Thania Leal

Thania Leal started out at UTSA completing prerequisites for the UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant program, but after receiving an email from Richard Wettstein, an associate professor in the respiratory care department, she decided to shadow respiratory care professionals.

She was pre-accepted into the respiratory care program, and felt it was inevitable that she would end up at UT Health San Antonio.

Today, Leal is thankful for the job and volunteer placement programs the school has in place for students. There is a volunteer coordinator for the respiratory program, and through their help, students get to see a lot of different systems and make connections with vendors and other professionals in the respiratory care field. Current students get to socialize with recent graduates from the program who help them later down the line when they are starting their careers.

She even met someone who graduated from Ut Health San Antonio and then relocated to Houston. That new friend has helped Leal secure a position in Houston as well. The students and graduates from the respiratory care department help one another move up and on to start and continue wonderful careers in an field that they love.