Ultimate Medical Academy Recognizes Monroe, N. C.’s Selina Campbell as UMA True Blue Alum
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 14, 2018 — Selina Campbell from Monroe, North Carolina, today was named a True Blue Alum of Ultimate Medical Academy. This recognition is awarded each quarter by the nonprofit accredited healthcare school to graduates who are serving their communities, excelling in their careers, and accomplishing other noteworthy achievements.
Shortly after graduating in 2014 from UMA’s online Medical Billing and Coding Associate of Science degree program, Campbell focused on a lifelong passion and founded Union County Kids — a nonprofit based in Monroe. She created Union County Kids to mentor middle school youth with a goal to teach them life skills and prepare them for the future. Through a variety of activities, Campbell and her volunteers share advice on setting career goals, financial literacy, and civic responsibility to a dozen students each year.
In addition to positively impacting the youth of her community, UMA’s final True Blue Alum of 2018, a single mother, also improved the life of her family. In November 2016, with the help of UMA she interviewed for and accepted a Pre-Certification and Referral Specialist position at Westmed Practice Partners in Charlotte.
Campbell also uses her UMA journey to encourage the youth she mentors to pursue a higher education.
“Without me furthering my education, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Campbell said. “UMA was a tremendous resource to me. Without UMA, I don’t think I would have grown academically as I have, professionally as I have, and I don’t think I would be able to mentor the youth of the community without this knowledge. I have been able to provide teach them about moving up and moving forward with their education.”
Campbell’s UMA journey came several years after working in various health-related jobs.
“Prior to starting at UMA, I’d been in the medical field for 15 years,” she said. “I felt like I plateaued, and that’s why it was very important for me to gain the additional education — so I could move forward and move up through the ranks of my career.
“Utilize all of your resources that UMA offers,” Campbell added. “I think a lot of people after they graduate feel like these resources might not be helpful to them, but from my experience, I can say the resources helped me grow. Without them, I think I would have continued to plateau or been in a standstill in my career.”
UMA President Derek Apanovitch said, “We are proud of Selina for striding forward in her career, and for following her dream of starting a nonprofit that makes an impact on middle school youth. Her story is an inspiration to us, her family, and the community.”
