At the age of 16 I became pregnant and had to drop out of high school. Later, I attended a program for teen moms and graduated as their valedictorian. But, my attempts to attend college were futile and I soon had another child and began working at a call center. My desire to be a medical professional never left me, and on my way home from work, I started driving past Pima Medical where I would sit in the parking lot watching students come and go. I just couldn't get up the nerve to go inside. As a result of my emotionally unstable relationship, I did not feel worthy or capable of anything. One day, a student walking near my car dropped all his books and papers. I jumped out of the car to help him and he looked me in the eye and said, "You've been sitting out here every day for a month - what are you waiting for?" God speaks in mysterious ways. I went inside and signed up for the Medical Assistant program.
It was difficult working, going to school and caring for my children. I knew I had to leave Albuquerque because of my unstable relationship, so Pima Medical arranged an externship for me in Phoenix. My instructors and classmates not only helped me pack, they raised money to help fund the move for me and my kids.
I was offered a position during my externship. I became the lead assistant quickly and then their office manager. After a few years, I moved to Scottsdale Physicians Group where I am a director over 38 other MA's. I am continuing my education in Pima Medical's online Health Care Administration program with plans to complete my bachelor's degree. I am still breaking the cycle. Pima Medical transformed my life both personally and professionally!
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I completed my bachelor's degree in child development and worked at child care centers for a number of years, but something inside me always longed to be in the medical field. My dad was a physical therapist assistant and later became an RN, so I had lots of exposure to the medical field. But, it's very difficult to switch careers. After a coworker told me about Pima Medical Institute, I began taking steps to enroll in the Medical Assistant (MA) program. I was still working full-time so the hybrid MA program, which offered online learning and the opportunity to attend classes two nights a week, was exactly what I needed. I loved my experience as a student and appreciated my instructors. It was tough attending classes and working full-time, but I was diligent with my studies and disciplined myself to study on weekends. When it came time for my clinicals, I quit my child care job and began applying all I had learned in my classes at a family medicine clinic. The people I worked with really helped me and I was able to apply the skills I had learned, gain experience and also increase my confidence. It was probably my favorite part of my education.
Finding a job ended up being a lot easier than I had anticipated. I am currently working as an MA at Parker Pediatrics and Adolescence. I love my job! I am able to marry all my experience working with children and my new career in the medical field. I really enjoy the people I work with and it's providing me a ton of opportunities for further growth and learning. I'm not finished with education, so I am in the process of getting my bachelor of science in nursing. Pima Medical gave me my start in the medical field. Being able to work full time while obtaining my MA certificate was so worth it and provided a jumping off point for me into the medical field.
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I had just had my last cancer surgery and was sitting on my couch at home when I heard the commercial. I got up and began researching medical assistant and Pima Medical Institute and made my decision. It was difficult going back to school and being the oldest student in the class. But the teachers cared and helped me every step of the way. Even after I graduated and began my career, I'd often call my instructor, Mrs. Cooks, with an insurance or billing question.
My first job was at a sleep clinic where I'd completed my externship. After only a month I was promoted to the office manager. About a year ago I received a phone call from someone at PMI asking me to come and teach for them. I was both shocked and touched. I am currently the lead Medical Assistant instructor and I have continued my education completing my associate's degree in Health Care Administration through PMI's Online Campus.
I have seen that PMI keeps their promise to help their graduates forever. I have a student who has been out of school for five years and is back for a refresher course, at no additional cost. Many of our instructors are alumni or are enrolled in our online programs. PMI is a great place to work. I can't ever remember working in such a pleasant environment.
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My whole life it was my dream to work in a career that took advantage of my love for science, my love for helping others, and my biggest passion, caring for animals! So, at a very young age I set my mind on becoming a veterinarian. But unfortunately, school didn't come easy, I struggled with learning difficulties, and people told me I would never reach my goal.
I let go of my veterinary dream, found Pima Medical Institute and decided to pursue becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. While talking with my admissions advisor at PMI, I mentioned my past dream of working with animals. My advisor encouraged me to follow my heart and my love for animals and showed me the new Veterinary Technician lab. I left feeling confused. Almost a year later I heard a song about following your dreams and it really moved me. The next day I told my family I was going to PMI to follow my dreams. Within a week I was signed up for the VT program and I started a month later.
I fell in love with PMI! My instructors cared about us students like family. I have a whole new confidence to follow my heart. I have made lifelong friends and have found a job where I feel like a success. I learned so much while at PMI but of all the things I learned, the most important one was to believe in yourself! Thank you PMI - I truly don't know where I would be without you!
