[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1199761727″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-100px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
BROWNSVILLE, Texas — 51ÁÔÆæ opened the door to a new career path for Eleazar Hernandez, a Respiratory Care Science student with a strong academic background.<\/p>\n
Before enrolling at TSC, the Brownsville native worked as a high school STEM teacher and earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in biology and a master\u2019s degree in ocean, coastal and earth sciences.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just felt the career wasn\u2019t calling to me,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cAfter a while, I decided to look into healthcare. Being from the Valley, I started exploring two-year degree programs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hernandez found the passion he had been searching for after interviewing with TSC Respiratory Care Science Program Director Isidro Ramirez III and Clinical Education Program Director Alberto Vasquez during the application process.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing an educator myself, you can really tell who is here for the love of the job,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cKnowing they weren\u2019t just program directors but also instructors, the way they spoke about the program and their vision for its future, confirmed my decision to become an RT and a student here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program\u2019s engaged instruction, combined with Hernandez\u2019s academic foundation, helped him excel in his first year.<\/p>\n
In April, Hernandez presented scholarly research on airway diseases at the Texas Society for Respiratory Care South Region South Padre Island Symposium. More than 20 entries were submitted, but only a select group of students from South Texas community colleges were chosen to present.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m extremely proud of my hard work,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just me. The faculty in the program guided my success. They have pushed me to step forward and put myself out there in a world that is new to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hernandez placed second.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was awesome to place,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cJust being able to present and see my work out there was more than enough. It was great to see other college students and professionals come together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ramirez said Hernandez has already demonstrated leadership and is expected to make an impact in the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see him as a leader in this program,\u201d Ramirez said. \u201cThat\u2019s what we want to produce in the Respiratory Care Science program \u2014 individuals who will go out and care for our<\/p>\n
community and our families. I see Eli as a contributing member of society. We\u2019re proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vasquez said Hernandez is an asset to both his classmates and faculty, bringing valuable perspective from his time as an educator.<\/p>\n
\u201cI talk to him often about his experience teaching in high school,\u201d Vasquez said. \u201cI learn from him just as much as he learns from me from a teacher\u2019s perspective. It\u2019s awesome to have that kind of relationship with a student, especially a first-year student. I see a very bright future for this young man.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hernandez plans to graduate next year and become a registered respiratory therapist. Long term, he hopes to advance within the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhysician assistant, perfusionist or anesthesiology assistant are pathways we can pursue as RTs \u2014 it\u2019s a foundation to move up,\u201d he said. \u201cEven if I don\u2019t, I can see myself becoming a director in the respiratory therapy field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hernandez said he is grateful to have found a career he is passionate about and credits TSC faculty for their support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey make sure to check on their students, that we\u2019re grasping the material and ready to move forward in our careers,\u201d he said. \u201cTSC has done a great job building this program and hiring dedicated instructors.\u201d<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”9039,9040,9042,9043″ show_title_and_caption=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.tsc.edu\/academics-and-career-programs\/health-professions\/respiratory-care\/” button_text=”Program Information ” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
51ÁÔÆæ opened the door to a new career path for Eleazar Hernandez, a Respiratory Care Science student with a strong academic background.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":237,"featured_media":9042,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_gspb_post_css":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[291,116],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-professions","category-student-highlight","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n