CSUDH senior Derrick Nguyen is studying to be a medical lab technologist, a position that would enable him to work as a clinical laboratory scientist helping to diagnose and treat illness through data discovery. Essentially, when blood or other samples are sent from a doctor’s office to a lab for analysis, Nguyen will be the one doing the analysis. 

Nguyen has always had interest in pursuing a career in the medical field, but wasn’t sure which field to pursue. Interacting with patients in a one-on-one setting didn’t really appeal to him, but when he discovered the field of medical technology, it was a perfect fit. 

  “I was always fascinated by lab work,” he says. “How do they get these numbers? Where do they come from? I love working in the lab, and this is lab work with a sense of purpose. I feel like this is a field in which I can give back the most to the community. Labs are also fascinating workplaces with a very interesting dynamic. It’s a group I really like being a part of.”  

In addition to his studies, Nguyen is president of the CSUDH Clinical Science Club, a group of about 80 Toro students. Most of them are planning to enter clinical science careers or health care, but the club is open to students from all sciences.  
Two of the club’s major initiatives are mock interviews and its blood drive. Their mock interviews help future clinical science students prepare themselves for upcoming internship interviews, which are held each spring semester. The club’s blood drives are usually held once per semester. In partnership with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the club sets up and assists with the drive, while Cedars-Sinai professionals get the blood donations. 
“These blood drives help support health care workers, hospitals, and patients,” says Nguyen. “It also allows those of us who want to continue in health care to meet and get involved with the professionals that come out to help. It’s a great experience for everyone.” 

Nguyen and the Clinical Science Club continued with their blood drives right through the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the height of the pandemic, there was a real shortage of blood, and it’s still ongoing in some ways,” says Nguyen. “It was important for us to show our support to the health care workers who were so overwhelmed, and to give back in some small way to the community.” 

Kristi Sprowl is currently serving as the community impact director for the American Heart Association in Atlanta, Ga., while simultaneously working towards a doctorate of public health at the University of Georgia. In addition, Sprowl is serving as Regional Director for the Urban Leaders Fellowship, a part-time, eight-month assignment.

A native of Inglewood, Calif., Sprowl was always drawn to a career in health care. Several mentors suggested careers in public health, and she was instantly drawn to the discipline. Sprowl was accepted into CSUDH’s Health Science and Community Health program, as well as the university’s McNair Scholars Program, and excelled in her studies. 

After graduating from CSUDH, Sprowl earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Arizona, then decided that she wanted to work in the heart of the U.S. public health industry—Atlanta. 

“What’s unique about Atlanta is that all the researchers and physicians here can quickly communicate with one another, gather the best data, and circulate it right back to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),” says Sprowl. “That way, the CDC can continuously give us the best recommendations, according to the very latest science.” 

She moved to Atlanta in 2019, getting a job as a clinical researcher at Emory University. Within a year, Sprowl moved on to become a senior public health educator with the Fulton County Board of Health. She also worked with a team of physicians and educators to create a new sex education curriculum for the Atlanta Public Health Schools. 

In her current role as community impact director for the American Heart Association, “I think I finally landed in a spot where I feel like I’m contributing a lot of the knowledge, the resources, and the tactical skills I’ve learned in public health,” she says. 

Caroline Janssen is an international student from Sweden who is pursuing her master’s degree in social work at CSUDH. A graduate of Uppsala University in her home country, Janssen came to CSUDH because she wanted to study her discipline in a community that was in need of those specific services.

While completing her studies, Janssen works with the Vista Del Mar organization, helping to provide mental health services to low-income families. “I help at-risk families that are struggling to meet basic needs with their mental health,” says Janssen. 
 
“I help them deal with potential traumas and anything that is interfering with their lives,” she adds. “That might be dealing with structural inequalities, financial difficulties, or getting jobs. I have a few clients I meet with once a week and do case management, therapy, or refer them to outside resources.” 
 
Janssen’s interest in social work started during the 2015 migration crisis in Europe. “The crisis really made me see that a lot of systems were just collapsing. People were being stripped of their humanity. It was really heartbreaking,” she says. 

“I’ve always had that humanitarian spirit. I really want everyone to just do well in life. Social work is such a practical way of helping people. You can really get out in the community, sit with people, and make change happen.” 

Janssen appreciates the fact that she’s able to practice her discipline in the field while still a student. “Practice is absolutely necessary to be able to graduate with more confidence in what I will be doing after graduation,” she says. “Also, actually being out in the field, seeing people as they’re living and seeing people being impacted by inequity and racism is really powerful. It has helped me grow in ways that I never thought possible.“ 

After graduating, Janssen would like to continue working in the U.S. for as long as she’s able. “I think there’s more to do here than in Sweden. Many people here face so many difficulties, and there is so much need. And it feels great to see people feel better and to improve in their well being!” 

After graduating from CSUDH with a BS in nursing in 2005, Ron Yolo went on to attain an MS in nursing administration from UCLA, an MBA from USC, and a doctorate of nursing practice from Yale University. He currently serves as the division chief nursing officer for Common Spirit Health, overseeing the nursing operations for 18 hospitals throughout California. Since 2021, Yolo has also worked as an adjunct faculty member at the Yale School of Nursing. 

