A New Path Forward
Employee Spotlight | Stephanie Torres, MA
Stephanie Torres is charting a new path for her family and beginning a new career in healthcare that she once thought was impossible. Growing up in a family where she was the first to graduate from high school, continuing education felt very unknown. After a couple of attempts at higher education classes, Stephanie knew she eventually wanted to enter the healthcare field. Between raising her daughter and working, Stephanie needed to take a break from school. This makes Stephanie’s recent graduation from the NIMAA medical assistant program even more special.
Originally from Texas, Stephanie became fluent in both Spanish and English early on in school. Without having an example from her family to show her the way, Stephanie graduated from high school without a clear plan for what was next. Spending time with her grandma inspired her to dream of a job in healthcare so she could one day care for someone like her grandma. She knew she needed to continue learning for herself and her family.
In Stephanie’s hometown, finding job opportunities that paid more than minimum wage was tough. Her mom, who was having trouble making ends meet working two jobs, moved to Indiana to find better opportunities. Stephanie decided she needed a change of scenery as well and followed her mom’s path. While working and raising her daughter, self-doubt started to creep in.
Kate Anderson & Stephanie Torres
When she saw the bilingual patient service representative (PSR) position at Open Door, she thought, “Maybe it’s time. Maybe something can happen. Maybe this is happening for a reason.” Wanting to create a better life for her daughter and family, Stephanie took the next step and applied. She began working as a bilingual PSR at Open Door’s health center in Anderson, and a role in healthcare started to feel possible. Being part of a smaller team allowed her to ask questions and learn more about the medical assistant role. When the NIMAA program was announced at Open Door, Stephanie’s mantra continued, “Maybe this is happening for a reason.”
NIMAA is an eight-month program that combines online learning with hands-on experience to become a certified medical assistant. Through a grant provided by the Ball Brothers Foundation, Open Door was able to offer the program beginning in the fall of 2025 to one participant, who would also work part-time as a PSR. Stephanie, once again, took the next step and applied, motivated by her family and daughter while putting her self-doubt and fear aside. Stephanie enjoyed the balance between her online courses, working alongside Kate Anderson, Open Door’s Director of Nursing, and gaining experience in each of Open Door’s clinical spaces. With support from each team and Kate’s coaching along the way, Stephanie graduated in May with high honors from the NIMAA program.
“I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to do it. But now I believe that if you set your mind to something, you can complete it. No matter how many obstacles are thrown at you, you can do it,” Stephanie shared after her graduation celebration.
Stephanie’s choices may have started as questions in her mind, but they have now turned into a clear direction. Stephanie sees her education and career continuing in the medical field. For now, she is excited and ready to start her new position as a bilingual medical assistant at Open Door’s downtown health center in the family practice department. Stephanie will continue making her family proud and inspiring her daughter as she steps into this next stage of her life with support from her coworkers, love from her family, and belief in herself.