SAN DIEGO, CA – The Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute (LRMAI) proudly recognized 38 students who completed the medical assistant program and earned their MA certificates, marking a significant milestone in their health care careers. 
The graduates, from both the full- and part-time cohorts, included 10 students graduating with honors and six who elected to take the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam. The ceremony also marked the program’s fifth graduating class of Mas who will join the ranks of 81 alumni serving at Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) and other community clinics throughout San Diego.
The ceremony began with opening remarks from Pauline Lucatero, vice president of community affairs at FHCSD and chief academic administrator at LRMAI. Lucatero expressed her excitement for the occasion, saying, “LRMAI graduation is one of my favorite days of the year. As we celebrate today, I reflect on the first time we met. I remember your passion for this program, the challenges you faced and the sacrifices you and your families made to get here. You did it, and you should be as proud of yourselves as we are of you.” She concluded her speech by quoting FHCSD’s CEO Fran Butler Cohen: “‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’ So, what will your next dream be? Congratulations, and I can’t wait to see what you will do next!”
Following Lucatero’s remarks, graduate Hana Abaker Mohamed, NCMA and honors student, addressed her fellow graduates, thanking them and her instructors, “For being our anchors when the waves of doubt and exhaustion hit. You’ve been there through every late-night study session, every personal struggle and every moment of triumph. We couldn’t have made it without you,” said Mohamed.
Dyran Alan Whitaker, another honors student, shared a heartfelt tribute to his late father, who passed away unexpectedly in December. “It was the most difficult moment I’ve ever experienced,” Whitaker said. “I want to thank my family, classmates, the staff and friends who helped me stay afloat. … [My dad] spent years [encouraging] me to join the medical field, and now, here we are. This was for you, dad.”
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera of District 9 also spoke at the ceremony, emphasizing the lasting impact these graduates will have on their community. “This program was established with a purpose –– to create opportunities, to uplift members of our own communities and [prepare] you for vital roles in health care,” Elo-Rivera said. “The training that you’ve received is not merely technical, it’s personal … it’s grounded in compassion with a desire to be empathetic, communicate well and provide care.”
Elo-Rivera also highlighted the graduates’ impact as role models for their families and community, saying, “You are going to open doors for folks that you don’t even realize you are opening doors for. There will be folks that come into those clinics, see you as the medical assistants and will now be able to see themselves as medical assistants.”
Michelle Guzman, student services manager, concluded the ceremony by presenting the graduates with their certificates. Guzman also acknowledged the academic excellence of the honors students, stating, “Our 10 honors students earned a cumulative GPA of 3.9 and maintained an attendance rate of 98%. Three graduates even earned a 4.0 GPA with 100% attendance. This is a tremendous feat, and we commend you for your commitment and perseverance.”
For more information about the LRMAI program, or to apply for a future cohort, visit www.LRMAI.org.
About LRMAI
The Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute was created to meet several mutual needs of the organization and the community:
- To introduce qualified MAs into the workforce to fill vacancies and help ensure there are adequate staff in ambulatory care services to meet the health care needs of our community
- To offer career opportunities for underserved or traditionally underrepresented community members
- To recruit a diverse workforce that is reflective of the community of patients that it serves
