Success Story: Meet Tanya
That nervous feeling of “imposter syndrome” when starting something new is normal. But what Tanya Loa experienced while working at a prestigious Chicago university hospital was different. She was more than qualified for the job, but as the only woman of Mexican heritage on staff, Loa just never felt like she belonged.
That all changed when she arrived at St. Augustine College at Lewis University to earn her Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy — a CoARC-accredited program designed to train students for clinical careers in hospitals, home care, pulmonary clinics, and other healthcare environments.
“I look at all my classmates, and they’re just like me. A lot of my classmates are older and have young children,” says Loa, herself a mother of three, ages 7, 2, and 15 months. “I don’t feel like a minority anymore. I feel at home here — like I belong.”
The road to St. Augustine was not without its challenges. Loa’s parents didn’t finish high school, so the process of applying to college and navigating financial aid felt overwhelming at first.
“I saw the price of the tuition and got overwhelmed, thinking it’s not for me,” she says, explaining how her partner later encouraged her to take the leap. “I got motivated again to apply, so I got in touch with the St. Augustine financial aid department. They guided me through the whole process, and I haven’t had to pay anything out of pocket yet — which I’m really grateful for.”
That financial support reflects something SAC has long prioritized. As one of Chicago’s most affordable CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy programs, St. Augustine makes it possible for students like Tanya — working parents, first-generation college students, members of communities underrepresented in healthcare — to pursue a career that would otherwise feel out of reach.
The Respiratory Therapy program’s hybrid structure has also been essential for Loa, who juggles coursework with a remote position at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
“Half of my classes are online, and half are in person, so it’s the perfect balance right now,” she says. “And since a lot of classes are online, my classmates become my immediate support system. That’s a big part of why I’m doing so well.”
Across six semesters, SAC’s RT students progress through increasingly complex clinical training — from oxygen therapy and aerosol administration to mechanical ventilation and airway management — all tracked through the Trajecsys online clinical management system. By graduation, students are eligible to sit for the NBRC credentialing exams to earn their CRT or RRT credentials, opening doors to careers at Chicago’s major hospital systems.
Loa’s goals extend beyond the hospital floor. “I love health care and want to work in a hospital. That would be my immediate goal,” she says. “Another long-term goal is to set up a nonprofit wellness and prevention center with a food pantry. I’ve had a lot of people help me, so I want to find a way that I can give back to my community.”
On track to graduate in 2027, Loa is set to become the first person in her family to earn a college degree — an accomplishment that once felt impossible.
“Even if you’re coming from the south side of Chicago like I am,” she says, “St. Augustine’s teachers and programs make the dream come true.”
