Following high school I wanted to enroll in a physical therapist assistant program at a local college. I attended a community college and took online classes to complete the pre-requisites. I had been on the school's wait list for almost three years, when they changed the requirements. I was so frustrated! In pursuing other options, I learned Pima Medical Institute had a Medical Administrative Assistant program I could finish in only seven months. After completing the program I knew I could begin my career in the medical field and later continue with their online associate degree in Health Care Administration, so I signed up!
I really enjoyed my education at PMI. The instructors were great and every class was valuable. There were no random classes that didn't apply to my career. Everything was something I could relate to. I was concerned when I started with online Health Care Administration that an 11 month program would be too intense and overwhelming. However, I found the instructors were not only responsive, but the classes were applicable to my daily work. For example, my human resources class really helped me in my role as office supervisor.
I'm currently working as a front office supervisor. I've completed my HCA associate degree and plan to continue with PMI's online HCA bachelor degree. Everything I've learned from my MAA program to my HCA classes, I find to be very valuable. I'm looking forward to the knowledge that awaits me as I continue my education.
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In 2016, I completed my bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences) through Pima Medical Institute's Online program. A few years later, they offered me the chance to pursue a master's program (Master of Organizational Leadership) at a good tuition rate. Despite initially vowing not to return to school, I seized the opportunity.
Balancing a full-time job and two per diem positions was challenging, totaling about 70 hours of work a week. However, with two-month courses that kept me engaged, I pushed through, always carrying my laptop with me to avoid falling behind. What made this program truly valuable was its immediate application in my professional life. My capstone project focused on improving employee satisfaction by revising schedules - a project I was already implementing at my new job.
Surprisingly, my master's degree opened doors I hadn't expected. A friend sought a new supervisor for their facility, and my enrollment in a master's program played a significant role in their decision to hire me. Today, I proudly serve as the MRI Supervisor at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, PA.
I'm immensely thankful for my dedicated instructors, who were always accessible and supportive despite the distance. Choosing Pima Medical was a life-changing decision. It not only equipped me with the knowledge and skills for my role but also offered unwavering support and a sense of belonging within their educational community. My journey to an MRI Supervisor underscores the incredible potential that Pima Medical can unlock for its students.
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In 2009, I decided to change careers at 38 years old. I decided on the Radiography program at PMI's Las Vegas campus because I loved that the field is always evolving and Pima had a great reputation. I graduated with Honors in 2011 with an associate degree in Occupational Radiologic Science.
Just a month after I graduated, I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. My new career was put on hold while I immediately had several surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. Although this changed my plans a little I was determined to continue my education and get a BS in Radiologic Sciences. It was very challenging for me since I was having to deal with health issues and cognitive effects of my treatments, but I was very motivated.
In 2013 I completed my BSRS and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. I love the career I chose! It enables me to help others and to also continue pushing myself to learn every day. My disease makes it difficult for me to work full time but I still work in surgery a few days a month. I now spend most of my time advocating for other lung cancer patients, lobbying on Capitol Hill, and running a support group, but I'm so proud that I made the decision to advanced my education. It has been life-changing.
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At age 19 I got a job as a tech in the emergency room. When I decided to further my education, PMI was my first choice. As a student, I felt very prepared for clinical rotations and found I was well respected as a student wearing PMI scrubs in the hospitals. However, it was really only after I graduated and began working that I realized just how amazing my education was - working alongside therapists with 10-35 years experience in the field, I not only kept up but was able to excel.
It wasn't long before I began working with PMI students as a Clinical Instructor and, within a few years, I became a full time PMI Instructor. Teaching for PMI changed my life and has presented me with even more opportunities than I imagined possible. While teaching full time, I completed a Bachelor of Science degree which opened even more doors. After being a full time instructor for the Respiratory Therapy department for 5 years, I was presented with an opportunity to run the very program that I was a product of.
I have now come full circle beginning as a student, later becoming a graduate, eventually teaching full time, and now being a Respiratory Therapy Program Director. This new endeavor has presented me with the ability to lead a department of professionals that I strongly believe in, and as a former student, bring about effective change. If anyone had told me what I'd be doing by the year 2016, I would have never believed it was possible. My journey began with a tour of Pima Medical Institute in 2007, and here I am today, reaping the benefits of deciding to enroll in a program.
