WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

Growing up I had always been interested in the medical field. While caring for injured and sick loved ones I gained knowledge which led me to pursue a career as a medical professional. I had a family member who had attended Pima Medical Institute so I chose to enroll in their Medical Assistant program. I was pretty nervous to be a student again and was concerned about whether I could handle phlebotomy or the blood draw portion of the course. But after the first time, I knew I could do it and loved it! My instructors were amazing and they even made math and anatomy easy to learn. One of my instructors made a huge impact on me. She was smart, serious and expected us to be excellent in what we did. It made me feel confident in my skills. On the very first day of my externship at Dr. Anderson's Family Practice, I was offered a job. I love my job and get to have a wide variety of experiences. I am seriously considering continuing my education by going back to school for a nursing degree. Pima Medical was a great experience for me. I made so many friends, and in only nine months, I walked out with a great job. I recommend Pima Medical to anyone who is interested in a career in the medical field.

My mom had breast cancer when I was young and as a result, I always dreamed of working in the medical field. After attending a university on a golf scholarship, I realized I wanted to pursue that dream. Although I knew very little about the respiratory field, I had the opportunity to shadow a respiratory therapist and my heart fell in love with respiratory therapy! My therapist had attended Pima Medical Institute and highly recommended their program, explaining that although the cost might be a little more, I would get the best education. My Pima Medical experience was so different than the university. It was super challenging and required serious study, but it was also fun and enjoyable because I wanted to learn the material and knew it was for my career. I had a job before I even graduated. In fact, each of my clinical rotation sites asked me to stay on and work for them. After 14 years of working in the field, I became interested in management and decided to continue my education with Pima Medical's online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program. Having three kids under the age of 10, working fulltime and going to school was certainly challenging, but also doable. The program was very well organized, allowing me to plan my study time. I am currently a cardiopulmonary manager and being in a hiring role, I see a big difference between Pima Medical students and other colleges. My bachelor's program helped me fulfill my dream of working in management and I owe everything to Pima Medical!

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!

I had no animal experience (except caring for my own dogs) when I decided to reevaluate my career and "start over" in the veterinary field. I left a 12-year career in education, where I'd been teaching middle school math and enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's Veterinary Technician program. Becoming a student again definitely felt odd. I was at an advantage with all my life and educational experiences, but I was at a disadvantage in that I had NO experience in this newly chosen field, plus I was much older than most of my classmates. My instructors taught me the skills I needed to treat animals, but they also provided the educational background as to the why and how procedures were done. Since then, I've observed that assistants trained on-the-job can do the same skills, but don't always understand why techniques have to be done a particular way. I was fortunate enough to be hired by my externship clinic where they practiced both Eastern and Western medicine and since then have been working in both corporate and private practice hospitals. In celebration of my 55th birthday, I completed a bucket list item (since seeing "Dog Town" on National Geographic) by volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. After three months, I was hired and moved to Utah. I was recently promoted to a supervisory role as, Senior Specialist, and am enrolled in a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner program through the Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning and the University of Tennessee. Upon completion, I hope to develop, organize and run a rehabilitation program at the Sanctuary. I'm so grateful for my education at Pima Medical. After 10 years in the field, I still aspire to have the knowledge that both of my instructors possess.

After earning a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology, I struggled to find a job and ended up in finance. When COVID hit, my new job offer was rescinded and I was forced to take a job at a grocery store bakery, far from my career goals. I kept hearing advertisements for Pima Medical Institute which piqued my interest in the medical field. This led me to enroll in their three-month Phlebotomy program, allowing me to work and study simultaneously with minimal school commitment. It was a way to dip-my-toe into the water of the medical field. The Phlebotomy program was a turning point in my life. Small classes, hands-on experience, and an excellent instructor, Miss Denise, made a significant impact. I soon secured a position at Chandler Regional Hospital, where I interacted with various departments and realized my passion for patient care. Nursing stood out as the most versatile and impactful role, prompting me to pursue a nursing degree at the institute I trusted and I enrolled at Pima Medical's Mesa Campus. The Nursing program was challenging and intense, pushing me to grow and become accountable for patient care. Through diverse clinical experiences, I gravitated towards ER and ICU settings. I've recently accepted a position at OBS Banner Dessert, aiming to transfer to the ICU and eventually join the trauma team. I am immensely grateful for my education at Pima Medical. The Phlebotomy program provided a crucial foundation, giving me the framework I needed for a career in the medical field. I invited Miss Denise to my nursing pinning ceremony and my dad told her COVID had been difficult for me and she had saved my life. He was right, Pima Medical Institute truly changed my life.

