2016 - Vilma Quinones

Born in Puerto Rico, Vilma moved to Buffalo in 1989 with her husband, daughter, and son. She worked as a part-time housekeeper while her husband worked on the farms. Vilma knew she needed to feed herself and she enrolled and graduated from the UBEOC College Preparation Program in 1994. Still hungry, she enrolled at Erie Community College in Office Technology, worked Customer Service part-time at M&T Bank and then full-time upon graduation. After two years, Vilma went to Marine Midland Bank in Adjustments, where she was recognized by bank officials for saving a million dollar account. With three children, two having special needs, Vilma stopped out from work but not from feeding herself and her family. She learned sign language from the Early Childhood Learning Center and studied ADHD behavior in response to her children’s needs. It was then that she returned to EOC’s pantry to satiate her new career interest in healthcare. Enrolling in the Medical Assistant program, Vilma partook of EOC’s academic and support services. “I didn’t let any ‘food rot on the shelf,’ ” she says, noting her UBEOC Student Leadership Association participation, Buffalo Medical Group intensive clinical internship, and American Medical Technologist certification as a Registered Medical Assistant.

Vilma's allied health career is impressive and includes working as a Medical Assistant at: Buffalo Medical Group, floating among offices; UBMD training doctors in Emergency Medical Records; Zenith Medical performing clerical and clinical duties, and Neighborhood Health Center assisting in internal medicine, pediatrics, and OB-GYN. Vilma presently works at Academic Buffalonias in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Associates assisting in muscular and skeletal pain management and brain/spinal cord rehabilitation. She also serves as UBEOC’s internship liaison at that office, feeding current UBEOC students in their professional pursuits.

Alumni Affairs and Student Development Office    3.18.16