From Caregiver to Dialysis Technician: How Tyesha Found Her Path in Healthcare Through Propel America
Growing up in Los Angeles, Tyesha learned what it truly means to care for someone long before she ever stepped into a clinic. For years, she was her grandmother’s primary caregiver, supporting her through complex health challenges and being present through every stage of her care.
When her grandmother passed away, she left Tyesha with parting words that would shape her future: find a way to help people.
That calling stayed with Tyesha—but the path forward wasn’t obvious.
For the past five years, Tyesha has been living with an eye condition that affects her vision, making many traditional healthcare training programs inaccessible. Most schools she explored required in-person attendance, rigid schedules, or upfront costs she couldn’t afford. After graduating high school in 2022, she continued caring for her grandmother full time, unsure how she could realistically enter the healthcare field.
“I was looking for something affordable and flexible—something I could actually do,” she shared.
That search led her to Propel America.
“On Tyesha’s final day in her externship, something unexpected happened. Her manager pulled her aside and offered her a job on the spot. ‘She told me I had the personality they’d been looking for,’ Tyesha said. ‘The patients loved me. The staff loved me. She said they loved my smile.’”
Finding the Right Fit
When Tyesha first discovered Propel America online, she hesitated. It looked like the program was based in Baton Rouge, and she lived in Los Angeles. But as she kept reading, she discovered Propel was launching a new healthcare program that combines online coursework with paid, in-person training in partnership with Cengage in LA.
She applied right away.
Her first coaching session with Hire Ready Coach Stella Pascual set the tone. “I recall the first time I met Tyesha, we had our first coaching session over Zoom,” Stella shared. Tyesha and I discussed the program journey, including one of our ultimate goals: have Tyesha hired as a medical assistant.”
From that very first conversation, Stella saw potential that Tyesha herself wasn’t yet sure she possessed. “Although Tyesha described not having medical experience in a clinical setting, I knew she would be able to successfully transfer her skills in customer service to become an accomplished clinical member of a multidisciplinary team.”
Through Propel, Tyesha enrolled in the Medical Assistant pathway in winter 2025. She received hands-on training, wraparound coaching support, and a monthly stipend that allowed her to focus fully on learning without the pressure of working another job.
“That stipend helped me more than I can explain,” Tyesha said. “It kept me motivated. It showed me that someone was investing in me.”
But the investment wasn’t just financial—it was personal.
Building Confidence — and Belonging
Pictured (middle): Tyesha training as part of her Propel America cohort to become a medical assistant.
Academically, Tyesha felt prepared. Personally, confidence was the bigger hurdle.
“I was afraid when I first started,” she admitted. “I felt like I didn’t belong here—like maybe someone else deserved this opportunity more.”
Week by week, coaching sessions became a space not only for accountability, but growth. “Throughout our consistent coaching calls,” Stella shared, “I noted promising growth in Tyesha’s professional development.”
That growth showed up in small but meaningful ways. “Eventually, Tyesha would send me reminders of our calls, which I thought was a testament to her ability to lead and keep workflows running smoothly—such that a medical assistant does for her provider.”
In their conversations, Tyesha began highlighting upcoming deadlines, proactively preparing questions, and taking detailed notes—a clear indication of her skills in time management and attention to detail.
Those weren’t just academic habits. They were clinical skills in the making. Tyesha remembered that Stella told her: “You belong here. We chose you for a reason. You’re here to be a star.” In response, Tyesha said, “I wanted to make her proud.”
With that encouragement, she began to believe it herself.
From Externship to Job Offer — On the Spot
As part of her fellowship, Tyesha completed an externship with DaVita, a national provider specializing in kidney dialysis services for patients with chronic kidney failure and end-stage renal disease.
She worked 12-hour shifts, three days a week, completing her required hours in just over a month. The pace was demanding—but familiar. The organization, patient communication, and steady workflow mirrored what she had practiced throughout the program.
On her final day, something unexpected happened. Her manager pulled her aside and offered her a job on the spot.
“She told me I had the personality they’d been looking for,” Tyesha said. “The patients loved me. The staff loved me. She said they loved my smile.”
Today, Tyesha—who earned her Medical Assistant certification through Propel—is thriving as a Patient Care Technician (PCT) in renal care. She supports patients through treatment, explains procedures, and ensures everything runs safely and smoothly.
For Stella, Tyesha’s job offer came as no surprise. “Working with Tyesha has been a true pleasure. I am excited for her to continue to blossom and achieve her dreams in becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse.”
Looking Ahead
Tyesha is only a few weeks into her new role, but she’s already thinking about what’s next. Her long-term goal is to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).
“I want to stay with Propel forever,” Tyesha joked. “I’m sad my fellowship program is ending.”
When asked what she would say to someone considering Propel but feeling unsure, Tyesha didn’t hesitate: “Take full advantage of the program. It may feel scary at first, but they’re here to help you succeed. Now that I’m finished and certified, I look at my certificate and think—wow, I really did that.”
Stella is not surprised to see Tyesha succeed, noting: “Tyesha is a stellar student, and I hope she continues to embrace new avenues knowing that she is very capable of turning her goals into reality.”
For Tyesha, Propel America wasn’t just a training program. It was the bridge between a dream born from love and loss—and a career built on purpose, confidence, and possibility.
Ready to launch your own career in healthcare?
If you’re ready to launch your healthcare career—or know someone who is—Propel America is here to help you take the first step. Explore our healthcare pathways, connect with a coach, and discover what’s possible when your ambition meets the right support.
Apply today and start building the future you deserve.
Start your journey toward becoming a Certified Medical Assistant and building a career you can be proud of.