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Pima Medical Institute provides a topnotch hands-on educational experience and prepares you for the real world. I believe it's an amazing and worthwhile investment.
I had always been interested in the healthcare industry, but after researching and learning about Respiratory Therapy, I fell in love with the profession. As I looked into schools, Pima Medical Institute just seemed to be the obvious choice, and I had a great experience at their Denver Campus. The instructors were great, there was a team-like atmosphere among my classmates, and I had a job before I even graduated.
I was running a respiratory program for over 30 skilled nursing facilities in the Denver area when I decided to continue my education, so I signed up for PMI's online Health Care Administration bachelor's degree program. I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure how I would be able to handle working full-time and going to school, but I quickly realized that if I was goal-oriented and committed, it really wasn't that difficult. In fact, I found myself looking forward to the next assignment or project, and it turned out to be a great experience. Interestingly, my final project involved walking through the process of developing my own company. As I was completing my assignments, I was literally putting them into practice. I was able to use my project to set up my own independent sleep test company, Elevation Respiratory Care & Diagnostics, which I still own and operate today.
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After graduating from high school, I attended UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso) but despite attempting a number of majors, I still didn't have a plan. The thing that brought me joy was volunteering at the shelter where I adopted my dog. I really loved working with the animals and it made me realize that's what I was meant to do.
I began researching schools with a veterinary program around El Paso and found Pima Medical Institute and enrolled in the Veterinary Assistant program. I cannot tell you how excited and joyful I was to finally start on a path to a career I knew I would love! I had a great experience during my 9-month program. My instructor was wonderful and I received lots of hands-on practice. I was placed in Boerne, near San Antonio, at the Cibolo Creek Veterinary Hospital for my externship and before I left to head back to El Paso, they offered me a position!
After almost three years as a Veterinary Assistant I decided to continue my education and enrolled in the Veterinary Technician program, this time at the Pima Medical in San Antonio. I have been learning so much and am enjoying getting exposure in different areas like exotics and livestock. I appreciate my instructors sharing their experiences and providing hands-on instruction. I plan to graduate later this year.
I love the veterinary field and I am so thankful to Pima Medical for providing a path to a great career that I love!
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Before becoming a Medical Assistant, I was cleaning houses for a living. It paid the bills but it wasn't something I wanted to do forever. So I made the difficult decision to go back to school and that decision came with many sacrifices. My instructors at Pima Medical Institute were amazing and helped me through hard times and never gave up on me. I really appreciated everything the staff hdid for me and my classmates. Best of all, I'm grateful to have met amazing people that I am happy to call friends and co-workers.
I love being a Medical Assistant! I really enjoy helping people and every day is different. Spring Branch Community Health Center gave me an opportunity to work in their West Houston location after my externship in the OB/GYN department. Although my main department is Women's Health, I am being cross trained in all departments including family practice and pediatrics.
I dropped out of high school and later completed my GED. I didn't believe in myself when I came to Pima Medical, but my instructors believed in me until I could believe in myself and I'm so grateful for that. Although my program was only 9 months long, I had a lot to deal with and it was a rough ride for me. Now that I've graduated, I have so much confidence in myself and believe nothing can get in my way!
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I was in my early 20's, ready to complete a degree in finance when I realized I really didn't want to spend my life sitting behind a desk. I had a few family members working in the radiography field and I noticed they not only had a great career, but they could choose to work in different modalities and had lots of variety in their jobs. I began researching, found Pima Medical Institute's Radiography program and enrolled.
I had wonderful instructors! It's an intense and tough program, but the way the program is structured really makes you feel prepared for your profession. I enjoyed the shorter rotations for clinicals which exposed me to many different areas and modalities. Once I knew what I was looking for, I was able to complete multiple rotations in my area of interest which prepared me for a job at that very location. I was hired at University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) and after a year I was promoted to a charge technologist and almost 2 years ago I moved into the role of General Radiology Supervisor. I love the fast-paced environment at UNMH. We're the only trauma one hospital in the state and we see something new every day. I'm not the only Pima Medical graduate in my department, we currently have five employees that were my classmates and each year I hire multiple new Pima Medical new graduates.
Pima Medical provided a great education and really prepared me for the field.
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When I first started my journey in health care, I was on track to become a nurse. After working as a phlebotomist for three years, I quit my job focusing on finishing the last few prerequisites for nursing school. However, life had other plans. I got pregnant with my now four-year-old daughter and took a year and a half off to spend time with her. In 2020, I began to reconsider my career path. I realized that the clinical side of healthcare was no longer my passion; instead, I was drawn to the administration and business side. After researching various degrees, I chose the online Health Care Administration (HCA) associate and bachelor's programs at Pima Medical Institute.
