WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

Many different paths have led students to Pima Medical Institute but rarely, if ever, has one involved a thousand mile trek through the jungles of an African nation, decimated by civil war, at the age of seven. One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Chris was a refugee in various camps throughout Africa, after being orphaned at the age of 7. His saga began the night his village in Southern Sudan was attacked and destroyed, with the men, women and girls murdered or enslaved. He fled into the jungle, eventually joining forces with other displaced Sudanese boys (estimates up to 26,000) to begin a three month walk barefoot to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. He was forced out just a year later when civil war erupted in that country as well, fleeing by foot once again. His childhood realities included watching fellow boys lose eyes to vultures and necks getting snapped by lion attacks, or witnessing daily deaths from poisonous snake bites, dehydration, starvation or tropical disease. Less than half of the boys survived. Chris was one of 4000 refugees picked by the United Nations to resettle in the US in 2001 and one of 15 in Tucson. He attended PMI, graduating with honors from the Pharmacy Technician program, and has subsequently furthered his education with the addition of a Licensed Practical Nursing degree. His long term goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner, a degree which he hopes to use in fulfillment of his life vision of returning to his country to improve the quality of health care. He, along with two of his comrades, has started the non profit organization of "Jumpstart Sudan." This foundation's goal is to establish a health clinic which will provide basic medical care in Southern Sudan, the area from which Chris was forced to flee over 16 years earlier. Chris Garang is the epitome of a PMI success story. However, it is not just in his achievement of overcoming obstacles as a child, obstacles that could have easily overwhelmed even the strongest man, nor his perseverance in tackling and mastering academics in a foreign language, which define his success. The true testament of his character is that, instead of anger and bitterness, he has the grace to pass on what he considers the "blessing" of his new life and knowledge to his native country. This sense of gratitude and his commitment to spread his good fortune is a triumph of spirit. We are so proud of you, Chris!

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!

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 worked many years as a postal employee but after 13 years of stress, I decided to quit and choose a very different field. I researched and decided to enroll in Pima Medical Institute's Veterinary Assistant program. My instructor was a wonderful teacher filling me with knowledge while keeping the daily class time fun. The program was difficult, but I was there to learn everything I could. My motivation, love of animals, fascination with medical things and strong study habits are what made me a good student. I'm proud to say I graduated from PMI with honors, a 4.0 GPA and an award for perfect attendance. I did my externship at a veterinary hospital, and after a week they asked if I wanted a job. My first job as a Veterinary Assistant is the only job I have had since graduating from Pima Medical in 1998 and I still love it! I stay educated and continue to provide the knowledgeable and loving care to our hospital patients and their owners. My Pima Medical instructor, Nikki Riggleman, was so wonderful; we still stay in touch with each other over 20 years later.

I was five years old when I decided I wanted a career in the veterinary field. When I couldn't find a program that fit my needs, I gave up and was taking classes at a local community college that had nothing to do with a career choice working with animals. When Pima Medical Institute opened a campus in El Paso, I looked into their Veterinary Assistant program and realized it was exactly what I wanted and had been looking for. My educational experience was wonderful, like nothing I had ever experienced. My instructor was very knowledgeable and patient. I really didn't know how to study, but my teachers helped make studying fun. They never made me feel embarrassed to ask questions and I passed my exams with flying colors. Once I began my externship, I was able to put everything I had learned in class into practice at the clinic. Pima Medical helped me get a position at Harwood Veterinary Clinic as a Veterinary Assistant. I am so grateful to my instructor for helping me get where I am today. I plan to continue my education to become a Veterinarian Technician and hope to, in the future, become a doctor of veterinary medicine. I recommend Pima Medical Institute all the time. They provided wonderful teachers and an amazing learning environment.

