Pauline Dorsi

Pauline Dorsi ’14 graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 1989 with a BA in history. She worked at Health Net as a claims processor and became interested in procedure codes and diagnosis codes and how they work together to pay claims properly.

Although she loved her job, she unfortunately was laid off in 2011. She started at Gateway in 2012 through a program called TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance), a federal program that provides a path for employment growth and opportunity through aid to U.S. workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade.

“I had the opportunity to go to school,” she said. “I was very fortunate the state paid for my education. I will always be grateful for that.” 

Because she was interested in codes, she majored in BOT: Medical Administrative Assistant. As part of her coursework she took Medical Coding I & II, which were instrumental in helping her to get her new job as a Medicare Biller/Analyst at Milford Hospital.  

According to Dorsi, “Gateway gave me confidence in myself. After not being in school for 23 years, I was invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa, Honor Society.  I was honored to be a part of that—you need at least 3.5 to be invited to join. I will always remember Gateway as giving me a new beginning.”

“Gateway gave me confidence in myself. I will always remember Gateway as giving me a new beginning.”

Pauline Dorsi

Dorsi also credits her professors for her renewed success. “The BOT professors are fabulous!” she said. “They really care about you and take the time to make sure you are prepared for the working world. I was fortunate to have a student worker job. I was able to make some spending money while gaining some real world experience. Gateway is a great school and a good opportunity to make a new beginning. They offer many classes at various times. I am so glad I chose Gateway for my path into the future.”