Nina Carr DaSilva’s journey into the healthcare industry began with a leap of faith and a determination to pursue a new field. Having graduated from the Torrance Adult School’s Medical Billing and Coding program in 2018, DaSilva found herself not only equipped with essential skills to excel in her new career path, but also as a member of the school’s Career and Technical Education advisory panel.
DaSilva immigrated to the United States in 2017 from Trinidad. Upon her arrival, she sought educational opportunities while awaiting her immigration paperwork to be processed. It was at this time she discovered education opportunities offered at TAS in medical terminology/billing and coding. Despite her initial unfamiliarity with the healthcare system, she decided that she would pursue this new field of work and pivoted away from her career in business management.
“Torrance Adult School really offered me an affordable education and the externship program really acted like a springboard for me to pursue my new career,” recalled DaSilva. “When I took the externship program, I was actually offered a job with the company after the externship finished. At that time my paperwork had come through and I was able to work and I stayed on.”
“When I took the externship program, I was actually offered a job with the company after the externship finished. At that time my paperwork had come through and I was able to work and I stayed on.”
Nina Carr DaSilva, TAS graduate
DaSilva initially started working in accounts receivable for the company and within a few months, it gave her the opportunity to move into medical coding. She credits her success by taking the classes with TAS to help her prepare for the national coding exams, where she passed and became a certified professional medical coder.
Her experience with TAS was so meaningful, she continues to maintain ties with the school in many capacities. Occasionally, she guest speaks for classes at TAS to encourage students to pursue the national certification exam and to emphasize the importance employers place on these type of tests in her field. Additionally, DaSilva currently serves as the president of the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) chapter for the Long Beach and Torrance divisions.
DaSilva believes that because TAS students have more access to the lecturers and teachers, it helps ensure students successfully complete the myriad of programs offered at the school. Additionally, she commended the other valuable resources TAS provides to students including counseling and job placement assistance.
DaSilva’s journey from business management to medical coding exemplifies TAS’s transformative impact and highlights its role as an institution of opportunity in the community. Through its dedication to student success and industry relevance within the local job market, TAS continues to help shape the future of the local community one graduate at a time.
For more information, visit Torrance Adult School at https://www.tusd.org/tas/index.
Written by Whip Villarreal
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | Careers in Business-Technology – Careers in Health Care |
