Roberto Ricaurte drives 20 minutes to Adventist HealthCare at Shady Grove after kissing his wife and daughter goodbye. He is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). This is a new job. One that comes from having received his CNA certificate from Montgomery College last month with the support of PCC’s Workforce Capacity Program. The Workforce Capacity program is a Nexus Montgomery initiative that works closely with Montgomery County hospitals to improve safety and quality by providing scholarships for County residents like Roberto who want to pursue a career in health care.
On the surface, Roberto’s career path is pretty conventional. But for those who know Roberto, it means much more. It is the embodiment of Roberto's life philosophy: don’t just follow your dreams, chase them down. "Having a goal, something you aspire to, is great," says Roberto. "But you have to more than dream about it, you have to go after it."
Roberto's desire to work in health care, specifically in the emergency department of a lively and bustling hospital, sprang from his mother. "My mother was a nurse. I noticed how much of an impact she had on people, most of whom were complete strangers. Here she was, this very unassuming woman, who made a difference in so many people’s lives. She is my role model." Now Roberto's path to working in an emergency department was not direct, even though he knew in his heart this is where he wanted to be. "I enjoy assisting others and solving problems, so I pursued careers in logistics, security, and hospitality, but while I was content, I was not delighted with what I was doing. I kept thinking about being a nurse. Doing what my mom did."
Roberto and his family, like many others, experienced disruption during the Covid years. After spending a few years in Florida, he returned home to Montgomery County, where he and his wife opted to raise their daughter. It also provided Roberto with an opportunity to reset and get back to pursing his dream job. "I spoke with my brother, he’s a CNA too, and he made me realize that now was the time to do what I really wanted to do.” So, when he and his family settled down, he applied to Montgomery College to pursue his CNA certificate. " Edith Bonilla was my contact when I first began the application process. After speaking with her, she encouraged me to apply for PCC's Workforce Capacity Program."
Roberto was accepted into the Program, and he excelled. Putting in the hours was difficult, especially because he was balancing a full-time job and being present for his family. "It wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it put me on the fastest track to receiving my CNA. That was the goal.”
As he was progressing through the Program and with graduation becoming more of a reality, Roberto realized he wanted to follow in his mother’s footsteps and work in an emergency department. “I appreciate that setting a lot because, many times, people are at their most vulnerable and they put a lot of trust in your hands. I find it really fulfilling to be able to assist someone in their time of need.”
It is neither common nor easy to find a job at an emergency room right after graduation. Roberto took advantage of the Program's opportunities to demonstrate his talents in an ER setting. "I demonstrated during our clinicals that I possessed the disposition and skills required to work effectively in an emergency care environment. Unbeknownst to me, our instructors noticed. I applied to several local hospitals after graduation. It just so happened that one of the instructors, Tasha Dixon, who noticed was the nurse manager at Adventist HealthCare. So, when I applied, she followed up with me. I was able to get to my current position through that connection."
As he considers how he got where he is now, Roberto recognizes the influence of others around him. "My mom was an inspiration to me. Then there was my wife and brother, who encouraged me. Then, once I was accepted into the program, my classmates and instructors encouraged me as well. And, of course, I have to give a shout out to Liza Greenberg at PCC. She was there at the beginning when I first applied and was a mentor to me as I went through the program. I tell people that healthcare is a team sport. If you want to work in this sector, there are resources available to you. You just need to go get it."
A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration funds 92.8% ($1.3 million) of the cost to train 200 healthcare workers and increase Montgomery College training capacity between December 2023 and November 2025. Non-governmental funds, including support from Maryland Physicians Care, support 7.2% ($101,615) of these costs. Additional workforce capacity efforts have been supported by WorkSource Montgomery, Maryland Physicians Care, and the Maryland Department of Labor.
On the surface, Roberto’s career path is pretty conventional. But for those who know Roberto, it means much more. It is the embodiment of Roberto's life philosophy: don’t just follow your dreams, chase them down. "Having a goal, something you aspire to, is great," says Roberto. "But you have to more than dream about it, you have to go after it."
Roberto's desire to work in health care, specifically in the emergency department of a lively and bustling hospital, sprang from his mother. "My mother was a nurse. I noticed how much of an impact she had on people, most of whom were complete strangers. Here she was, this very unassuming woman, who made a difference in so many people’s lives. She is my role model." Now Roberto's path to working in an emergency department was not direct, even though he knew in his heart this is where he wanted to be. "I enjoy assisting others and solving problems, so I pursued careers in logistics, security, and hospitality, but while I was content, I was not delighted with what I was doing. I kept thinking about being a nurse. Doing what my mom did."
Roberto and his family, like many others, experienced disruption during the Covid years. After spending a few years in Florida, he returned home to Montgomery County, where he and his wife opted to raise their daughter. It also provided Roberto with an opportunity to reset and get back to pursing his dream job. "I spoke with my brother, he’s a CNA too, and he made me realize that now was the time to do what I really wanted to do.” So, when he and his family settled down, he applied to Montgomery College to pursue his CNA certificate. " Edith Bonilla was my contact when I first began the application process. After speaking with her, she encouraged me to apply for PCC's Workforce Capacity Program."
Roberto was accepted into the Program, and he excelled. Putting in the hours was difficult, especially because he was balancing a full-time job and being present for his family. "It wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it put me on the fastest track to receiving my CNA. That was the goal.”
As he was progressing through the Program and with graduation becoming more of a reality, Roberto realized he wanted to follow in his mother’s footsteps and work in an emergency department. “I appreciate that setting a lot because, many times, people are at their most vulnerable and they put a lot of trust in your hands. I find it really fulfilling to be able to assist someone in their time of need.”
It is neither common nor easy to find a job at an emergency room right after graduation. Roberto took advantage of the Program's opportunities to demonstrate his talents in an ER setting. "I demonstrated during our clinicals that I possessed the disposition and skills required to work effectively in an emergency care environment. Unbeknownst to me, our instructors noticed. I applied to several local hospitals after graduation. It just so happened that one of the instructors, Tasha Dixon, who noticed was the nurse manager at Adventist HealthCare. So, when I applied, she followed up with me. I was able to get to my current position through that connection."
As he considers how he got where he is now, Roberto recognizes the influence of others around him. "My mom was an inspiration to me. Then there was my wife and brother, who encouraged me. Then, once I was accepted into the program, my classmates and instructors encouraged me as well. And, of course, I have to give a shout out to Liza Greenberg at PCC. She was there at the beginning when I first applied and was a mentor to me as I went through the program. I tell people that healthcare is a team sport. If you want to work in this sector, there are resources available to you. You just need to go get it."
A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration funds 92.8% ($1.3 million) of the cost to train 200 healthcare workers and increase Montgomery College training capacity between December 2023 and November 2025. Non-governmental funds, including support from Maryland Physicians Care, support 7.2% ($101,615) of these costs. Additional workforce capacity efforts have been supported by WorkSource Montgomery, Maryland Physicians Care, and the Maryland Department of Labor.
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