WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I was born in Iran, and my family moved to Germany when I was 12-years old. While living in Germany, I had a very positive experience working with Alzheimer patients which influenced my desire to work in the medical field. When I moved to the United States 2 ½ years ago, my English was very poor, so I took an ESL class and got a job babysitting two children where I learned a lot of English! I found Pima Medical Institute online and enrolled in their Nursing Assistant program. I had a very difficult time because of the language! I would have to translate from English to German to understand and then translate back to English. I studied every night until very late and lost 10 pounds from the stress, but my instructor at PMI was so kind and helped me so much. I passed the certification exam on the first try. I was very excited for my externship experience at a local nursing home, and when it was complete, they hired me as a CNA. I enjoy my job and I'm thankful for what I learned at PMI, but I want more. Each day I observe how the Physical Therapist Assistants work with our patients, so my plan is to go back to PMI to attend their PTA program so that I can do this very important work.

When I was young, I had a babysitter who became a nurse. Ever since then, I've always wanted be a part of the medical field. I completed a year of general education college classes, but was unsure of my direction. We had a family friend who was a manager at a family practice and she said, "Go to Pima Medical Institute - they have a great Medical Assistant program and you'll get hired immediately." So, I took her advice and enrolled. I had a great experience as a student and was hired at my externship site. I spent 26 years in the clinical setting. Eventually, a PMI instructor recruited me to teach. I love being back at PMI in the front of the classroom. I tell my students that I was once in their chairs and I remember being terrified of blood draws and injections. I love spending 18 weeks with students watching them change from shy and timid to excited and confident about their skills and new opportunities. I'm often asked if I miss the clinic setting and if I want to go back. I always say - "No". I love teaching and I love the environment at PMI. I have great support from the administration and instructors from all programs. We help each other adapt our teaching style for the needs of students and we all have the same goal, which is to help our students become successful. I would never have guessed I would be back at PMI and enjoying teaching as much as I do.

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.

I have found a career that I love as a Medical Lab Technician! I'd attempted to find my place in the medical field once before, attending a Dental Assistant program, but it just wasn't for me. I just didn't enjoy interacting with patients. After being a stay-at-home mom for about 10 years, I returned to Pima Medical Institute, learned they had started a Medical Lab Technician (MLT) program and knew this was the program and the career for me. I chose Pima Medical because I knew how hands-on they were. Unfortunately, shortly after starting the program, the pandemic hit resulting in us having to go to online learning. But, our instructors worked really hard to get us into the lab in small groups to practice during COVID. During my program I found out I had a brain tumor requiring surgery. The instructors were very helpful and supportive during my treatment and I was able to continue my program. I am a veteran so I did my clinicals at the VA Hospital in Cheyenne, WY. It was challenging staying in Cheyenne during the week and driving back for week-ends, but I did it! I landed an MLT job at Centura Health's Penrose Hospital shortly after graduation and I love it! There is no typical day; every day is different and I learn something new almost every day. I plan to do this job until I can't do it anymore. I am preparing to start my bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science. This will set me up to get my MLS certification, providing a pay increase and an opportunity for a lead position. I would definitely recommend Pima Medical's MLT program. If you like solving puzzles, this is a great career for you!

We are a military family and after we were moved from North Carolina to Colorado, I began looking for a path to a career. During my tour of Pima Medical Institute, I saw the Dental Assistant classroom and lab and knew it was the program for me. I am a very hands-on learner and seeing all the equipment just helped me know I was in the right place. While in the program, my husband was on active duty, I was a mom of two little ones and I was pregnant with my third child. It was challenging and lots of sacrifices were made, but they all paid off in the end. My experience in the Dental Assistant program at Pima Medical gave me the confidence, knowledge and tools that I needed to be successful. My first job was at my externship site; they hired me upon completing my externship hours and gave me the position of Lead Dental Assistant. I know my success in my career has been because of the training and mentoring I received from my instructors. Currently, I am at Pacific Dental Services working as a Traveling Specialty Dental Assistant. I am also a full-time student at UCCS (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) where I am completing my pre-dental prerequisites in hopes of attending Dental School and becoming a dentist. I am thankful for the high standards and patient care my instructors taught me at Pima Medical, because now every patient in my chair is thankful for the knowledge and care I am able to provide them. I had such a great experience at Pima Medical Institute, my husband is currently attending their Veterinary Technician program!

I started my journey to become a nurse back in my twenties, but my plans kept getting interrupted. At the age of 49, after years of being in various office jobs and property management roles, I finally decided to pursue my lifelong dream. When I stumbled upon an advertisement for Pima Medical Institute's one-year Practical Nursing program, something just clicked and I knew it was time. Entering the program, I was the oldest among my classmates, but age was never a barrier. We were all there with a common purpose, united in our determination to succeed. My instructors were awesome and were clearly there to help us get through and be successful. Despite any doubt's others had about my starting a new career later in life, I knew it was never too late to pursue my passion. My life experience brought a unique perspective to my studies, making certain topics easier to grasp. My maturity gave me confidence and I eagerly volunteered for tasks in clinicals wanting to immerse myself in real-world experience. After graduation, I embarked on my nursing career, initially working in long-term care facilities. After moving to Mississippi, I found my place at Enhabit Home Health and Hospice in Mississippi, where I am an LPN/Patient Services Coordinator. I love my job and appreciate helping my patients from a whole person perspective. It's a great fit for me. Looking back, I can confidently say that enrolling at Pima Medical was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It's never too late to chase your dreams.

After completing high school, I was looking for a temporary source of income that would pay enough to allow me to put myself through college. I had several family members who had attended various programs at Pima Medical Institute, so decided to enroll in their nine-month Pharmacy Technician program, figuring it might be a quick way to make more than the average college student. The class schedules were ideal, allowing me to work while going to school. It was a strenuous curriculum but my instructor, a Doctor of Pharmacy with many years of experience, ensured his students became successful Pharmacy Technicians. He knew exactly what made a great technician and he prepared us well to become nationally recognized Certified Pharmacy Technicians. I have spent the past 17 years as a Pharmacy Technician working in inpatient pharmacy performing sterile and chemotherapy compounding. I moved away from Arizona about seven years ago and I was hired at the VA Medical Center, where I was quickly promoted to Lead IV Trainer. Recently, the Mayo Clinic in Mankato reached out to me and offered me a job as their Technician Supervisor with a focus in Sterile Compounding. The temporary job I thought would support further education became my career. I am very proud of my work as a Pharmacy Technician and I'm thankful for my Pima Medical instructor. As a result of being trained by him, I feel like my career has been really distinguished and for that I will always be grateful.

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.

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.