Miguel Romero: Bridging Language Barriers & Building Dreams as a Medical Assistant

In April 2023, Miguel Romero of Memphis, Tenn., proudly walked across the stage as a Concorde Career College - Memphis graduate. Shortly afterward, he landed a job as a Medical Assistant at the Raleigh Group, a bustling pediatrician's office, where he helps tend to the healthcare needs of children from infants to 18-year-olds.

Because he is fluent in English and Spanish, he helps patients and their parents overcome language barriers to bridge the gap between their healthcare providers.

"It fills my heart to connect with people in this way, to help them fully comprehend their diagnosis, or to help them understand what will happen during a certain procedure," said Miguel.

How to communicate with patients with language barriers

The memory of Miguel's grandfather and his battle with pancreatic cancer drove Miguel's interest in the medical profession. As an adolescent, Miguel often found himself in the role of translator during his grandfather's medical appointments. Those experiences enhanced Miguel's language skills and planted the seeds of a lifelong commitment to helping others access quality healthcare.

"As an immigrant, my grandpa had to pay for his medical care out of pocket. In doing so, he inspired me to go into the medical profession so I could take care of others and help them navigate the sometimes-overwhelming healthcare system," said Miguel.

Miguel's interest in a healthcare career was also underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. As many were leaving the profession, Miquel recognized it as an opportunity to help others when they needed it the most.

"If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic furthered my passion for going into medicine because the profession needed dedicated healthcare workers more than ever before," he said.

While Miguel's grandfather and the pandemic fueled his desire to choose a healthcare career, Concorde Career College provided him with a firm foundation to succeed.

Miguel says the most valuable part of his Concorde education was the hands-on experience it provided. The school's emphasis on helping students master routine procedures like taking blood pressure readings and administering injections helped Miguel immensely.

"My instructors reviewed procedures over and over, ensuring we were well-prepared. The comprehensive training helped shape my abilities and gave me the confidence to excel in my current role," said Miguel.

He also said he really enjoyed and appreciated the versatility and flexibility of the program, that Miguel could go at his own pace while receiving the support and resources he needed.

To anyone contemplating going to Concorde, he tells them to do it without hesitation and that he knows that, without a doubt, he made the right decision.

His passion for helping others extends beyond his position as a Medical Assistant. While at Concorde, he served as a Lamplighter Ambassador, supporting fellow students by tutoring and being a role model. It was his way of giving back and helping others navigate their educational journey. He was also actively involved in Casa de Latinos, an initiative to educate Hispanics on diabetes, a condition that disproportionately affects the Hispanic community.

In all that he does, Miguel takes immense pride in his heritage and the values of hard work and self-reliance his culture instilled in him. Watching his father launch two construction companies to support his family taught Miguel that he can overcome hurdles with determination and resilience.

"No matter what obstacles you have in front of you, you can overcome them and make your dreams possible," said Miguel.

In this way, Miguel serves as a role model for his younger siblings and cousins. He hopes to inspire them to achieve their goals, letting their heritage inspire them.

Miguel's dream is to one day return to medical school to study to become a pediatrician or an internal medicine physician. Regardless of his path, he wants to take a front seat to ensure people, get quality medical care when and where they need it.

“For now, I’m concentrating on using my passion, heritage, and skills to bring hope and healing to my local community,” he said.