Balancing surgery and service: How CareerTech shaped Jessica Cifuentes’ path
For Jessica Cifuentes, problem-solving has always been at the heart of her journey.
As a teenager in Oklahoma City, she discovered engineering through free STEM camps, where she learned that engineers are designers — people who see problems and create solutions. That lesson shaped her future, pushing her to explore careers in which creativity, science and service intersect.
Cifuentes grew up in Oklahoma. She attended ASTEC Charter Schools and, as a sophomore, enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences Academy at Metro Technology Centers. The three-year program introduced her to the intricacies of the human body and sparked a new dream: to one day work in medicine.
“I realized the human body is the most complex system ever designed,” she said. “The idea of identifying problems within it and fixing them inspired me.”
Her educators encouraged her to pursue every opportunity available. She became deeply involved in leadership and service programs, including Oklahoma HOSA–Future Health Professionals, in which she served as an officer for three of her four-year membership.
Cifuentes graduated in 2016 with more than $500,000 in scholarships. She earned a degree in engineering sciences, concentrating in materials science and pre-health sciences, at Emory University.
But even as her engineering studies advanced, Cifuentes never let go of her passion for medicine. In 2023, she shadowed Dr. Daniel Isbell, a general and robotic surgeon at Norman Regional Hospital, and found clarity in the operating room.
“From the first day, I knew I wanted to be in that environment, working alongside surgeons and contributing directly to patient care,” she said.
She returned to Metro Tech in 2023 as an adult student to pursue phlebotomy and surgical technology, earning her diploma and certifications before joining the cardiovascular operating room at INTEGRIS Baptist Heart Hospital. Today, she assists in some of the most complex surgical procedures, including open-heart operations.
“What I enjoy most is knowing that every day I’m making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives,” she said. “There’s something extraordinary about seeing surgery every day and knowing you are part of that team.”
Her work in the operating room is only part of her impact. In 2024, at 25, Cifuentes was elected to represent District 3 on the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education. For her, it was a full-circle moment, giving back to the same schools that shaped her future and applying the leadership skills she once learned as a student.
“My involvement in extracurricular activities like HOSA gave me the confidence to run for public office at a young age,” she said. “These experiences shaped my personality, sharpened my skills and influenced the platforms I now stand on as an elected official.”
Cifuentes said she hopes her story shows students the impact CareerTech can have at any age or stage of life.
“Don’t be afraid to start your journey here,” she said. “CareerTech prepared me for college, for my career and even for leadership. If you’re willing to put in the work, CareerTech will help you get where you want to go.”
