WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

Shortly after moving to Tucson, I discovered I was pregnant with my first child. I had never taken school or life in general too seriously and only had limited work experience in the food industry. But, I saw a TV commercial for Pima Medical Institute, met with an admissions advisor, enrolled in their Veterinary Assistant Program and started classes the following Monday. I was very apprehensive as school was never for me. But from admissions to the instructors, everyone was super friendly and helpful. My instructors prepared me for the skills I would need, and the staff helped me build a foundation of professionalism I still carry today. I was hired at my clinical site the day after my externship. Since graduation I have been gainfully employed, improving on the base skills the school taught me. I have worked over 15 years in Emergency, Critical Care, ICU and managed large groups of technicians and even ran a local shelter for a time. During that time, I even accepted a position as a substitute instructor at Pima Medical Institute. I have watched veterinary medicine become just as fascinating and advanced as human medicine. In 2013 I jumped at the opportunity to become a fulltime PMI instructor. I enjoy educating veterinary technician hopefuls with the same foundation PMI gave me. Recently, I accepted the position as PMI's Career Services Coordinator. I want to encourage my students to reach for the stars and help them drive themselves to success.

I grew up in Willcox, AZ, a small town, where my mom was the manager of the local Pizza Hut. As a server, I worked alongside her for 12 years while she demonstrated on a daily basis how to treat people. Then due to the untimely passing of most of my family, including my mother, I found myself alone with my 2-year-old son. I continued to work while attending community college. In 2014, I moved to Tucson. I decided I wanted to go back to school, but I needed something that would get me on my feet right away. I heard a Pima Medical Institute advertisement. I called, set up an appointment, met with an advisor, and signed up for their Dental Assistant program. I remember getting my scrubs and books and feeling so proud to be part of PMI. I loved my instructors! They had so much experience in the field. After graduation, I eventually accepted a position at El Rio Community Health Center. I loved it! The 2-year experience shaped me as a dental assistant and as a human. Recently, I transitioned to a new and exciting position that combines my customer service strengths, my business interest, and my dental training. I am working for Smile Direct Club. I love giving people a smile that gives them confidence. After working so hard for 4 years at the community college without finishing, I was able to obtain a career in 9 months at PMI. My short-term program set me up for long-term success!

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with my life. I began working as a CNA, and through my experiences in the hospital, I became excited about a possible career in the medical field. I heard a commercial about Pima Medical Institute and decided the quickest way into a career was enrolling in their 9 month Medical Assistant program. That opened the door for me, but I loved learning and knew I wanted more. My dad passed away in 2015 from a drowning incident and that experience pushed me toward the respiratory therapy field. Through that incident I was able to observe the amazing work that respiratory therapists do and I said to myself, "I want to be one of them". One year after completing the MA program, I started Pima Medical's Respiratory Therapy program and I loved every moment of it! The program was challenging, but our classes were small and I connected with my classmates. We developed an almost family-type relationship. I loved my instructors; they really wanted us to succeed. After completing my clinical experience, I was hired at St Anthony North Medical Health Center in Westminster, CO. I love my job! Recently, I have been working in the COVID ICU. I help intubate, manage ventilators and endotracheal tubes and give breathing treatments to those struggling to breath. I feel like I have found my calling. I love Pima Medical. They did so much for me. Down the road I hope to continue my education by getting my bachelor's degree and possibly even obtaining my master's degree in the respiratory field.

