Adisti McKinney Finds Her Calling in Healthcare at Carteret Community College

Sometimes, the experiences that challenge us the most also lead us toward opportunities we never imagined.

For Carteret Community College student Adisti McKinney, supporting her husband through serious health challenges changed the way she viewed healthcare and ultimately inspired her to pursue a new career dedicated to helping others.

Originally from Indonesia, McKinney has spent years building a life centered around family, education, and entrepreneurship. Now, through Carteret’s newly introduced Medical Assisting Apprenticeship Program, she is taking those life experiences and turning them into a meaningful career opportunity.

“My husband’s health journey was the biggest inspiration for me to pursue a career in healthcare,” McKinney shared. “Walking alongside him through these experiences has given me a different perspective on what patients and their families go through.”

Her journey is one of determination, personal growth, and discovering that sometimes the most meaningful career paths begin with experiences close to home.

Finding Purpose Through Personal Experience

Before beginning her journey at Carteret, McKinney had already experienced several chapters of personal and professional growth.

In Indonesia, she graduated from vocational high school in 2001, where she studied business administration and secretarial work. She continued her education for three years in social and political sciences before beginning a career that included more than seven years working as a secretary to a financial manager.

After marrying and moving to the United States in 2015, her priorities shifted toward raising her family. In 2020, she took another step forward by launching her own home-based business.

Although she was proud of what she had created, McKinney eventually began to feel that something was missing.

For a time, she envisioned expanding her business into something larger. However, her family’s experiences with healthcare gradually inspired her to consider a different direction.

Her husband, a cancer survivor who also lives with scleroderma, has faced ongoing health challenges. Supporting him throughout his journey gave McKinney firsthand insight into the uncertainty patients and families can experience and the lasting difference compassionate healthcare professionals can make.

“It has also helped me appreciate the important role healthcare professionals play, not only in providing medical care but also in offering support and compassion to patients and their loved ones,” McKinney explained.

Those experiences sparked a desire to pursue work that would allow her to provide that same sense of comfort and support to others.

“I wanted to pursue a career where I could help others and make a positive difference, even in small ways,” she said. “In many ways, this career path has become personal to me because it grew out of my own family’s experiences with healthcare.”

With a renewed sense of purpose, McKinney decided to return to school and begin working toward a career as a medical assistant.

More Than a Classroom: A New Pathway into Healthcare

When McKinney discovered Carteret Community College’s new Medical Assisting Apprenticeship Program, she recognized an opportunity to gain the education she needed while experiencing the healthcare profession firsthand.

Developed through a partnership between Carteret Community College and Carteret Health Care, the apprenticeship provides students with paid employment, structured workplace training, and mentorship while they complete their medical assisting education.

For McKinney, the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a professional healthcare environment was exactly what she had been looking for.

“I didn’t want to wait until graduation to find out what working in healthcare would be like,” she shared. “I wanted to learn in a real healthcare environment, ask questions, and connect what I studied in class with what happens at work.”

Unlike the traditional Medical Assisting pathway, the apprenticeship allows students to become employees while completing their education, giving them the opportunity to develop professional skills before graduation.

Sharon King, Director of Carteret Works, emphasized that the new apprenticeship expands educational and career opportunities while helping students build stronger connections with local healthcare employers.

“Both pathways provide the education and training necessary to prepare for a career in medical assisting. However, the apprenticeship adds paid employment, structured on-the-job training, mentorship, and a direct connection to a healthcare employer,” King explained.

Another important benefit is the financial support available through the partnership with Carteret Health Care. Apprentices receive assistance with educational expenses, helping reduce financial barriers that can make pursuing a new career challenging.

King stressed that the apprenticeship maintains the academic standards of Carteret’s Medical Assisting program while offering additional opportunities for professional development.

“The apprenticeship is not a shortcut or a replacement for the traditional program. It enhances the educational experience by connecting classroom learning directly to employment,” she said.

For students like McKinney, who are balancing education with family responsibilities, this combination of classroom instruction, workplace experience, and financial support creates a valuable pathway toward achieving their goals.

Turning Classroom Knowledge into Real-World Confidence

Since beginning her apprenticeship, McKinney has discovered that preparing for a healthcare career involves much more than understanding medical terminology or mastering technical skills.

Through her training, she has gained firsthand experience with patient checkouts, appointment scheduling, insurance information, and copayments. These everyday responsibilities have helped her understand how administrative tasks contribute to the overall patient experience.

“In class, we learn about medical terminology, administrative procedures, and the responsibilities of a medical assistant. At work, I get to see how those skills are used in everyday situations,” McKinney explained.

As she became more familiar with her responsibilities, McKinney began recognizing how each task, even those performed behind the scenes, plays an important role in helping healthcare offices operate efficiently and supporting patients throughout their visits.

The opportunity to rotate through different locations has also allowed her to observe different workplace environments, learn how healthcare teams coordinate responsibilities, and develop a greater appreciation for the importance of adaptability.

She has learned that communication, patience, teamwork, attention to detail, and professionalism are just as essential as clinical knowledge.