My experience at Pima Medical was incredible. Both programs' flexibility and the support from instructors and advisors were exceptional. They fit perfectly into my busy life as a full-time employee, wife and mother. The instructors were always available and willing to assist with anything I needed. The resources provided to students, from class scheduling to financial guidance, made everything so manageable. Upon completion of my bachelor's degree, I found a position as a Program Administrator at Baylor University Medical Center in Texas, managing the OBGYN, Hematology/Oncology, and Mechanical Circulatory Support programs and residents. I am currently working full-time and exploring graduate programs for Health Care Administration and Business Administration. My future goals include becoming certified in health care emergency management to effectively plan and respond to emergencies.
Thank you, Pima Medical Institute, for your guidance and support. Completing my degrees with you has been a wonderful experience, allowing me to achieve goals I never thought possible.
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Back in 2005, I was working in Public Relations at National Jewish Health, the nation's #1 respiratory hospital, when I first discovered the field of Respiratory Therapy (RT). Fascinated by the work, I asked the Director of Respiratory who offered the best RT program. Without hesitation, he said, "Pima Medical Institute." My decision was made.
My time in the Respiratory Therapy program at Pima Medical was incredible. The hands-on training during clinical rotations left me feeling fully prepared to enter the field. In fact, I had two job offers before I even graduated. Pima Medical's commitment to student success is unmatched-they're truly invested in 100% job placement, and it shows. Over the years, I've precepted students from many schools, and Pima Medical graduates consistently stand out as being the most prepared.
Today, I work at Craig Hospital near Denver, Colorado, a leading acute rehabilitation center specializing in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. I've built a new division within the department and now serve as the Respiratory Patient Education & Discharge Coordinator. My role involves training patients and their families to manage ventilators and tracheostomies at home, coordinating equipment and supplies, and often flying with patients across the country to ensure a smooth transition home.
In 2012, I was honored as Colorado Respiratory Therapist of the Year and in 2025, I received the National PHIL Award for Patient Advocacy.
I owe much of my success to Pima Medical Institute's exceptional program. To this day, I recommend it to anyone interested in Respiratory Care-it truly is the best!
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My journey into healthcare wasn't planned. During my senior year of high school, I was preparing to study engineering when my dad passed away. It was a tough time, and I decided to take a break. My mom, a nurse, suggested I become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), so I completed an accelerated program and started working at Silver Hills Healthcare Center in Las Vegas. I never imagined a career in long-term care, but I excelled as a CNA and was promoted to rehab aide. One day my regional director, who saw potential in me, signed me up for an informational seminar at Pima Medical Institute for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. I attended, was intrigued, and decided to enroll.
Balancing school and work wasn't easy, but Pima Medical made it possible. I worked flexible hours, attended classes and studied late into the evenings. The instructors were experienced, and the small class sizes made learning enjoyable. When I took the national licensing exam, I achieved one of the highest scores my instructor had ever seen. After working in the field, I wanted to grow my career even more, so I enrolled in Pima Medical's online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA) program. Today, I'm an Assistant Administrator at Alta Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, finishing my Administrator in Training program. Soon, I'll sit for the licensing exam to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and my ultimate goal is to own a skilled nursing facility.
Pima Medical gave me the tools and confidence to succeed. Their programs may cost a bit more, but they are efficient and effective with no prerequisites. I received a quality education at Pima Medical and I'm proud to be a graduate!
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Nineteen years ago, I took my first step toward a life-changing career by enrolling in the Medical Assistant (MA) program at Pima Medical Institute. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but I didn't realize how transformative this journey would be. During my time as an MA student, I became fascinated with Respiratory Therapy (RT), so I enrolled in Pima Medical's RT program. My instructors believed in me and pushed me beyond my limits. The administrative team was equally supportive, showing me that my education mattered to them as much as it did to me.
While still an RT student, I secured my first job at North Vista Hospital. After graduating, I joined University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas. Both hospitals hired me after completing my clinical rotations. I worked my way up and built my career at UMC, eventually earning a management role. While there I continued my education, completing a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) online program from Pima Medical and later a master's degree in Business.
After retiring, I returned to Pima Medical to give back. In April 2024, I became the Clinical Director of Education for the RT program and by October 2024, I became the RT Program Director. I am forever grateful to Pima Medical Institute for believing in me. This journey wouldn't have been possible without the incredible instructors and staff who stood by me every step of the way.
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