Dallas College

Student Experience: Vanessa H. Nguyen, RRT

“I first earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts, but I knew that a job in this field would not be fulfilling; I knew I wanted to take care of people. So I looked into different programs and found Respiratory Care at El Centro. I still wasn’t sure if that was the right career path for me, so I took some HPRS classes with Mr. Idichandi Idicula. He helped me to realize that I made the right choice. It’s obvious he loves what he does, and I made the decision to go into respiratory therapy because of him. 

“The best part of the program was the teachers. They are knowledgeable in their field because they work in it, and they are caring people. They encouraged us to develop our work ethic and also stressed the importance of taking care of our patients. Our instructors always shared their experiences and stories with us, even the mistakes they’ve made, so that we could learn from them. I feel like I really learned from their experiences. 

“What do I love about my job? I love my co-workers, and I love my patients and their families. The surprising part about this job is how much I've learned about humanity, how kind people are. There are many wonderful people out there.

“If you like to learn and truly care about people, you’ll love this job.”  Vanessa Nguyen earned an associate degree in Respiratory Care from El Centro in 2008. She also holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is credentialed as a registered respiratory therapist (RRT).


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Alyssa Young

Alyssa Young

Nursing Student and Athlete
“Community college gives you the opportunity to grow into adulthood while figuring out what you want to do with your life. With all of the resources available, it gives everyone a stable place to begin their college journey.”
Nursing
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Lupe Ortiz, RRT, NPS

Respiratory Care Practitioner Baylor University Medical Center
“I chose El Centro one, it was closer to home. It was a little more affordable than going to somewhere out of state or somewhere else. Just those two things were, were the main thing, the reason why I chose to go to El Centro. I think El Centro did an excellent job of preparing me for going into the workforce.”
Respiratory Care Program
Alice Madden

Alice Madden, CST, FAST

Certified Surgical Technologist Methodist Dallas Medical Center
“I will continue to be involved and to encourage and motivate surgical technologists to be the best they can be in all surgical specialties. I want to encourage all surgical technologists to become certified and become members of the AST and the Texas State Assembly.”
Surgical Technologist
Prayuth Phang

Prayuth Phang, RT(R)

Radiologic Technologist Community Portable X-ray Inc.
“Dallas College has a lot of programs for people who want to have a better life with education. I strongly recommend other students to join this program — they have the best teachers who really care about their students, as well as financial help available. I love what I’m doing, and I will continue doing it to serve people.”
General Studies, Radiologic Sciences
Vanessa H. Nguyen
Vanessa H. Nguyen, RRT
Respiratory Therapist Methodist Dallas Medical Center
Respiratory Care Program
School of Health Sciences
Updated July 28, 2026