WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

Since starting my education at Pima Medical Institute, my career has grown from dental assistant, to office manager, to benefits coordinator, and now to my new job as a director of operations. After battling a severe eating disorder for over ten years of my life, I knew I needed a career I would enjoy. While on the road to recovery, I searched online and found Pima Medical Institute's Dental Assistant program and enrolled. I had no family support and really struggled, but I completed the program and afterwards moved to Hawaii where I worked as a dental assistant for several years. After realizing I wanted more, I enrolled in Pima Medical's online Health Care Administration associate degree program. When I completed that program, an instructor encouraged me to keep going, so I moved back to Albuquerque and completed the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration program. Recently after finishing my professional portfolio, I was offered an amazing brand new job with a great salary, benefits and lots of paid vacation. My Pima Medical instructors valued me and helped me see a different perspective. I used to have a huge chip on my shoulder and now I just want to motivate people and keep my office a happy place. Every program and every course I've taken pertained to my career and made me a better healthcare professional. I've decided I want more, so I am currently enrolled in Pima Medical's Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. I'm not finished yet!

At a young age I had the opportunity to shadow a veterinarian, Dr. Katherine Parks, and my passion was ignited! Each spring break I continued to visit her clinic and during that time I made the decision to become a Veterinary Technician (VT). I had no interest in attending a four-year college as I was career driven and was anxious to get out and work in the field. I loved the VT program at Pima Medical Institute! It was encouraging and exciting to be surrounded by fellow students who all shared my passion. I appreciated the atmosphere created by our instructors and the hands-on experience. Unfortunately, I was in a rollover accident, was bedridden and had to miss a whole sequence of classes. It was difficult being away from Pima Medical and all my classmates, but my instructors were so supportive when I was able to return. However soon after, COVID hit and we were forced to go remote. I was so discouraged, but I was able to begin shadowing at my future externship site while taking online classes and upon graduation they offered me a position. I passed my VTNE exam in October of 2020 to become a certified VT. I am currently the second lead tech and am in charge of employee training and inventory; having assisted in establishing new protocols and the purchase of updated equipment. I attend every continuing education event I can get my hands on and I love learning. Veterinary medicine can take me anywhere and I am up for the challenge. Down the road I can even see myself as an instructor in a VT program. I am grateful for Pima Medical and my instructors who provided me with an education that has led to my continued success and allowed my dreams to become reality.

A couple months after graduating from high school I enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's Dental Assistant (DA) program. My sister had gone to school there to become a Medical Assistant, but I felt like DA might be a better fit for me and I have no regrets! It was different having many of my classmates be older than me, but we adjusted and my instructors were encouraging and super helpful. I was terrified when it came time for me to go out on my externship at a clinic with real patients, but I did it. I was eager to start my new career and applied everywhere. I remember where I was when I got the call from my doctor asking me to come in for an interview resulting in a job. I have been with Dr. Joseph Lee at Burien Family Dental Care for three years now and he has taught me so much! I love assisting the doctor and taking care of my patients and I am now one of the lead assistants. We have convenient hours for our patients, so I work four days from 8 am to 7 pm and get to enjoy three-day weekends. I feel appreciated; my hourly rate has nearly doubled and the doctor even took us to a dental conference in Las Vegas. The whole staff at Pima Medical was so wonderful. I was not a great student, but my instructor, Ms. Shalon, pushed me and believed in me and she's the reason I am where I am. I'm so grateful to Pima Medical Institute for providing me with a career that I love.

I am in my 18th year of Veterinary Medicine! I have been credentialed in a total of four states throughout my career. I obtained my first job where I'd had my clinical assignment and I loved it and worked in primary care for five years. I felt like I needed to advance my career and learn more so I started my five-year career in specialty surgery. I love learning and growing, so while working in surgery, I started picking up shifts in our emergency department. My heart is certainly in emergency medicine where I've been working for the last eight years, including managing a veterinary hospital in Texas and fulfilling my life's dream by working at The University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. I remember back in 2005 living in Las Vegas and looking for a career. I didn't just want a job. I wanted a career that would make me feel fulfilled and I wanted to work with animals, so I chose Pima Medical Institute's Veterinary Assistant (VA) program and I loved it! When I found they were adding a Veterinary Technician (VT) program I immediately enrolled in the first ever VT program at the Las Vegas Campus. The thing I appreciated the most at Pima Medical were my instructors. Dennis Lopez was an amazing teacher who not only gave us book smarts, he taught us about real life and work in veterinary medicine. I am so grateful for my education and training at Pima Medical. I definitely felt prepared for my new career and I've never looked back.

