement program also helped her reduce her work week to 32 hours while maintaining her income. Kristy received constant encouragement and support from the Education Fund throughout her educational journey, including advice on time management and tutoring services if she needed them. Kristy says, “without the support of the Education Fund I would not be where I am today!”

Due to her hard work, dedication, and the support of the Education Fund, Kristy graduated from the HIM program with her Associates Degree. She encourages other members to “check out the Education Fund’s website to see what programs are available and get started! Their team is there to support you along the way and help you complete your goals. I went back to school with a husband, four kids and two dogs – if I can do it, anyone can!”

Emergency Room Unit Assistant

Kaiser Permanente, Walnut Creek Medical Center

When Janet Cordova experienced an injury that prevented her from performing her role as an Emergency Room Technician with Kaiser Permanente, she had to quickly figure out her next move. Thanks to the Education Fund’s career resources, she was able to train for the role she performs today, as a Unit Assistant still working in the Emergency Room. Accessing Education Fund resources helped Janet transfer units and complete her AA degree by completing coursework in person and online. She also completed Online Education Preparation courses to advance her skills using required word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software applications. In addition, Janet used the Ed Fund’s Reimbursement Program to maintain her Basic Life Support (BLS) and pediatric emergency response (PEARS) certifications.

Janet describes her job at the Kaiser Permanente, Walnut Creek Medical Center as the “stopwatch” for the ward. As patients arrive for critical care, Janet delegates tasks and performs required functions that include completing necessary legal forms, and arranging for appropriate transportation should patients require acute care at a different facility. For instance, a patient suffering a traumatic brain injury might need to be air-lifted to KP’s neurosurgery Center of Excellence in Redwood City.

In the future, she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, leveraging the Ed Fund’s Wage Replacement program so she can reduce her work hours while pursuing her degree. “I took the time to learn everything the Ed Fund offers,” Cordova said. “It’s there for us to use. Why wouldn’t we?”

Clinical Assistant

Planned Parenthood, Columbia Willamette

Nancy Espino always wanted to work in the medical field. But as a new mother at 18, she had to put her parenting first and college on hold. A few years later, she learned that desire wasn’t enough. “If you don’t have experience or go to college, it can be difficult to even get your foot in the door,” she says.

Now, a few years later, Nancy is fulfilling her dream. She found a path forward by getting a job as a clinical assistant with Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (East Portland, Oregon) where SEIU members have Education Fund benefits. When she heard about the Ed Fund, she says “I couldn’t believe that something like that even existed. I thought it was too good to be true.”

Nancy intends to pursue a Medical Assistant degree or certification, and is working on her prerequisites now, by using the Education Fund’s College Courses program to pay for them.

No matter your age, or how long you’ve been away, going back to school can be daunting. “I was so nervous,” Nancy said. “Trying to do everything online can be nerve-wracking. The process can be very stressful”. Thankfully, she found the support she needed through the Education Fund. “Overall, my whole experience with the Ed Fund has been super positive.”

“I am a first-generation child, from two parents who immigrated from Mexico, so going to college is not only impactful for my family, but for my whole life in general. The Education Fund has impacted my life. It’s helping me down the road in the future with my career path and choices.”

LVN III

Kaiser Permanente, Sunset Medical Center

For the past seven years, Eric has been working as an LVN for Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center’s outpatient clinic. When he learned about the Education Fund, he decided that nothing was standing in the way of his goal of elevating himself from an LVN to an RN.

When he began his educational journey, the Education Fund supported him by paying for the tuition and the textbooks for his RN program prerequisites and general education courses. As the classes started to become more intense, the Education Fund provided him online tutoring services available 24 hours a day.  Once he passed the TEAS and officially enrolled in the RN program, he became eligible for the Education Fund’s Wage Replacement program along with reimbursement of the RN program’s tuition, textbooks, NCLEX study materials, and NCLEX application fee!

Due to all of Eric’s hard work and dedication, he was recently accepted into Kaiser’s RN new grad program and started his dream job in February 2021.

Eric shares this piece of advice with future Ed Fund learners: “I know this is a long and difficult journey, but please do not give up that easily. If I can do it so can anyone! I cannot thank the Education Fund enough for my new career!!”