Growing up I'd always had my heart set on healthcare and my dream was to become a nurse. Despite being a good student initially, family issues led me to drop out of high school. I eventually got my GED and completed a nursing assistant program through Job Corps. Life threw more challenges my way, including a young marriage, poor partner choice and raising five children as a single mother. After seeing advertisements for Pima Medical Institute, I was drawn to enroll in the Medical Assistant (MA) evening program. Balancing work, school and motherhood was tough, but I persevered for nine months. I began my new career in urgent care and later pediatrics, where I've been ever since. After a few years, Pima Medical reached out encouraging me to pursue an online Health Care Administration (HCA) associate degree. This degree opened more career doors for me. Today, I am a Lead Medical Assistant at Phoenix Children's Hospital, working with the Homeless Youth Outreach Department. I wear many hats, including clinical lead, Spanish interpreter and vaccine coordinator. Recently, I enrolled in an accelerated nursing bachelor's program at Grand Canyon University, transferring many Pima Medical credits and moving closer to my dream of becoming a nurse. Pima Medial provided the foundation for my success. And even today, I always accept their student externs. The difference in skill between their students and others is noticeable. Returning to school as a single mom with five kids was challenging, but it was worth it. Many feel stuck in minimum wage jobs, but education can change that. Though it's tough initially, the long-term benefits include better job opportunities and more time with family. My journey was hard, but Pima Medical Institute was the key to my success. With determination and effort, you can achieve your dreams too.

I have always had an interest in the medical field, but had no idea where to begin. My brother went to Pima Medical Institute for the Veterinary Technician program, which led me to look into the school. After my first tour, I knew it was the place for me and I enrolled in the Medical Assistant (MA) program. My student experience was amazing! I had fantastic instructors and got so much hands-on experience in such a short amount of time. At first, it was difficult to balance full-time school while working, but I loved what I was learning so much that putting in the work was something I was more than willing to do. I loved getting to practice my hands-on skills with my classmates. Doing things like injections and blood draws on real people truly prepares you for real patients. I graduated from Pima Medical with a 4.0 GPA, and as soon as I started to apply for jobs, the offers were rolling in! I ultimately chose to work at University of Washington Medical Center because it seemed like the best opportunity for me, and it definitely has been. Since graduating, I have been working at UW for the last year. I have learned so much and have never been more confident in a job. Getting my education at Pima Medical Institute was truly one of the best decisions I have ever made. It prepared me so much for my future and made stepping into a new role a piece of cake. I would highly recommend Pima Medical to others seeking to change their lives.

At age 19, I started at Pima Medical Institute after realizing that my initial path at UNM wasn't the right fit for me at that time. A friend suggested looking into CT technology, and after some research, I found that Pima Medical's Radiography (RAD) program offered a quicker and more fitting path to my career goals. The structured environment in the RAD program was exactly what I needed, although it wasn't always easy. My father passed away during my second semester, which made it tough to stay on track, but with the support of the school, I persevered. The clinical experiences were mostly positive, giving me valuable hands-on learning. Even in challenging situations, I gained skills by working independently, which proved to be great learning experiences. Graduating in 2004, I entered the workforce during a tech shortage and quickly landed a job. I started in x-ray and, over the years, expanded my expertise by becoming registered in mammography, bone density, and MRI. However, I chose to focus on mammography, as it offered a better work-life balance compared to MRI. After a decade at a hospital, I transitioned to a quieter clinic setting where I could work more independently, which suits me well. I've been at a small clinic for nearly a year now, enjoying the stability and better hours. Alongside my career, I'm also completing my bachelor's degree in university studies, thanks to a state program offering free classes to those close to finishing their degree. Looking ahead, I'm content with where I am but open to new opportunities, possibly in management. Pima Medical set me up for success, giving me the tools I needed to start and grow my career in radiology. Now 20 years later, I'm grateful for the education and experiences that have brought me to where I am today.

I spent nearly seven years working as a Medical Assistant (MA) before I finally decided to continue my education and complete the Radiography program at Pima Medical Institute. One of the biggest obstacles I faced was my commute - I live in Colorado Springs, so this was a 74-mile drive each way to attend class at the Denver Campus. That meant spending at least two and a half hours a day just on the road, in addition to my coursework, clinicals and job at UCHealth. The instructors at Pima Medical were incredible. They were more than just educators-they were mentors who believed in me, even when I doubted myself. The program was challenging, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I loved every moment of it, and I genuinely believe that the hands-on, real-world experience I gained during my time there has set me up for success in my new career. One of the most exciting parts of this journey was being hired to work for both UCHealth and Penrad Imaging before even completing my program. I was offered a full-time position at Penrad Imaging and later, I was hired as a PRN at UCHealth. It was a huge confidence boost, knowing that I was already making an impact in the field even before passing my ARRT registry exam. Now, I'm officially a Radiologic Technologist, and I couldn't be more excited to start this new chapter of my career. Every challenge, every late night, every moment of doubt was worth it. Thank you Pima Medical!