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I'm so thankful to PMI for giving me a career I enjoy! I love getting up and coming to work every day. I feel like I have purpose and I am confident I make a difference in children's lives.
My history in the medical field began a long time ago when I was a medic in the military. After being a stay at home mom for quite some time, I realized my kids were growing up and I really wanted a career. I had a desire to get back to taking care of patients. After lots of research online, Pima Medical Institute became my first choice for their Medical Assistant program
I was nervous being a little older than most of my classmates, but it actually worked to my advantage. I was really grateful to be able to further my education and I had a maturity level that helped me to focus. My instructors were great and I felt prepared starting my externship and, actually, quite comfortable performing blood draws and dealing with the patients.
I am currently working at Children's Hospital as a fulltime Medical Assistant float and I have an opportunity to work in the allergy, neurology, rheumatology, cardiology and diabetic clinics. I have learned so much in such a short time and I love my job! I'm currently taking evening classes and hope to someday go to school to become a nurse. I am so thankful to PMI for my new career.
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I discovered Pima Medical Institute through a friend who was in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program. I had a bachelor's degree in biology (pre-med) and aspired to join the medical field, but I lacked direction. Inspired by my friend's passion, I researched, attended an open house and decided on a career in Sonography.
My journey as a student was challenging, yet fulfilling. Initially my application was rejected due to my limited patient care experience. I was devastated, but I reached out to my advisor at Pima Medical to see what I could do to make myself more competitive. They suggested completing the Phlebotomy program and working as a phlebotomy technician to obtain the direct patient care experience I lacked. I did just that earning a spot in the next DMS cohort and finishing my program as the valedictorian. Pima Medical's standout feature is its remarkable instructors and dedicated staff. They pushed me to excel and were always available. They went above and beyond to ensure I felt confident and prepared for my profession. I applied for my first job at a local hospital and within three days, I had interviewed and was formally offered a position. I passed my first board exam, I am preparing for additional registry examinations and I am aiming to be the best sonographer I can be.
To my former instructors, thank you for going out of your way to provide me with the best possible education and inspiring me to be the best every day. You have made a monumental impact on not only my career, but also my life.
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I worked in the oil and gas industry and, in fact, was part owner of an engineering and consulting firm for a while. The industry is so up and down and I got tired of being laid off each time there was a downturn in the market, so I decided it was time to pursue a new career.
I ended up qualifying for a government program that assisted dislocated workers whose industries had crashed. So, I was assigned a counselor who gave me a series of personality tests and helped me research careers. The field of Sterile Processing Technician was at the top of my list and as we researched the career field, I got excited about the fact that the job was in demand and growing and I wouldn't have to be concerned about being laid off anymore.
I toured Pima Medical Institute and was very impressed with the new facilities and their program so I enrolled. The biggest battle I faced as an older student was having to learn how to learn again. My kids were young teens at the time and I felt like I had to set an example for them. I worked hard and ended up getting all A's. PMI gave me all the technical training I needed to be successful. They helped me set up my internship at Castle Rock Hospital near my home, and before it was even over, they had offered me a position. I was able to pick my hours and my shift and I really enjoy my job. This career is a great fit for me!
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I joined the US Army National Guard my senior year of high school, six months after 9/11 and was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2006. While in Kabul, I discovered the possibility of becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). After graduating with my associate degree in Maryland in 2010, I've worked as a PTA for Medstar Health for 11 years and have been an adjunct PTA faculty member. I attempted several times to return to a four-year college to get my bachelor's degree but the passion for the content of general studies was hard to dive into.
While researching, I found Pima Medical Institute's Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (BSPTA) program, but it seemed too good to be true. A program full of what I loved and dedicated to the PTA world I so deeply cherished? I enrolled.
I found the content and curriculum to be completely relevant to my job. It was challenging working full time while a student, but it was worth it. Then COVID hit. Healthcare changed completely; the challenges were on a different level. All of the instructors were understanding, kind and caring. I felt I could openly talk to them about content, challenges, life and all the bumps that came during 2019-20. I made friends and connections that I hadn't expected as we shared experiences and learned together, from afar.
