Guest: Yuriana Atayde

Campus Director, Albuquerque

Pima Medical Institute

What if the biggest barrier to a healthcare career is believing there’s a place for you?

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Voices of Vital Care explores how family, culture, representation and mentorship shape the path into healthcare.

Host Nohelani Graf welcomes Yuriana, a campus director at Pima Medical Institute in Albuquerque and a first-generation college graduate, for a candid conversation about discovering opportunities and finding the confidence to pursue them.

From family expectations and imposter syndrome to changing careers as an adult, Yuriana shares the questions students bring through her door and the support that helps them move forward.

She also explores allied health careers beyond doctors and nurses, including dental assisting, respiratory therapy and physical therapist assistant roles.

Along the way, we discuss:

• How a healthcare career can create opportunities for an entire family

• Why early career exploration matters for children and teens

• How Hispanic representation and cultural understanding can build connection in patient care

• The role of mentors in helping students see their potential

• Yuriana’s own journey from office assistant to campus leadership

Whether you’re a prospective healthcare student, a parent, a career changer or an educator, this conversation offers a personal look at what happens when opportunity starts to feel possible.

Subscribe to Voices of Vital Care for the people, pathways and perspectives shaping the future of healthcare.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, stance, or position of Pima Medical Institute.

#HealthcareCareers #HispanicHeritageMonth #AlliedHealth #VoicesOfVitalCare #PimaMedicalInstitute