Johnson High School senior Jeba Mahapatra has a heart for helping others. So much so that she plans on becoming a cardiologist. Thanks to North East ISD's Medical Assistant program, she's graduating high school with a solid medical foundation that will set her up for success in college and medical school.
"We learn how to take vital signs, interact with patients, make sure the patient is comfortable at all times, and behave professionally in an office setting," said Jeba. "At the same time, we are learning how to administer immunizations, injections, medications and all of that."
Jeba plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall, where she'll major in Biology and prepare for medical school at the University of Texas or Baylor University. She'll soon lean on everything she has learned in Lisa Gilman's course at the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC). The Medical Assistant program is open to seniors from every NEISD high school. That means students from across the District learn the ins and outs of becoming a Certified Medical Assistant right alongside each other.
"I'm very grateful to have a teacher like Mrs. Gilman because she always motivates you to do your best in whatever you do. All the anxiety I had in starting faded away because she gave us the confidence and tools to know we can do it."
Medical Assistant students cover everything from medical law to ethics, medical terminology, insurance forms, hematology, pharmacology, urinalysis and much more. When they pass their certification test, they'll be able to secure a job at most medical facilities, clinics or doctor's offices. In Jeba's case, she'll enter college with a rock-solid medical foundation.
Jeba started at Tejeda Middle School in seventh grade. Between her studies, she's also an active member of Johnson's National Honor Society (NHS), Art Club, Chemistry Club and Future Health Professionals Club. She also won a prestigious Gold Key for a piece of art she submitted to the 2022 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
Congratulations, Jeba! Good luck to you and the rest of the Class of 2022!
