Page 77 - 45th Anniversary Alumni Success Stories

I never thought I’d ever be in the medical field, but I
found myself, at age 41, needing a career to support my
four children. While visiting Tucson, AZ, my sister took
me to the Pima Medical Institute Campus and encouraged
me to move and attend their Phlebotomy program. I
signed up before I left and was planning to move, but
ran into some family issues that kept me from being able
to leave. Imagine my excitement when I found PMI had
a campus near me in El Paso. When I visited and found
they didn’t have Phlebotomy, I decided to try the Medical
Assistant program and signed up.

I loved my classes and enjoyed learning medical terminol-
ogy and anatomy. Unfortunately, my family problems
continued, my grades were suffering, and at one point I
decided I might need to quit school. The people at PMI
supported, helped, and encouraged me and wouldn’t let
me think of quitting. The time went by fast and, when
it was time for my externship experience, I was assigned
to an orthopedic office. It felt overwhelming at first, but
it wasn’t long before I was taking vitals and following the
doctor and assisting him with casts, splints and stitches.
The day after I finished my externship, they hired me!

Thanks to PMI, I have an exciting career, I absolutely
love my job and, most of all, I know I have been a good
example to my children.

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