WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I grew up in a medical environment as my dad was a Navy doctor and my mom was a nurse. I ended up getting a bachelor's degree in biology and after working for a time in construction, decided my love of animals was prompting me to pursue a career in the veterinary field. I heard about Pima Medical Institute and liked the idea that I would get experience in the field through their Veterinary Assistant program. I still remember my first day of the VA program when my instructor looked at me and said, "You have a degree and are way overqualified for this." I explained I wanted to learn the basics of caring for animals and get hands-on experience. It's been over 25 years and that instructor and I are still in touch. She always told us, "I can teach you how to do a procedure correctly, but it's more important to teach you the WHY." I still emphasize this and repeat it often to my staff. While working as a VA, I applied to veterinary schools, but my bachelor's degree GPA was low and I was rejected from many vet schools. Finally, I was accepted at an offshore school in the Caribbean and later transferred to Kansas State, where I earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. I was a Veterinarian at a couple of clinics before owning my own. Over the years, I have hired graduates from Pima Medical and have taken their externs. They still offer a very good program and teach the basics. My time at Pima Medical was an opportunity and a doorway into the veterinary world. I am a great example that it's not always about grades. If you have passion and are willing to work hard, you can accomplish your goals. My mom always told me, "As long as you are doing something you love, you'll be happy!" Down the road, I think I might enjoy returning to Pima Medical ... this time as an instructor.

I was working in a call center, but knew I wanted a career and a new start to life. I had family members who were ill and I wanted to learn more to help them, so I decided to look into the medical field. After some research, I found Pima Medical Institute and made an appointment. I met with a friendly advisor who answered my questions and gave me a tour of the classrooms and labs and before I left, I enrolled in their 9-month Medical Assistant program. I hadn't been in a classroom since high school, but I had great instructors who put me at ease. They cared about me and my education and taught me everything I needed to feel prepared for my externship and to be successful in my new career. I did my externship at an Urgent Care and as soon as my hours were complete, they hired me full time as a Medical Assistant. They even paid for me to get NCT (Radiology Training Non-Certified Technician) certified. I have a job I love and I was just able to purchase a new car! My life has changed so much since finding Pima Medical Institute. They gave me that new start to life and put me on a path to success.

While in high school I had the opportunity to shadow a respiratory therapist in the ICU. They were running life support on people who were totally out of it and I saw the huge impact they were making on people's lives. I thought - what a cool mission to help people without them even being aware of it. When I asked their RT director where he liked to hire new graduates from, he said - Pima Medical Institute. Then I called a couple more hospital RT directors and asked the same question and they all said, Pima Medical. I enrolled shortly after high school, and although I'd been told in the past that I needed remedial help, I flourished. My instructors were amazing; they were passionate about the field and it was infectious. They would often provide a scenario that would help with the application of what we were learning. I am now a teacher and a shadow of my instructors. To this day I incorporate scenario-based education because of them. I ended up being hired as a student intern at my first clinical rotation and upon graduation went right into their ICU training. I was a new grad in a critical care unit at a level one trauma center working in NICU, high risk deliveries and advanced diagnostics and I loved it! After 11 years, I'd completed my bachelor's and obtained a number of specialty credentials, all of which prepared me to become an instructor at Pima Medical. Now I get to take bland material in a book and "turn on the light" for my students. I get to bring the functional application into their brains in a way they can apply it through games and role play. I am teaching the Pima Medical way - framing the knowledge for each student and providing a reason for them to see and understand concepts. I love my job!

I am a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), employed at the University of Arizona with the Veterinary Services and Animal Behavioral Team at the Center for Innovation in Brain Science. We focus on finding cures for: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). The hands-on experience and skills I obtained from Pima Medical Institute's Veterinary Technician (VT) program has been invaluable in my new fast-paced career. After spending several years in the aviation industry, the pandemic forced an opportunity upon me that led me to pursue my passion for animal sciences as my next profession. After researching several programs, I decided Pima Medical's Veterinary Technician (VT) program was perfect for me. The curriculum has a heavy emphasis on hands-on skill development, offers year-round enrollment, includes externships with a variety of practices and quality educators (CVTs and DVMs). I was apprehensive about returning to college after graduating so many years ago and was intimidated by current educational technology. The people at Pima Medical were very accepting and supportive and the program was a great experience for me. My courses allowed me to gain both real world experience with hands-on labs and real work experience (large animal experience at ranches and rescues, microchip clinics, spay and neuter events) and were a great addition to my resume. I was offered a position at my first externship site, a busy 24-hour mixed practice emergency veterinary hospital and recently started my new exciting career at the University of Arizona. I'm thankful for Pima Medical's VT program which offered me the opportunity to pursue my goals in the veterinary field by providing the tools I needed to succeed and make a difference.