Jessica Desimone, one of McKinney’s workplace mentors, emphasized the importance of developing strong interpersonal skills alongside technical knowledge. When asked what qualities contribute to success in medical assisting, Desimone identified four essential characteristics: “Empathy, compassion, teamwork and commitment.”

These qualities reflect the importance of preparing healthcare professionals who can not only perform their responsibilities effectively but also contribute to a supportive, patient-centered environment.

One of the most meaningful aspects of McKinney’s experience has been the opportunity to learn from professionals who are willing to share their knowledge and guide her development.

At CMG Newport, McKinney also credits Joan Crowe with helping her build a stronger understanding of medical records and the responsibilities of working in a healthcare setting.

“She is very thorough in the way she teaches, and I’ve learned a lot from her, not only about medical records but also from the experiences she’s gained throughout her years working as a medical assistant,” McKinney shared.

“Having someone willing to teach me from both her knowledge and experience has been incredibly valuable as I begin my own journey in healthcare.”

Together, the guidance provided by workplace mentors and the education McKinney receives at Carteret are helping her develop the practical skills, professional confidence, and understanding of compassionate patient care that she will carry into her future career.

A Community of Support at Carteret

Returning to school as an adult while balancing family responsibilities, coursework, and employment requires dedication.

For McKinney, the transition has meant learning to manage a demanding schedule while remaining focused on the future she is working to build.

“There are assignments to complete, exams to prepare for, new things to learn at work, and responsibilities waiting for me at home,” she shared.

Although some days can feel overwhelming, she has learned to become more intentional with her time, plan ahead, and approach challenges one step at a time.

Throughout that process, the support she has received from Carteret Community College has played an important role in helping her stay motivated and confident.

McKinney credits Medical Assisting instructors Mrs. Godette and Mrs. Cole for sharing their knowledge and providing guidance as she navigates the program. She also recognizes Sharon King and Carteret Works for helping make the apprenticeship opportunity possible.

Additionally, financial aid has helped ease some of the financial responsibilities associated with returning to school, allowing her to focus more fully on her education and professional development.

“The support I’ve received has helped me feel more confident about my decision to return to school and pursue a new career,” McKinney said.

Beginning a career in an unfamiliar field can feel intimidating, particularly when learning new skills while balancing responsibilities outside the classroom. However, McKinney has found encouragement in knowing that she has instructors, mentors, and college resources available to support her success.

Rather than expecting herself to know everything immediately, she is learning to embrace the process of developing new skills and gaining experience.

That perspective has helped her continue moving forward, even when the journey becomes challenging.

Building a Future with Confidence and Compassion

As McKinney continues her education and apprenticeship, she is already looking ahead to the type of healthcare professional she hopes to become.

Over the next five years, she envisions herself working as an experienced medical assistant, confident in her abilities and committed to providing excellent support to both patients and healthcare teams.

Her immediate focus is completing her education, continuing to strengthen her skills, and making the most of the opportunities available through her apprenticeship.

“I believe this apprenticeship will help me enter the workforce with a better understanding of what it takes to work in healthcare,” she shared. “By the time I complete my education, I’ll have both classroom knowledge and practical experience in a healthcare setting.”

While professional preparation is an important part of her journey, McKinney’s motivation remains deeply personal.

Having witnessed the impact that compassionate healthcare professionals can have on patients and their families, she hopes to bring that same kindness, patience, and understanding to others.

Her experiences have shown her that even the smallest interactions can make a meaningful difference in someone’s healthcare journey.

McKinney also hopes her story encourages other adults who may be considering returning to school, changing careers, or pursuing a goal they once thought was out of reach.

“I’m proud that I gave myself this opportunity to learn and grow while balancing my responsibilities as a student, apprentice, and mother,” she said.

For her, completing the program will represent more than earning a credential. It will be a personal accomplishment and a reminder that meaningful change is possible at any stage of life.

Opening Doors for Future Healthcare Professionals

Through its new Medical Assisting Apprenticeship Program, Carteret Community College is expanding opportunities for students to gain valuable workforce experience while pursuing careers in healthcare.

The partnership with Carteret Health Care offers an additional pathway for students interested in combining education with employment, mentorship, and financial support.

Students interested in apprenticeship opportunities must meet Carteret’s Medical Assisting program admission requirements and qualify for employment with a participating healthcare employer. Because apprentices are employees, they must also complete the employer’s application, interview, and hiring process.

Apprenticeship positions are competitive and depend on available opportunities and employer workforce needs. Admission to the Medical Assisting program does not automatically guarantee placement in an apprenticeship.

King encourages prospective students to connect with Carteret Works early to learn more about the process and explore available opportunities.

For McKinney, taking that first step has already opened the door to a future filled with new possibilities.

Her journey from Indonesia to the United States, from entrepreneurship to healthcare, demonstrates the power of personal experiences to inspire meaningful change.

And for anyone considering a similar path, she offers encouragement rooted in her own experience.

“Be willing to learn, ask questions, and give yourself time to grow. Sometimes, taking that first step is the hardest part.”

Interested in starting a career in healthcare? Explore the Medical Assisting program and apprenticeship opportunities available through Carteret Community College and discover how your next chapter could begin at Carteret.