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I served proudly in the United States Navy for 6 years as an electronics technician. After getting out of the military I was unsure which career to choose. One day I heard a radio advertisement for Pima Medical Institute and decided Radiography might be the career path for me. Starting the Radiography program was a little bit of a culture shock after the military because I often times performed my duties alone on the ship. Pima Medical helped me make the adjustment to a setting where I needed to interact and communicate with co-workers, patients, and other clinicians. It was both exciting and scary to enter a very competitive program. My Radiography instructors were amazing and prepared me so well for my new career. As a technologist at the hospital, I see a noticeable difference between students from other schools and students from Pima Medical who are confident, prepared, and knowledgeable.
After my second rotation at my clinical site I went to the manager, handed her my resume and said, "I'm going to work here, what are the steps I need to take?" I wasn't nervous and it made for an easy transition starting my first job since I knew the protocol and knew the staff. About a year later I had the privilege of being cross trained so I am now able to also work in Computed Tomography (CT). I love my job! I am almost finished with my bachelor's in Health Care Management and I hope to continue and obtain a master's degree. Pima Medical was a critical stepping stone from my military career to my civilian career and I would do it all over again
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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.
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While in high school, I attended the Veterinary Assistant Program at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT). Pima Medical Institute's partnership with EVIT provided a really smooth transition for me to go right from high school into their Veterinary Technician (VT) program.
Being a student in the VT program was not easy. It is an accelerated program and beginning the program during COVID meant I had to adjust to virtual learning. It was a huge challenge but I'm so glad I did it. Being a veterinary technician is a fast-paced job that is not just petting puppies and Pima Medical helped prepare me for all aspects of the job. Even battling COVID regulations, they still worked to get us on campus and on field trips to get the hands-on experience we needed. Following my clinicals at Seville Veterinary Hospital where I had also done my EVIT internship, I was hired as a veterinary technician. I have been busy working and studying for my VTNE exam.
I would absolutely recommend Pima Medical. It is not a program for the faint of heart. You must be committed and have a desire to learn. The instructors are dedicated to helping you succeed and they all push you out of your comfort zone to be your best self. I definitely feel prepared for my profession.
I'm 19 years old, I have a brand new career and I'm making decent money at a job that I love!
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I was injured while playing soccer in high school and my physical therapist said to me, "I think you'd be a really good physical therapist!" I tucked that away until I was at Texas State University heading toward becoming a nurse when I realized it just wasn't for me. I switched to Exercise Sports Science with a pre-physical therapy emphasis. After graduation, the doctorate physical therapy programs were extremely competitive and I just didn't have the confidence to apply - still a regret. Instead, I reviewed my options and began searching for a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program and found Pima Medical Institute.
It was a challenging, accelerated 18-month program, but my instructors were super motivating. Although they were hard on us, they gave us all the tools needed to be the best professional clinicians we could be. I was awarded the most "outstanding student" at graduation and offered a job at each of my clinical rotations. I began my therapist journey as a pediatric PTA until I found the place I really loved; working in sports medicine and rehabilitation. During my five plus years in orthopedics, I worked with multiple students as a clinical instructor. This drew my passion for education and I began my journey as a clinical director and instructor back at the same PTA program I'd attended. I tell my students I've been down their same path and I am going to give them everything they need to be a success in their clinical experience. I remind them that I am invested in their success because not only is Pima Medical's reputation on the line, so is mine as a graduate of this program.
Pima Medical provided what I needed to become a great therapist and for that I am thankful. I believe I've found my place in education and I am hoping to further my education through the master's degree program in the future.
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I had just gotten out of the Navy and knew I needed to go back to school to obtain a career, not just a job. Teeth have always fascinated me, so I decided to honor my late father, a dentist, by choosing a career in the dental field. I had seen commercials on TV for Pima Medical Institute, so I went to their website to get more information and enrolled in its nine-month Dental Assistant (DA) program.
My experience as a student was great. I became very close to my classmates and appreciated how well my instructors prepared me for my new career. I had never excelled in academics before, but I set a goal to graduate with honors and I gave it my all. To my surprise, I was presented the Richard L. Luebke Sr. Memorial Award for academic achievement through outstanding persistence at graduation.
I found a DA position right after graduation at Lakewood Modern Dentistry, the same company where I'd done my externship, and worked there for six months. For the last year I've been working at Omaha & Council Bluffs Oral Surgery as a Surgical Assistant. I am considering dental hygiene school in the future, but I am enjoying my place in oral surgery as well as focusing on gaining more experience for now.