My mother had a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis, which resulted in her needing to be intubated and trached throughout her life, so I was familiar with respiratory. At age 19, I started my career path in the medical field as a transporter at Sunrise Hospital. As I worked with and observed the Respiratory Therapists (RT), I began to understand the importance of their profession. I knew then, this was the career for me, so I enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's RT program. I appreciated the support from both administration and instructors and their belief that I could become a productive member of the RT community. My classmates provided support throughout the rigorous program and there was a great camaraderie among us. I remember having study sessions, gatherings, and cookouts in the parking lot with the faculty, staff and students. Having the opportunity to work in professional clinical settings while in school provided the perspective I needed and upon graduation, I was promoted to a full-time Respiratory Therapist at my hospital. I also worked with University Medical Center (UMC). I continued my education in Pima Medical's Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) and then went on to complete my Master's Degree in Business Administration at Columbia Southern University. I am still employed with UMC as their Senior Respiratory Therapist and I have been a Clinical Instructor for Pima Medical Institute's Las Vegas Campus since 2016. My eventual goal is to move into hospital administration becoming a VP or COO. I am very thankful for Pima Medical Institute. Anything worth having is worth working for, and true education is what you are willing to put into it whether you're at Yale, Harvard or Pima Medical. Therefore, always attempt to set the standard of excellence in everything you do and everything you love.

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.

I have always had an interest in the medical field, but had no idea where to begin. My brother went to Pima Medical Institute for the Veterinary Technician program, which led me to look into the school. After my first tour, I knew it was the place for me and I enrolled in the Medical Assistant (MA) program. My student experience was amazing! I had fantastic instructors and got so much hands-on experience in such a short amount of time. At first, it was difficult to balance full-time school while working, but I loved what I was learning so much that putting in the work was something I was more than willing to do. I loved getting to practice my hands-on skills with my classmates. Doing things like injections and blood draws on real people truly prepares you for real patients. I graduated from Pima Medical with a 4.0 GPA, and as soon as I started to apply for jobs, the offers were rolling in! I ultimately chose to work at University of Washington Medical Center because it seemed like the best opportunity for me, and it definitely has been. Since graduating, I have been working at UW for the last year. I have learned so much and have never been more confident in a job. Getting my education at Pima Medical Institute was truly one of the best decisions I have ever made. It prepared me so much for my future and made stepping into a new role a piece of cake. I would highly recommend Pima Medical to others seeking to change their lives.

I was looking for a change from my previous jobs in food service and explored various community colleges in Seattle. After considering culinary arts, I decided to pursue a healthcare career where I knew jobs were more in demand. I chose Pima Medical Institute because the stories from previous graduates resonated with me. They were just like me, seeking change and career advancement. Despite having no prior knowledge or experience in pharmacy, I chose the Pharmacy Technician program to challenge myself. My experience at Pima Medical was fun and engaging. The courses, from Career Prep to the Pharmacy Technician classes, were well planned. I learned everything I needed to succeed. The biggest challenge was balancing homework and projects with a full-time job, but it was worth it. The support from the staff at Pima's Renton campus was invaluable. The admissions and financial aid advisors helped me with my FAFSA, easing my financial worries. My Career Prep instructor made learning exciting and engaging. The staff provided support and organized stress-relieving activities like the Halloween costume contest. My instructor imparted all the pharmacy knowledge I needed and now apply daily in my work. Since graduating from Pima Medical in 2018, I worked at ReadyMeds for nearly four years and I've spent the last several years working as a Specialty Pharmacy Technician at Kaiser Permanente of Washington. I highly recommend Pima Medical Institute for the support and programs they offer to help you achieve your goals and succeed in your career. Now I'm one of those graduates sharing my story to inspire others!

When I got braces in high school, I was fascinated by how something so simple could transform a person's smile-and their confidence. That experience sparked my interest in the dental field, and after researching options, I found Pima Medical Institute's Dental Assistant (DA) program. I enrolled right after high school and jumped into the program. My instructors were incredible! I never considered myself a standout student, but the hands-on learning style was perfect for me. I learned so much, and when it came time for my externship, it felt like a breeze because I was so prepared. They even offered me a job as soon as I finished, and I worked there happily until I moved out of state. Since graduating in 2011, I've worked in every part of a dental office-from assisting to managing the front desk to being an office manager. Today, I'm a mom of two fast-growing kids, and I want more flexibility to be with them, so I'm going back to school for billing and coding. This will allow me to continue working in the dental field from home. I love the dental field because I get to make a difference-helping patients find relief from pain or transforming their smiles - and I'm excited about the next chapter in my dental career. Pima Medical is an amazing place with caring instructors and I would choose it all over again. It's changed my life.