Pima Medical Institute has been a cornerstone in my career, providing a foundation that has endured through different stages of my life. Now, I'm excited to return to school and build on that strong base. No one in my family is in the dental field, but I've always had a passion for becoming a dental hygienist. After high school, I spent five years working in Alaska's fishing industry. Upon returning to Seattle, I inquired about the Dental Hygiene program at Pima Medical Institute and ultimately enrolled in the Dental Assistant program. Balancing full-time work during the day with evening classes at Pima Medical was challenging but rewarding. My teacher was great, and I formed lasting friendships-I'm still close with one of my classmates more than 20 years later. My first job was with a doctor in West Seattle, where I worked for two years before needing to go on bed rest due to pregnancy. I took a 15-year break to focus on being a mom. Remarkably, I was able to jump right back into my career as a Dental Assistant when I was ready. After moving to Phoenix, I started working as a temp and then secured my current position at Anthem Sonoran Valley Implants and Dental Center. It felt like riding a bike-everything came back to me. I love educating patients and helping them take care of their teeth. Currently, I'm in the process of applying to a Dental Hygiene program in my area. I want to further my education in the dental field and one day I hope to be able to clean teeth for free to help people who can't afford dental care. Pima Medical Institute has been supportive throughout my journey, from enrolling and securing financing to ongoing assistance whenever I need it. I'm incredibly grateful for the education and opportunities Pima Medical has provided me.

In 2005, while browsing technical programs online, Pima Medical Institute's Veterinary Assistant (VA) Program caught my eye. I filled out a request for more information and, to my surprise, Niki Riggleman, a recently retired yet highly esteemed instructor, called me immediately. Despite never having had an interest in veterinary medicine before, that call changed my life. I can't imagine being in any other field today and I'm so grateful Niki called me! I completed the VA Program and returned to complete the Veterinary Technician (VT) Program in 2007. It was a privilege to be part of the very first VT class at the Seattle Campus. One aspect of Pima Medical I truly appreciated was its accessibility; the ability to attend night classes and work during the day allowed me to maintain a steady income while pursuing my education. The hands-on classroom experience, combined with working in the field, was crucial to my professional growth. My journey with VCA Animal Hospitals began with my first externship, where I was hired even before completing it. Almost 20 years later, I'm still with VCA and grateful to have found my place there. I worked as a VA, a VT and then quickly moved up to Technician Supervisor and a regional training role. In 2020, I became the Regional Technician Director for the Northwest & Hawaii Group, supporting veterinary teams across five states. Additionally, as the current President of the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians (WSAVT) and a former District Chair for the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), I am dedicated to improving the careers of Veterinary Technicians and Assistants. Ensuring their optimal utilization and safety is crucial to our profession, helping us continue to serve our patients effectively.

After 25 years in restaurant management, I always knew I wanted to go back to school, but life kept getting in the way. In 2017, everything changed when I got very sick and ended up in the hospital for 10 days. One nurse, an older, highly skilled woman, was so inspiring that I thought, "If she can do this, so can I." Though I didn't want to be a nurse, I knew my management background could help me run a medical office. However, when I tried applying for receptionist jobs, I kept hearing the same thing-I needed medical experience. That's when I decided to take a leap and enroll in Pima Medical Institute's Medical Assistant (MA) program. The nine-month program gave me the education I needed to get my foot in the door. It wasn't easy-after being out of school for 20 years, I had to relearn how to study and manage my time. But thanks to Pima Medical's support system and my fellow students, I got through it. I landed my first job as an MA through my externship at Pima Heart. I soon enrolled in the online Health Care Administration (HCA) program, while moving up in my job and then continued into the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA) program. Upon completion, I applied to administrative positions and was humbled to have 15 interviews scheduled. After considering numerous job opportunities, I chose to join Banner Health as a Practice Manager, overseeing a staff of 20 (with eight providers and 40 residents). Pima Medical provided the education I needed to excel in the medical field. My instructors were there for me every step of the way. If you're considering going back to school, just do it! Choose Pima Medical and you will get the support you need.

had just graduated from high school and was searching for a career that would allow me to help others while staying active. When I discovered Pima Medical Institute's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, I knew it was the perfect fit. The opportunity to complete the program in just 18 months and start my dream job immediately was exactly what I was looking for. My experience at Pima Medical was amazing. The class schedule allowed me to balance my studies with a part-time job, which was important for supporting myself. The coursework was challenging, but my instructors were incredibly supportive and always took the time to help me understand difficult concepts. I especially appreciated how they related the material to real-world, clinical situations, making everything we learned feel more relevant and practical. The hands-on experience in our lab and during clinical rotations was invaluable. It solidified my skills and prepared me for the workforce. Right after graduation I was hired at Athletico, where I've been working ever since. I'm currently pursuing a certification in pelvic floor therapy, a field I'm very passionate about. I am looking forward to raising awareness about its importance for overall well-being. I'm so grateful to my instructors at Pima Medical. The education I received there truly shaped me into the clinician I am today. I highly recommend Pima Medical to anyone looking to pursue a career in healthcare - it's an amazing school.