How One Call Changed Everything for Destinee and Her Daughter

Destinee P., based in Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) with an associate degree in Medical Administrative Assisting. She completed her program in December 2024, proudly walked the stage in April 2025, and is now employed — building the future she once dreamed of for herself and her daughter.

Ever wonder what it feels like to be in the right place at exactly the right time? That’s how I found UMA.

My life had just turned upside down. I had lost my job in the hospitality industry, and the restaurant where I worked as an assistant manager had burned down — so even those 14-hour shifts were no longer an option. I was facing an uncertain future while trying to figure out my next move and raise my daughter, who was just shy of four years old at the time.

One day, I came across an advertisement for UMA on social media. At first, I thought about brushing off the phone call, but something told me not to. In that moment, when I was encouraged to give school another try, I chose to believe in myself and in the future I had dreamed of.

I had always been drawn to healthcare. Back in high school, I thought about becoming a nurse because I had a “live to serve” mentality. My mom often told me, “You have the heart to care for people,” and those words stayed with me. When I began the interview process with UMA, choosing the Medical Administrative Assistant program felt like the perfect fit.

Those 18 months of the program were some of the hardest of my life. Even though I was living in and out of hotels, I showed up to class every single day and turned in every homework assignment on time — even on the days I second-guessed myself or thought it was impossible. Looking back, three things kept me going: my daughter, my mom, and UMA.

My daughter was my motivation. My mom was my rock, always in my corner encouraging me to keep strapping on my boots. And UMA? UMA became more than just my school — they made me feel like I had a whole family behind me.

From the beginning, UMA made it easy to navigate financial aid and its online format allowed me to take care of my daughter and still attend class every day. But what really surprised me was how much they cared. My advisors did not just check on my progress — they checked on me. They believed in me and pulled me out of some of my darkest headspaces.

And because of that, I made the Dean’s List.

Even after I graduated and started working, UMA continued to check on me. That kind of genuine care does not just happen, and it meant everything to me.

If you are considering UMA, my advice is simple: do it.

They will walk with you every step of the way. I have tried other schools, but my experience at UMA was truly unmatched. UMA made me feel seen, like I mattered — and that made all the difference.