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Peck Academy
Instructional Design Professional Certification
Senior Instructional Designer at the American Academy of Dermatology
Blanca transitioned into healthcare as a Senior Instructional Designer after building a project-driven portfolio that showcased empathy, creativity, and real-world impact.
Blanca Torres-Olave had spent years working in higher education, where she developed a strong foundation in pedagogy and learner experience. But when she set her sights on transitioning into instructional design, her early job applications went unanswered.
That’s when she made a pivotal choice: to pause the scattershot search and commit fully to working with the Devlin Peck team.
After joining our program, she quickly dove into project work with her SME. The first milestone came early—a flagship project that not only sharpened her ID skills but also turned into a small contract. From there, Blanca continued to build momentum, crafting a portfolio that told a cohesive, compelling story about her capabilities.
“Peck Academy was absolutely instrumental in helping me transition into instructional design, through a rigorous program that gave me the technical and soft skills to succeed in a competitive job market.”
For her flagship project, Blanca created an interactive eLearning module to help hospital staff better support patients who might decline care. The course weaves in real-world scenarios, reflective moments, and clear guidance—helping learners build both procedural knowledge and cultural sensitivity.
This wasn’t just a theoretical build. It addressed a real healthcare challenge, giving Blanca the chance to merge instructional design best practices with socially impactful content.
To bring the project to life, Blanca used Articulate Storyline 360, Canva, and Vyond, demonstrating her powerful blend of instructional design and eLearning development skills.
“I wanted the course to feel grounded in empathy and professional integrity. It’s about empowering learners to respond thoughtfully in moments that really matter.”
After completing her flagship project and launching a sleek, scenario-driven portfolio, Blanca approached the job market with renewed confidence. She followed the guidance from Peck Academy to sharpen her LinkedIn presence and tailored her applications to reflect her evolving identity as a learning experience designer.
“Once my portfolio was live and I had followed the Academy’s advice, I noticed a distinct shift—I was finally speaking the language of instructional design.”
Blanca applied widely, navigating the emotional ups and downs of the job hunt with resilience and community support. She ultimately received two strong offers—but it was the role at the American Academy of Dermatology that truly aligned with her goals. The position gave her the chance to contribute to meaningful healthcare learning initiatives while joining a team that values work-life balance.
Now thriving in her role as a Senior Instructional Designer, Blanca brings empathy and expertise to her work—drawing from both her academic past and her newly refined ID toolkit.
“Looking back, I realize that making the transition to instructional design wasn’t just about learning new software. It also required that I let go of my academic identity. The Academy helped me do both.”
Before joining Peck Academy, I had a strong background as an educator but struggled to break into instructional design. I felt confident I could pick up the tools and skills listed in job postings, yet I wasn’t getting any traction when I applied. It was frustrating to feel capable yet unseen in the job market, and I knew I needed a way to bridge that gap.
The Academy gave me the structure, support and community I needed to make that shift. Through real-world projects, feedback, and collaboration, I built a portfolio that showcased both my new and existing strengths. I noticed a distinct difference when I started applying for roles once my portfolio was live and I followed Academy guidance on how to fine-tune my professional persona on LinkedIn. I could speak the language of instructional design with confidence and perform well in interviews, which led to two offers — including one that was truly my dream job. Now in my new role as Senior Instructional Designer, I’ve been able to quickly apply my new knowledge and skills and continue to learn on the go.
The Academy has been transformative for my career and growth. Looking back, I realize that making the transition to instructional design wasn’t just about learning new software: It also required that I let go of my academic identity. For years, my expertise and professional value were defined by that role. It took guidance from my Academy peers and mentors, and a lot of practice, to reframe my expertise in a way that felt genuine to me and resonated with the instructional design field.
Not only did the Academy help me develop the skills I needed, but the certification program also gave me the confidence and clarity to move forward in a new professional identity. What I’ve learned is that my background as an educator is still an asset — it now informs the way I design learning experiences, but with the added tools and perspective of an instructional designer.
Senior Instructional Designer at the American Academy of Dermatology
Instructional Design Professional Certification
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Our certification programs are designed to help you stand out: structured learning, hands-on projects, and a portfolio that proves your skills.
Graduates don’t just learn—they launch careers with confidence and credibility.
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