Now that I've completed my BSPTA degree, my goals are to be director of PTAs for all 54 clinics, promote the hiring of PTAs and to eventually become full time faculty in a PTA program and lead the future PTAs. Thank you to the staff and faculty of Pima Medical for the constant encouragement and a caring and safe space to fulfill my dream!
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I've always wanted to be a nurse; I come from a family of 12 and I am a caregiver at heart. I researched many different schools, but so many had a two-year waiting list just to begin. I was able to start Pima Medical Institute's Nursing program the fall after graduating from high school. I was not a straight A student so I knew it would be difficult and I'd have to be willing to put in the work. My teachers were kind, patient and accommodated my learning style. They even offered one-on-one tutoring, which made a big difference for me. My classmates and I had study groups, shared notes, and many are still my friends to this day.
The instructors at Pima Medical genuinely want you to succeed. They are always available to help and often shared their personal nursing experiences with us. After completing my clinicals at Banner Baywood Hospital, I was offered a job. I continued my education with Pima Medical, completing the online RN to BSN program and I found it quite easy to manage work and school life balance, even in the midst of a pandemic.
I've worked in many different departments; neurology, progressive care unit (PCU), resource nurse working with all different departments, and currently I'm working in the ICU. There are endless opportunities for nurses and I am considering both research and travel nursing in my future.
I am thankful for each of my instructors - they were incredible! I was only 17 years old when I started the nursing program, now I am 22 and have my bachelor's degree. I would recommend Pima Medical to anyone wanting to become a nurse.
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When I received straight A's while growing up my parents would often reward me with a gift. One day I asked for two snakes for my reward and that's when my love of animals began. I just didn't see myself going to a university after high school, so I decided to lean on my love of animals and enrolled in East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT). During my junior/senior years I completed the Veterinary Assistant (VA) program.
I learned so much about animal care and just loved my EVIT experience. While at my externship, I realized there were limitations to what I was allowed to do, so I decided to become a Veterinary Technician (VT). Pima Medical Institute partners with EVIT by hosting seminars and having representatives available on campus. Since they had a good reputation and would accept my 30 credits, it was an easy decision and I started the VT program shortly after high school graduation.
The instructors were incredibly creative and flexible in their instruction, especially considering the COVID restraints, and we had plenty of hands-on practice opportunities. One of our requirements was to submit at least three applications to employers. The first resume I sent out was to Trilogy Veterinary Medical Center where I ended being hired as a Veterinary Technician. I really enjoy my clinic; it's relatively new and there's lots of room for growth.
Pima Medical Institute was one of the hardest things I've done to date, but it was a great investment in myself and I wouldn't change a thing. I am 20 years old and I have a career in a field that I love!
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My daughter is a neonatal nurse and an associate director at Banner Hospital. I've always said I wanted to be just like her when I grew up!
I was just 16 years old when I had my daughter and spent the next 32 years working in the grocery industry while raising my kids. It wasn't until last year when my sister passed away that I experienced firsthand just how short life can be. I decided to take that tragedy and do something positive with it. My sister had always told me I could do anything and was smarter than I thought, so I decided to be like my daughter and obtain a career in the medical field.
My daughter had originally attended Pima Medical Institute for her CNA, so I boldly made the call and set up an appointment. Coming in as a 56-year-old mother who hadn't had any education since getting my GED in 1989, was intimidating. But from the person who welcomed me in the lobby, to the admissions advisor and then my instructors - everyone was kind and encouraging. I loved my instructors and I learned so much from them. It was a wonderful experience and it empowered me. I feel like I can do anything!
I thought it would be fun to work with babies and young parents, so I pursued and obtained a position working in the neonatal intensive care unit at Banner Health. My plan is to absorb as much information as I can and then continue my education. This is such an open field with so many opportunities.
I'm so thankful for my new career and everyone at Pima Medical. You can do anything you set your mind to and you're never too old to take the risk to start over!
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I was in my early 20's, ready to complete a degree in finance when I realized I really didn't want to spend my life sitting behind a desk. I had a few family members working in the radiography field and I noticed they not only had a great career, but they could choose to work in different modalities and had lots of variety in their jobs. I began researching, found Pima Medical Institute's Radiography program and enrolled.
