Medical assistant finds purpose and a place to grow at IU Health

When patients at IU Health Arnett prepare to leave the hospital, Jacqueline Cornejo-Sanchez is often among the first to help them take the next step.

As a medical assistant at IU Health Post Hospital Care – Lafayette, Cornejo-Sanchez meets with patients at their bedside, connecting those at higher risk of readmission with the care they need to recover. By coordinating appointments at discharge and focusing on early follow-up, she and the Post Hospital Care team aim to improve outcomes, enhance the patient experience and reduce avoidable readmissions.

Cornejo-Sanchez's journey with IU Health, however, began long before the Post Hospital Care clinic opened in April 2026. In fact, it started when she was a patient.

Growing up in Lafayette, she received care from an IU Health Pediatrics provider.

“After spending several years visiting my pediatrician, I realized I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare,” Cornejo-Sanchez says. “She made such a positive impact on my life, and I wanted the opportunity to help others the way she’d helped me.”

Years later, as a high school student in the Greater Lafayette Career Academy’s emergency medical technician and medical assistant programs, she returned to IU Health—this time exploring the career she’d always dreamed of.

She completed externships with IU Health, gaining hands-on experience and a firsthand look at patient care from the other side of the exam room.

“Having the opportunity to complete both of my externships at IU Health was especially meaningful,” she says. “It helped me become familiar with the organization, build confidence navigating its systems and protocols and strengthen my passion for working here.”

Through those experiences, Cornejo-Sanchez discovered both a career path and a sense of purpose, ultimately leading her to become a medical assistant.

In August 2025, she joined IU Health as a PRN float in Primary Care.

“In that role, I frequently cared for patients who were recently discharged from the hospital and required close follow-up,” she says. “These patients often had complex medical needs, and I saw firsthand how important it was to provide them with the support and resources necessary for a successful recovery.”

When she learned about the new Post Hospital Care clinic, she saw an opportunity to grow her career while making a meaningful difference.

“Although many of the patients we see are facing serious health challenges, they are often some of the kindest and most resilient individuals I have met,” she says. “From meeting them at bedside in the hospital to completing their 30-day follow-up care, being able to support them through their recovery is what gives me the greatest sense of purpose and fulfillment.”

Her passion for serving others continues to shape her future. As she considers what’s next, she hopes to become a nurse and continue building her career at IU Health.

“I am excited to keep learning and taking on new challenges,” Cornejo-Sanchez says. “IU Health offers so many opportunities for professional growth, and I truly believe there is no better place to continue pursuing my goals in healthcare.”