While attending California Polytechnic State University, Pomona to attain his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Chemical Science, Louis worked as an oral surgery assistant. Realizing that he was happiest when interacting with people during his work hours, he decided to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
It was then that he was accepted into the Rio Hondo College Nursing Program. For the next two years, Louis maintained a competitive GPA, worked part-time as an oral surgery assistant, all while taking care of his family. During his time at Rio Hondo College, he was elected Treasurer for the Rio Nursing Council and was awarded several scholarships due to his academic success and community involvement. He then applied to and was accepted into the TELACU/White Memorial Medical Center Health Careers Program, which opened many doors of opportunity for him professionally.
During his participation in the Health Careers Program, he completed the Health Care Interpreter Training in order to provide competent in-language care to the non-English speaking population. Additionally, through the Cultural Competency Training, he acquired the awareness, knowledge, and skills that equipped him to deliver a higher-level of care to the increasingly culturally diverse patient population.
After receiving a full range of valuable educational services, including professional development seminars, one-on-one counseling, and an NCLEX-RN preparation course, Louis successfully attained his RN licensure. He then received an employment offer at White Memorial Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which launched his career as a Registered Nurse. To further enhance his career aspirations, he plans to earn his Doctorate in Nursing.
As a culturally and linguistically competent Spanish-speaking nurse, Louis serves White Memorial Medical Center’s large population of Spanish-speaking patients with a high degree of excellence, compassion, and care.
Growing up in East Los Angeles’ Ramona Gardens Housing Projects, Martha Romero lived not too far away from White Memorial Medical Center, where she would one day work. From a very young age, she knew that the gang lifestyle, which was rampant in her neighborhood, was not for her, and decided to focus on her education. School was her escape from the violent reality – by the time she graduated from high school, Martha had lost over 20 friends and family members to gang-related shootings.
It was around this time that Martha became pregnant with her first child. To provide a better life for his family, the father of Martha’s child enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Tragically, two years later, when he was home on a short leave, he was killed in a random drive-by shooting during his welcome home party, leaving his family devastated and grieving.
Still, Martha was committed to her education in spite of these tragic circumstances. Facing a hectic schedule, emotional struggle, and the burden of supporting a family, Martha asserts that the turning point in her situation was when she received her acceptance into the TELACU/White Memorial Medical Center Health Careers Program. The Program not only empowered her as a student and as a professional, but by granting her a scholarship, it significantly alleviated many of the hardships she was facing, elevating her and her family’s quality of life. Participating in the Program allowed her to buy her own computer, meaning she would no longer have to stay late at school, and that she would no longer have to worry about where her family’s next meal would come from.
A 2007 graduate of the Program, Martha’s commitment is in direct alignment with that of the Program: alleviating the critical shortage of bilingual, culturally-sensitive nurses in the health care system. Her commitment and passion has drawn the attention of White Memorial Medical Center President & CEO, Beth Zachary, who has provided Martha with opportunities to tackle head-on some important issues that face the health care industry with former U.S. Congresswoman Hilda Solis, the California Board of Registered Nursing, and other influential forces in the State’s health care community.
Born in Montebello, Tanya Padilla always dreamed of becoming a nurse. As a young single mother, she began working in the tomato and pistachio fields of the San Joaquin Valley, quickly learning that her wages were not going to be sufficient to support her daughter and also go back to school. Tanya began waitressing to pay for school and enrolled in the San Joaquin Valley College Medical Assistant Program. She worked for more than five years in the field, but never let her dream of becoming a nurse slip away. When she learned of the nursing program at Rio Hondo College, Tanya moved back to Montebello and enrolled.
Tanya’s scholastic and professional achievements skyrocketed at Rio Hondo. In her first year, she was elected Vice President of the student nursing council, and elected President during her second year. It was during this time that she applied to the TELACU/White Memorial Medical Center Health Careers Program. She was accepted, and it greatly reduced the financial stress of supporting her family.
Tanya graduated from nursing school, received her RN license, and began working in the Emergency Department (ED) at While Memorial Medical Center. The Program’s one-on-one counseling, which continues after graduation, was a support system that Tanya continued to utilize to advance her educational and professional endeavors. Tanya then went on to graduate with her Bachelor’s in Nursing, and earned an invitation to the International Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau.
Tanya is an active leader both inside and outside of the hospital. At White Memorial, she serves as the ED Pediatric Liaison Nurse and the Chair of the ED Unit Based Council. She co-founded the first ED employee newsletter, launched the ED Pharmacy Task Force, and serves as a Preceptor for nursing students. TEF is very pleased to continue its support of Tanya’s educational and professional empowerment as she begins pursuit of a Master’s of Nursing degree later this year as a David C. Lizárraga Fellow.