I had wonderful instructors! It's an intense and tough program, but the way the program is structured really makes you feel prepared for your profession. I enjoyed the shorter rotations for clinicals which exposed me to many different areas and modalities. Once I knew what I was looking for, I was able to complete multiple rotations in my area of interest which prepared me for a job at that very location. I was hired at University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) and after a year I was promoted to a charge technologist and almost 2 years ago I moved into the role of General Radiology Supervisor. I love the fast-paced environment at UNMH. We're the only trauma one hospital in the state and we see something new every day. I'm not the only Pima Medical graduate in my department, we currently have five employees that were my classmates and each year I hire multiple new Pima Medical new graduates.
Pima Medical provided a great education and really prepared me for the field.
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I was working at ATI Physical Therapy as a PT Technician and struggling to get into Physical Therapy school. I heard good things about Pima Medical Institute's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program through some of my coworkers who had attended the program, so I decided to give it a try and enrolled. I had already obtained my bachelor's degree in Physiology from the University of Arizona, so I had a good foundation. This didn't mean the PTA program was easy, as the curriculum goes into considerable depth and the teachers expected true understanding of the topics. My instructors really pressed the "why" behind everything we did. This gave us the tools to be able to accurately perform proper interventions and gave us a foundation to be able to answer patient's questions with accuracy.
After graduation, I was able to continue working at ATI and transition to a Physical Therapist Assistant position. After the first year, I knew I wanted to be in a leadership position and underwent training for another year. I'm proud to say, I was recently promoted to the Clinical Director at our north Tucson ATI location.
I just want to thank my instructors for driving us to be the best clinicians that we could be and giving us that foundation to excel. I would 100% recommend Pima Medical Institute's PTA program. It is a quality program with quality instructors.
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I was working as a Medical Assistant (MA) at my clinic when I learned my supervisor was retiring in a year. I really wanted her position so I began researching similar positions and realized that a degree was my best bet for being hired for the job. I found Pima Medical Institute through an online search and was impressed with the flexibility of the program. Being a mom of three and working full time, I needed that flexibility.
I enrolled in the online Health Care Administration associate degree program and had a wonderful experience. It was a challenge adapting to virtual learning, as I had no previous experience, but my instructors were amazing and extremely helpful. I appreciated how thorough the courses were. Learning the differences in insurance, payers, abbreviations and legal terms totally prepared me for the supervisory position I was pursuing. I'm happy to say that I was hired as a supervisor and started my new position less than a month after graduating and, because of my education, I was able to walk in with a clear understanding of the job.
My education was top notch! I recently hired an MA graduate from Pima Medical and was excited to utilize someone who had a great education just like I had. I am so glad I chose Pima Medical and I've recommended them to my coworkers who are looking to advance in their career.
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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 was seeking an affordable, entirely online program with the goal of completing a bachelor's in Physical Therapist Assistant (BSPTA) and eventually pursuing a DPT bridge program when I found Pima Medical Institute. Despite being a mother to a toddler, a full-time employee, and expecting my second child, I embarked on this education journey. With a husband on an opposite work schedule, meeting my student obligations was a formidable challenge. One thing I appreciated about Pima Medical's BSPTA program was the excellent communication. Despite the online format, I never felt isolated or unable to reach out for assistance. Finishing with a 4.0 GPA just weeks before giving birth was incredibly empowering!
I had been working in an outpatient clinic as a therapy technician. Once I passed my licensure, I received a promotion to a PTA and partnered with a PT. I thrived there for several rewarding years until a recruiter contacted me on Facebook. This opportunity led me to become a Director of Rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility, where I stayed for over a decade.
Post-graduation, my career trajectory led me to become an area manager and, eventually, a regional director of operations for the nation's largest third-party therapy contractor. I traveled across the United States, witnessing therapy in diverse settings and meeting exceptional individuals. Yet, my family's well-being remained paramount, prompting my decision to seek a local position. I discovered the opportunity to teach in the PTA program at the Las Vegas Pima Medical Institute Campus, a role I am thoroughly enjoying, foreseeing many fruitful years of sharing my knowledge and passion.
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