I've always been interested in the medical field and felt like it was the field with the most longevity. What made me choose Pima was the time frame of the program and the fact that their job rate of employment was the highest that I found. Those two things solidified it for me.
Going back to school at my age and getting back in that mind frame was tough! Math was very challenging for me and when my instructor suggested a tutor, I was happy to accept the help. By the end of the program I was a tutor for some of the computer classes. So, it was a fun learning experience.
Currently, I am enjoying my job as a Medical Administrative Assistant for Colorado Springs Family Practice where I completed my externship. I'd like to say THANK YOU to my instructors who took the time to make sure I understood the material and helped me relax when I was stressed. I've completed my Health Care Administration online associate degree program through PMI's online and am currently enrolled in their bachelor's degree program.
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I grew up in an unsupportive environment, constantly reminded of my limitations. After dabbling in community college and an unfinished nursing program, I found myself divorced with two young children, wondering what I could do to provide for my family. That's when I discovered Pima Medical Institute and enrolled in the Medical Secretary program. Within three months, I graduated and landed a job in the medical field, giving me the stability I desperately needed. After moving to Las Vegas, I continued to grow my career-first as an office manager and later doing billing. One day, I learned that Pima Medical was launching a Respiratory Therapy program. I jumped at the chance to enroll, excited to take my career to the next level.
Balancing school, work, and motherhood was tough. My kids and I would do homework together, and I showed them it's never too late to change your path. After graduating, I was hired at Summerlin Hospital, where I worked for 14 years. Watching the devastation in New York, when the pandemic hit in 2020, I knew I had to step up and help. I was hired as a traveler at New York Presbyterian Cornell, one of the top hospitals in the country. It was intense-over 230 patients on ventilators when I arrived -but I learned and grew through it all. While on the frontlines, I was also pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy through Pima Medical. I faced moments of doubt, but with the support of my program director, I pushed through. My son and I graduated with our bachelor's degrees in the same year-a moment of immense pride for my family.
I now work for the Nevada Donor Network, a new and upcoming field for RT's, turning tragedy into hope through organ donation. I feel a deep sense of purpose, knowing that I help give families a second chance. Thanks to Pima Medical, I've built a career that I love, and I'll never stop learning or growing.
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The first time I stepped in the door of Pima Medical Institute, I knew that this was my school. On the lobby wall I read an alumni success story poster about an immigrant like me who graduated from PMI. I was moved by his story and thought, "I, too, will excel and be remarkable!" Those first weeks were rough. I remember those days before my stipend, when I counted the remaining quarters in my wallet to get on the bus to school.
My instructors were my mentors and I owe them what I have become today. During my externship, I gained so much wisdom and working in pediatrics intensified my desire to work in the health care field. It has become, not only my training ground, but my launching pad for a much greater passion for patient care.
I recently returned to PMI and completed their Online Health Care Administration Program. I was able to complete this associate degree program online while continuing to work full-time. I have so much to be grateful for thanks to Pima. They helped make me and empowered me.
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I attended a university right after high school, but I was immature and didn't do well. Consequently, I dropped out and paid student loans for years. I worked in retail and restaurant management, often working 2-3 jobs at a time, when my wife, who happens to be a PMI graduate, really encouraged me to consider going back to school. I began to consider PMI's Veterinary Assistant program because it would give me an opportunity to work with animals.
One day I walked in to PMI to pick up some information and ended up enrolling in the VA program. My class schedule allowed me to continue working while going to school. It was difficult, and I had to overcome a lot of self-doubt! I was 27-years old and felt like I was starting over, but the instructors were really helpful, and the creative, hands-on projects made it interesting and helped me feel prepared. Besides the VA curriculum, we were taught valuable things like resume writing and professional etiquette.
I am currently enjoying working at BluePearl Veterinary Animal Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant. It is a fast-paced, intense atmosphere, and I am exposed to many different procedures. I have the opportunity to listen to the doctors, view x-rays and ultrasounds over their shoulders, and learn more each day. I am working on getting to the top of my game as a VA and then plan to progress into the Veterinary Technician field.
The hands-on, personal attention and challenging curriculum I was exposed to at PMI helped prepare me to be a professional. My education at Pima was second to none.
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I stumbled upon PMI while searching for alternative careers. I had gone to school for so long, taking so many different subjects, but nothing was working out for me. I read the description for the Medical Administrative Assistant program, and it sounded like something I could do well, so I enrolled.
I really enjoyed my experience in the MAA program, and I feel like I really benefitted from the hands-on teaching style. From medical terminology to electronic records, everything I was taught in my classes I use today in my job. I feel so well-prepared. My classmates were amazing, supportive, and felt like a family. It's interesting because there are quite a few PMI alumni working at my teaching hospital. We may work in different departments, but we all seem to find each other and hang out together. It's great!
I truly love my job! I get to become a part of my patients' lives as I care for them, and since I see a lot of them almost every day, the rapport we have is great! They feel like friends whenever they walk through my clinics' doors.
Recently, I started the Radiography program at the Seattle Campus. It was important to me to continue with PMI because I know that I will be getting the best, top-notch education in my field of study. I am so excited to be working towards my associate's degree, and I know that my time in the MAA program really kick-started my determination in being accepted. Thank you so much, PMI!
