Paulino Nestor De La Cruz is a first-generation college student at Crafton Hills College completing prerequisites for its Respiratory Therapy program, with a 3.60 cumulative GPA. After three years as a restaurant District Manager, he redirected toward healthcare and has since built experience through community health outreach, hospital volunteering, and a first-place healthcare-access research project at UCR. He’s seeking hands-on clinical or allied-health exposure to complement his coursework on the path to becoming a licensed Respiratory Therapist.
Relevant Skills and Experience
- Community health outreach & client services: Skilled in conducting large-scale community outreach and completing client needs assessments, connecting individuals to mental health, food, and youth mentoring resources. Comfortable engaging directly with underserved populations.
- Clinical and scientific foundation: Working knowledge of anatomy, microbiology, and pharmacology through ongoing coursework, building toward readiness for clinical rotations and licensure as a Respiratory Therapist.
- Research and project leadership: Experienced in leading health-access research addressing healthcare disparities, coordinating a team to a first-place project outcome.
- Operations and compliance: Comfortable in structured, compliance-driven environments, with prior experience managing staff, driving performance targets, and ensuring adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
- Data and case management tools: Proficient with CRM systems for tracking client data and reporting outcomes to program leadership.
- Communication and mentorship: Bilingual in Spanish and English, supporting effective patient- and client-facing communication. Experienced in peer mentoring and academic coaching, guiding students through resources and personal growth.