At UCLA
On a field trip to UCLA
Jacqueline with certificate from UCLA's Nursing Professoriate Pathway Program (NP3)
At SMC's Latinx graduation celebration, with family
Graduation Day!
Jacqueline with students at the Chin School of Nursing
When Jacqueline Cortez was 12, high fever and a sudden nosebleed sent her to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. What she saw there inspired a passion for helping others that would take her to hospital volunteering, taking courses as a pre-nursing major at Santa Monica College and eventually transferring to Cal State Los Angeles for a bachelor’s degree in the field.
“I watched nurses running to help a baby who couldn’t stop crying,” she recalls, “and I remember feeling very warm.” That warmth became what Jacqueline Cortez calls a “fever dream” that inspired her future. From then on, she took every available health class. At 18, she started volunteering at PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital.
By the time she graduated from John Marshall High School in 2021, Jacqueline was determined to pursue nursing. The youngest of three, she followed her siblings to studies at SMC, where she would find both community and the foundation for her future career. “They had a good experience, so I thought SMC might be a good place for me, too,” she says.
Anatomy of an Education
Having enrolled at SMC as a pre-nursing major, Jacqueline immersed herself in anatomy and physiology, courses she describes as pivotal — and challenging. She also enjoyed mentorship from faculty members including Life Sciences Professors Chris Grant and Christina Von Der Ohe.
For example, “Professor Grant reinforced how cool anatomy could be, which made me certain this was the field for me,” Jacqueline says. “He was very supportive, always responsive and really encouraged us.” She even enjoyed the cadaver dissections. “I’m not faint of heart,” Jacqueline confesses — an essential quality for aiding live patients.
During her three years on campus, Jacqueline completed her prerequisites, earned two
associates degrees in 2023 and took SMC’s noncredit Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Meanwhile, she continued volunteering at Good Samaritan. Today, she
is employed at the hospital as a CNA in its transitional care department.
“Taking the CNA course was the best decision of my life,” she says. “It put me on the hospital floor, right alongside nurses, and confirmed for me that this is the profession I want.”
Pathways and Possibilities
Jacqueline’s dedication and growing experience also opened the door to an elite opportunity: UCLA’s Nursing Professoriate Pathway Program (NP3). The yearlong initiative prepares nursing students for research and teaching careers.
But, excited as she was to be selected as an NP3 scholar, one aspect of the opportunity made her nervous. She would have to live in a university dormitory during the first month of the program.
The NP3 program begins with a month-long summer immersion at UCLA, followed by virtual check-ins and research activities throughout the year.
“I had never dormed before, and the idea of living with strangers during the summer
immersion was intimidating,” she admits. “But it turned out to be amazing. I loved
my dorm mates and my mentor.” Most important of all, she relished the chance to see
medical research in action.
Jacqueline found the experience revelatory. She had never been involved in research before, and seeing how information is gathered and analyzed gave her new insight into her chosen field.
It also opened up thoughts of someday pursuing a doctoral degree. But Jacqueline remains committed to caring for patients directly. So she can envision herself gaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, which emphasizes applying the latest science in clinical settings.
A New Beginning & Continued Dream
Having transferred from SMC to Cal State LA, Jacqueline is on track to complete her
Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2027. She has taken on leadership roles as her class
advocate and as vice president of the university’s new Critical Care Club. She also mentors younger students entering the program.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have amazing mentors, from SMC to the hospital to UCLA.
Now I want to give back,” she explains.
Even as she explores the field’s possibilities, Jacqueline’s job at Good Samaritan keeps her grounded in the realities of patient care. She hopes to move into intensive care nursing, with a focus on adult patients.
Looking Back — and Ahead
Jacqueline credits SMC with preparing her for every step that followed. “My professors built such a strong foundation in anatomy and physiology. That background made the transition to nursing courses much smoother. I felt ready for the challenges ahead,” she says.
She also points to the culture of support. “At SMC, there were always resources, always people willing to help,” she says. “It wasn’t just about academics — it was about being part of a community that believed in you. I always tell people to go to SMC if they can — it’s an amazing place with incredible professors.”
For Jacqueline, a first-generation college student from a marginalized background, and the first to pursue nursing, that support has been transformative. She cherishes the friendships she formed at SMC, with some of those peers now in nursing school with her.
“I want to help people however I can in healthcare,” she says. “SMC gave me the start I needed. Now I’m excited for what’s next.”
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SMC in Focus Volume XI, Issue 5
Fever Dream
A severe childhood illness motivated Jacqueline Cortez to become a nurse, and Santa Monica College helped shape her path. Read Article
Preparing the Next Generation of Caregivers
Tomorrow’s caregivers, both paid and unpaid, are getting an in-depth education in gerontology through SMC’s Introduction to Working with Older Adults noncredit certificate program. Read Article
Rhythm and Ledger
Dancer-actress Naomi Henderson found harmony between art and accounting at SMC. Read Article
Freddie’s World
The beloved SMC watercolor instructor looks back on a career filled with painting, quirky collections and students who feel like friends. Read Article
Bragging Rights
Geography students help develop accurate maps. An English professor’s book a finalist for a prestigious contest. A nursing professor responds to an emergency midair. Read Article
The Wisdom of Age
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, SMC Emeritus launches the “Fifty-over-50” campaign, a compendium of collective wisdom from those who have made significant contributions to this community, and beyond. Read Article