I'd like to thank my Pima Medical instructors who believed in me even when I couldn't believe in myself. The things I learned and the confidence I've gained from them are still with me every single time I assist my surgeon. I know it sounds cliche, but attending Pima Medical really did change my life!
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I had been through a year of community college and a year of university, but had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. When my mom, a nurse, encouraged me to pursue nursing, I knew it would provide a stable job with decent pay and I began researching programs. I settled on Pima Medical Institute because they had a great program with passionate faculty.
My initial time in the program was difficult on a personal level as I was very shy and struggled with some mental health issues. I ended up being required to take a mandatory break for a year, but I resumed my studies with renewed fervor and enthusiasm. It was a huge learning experience for me and it wasn't until the program was over that I realized the positive effects it had on my behavior, my personality and my professionalism. Our instructors did a wonderful job not only teaching us the correct conditions, signs, symptoms and skills, but also providing us with realistic situations and tips. They had an open-door policy and were always friendly and keen to answer questions.
I obtained my first position at Banner University Medical Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center, in the neurology PCU where I gained great experience and became a charge nurse. Since graduating, I have grown into an entirely different person and nurse. Although I used to be quiet and reserved, now I am open, direct and approachable. Recently, I moved to the Phoenix Banner Thunderbird Medical Center where I plan to practice leadership and grow in my role as an ICU nurse. I was recently elected to be on the board of the Phoenix Chapter of the AACN, which is amazing for someone with as little experience as I have.
Pima Medical may be a little more expensive than others, but the quality of education you get is unfounded. Not only was I taught to be a Licensed Registered Nurse, I was inspired to be more ambitious with my life as well. I'm so grateful for my former instructors and the difference they made in my life.
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After obtaining a degree in architecture, I found my heart just wasn't in that career choice. I have a love for animals, and spent time volunteering as a kennel assistant. As I began to take on more responsibilities, my mentor, Dr. Laura Halsey, recommended I go to Pima Medical Institute to become a licensed Veterinary Technician.
I had an excellent experience as a student. The teaching was memorable and relevant and we received vital hands-on experience. I really appreciated my instructor, Diane O'Brien, RVT. She knew I wasn't the standard student who would be happy in general medicine and she pushed me towards specialty areas, especially surgery. I had no idea that this would turn out to be my passion. I am currently working towards my Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in anesthesia, but I would have continued to fear anesthesia had she not pushed me when she did.
After graduation, I began working as an Anesthesia Technician at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, which is where I did my externship. I appreciated and learned from some extremely experienced and knowledgeable surgeons and techs while there. I recently accepted a position with MedVet Chicago where they operate a full anesthesia department with three anesthesiologists. My hope within the next two years is to complete and obtain the very prestigious title of Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in anesthesiology.
A huge thanks to all of my instructors! I use the techniques they taught me all the time - even the things I didn't think I'd need to know. I recommend Pima Medical's program to others. It's well structured, yet flexible, with lots of great hands-on training.
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I had a strong desire to become a nurse and was completing prerequisites at a local community college, but the two-year waitlist was too long. Thankfully, I discovered Pima Medical Institute's Phlebotomy program. It was perfect for my busy life as a mother of two. In less than three months, I graduated, secured a job in the medical field and was set up for success. Seeking more, I returned to Pima Medical and enrolled in the 22-month Respiratory Therapy (RT) program. The school's support system and faculty made it an obvious choice. I loved the RT program and was employed for years as a Respiratory Therapist in a hospital and sleep lab setting. I also worked as an autotransfusionist in the operating room.
Life took a difficult turn when my husband battled colon cancer, requiring a temporary relocation to Phoenix. During this time, I pursued my dream of a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration (BSHCA). When things got really tough and I wanted to quit, the program director encouraged me to keep going. Each faculty member was understanding and compassionate and I'm so grateful they pushed me to finish. My husband's health issues persisted, I knew I had to become the family's breadwinner so I finally pursued my dream and enrolled in the nursing program. Sadly, my husband passed away a month later and I had to drop out. Nearly two years later, I returned to the program and I am now a proud registered nurse (RN) at Banner Hospital. The nursing program was very challenging, but I realize now the faculty are so tough because they truly care about putting good nurses out in the field.
I recently introduced my daughter to Pima Medical. Just like I had, she took a tour, met with an advisor, received financial aid information, completed an assessment and scheduled an interview for the Radiography program. I am excited for her and confident that Pima Medical will be an amazing experience, just as it was for me.
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