While initially interested in Dental Hygiene (DH), at age 18, I chose to pursue Dental Assisting (DA) instead, partly because I was hesitant to commit to a university four-year DH program. Later, as I learned about Pima Medical Institute's two-year DH program, my research told me it was highly reputable and very challenging. This both intrigued me and motivated me and I enrolled. During my third semester an unexpected pregnancy brought huge challenges. My baby son was diagnosed with gastroschisis, a high-risk condition requiring frequent medical visits and a 54-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Despite the challenges of being a new mother and the emotional strain of the situation, I remained determined to succeed in my studies. I studied and completed assignments while at the NICU, my son serving as my inspiration. He was a reminder of my strength and my determination to never give up on my dreams. My DA employer had been supportive and excited about my becoming a Dental Hygienist and invited me to join their team as a DH upon obtaining my license. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of my instructors at Pima Medical for their unwavering support during my journey, especially as I navigated the challenges of my son's condition. Each instructor was incredibly helpful and supportive, always striving for my success. I am confident in the quality of education I received and would enthusiastically recommend it to others. While the program is rigorous, it is definitely achievable-I am living proof of that!

After being a truck driver and construction worker for 20 plus years, I made a promise to my mother before she died that I would go back to school. For nearly five years I passed Pima Medical Institute on my daily drive, and finally found the courage to pull in and take the pretest for the Nursing program. Going back to school at age 50 was scary, but I loved the atmosphere, the instructors and my classmates at Pima Medical. The instructors did an exceptional and extraordinary job preparing us for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). I applied at Banner Desert in Mesa where I had completed my clinicals and I was hired. It was 2019, and I was immediately thrown into the COVID Pandemic. A year later I decided to become a traveling nurse. Initially, I worried I might not be qualified enough or have enough experience, but I quickly got over that. Every place is different, but most of the core staff really appreciates the relief that travelers provide. I have been to 10 different places in four years. I'm considered a Banner Staffing Traveler within the Banner facilities nationwide and I call Banner Tucson my home, as it is where I spend the most time. Some of the challenges of being a traveler are finding a place to live and being away from family and friends. But, I am getting experience and confidence in different facilities and becoming more adaptable and flexible in my career. Plus, I am making a great salary. Pima Medical Institute changed my life forever. I made some lifelong friends during my experience, I had some incredible, humble, giving and caring instructors and I am truly grateful!

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 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!

After 12 years working primarily as a public health nurse at a Federally Qualified Health Center (BQHC) serving medically underserved populations, I became a supervisor at the Florida Department of Health. It was then that I realized that I needed to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to remain competitive in the job market. When I changed jobs, my new employer offered a deal I couldn't pass up; a FREE RN to BSN program, with the only contingency being that I remain with them 12 months after my degree attainment. I was initially accepted at a much larger and well-known university for an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, but the communication between myself and their recruiters left a lot to be desired, and as an older student who had never taken online classes, it spooked me. I searched and found Pima Medical Institute's online BSN program. I applied and was immediately welcomed by a veritable squad of people helping ease my fears and walk me through a new-to-me online educational experience. The director even called me personally to ensure the program fit my needs for maximum success. I graduated with a 3.9 GPA this past May, and I couldn't praise my professors or fellow students more! I had access to kind and helpful staff even at odd hours, and it has helped me become so much more confident in my current practice. My positive educational experience at Pima Medical has me seriously considering the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) online program. This is something that was never on my radar before and I know I would only want to tackle this goal with Pima Medical Institute.