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Both of my parents have careers in the medical field and my older sister was working as an X-ray technologist's assistant at the same hospital. I had many broken bones as a kid and recall getting many X-rays, but when my sister started talking about what happens behind the scenes in her department, I started considering a career as a radiologic technologist. Both my sister and my mom encouraged me toward the Radiography program at Pima Medical Institute.
It is a robust program for sure. It was super challenging for me and required a lot of study. But, the instructors were very knowledgeable and encouraging. I formed great relationships with my classmates; we became quite close and helped each other get through the program.
It was quite intimidating to walk into my clinicals. Although I was well prepared and had help from the technologists, it was quite overwhelming to be in trauma situations and be interacting with nurses and doctors in real life situations. I worked really hard in my final round of my clinicals at Sharp Memorial Hospital and a couple months after graduation, I was hired as a radiologic technologist. I spend the majority of my time in the ER and I really enjoy my current job, but may consider a position in mammography in the future.
I want to thank Pima Medical and especially my instructor, Dr. Schmidt, who was so helpful and supportive. I was in a terrible car accident during the program and without her guidance I may not have been able to finish my program. I am 23-years-old, I have a career in the medical field and I am really proud of myself.
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I was raising four children and getting away from a domestic abuse situation when I moved to Las Vegas. I had been to college for accounting and business, but knew I needed a new direction. Through my daughter's asthma and my exposure to the medical field, I realized I wanted to help others. After researching, I found Pima Medical Institute's Respiratory Therapy program and ended up getting the last spot in my class.
Toward the end of the program, my daughter was kidnapped. I still made it to my clinical site after looking for her all over Vegas and putting up posters. I was so close to graduation and didn't want to quit. It is certainly an accelerated program and wasn't easy, but my instructors saw potential in me and pushed me. In fact, one of my instructors spent extra time tutoring me on mechanical ventilation so I wouldn't fail. Thankfully, we ended up finding my daughter. It was such a painful time in my life, but when I walked across that stage at graduation, I felt so fulfilled.
I had several job offers, but chose to accept a respiratory therapist position at UMC where I had completed my clinicals. Later, my career took me to the Veterans Affair where I ran a C-Pap Clinic for a time. Currently, my husband and I own our own company, Simply Medical Recruiting. We even work with Pima Medical's career services department to help find positions for their graduates.
Pima Medical is a gateway to a better life. It has changed my life and has continued to open doors for me.
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Dentistry was always in my plan, but life took a turn when I became a young mom while attending NMSU (New Mexico State University). Returning home, I started working for a family friend's dental practice, fell in love with the field, and decided to officially pursue a career in Dental Assisting (DA). I was looking for a fast-paced program and Pima Medical Institute was the perfect fit. My experience there was fantastic-I applied what I learned on the job and made lifelong friends.
After working as a dental assistant for a year, I decided to further my career and enrolled in the Dental Hygiene (DH) program at Pima Medical. The program was challenging, but the instructors were incredible. I was taught by some of the icons of dental hygiene and I thrived in the rigorous environment. Upon graduation, I quickly secured a job as a dental hygienist, working five days a week to maximize my education. Over time, I got married, had another son, and excelled in my career, and began working in a corporate dental setting. In 2021, I returned to Pima Medical as an instructor in the hygiene clinic, a full-circle moment. To say I loved it would be an understatement. Not only did I find my passion for teaching, I got to continue learning alongside my students.
Currently, I'm preparing to open New Mexico's first dental hygiene studio to meet the needs of preventative care. I hope to employ several dental hygienists and we plan to collaborate with local dentists. I'm also starting a dental hygiene consulting business. I am excited about this business venture and genuinely credit my success to the education I received at Pima Medical. I am incredibly grateful to my instructors for shaping me into the professional I am today.
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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.
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I had an amazing experience in the Medical Assistant (MA) program at Pima Medical Institute. I had the best instructors and, as we spent time studying together, my classmates became amazing friends. I had always known I wanted to be in a profession where I could help people and I wanted to work with children. My older sister had completed the Veterinary Technician (VT) program at Pima Medical, so I knew it was a school I could trust and enrolled in the MA program.
I appreciated all the knowledge and information they gave us about working in the real world. The hands-on experience helped us feel prepared for our new career. Since graduating in 2018 I have worked for three clinics or organizations as an MA and have gained experience in family practice, OB/GYN and specialty clinics and have learned so much!
I love my job! Every day is different and I am constantly learning new things. I am so very grateful for my instructors at Pima Medical for helping me to be able to achieve my dream job. I love what I do and I am so grateful I took the leap to enroll in the Medical Assistant (MA) program.
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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.
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I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be in the medical field. When it came time for me to graduate from high school, I wasn't interested in a four-year college or university because I just wanted to jump right into the workforce as soon as possible and begin my career in the medical field. After explaining this to my gramma, she recommended Pima Medical Institute. We visited together and took a tour; I knew then that the nine-month Medical Assistant (MA) program was the best fit for me.
My experience as a student was amazing! The MA program is an accelerated program and while you're learning lots of information in a short time, the hands-on practice helps you apply your skills and prepares you for the profession. All the nerves, tears and anxiousness were so worth it. I was so well prepared for my six-week externship that I was offered a position as an MA upon completion. I am still employed there and I recently began going back to school to obtain my associates in Nursing with plans to continue on to get my bachelor's (BSN) degree.
I want to say thank you to every single one of my instructors. Pima Medical changed my life, and I will always be grateful for the education I received, the lifelong relationships I built with my instructors and classmates, and the lasting career it has given me.
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