Laredo College Medical Assistant Program Director Graciela Gonzales orchestrates success in her students through her unwavering commitment to education and healthcare.
Her journey from music educator at United High School to healthcare professional highlights not only her dedication to both fields but also showcases how she seamlessly blended both passions into an investment in Laredo’s growing healthcare sector. 
Following 13 years in education, Gonzales made the leap into healthcare, earning her Associate of Applied Sciences Degree from Laredo College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program in 2014. Returning as a proud LC alumna, Gonzales began as an adjunct health sciences instructor in 2018 and took over as Medical Assistant Program Director by April 2020.
“Everything that I do, I do sincerely for my students,” she said. “Anything that’s going to benefit them, I try to dive in without hesitation.”
From the beginning of her career, Gonzales has believed that everyone’s journey is different, but remaining persistent and consistent with your goals is what matters at the end of the day. She is not just a director; she is a catalyst for success, transforming the Laredo College Medical Assistant Program with a blend of innovation and steadfast determination.
Her most recent endeavor was the first-ever Health Sciences Summer Camp hosted by the LC College of Health Sciences Division at the beginning of summer.
The camp was created during a series of brainstorming sessions among the program directors with the aim of encouraging middle school students to learn more about different medical fields with hands-on demonstrations tailored for their age.
Some of the activities included learning to take blood pressure, perform CPR, stop bleeding, read nutrition labels, make healthier choices, learn tai chi, scan mannequins, read X-rays and learn guidelines on backpack safety.
“The campers were
eager to participate in all of the activities and seemed to really enjoy each one,” she said. “To keep students returning year after year, we plan to have different activities each time.”
In her short tenure as director, Gonzales has revised the Medical Assistant curriculum to improve program outcomes and increase opportunities for clinical training with health providers in Laredo, Zapata and Austin.
For the past three years, and under the mentorship and guidance of Dr. Dianna Miller and Dr. Esmeralda Vargas, she effectively led her team to help students achieve a 100% pass rate on the Medical Assistant National Certification Examination.
Her most outstanding achievement at Laredo College, however, is having her students highly sought after by local providers for their thorough training in medical assisting skills and often securing jobs before graduating from the program.
Her hard work has earned her plenty of accolades throughout her career. Most recently, Gonzales was awarded the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Award for teaching excellence and was selected as a Texas Academic Leadership Academy Fellow in 2024.
She said that being recognized feels great, but that is not why she has dedicated so much of her time to both of her passions.
“It makes me feel more enthused and empowered to do more to service my students and do everything I can to help them find their footing in the world,” Gonzales said.