I graduated from the Physical Therapy Assistant Program at the Albuquerque Campus back in 2013. I had a great experience at PMI. The instructors were great, the curriculum was challenging and I had two job offers upon graduation. For the last 5 years I've worked at Rehoboth McKinney Christian Health Care Services in Gallup, NM. Recently, I have been working with COVID19 patients at our hospital. Our role as physical therapist assistants is to try and get patients up and moving after they get off the ventilators. I've never experienced anything quite like this. In case you haven't heard, Gallup, NM is grappling with one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the United States. The Navajo Nation is reported to have the one of the highest death rates in the United States. Gallup is a hub for the surrounding reservations so many Native Americans funnel into Gallup to get supplies. Recently the governor declared a lock down and closed ALL roads in and out of Gallup, NM, with the exception of essential workers with paperwork. Our small hospital has been almost completely at capacity with COVID19 positive patients and we have 30 employees that have tested positive. I was supposed to take a PMI clinical student in April but of course couldn't do that. When PMI's PTA program director called last week, I told him we had been running very low on PPE and were desperate for more. He offered to help and went through all the storage rooms at Pima Medical ABQ and loaded up his truck. We met outside Gallup's limits on the side of the highway (see photo) to make the transfer of gowns, masks and other PPE. I can't tell you how excited we were especially to see shoe covers as we had been using garbage bags which often caused us to trip. I am currently enrolled in PMI's BSPTA program and am looking forward to completing my bachelor's degree soon. I've had a wonderful experience at PMI and I'd do it all over again.

My dad had a bout of pneumonia and ended up on a ventilator and I was fascinated watching the respiratory therapist control my dad's breathing. I'd been working in the auto industry, never thought I was college material, but I my family believed in and motivated me to look into the field. I set up a tour of Pima Medical Institute with the program director and as I saw the facility and listened to her, I fell in love with her passion for respiratory therapy. Being a student at Pima Medical was certainly challenging for me, but the support I had from instructors and classmates was amazing. Our class decided that no one was going to fail, so when someone was struggling with a concept, we all rallied around them. The instructors were always available for extra help and by the time I got to clinicals, I really felt prepared. Prior to graduation I obtained a position with Banner South, a hospital that had been part of my community since I'd been a child. While performing bedside care as a respiratory therapist, I recognized that healthcare doesn't stop at the bedside. I became interested in looking at how, for example, a patient's social economic situation impacted their outcome. Knowing I wanted to make a bigger impact and with the confidence I gained from my time at PMI I went on and continued my education earning my bachelor's in applied management and ultimately my MBA. I navigated my way throughout the healthcare system from beside care, care coordination, to quality improvement. Wanting to be more proactive than reactive, I took a position as Senior Manager of Medicare Administration. We not only looked at how we delivered advantage plan benefits, I'm proud to say we instituted a non-traditional innovative program for our patients. Recently, I accepted a position as Director of Care Delivery Operations for Banner Health Corporate. I recognize that in order for bedside staff to offer their best care, processes and supply have to be in place. I can now play a role in making that happen and that is very exciting! Pima Medical provided the necessary educational and support a guy - who didn't think he was college material - needed in order to have the confidence to be successful. Next step - CEO!

At age 18 I got a job as a receptionist at a veterinary clinic. After gaining more experience at several hospitals as both a receptionist and an assistant, I knew I wanted to become a Veterinary Technician (VT). It seemed everyone I had worked with in the Seattle area had attended Pima Medical Institute, so that made their VT program an easy choice. I had struggled in classes at a traditional college, but loved my classes at Pima Medical. The instructors were excellent and very understanding. Everything I was learning seemed to apply to my experience at my job, giving me a conceptual understanding of the material. I felt very prepared for my clinicals and was offered a position at one of my sites. I worked at a number of clinics and an ER in the Seattle area, volunteered at a wildlife hospital and worked at a high- volume spay neuter clinic. When we moved to rural Alaska, I spent a short time at a bear sanctuary before landing at Sitka Animal Hospital. I am the hospital supervisor and lead LVT and we see everything at the facility. Last week we cared for a ferret, a gecko, dogs, cats, bunnies, rodents, as well as performing surgery on a duck that had been attacked by a bald eagle. I am also on the board of a nonprofit animal shelter and a municipal animal hearing board where we hear appeals for animal control. I am currently in pursuit of a master's degree. I hope to be part of the first group of technicians emerging into a mid-level practitioner position, much like a veterinary nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. Almost every day I think about my Pima Medical instructors and how grateful I am to have learned from them. I am proud of my successful career and I know I have them to thank.

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.

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.

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!