Alli-Kay McDonald is a first year patient care teacher at AGHS and Nipomo High School.

Growing up, McDonald was a competitive gymnast and had to move around to compete.  She traveled and was home schooled until a knee injury in her junior year that resulted in the end of her competitive career.  

“I had the choice of pushing through, getting some cortisone shots, and not walking when I was old, or quitting and choosing something else in life other than gymnastics,” McDonald said. 

After McDonald’s injury, she enrolled in Clovis High School and graduated in 2008. She then attended Cal Poly SLO for her undergraduate schooling.

“All about those Mustangs!” McDonald said.

McDonald attended Texas Women’s University for her post graduate education and completed her graduate work through the Texas Medical Center.  She has a masters in nutrition and sports psychology.  

After college, McDonald worked in a hospital as a registered dietitian.  Her background provides patient care students insight into a general medicine career, whereas Matt Quijano (Practicum Patient Care teacher and athletic trainer) has experience in the emergency and sports medicine field. Previously, Quijano taught both years of the course but now only teaches second-year students.

“I think I just bring a different view point, and I think that a lot of our students want to become doctors or nurses– not that what Q brings isn’t valuable, [my experience] is just something else to contribute,” McDonald said. 

In her course, McDonald focuses “heavily on anatomy and physiology,” as well as “soft skills,” like bedside manners.  

McDonald’s biggest priority is her students and creating a welcoming and successful learning environment for everyone.

“If a student tells me that they feel safe in my class, that’s the biggest compliment, the biggest reward, [and] success that I could ask for,” McDonald said.