Stay-at-home mom graduates with a job in Medical Coding

Returning to school after many years of focusing her time on her family, was no easy feat, but for Dianna Zapata, it was a challenge worth taking.

Nearly a year and a half later, her hard work has paid off as she not only graduates with a medical coding certificate from South Texas College, but has also secured a job, marking the start of a new chapter in both her career and her life.

“I want my children to understand that education is the key to their future, and I need to lead by example,” she said. “Education opens doors, it’s never too late to pursue it. No matter how old you are, you can always go back to school and achieve your dreams.”

Zapata, 35, had previous experience as a medical assistant, working right after high school for just under a year until she moved with her husband, who had joined the military. Once reestablished in Georgia, Zapata paused her aspirations in the medical field when she found out she was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl.

“My entire world shifted. My family and my future became all about them. When the twins were a year and a half old, I found out I was pregnant again. It was a blessing to dedicate myself fully to caring for them,” she said.

When her husband was discharged from the military, they returned home to the Rio Grande Valley, where he was the first to pursue a future at STC by enrolling in the Diesel Mechanics program.

His decision to go back to school was a turning point, inspiring Zapata to support him fully as he dedicated himself to this new path.

“He ended up going to school first, while we were both figuring out this new chapter of our lives and growing our family,” she added. “But now, with our kids getting older (12 and 11), I realized it was finally my turn. He had always supported my dreams of going back to school and work, but for so long, my children were my priority.”

Zapata decided to pursue a medical coding certificate, drawing inspiration from her previous experience as a medical assistant, where she had already taken on some of the responsibilities of working with coding systems.

To build on that foundation, she enrolled at STC to formalize and expand her knowledge.

“Many people think medical coding is complicated or don’t know what it means, but it’s an essential process that helps with insurance, treatment and procedures. It’s something I was already doing as a medical assistant, just without getting paid for it,” she explained. “It’s really hard to land a good-paying job without the certification or degree. I told myself, ‘I’m not going to earn what I want unless I have that certification,’ so I decided to take the first step and go back to school.”

Now, 18 months later, she has earned her first certification in the Health and Medical Administrative Services field, additionally aspiring to earn her Electronic Health Records certification and associate degree in Health Information Technology to further solidify her career.

Her dedication to balancing family life with school has already paid off. She was recently hired at DHR Health, the very place where she completed her clinical training.

“My favorite part was applying what I learned in school to those clinical hours, those hands-on skills are crucial. You have to be actively involved because that’s the only way you’ll truly learn,” she said. “I officially started the second week of November as a part-time coder, a role I’m certain I wouldn’t have landed without STC.”

Zapata is determined to make a meaningful impact in the medical field through her unique role, one that is often overlooked, but essential to patient care.

“This field is a great option for someone who wants to be part of the medical world but wants to stay behind the scenes. It’s a way of helping in a different, but equally important way,” she explained. “We play a crucial role in ensuring that the facility gets paid for the work being done and that insurance processes the treatments and procedures needed. This is an amazing career that can be achieved in a short amount of time.”

Recipient of financial assistance and resources from VIDA (Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement), Zapata graduates grateful for the opportunities provided at STC and is ready to make a name for herself and inspire others.

“Going back to school was hard. You want to be with your family, with your kids, it was heartbreaking leaving them to go to class. But I would tell myself, ‘Just a little bit longer, and I’ll finish,’ and now, I have,” she said. “I’m so grateful to STC for giving me the opportunity to restart my life. My advice to anyone thinking about going back to school is simple: Just go for it, because that’s the only way you’ll move forward in life.”

For more information on the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate or other programs offered at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health Division, visit nah.southtexascollege.edu/ or call 956-872-3100.