In his position with Common Spirit Health, Yolo travels to hospitals and interacts with the on-site chief nursing officers, making sure that strategies and initiatives are being applied at the local level. “Basically, I work with facility leaders, division leaders, and national leaders in our company to make sure that we are current with whatever initiatives the company is trying to implement,” he explains. 

Yolo immigrated to the United States with his family in 1992, and considers himself “a product of public education.” As such, he says, “It was important for me to give back to the communities that helped me become who I am.” That has been the driving factor behind Yolo’s health care career—making sure that others are getting the help they need. 

He attended CSUDH just as the university’s online nursing program was getting started. “CSUDH was very innovative,” says Yolo. “Back then, it was pretty cutting edge to be learning online. It was clearly going to be part of the future of health care.” 

Yolo credits CSUDH with helping him develop the skills that have served him ever since. “I had a great experience there,” he says. “The laboratory courses and the ability to engage in clinical practice was so important to me. To be able to actually go to hospital sites and do our work was something special, and I had some really great professors.” 

CSUDH student Kassandra Salinas is pursuing an MS in Social Work, with a child, youth, and families emphasis. She graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in psychology before attending CSUDH, where she’s studying to become the second social worker in her family. 

“My mom is a social worker, but I never really knew much about her work,” says Salinas. “I graduated with my psychology degree and I knew I didn’t want to be a psychiatrist. I finally asked my mom, ‘What do you do in your job?’” 

“I knew I wanted to help people, and I knew she helped people. She was able to explain to me all the different ways social workers contribute to society,” recalls Salinas. “It sounded like something I would love to do. I want to help people who struggled in the same way I did growing up.” 

While completing her studies, Salinas also works at the Department of Child and Family Services office, a position she plans to continue in after graduation. She works with children and families to protect young people from abuse.  

“We get calls with reports of suspected neglect, either emotional, physical, or sexual,” she says. “Then we go out on the calls and see if these allegations are true. We interview the family and the children. in the event that abuse is taking place, the worker will open a case or perhaps provide the family with resources from within their communities that can better assist them.” 

Work of this type can be mentally hard on workers, and Salinas acknowledges that hearing children recount stories of abuse is especially difficult. “Practicing self-care is really big,” she says. “I have a really good support system of friends and family and my cohort at CSUDH, who are witnessing the same things I am.” 

Mostly, it’s Salinas’ drive to make a difference that helps her through her toughest days. “I really think that I was put here for this purpose: to help. I’m grateful that I found the place where I’m supposed to be.” 

CSUDH Occupational Therapy (OT) alumni Martinez and Yanez long dreamed of running their own practice – and in June 2021, their plans came to fruition with their Bravo Therapy & Independent Living Center in San Antonio, Tex. The married couple’s practice has been a success due to their patient-first focus on quality care. 

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple began to recognize patterns in health care that they wanted to change and do differently, explains Yanez. “We saw a real lack of diversity in health care administration and management. Many of them didn’t understand our culture, even though a lot of the patients and clients that we were seeing were Latinx or of Hispanic descent.” 

“We wanted to build something that was culturally sensitive and focused just on quality care,” she adds. “Something that was really ingrained in me as an OT student from Dominguez Hills is quality. Focus on giving your best, on bringing in the latest research for your clients. That’s something we really wanted to create together.” 

In their San Antonio practice, Yanez specializes in oncology (cancer care), which has been her OT focus throughout her education and career – thanks to the inspiration of the therapists who worked with her during her own cancer battle as a young woman. Martinez, meanwhile, works in pediatric care with a focus on autistic children. 

Their practice provides access to treatment for a wide range of community members. “There’s a very big need for OT services in this area,” says Yanez. “Opening our private practice is a case of the right time and the right place. We’re glad we’re able to help meet the needs of the community.” 

First-generation college graduate Ramos graduated from CSUDH with a BA in human services in 2014, then attained his master’s degree in science and physician assistant studies at CSU Monterey Bay. He currently serves as a physician assistant at a health center in South Central Los Angeles. 

Ramos actually has a trio of specialties. At his clinic, Ramos does pediatric medicine two days a week, while also serving as the OB-GYN on two other days, primarily working with pregnant mothers. On Fridays, he puts on his adult medicine hat, treating community members for diabetes, hypertension, and a range of maladies. 

He also contributes to the future of health care by mentoring pre-physician assistant (PA) students through workshops held in collaboration with the Primary Care Physician Assistant program at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. “I’m always looking for ways to break down barriers for people of color,” says Ramos.  

“Whether by providing opportunities for shadowing current professionals, finding volunteer work, or helping students find work experience, I’m trying to make it easier for people who look like me to apply to school.” Ramos doesn’t just mentor local students, either—he talks to students from San Diego to San Francisco about careers in health care. 

“When I was a student at CSUDH, I was in a class full of people that looked like me, sounded like me, and came from similar upbringings,” says Ramos. “My goal was always to go to school and then give back to my community.” 

“I used to live right up the street from Dominguez Hills, and I’m grateful to be able to give back to the community. It really feels like I’ve come full circle, and am exactly where I need to be at the moment.” 

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