When Priya Patel arrived in the United States from India in 2019, she brought with her a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and five years of experience working in a hospital dispensary. She also brought the expectation that her qualifications would transfer. They did not.
The process of getting her foreign credentials recognized proved far more complicated and expensive than she had anticipated. Meanwhile, her spoken English, while functional, was not yet strong enough for the professional communication that pharmacy roles demanded. After two years of working part-time retail jobs, Priya was discouraged and unsure of her next move.
Finding a New Direction
A caseworker at a local refugee resettlement agency referred Priya to BridgeWorks. During her initial intake assessment, it became clear that Priya had substantial transferable skills, including knowledge of medical terminology, experience working in clinical environments, and strong organizational abilities, but needed a realistic pathway to use them.
Rather than pursuing the lengthy and costly process of pharmacy licensure, Priya and her career coach explored healthcare administration as an alternative. The field valued the kind of knowledge Priya already possessed and offered strong growth potential without requiring additional years of specialized education.
The Training Journey
Priya enrolled in a BridgeWorks workforce readiness program with a healthcare focus. The curriculum covered medical office procedures, electronic health records systems, insurance billing basics, and professional communication. Priya also participated in our workplace English program, which helped her develop the confidence to communicate effectively in professional settings.
"The hardest part was not learning the material," Priya recalls. "It was believing that I belonged in an American workplace. The coaches at BridgeWorks helped me see that my experience was an asset, not a liability."
The program included a four-week externship at a community health center, where Priya worked alongside administrative staff and gained hands-on experience with patient scheduling, records management, and front-desk operations. Her supervisors noted her attention to detail and her ability to connect with patients from diverse backgrounds.
Building a Career
After completing the program, Priya was hired as a medical office assistant at a family practice clinic. Within eight months, she was promoted to a lead administrative role, managing scheduling for a team of six providers. Her pharmacy background proved unexpectedly valuable, as she could communicate knowledgeably with both clinical staff and patients about medication-related administrative processes.
Today, Priya is pursuing additional certifications in healthcare management. She is also volunteering with BridgeWorks as a peer mentor for other immigrant participants, drawing on her own experience to help them navigate the challenges of building a career in a new country.
Lessons for Workforce Development
Priya's story illustrates several important principles. First, foreign-trained professionals often possess skills that are directly relevant to the American labor market but need structured pathways to access opportunities. Second, language support and cultural orientation are not extras. They are essential components of effective workforce development for immigrant populations. Third, career pivots can be just as powerful as direct credential transfers when they are well planned and well supported.
At BridgeWorks, we are proud of the work we do with immigrant and refugee communities. Stories like Priya's remind us that talent does not have a nationality. It just needs the right opportunity.
If you or someone you know is looking to build a career in the United States, BridgeWorks offers training programs with integrated language support. Contact our intake team to learn about enrollment options.
