Theresa Romero-Diaz CDA Albuquerque Campus 2014
During my childhood, one of my favorite places to go was the dental office. The memories stayed with me. In 1989 I saw a classified ad for PMI, which led me to the admissions office and a career as a Dental Assistant. As a student, I had many challenges; I had to take my son to the day care, I didn't have a car and I relied on public transportation to get to school. I was pregnant during school and when my daughter came early, I had to go on a leave of absence. When I returned to school, I was able to continue my honor roll status. My instructors motivated me, and I really enjoyed learning. After graduation, I worked for several years as a Dental Assistant and enjoyed every minute.
In 1993, I returned to PMI as an instructor and have been here ever since. It is easy for me to identify with many of my students, and I constantly get the opportunity to help others become successful. Some of my students have become Dental Hygienists and even Dentists, and I am extremely proud of them! In 2018 I was able to continue my education through PMI and obtain my associates in Health Care Administration from our Online Campus.
I give thanks to Pima Medical Institute and to God for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful organization.
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I grew up in an unsupportive environment, constantly reminded of my limitations. After dabbling in community college and an unfinished nursing program, I found myself divorced with two young children, wondering what I could do to provide for my family. That's when I discovered Pima Medical Institute and enrolled in the Medical Secretary program. Within three months, I graduated and landed a job in the medical field, giving me the stability I desperately needed. After moving to Las Vegas, I continued to grow my career-first as an office manager and later doing billing. One day, I learned that Pima Medical was launching a Respiratory Therapy program. I jumped at the chance to enroll, excited to take my career to the next level.
Balancing school, work, and motherhood was tough. My kids and I would do homework together, and I showed them it's never too late to change your path. After graduating, I was hired at Summerlin Hospital, where I worked for 14 years. Watching the devastation in New York, when the pandemic hit in 2020, I knew I had to step up and help. I was hired as a traveler at New York Presbyterian Cornell, one of the top hospitals in the country. It was intense-over 230 patients on ventilators when I arrived -but I learned and grew through it all. While on the frontlines, I was also pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy through Pima Medical. I faced moments of doubt, but with the support of my program director, I pushed through. My son and I graduated with our bachelor's degrees in the same year-a moment of immense pride for my family.
I now work for the Nevada Donor Network, a new and upcoming field for RT's, turning tragedy into hope through organ donation. I feel a deep sense of purpose, knowing that I help give families a second chance. Thanks to Pima Medical, I've built a career that I love, and I'll never stop learning or growing.
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I have been employed now for almost a year at Lutheran Medical Center. During this time I've recognized just how critical our role is in the sterile processing department of the hospital. We have a very important and serious responsibility, particularly in the operating and emergency rooms.
Just over a year ago I was looking for a complete career change and considering the medical industry. When I visited Pima Medical Institute's campus and learned about their new Central Sterile Processing Program and saw the new and very impressive lab, I decided to enroll. I really appreciated the program director and my instructors. They all contributed a wealth of knowledge due to their long and successful personal experience of being employed as sterile processing technicians themselves.
I worked very hard as a student maintaining a high GPA and was determined to make a good impression at my clinical site. Not only did I achieve my goal of completing my 400 clinical hours at Lutheran Medical Center, but was also offered a job upon graduating and passing my certification exam.
I would recommend PMI to anyone who wants to get into the medical field. They provided a great education and helped me get my foot in the door within a large hospital. I am a huge advocate for continuing education and hope this is just the beginning.
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Many people make decisions because they're unhappy with the direction that their career is going. That's exactly what happened to me. After merrily going along for a number of years as a florist, the industry went through some changes and left me unfulfilled in my career.
I knew that I wanted to be involved in something that would really benefit people. So, I decided to pursue a career in Radiology. Unfortunately, after finishing another school's prerequisites, I was placed on a wait list for nearly five years. So, I kept researching until I found PMI. I was accepted into PMI's program. The schedule was a perfect fit for me because it allowed me to drop my kids off at school, attend my classes, and study in the evenings. Also, the instructors were top notch! I finished my finals on a Friday, took my state boards on Saturday and Monday, I signed up for additional schooling so that I could get my mammography certification. Once I passed the state boards one of my clinic sites hired me.
I heard about an exciting opportunity with a brand new revolutionary healthcare clinic, called Ma'am Exams. I learned later that many experienced technicians were interviewed for the new position, but I was offered the job. Today, I am their lead mammographer and the head of the imaging department. What's not to love about my job? PMI's radiography program has opened the door to so many possibilities!
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I came to PMI as an older student. I had been an EMT, owned my own business, and worked for other companies. But, I just couldn't find my niche - that one thing. I began to research schools that offered veterinary programs because I have been passionate about animals my entire life. Two of my family members had attended PMI and were thrilled with their choices, so I decided to enroll in their Veterinary Assistant program.
My first day I hesitated outside my classroom; knowing it wasn't going to be easy. But, I decided failure was not an option. I took a deep breath, walked through the door and opened the doors to a whole new life. Shortly before graduation, I was asked to consider enrolling in their Veterinary Technician program. I was apprehensive, but knew from experience my instructors would always be available to help answer my questions and would push me to do my best. I accepted the invitation, enrolled in the VT program, and as they say, the rest is history!
I'm currently employed by the same full-service clinic where I did my externship. No two days are ever the same - I may perform a dental procedure and soon after be scrubbing for surgery. No matter what emergency situation comes through our doors, I am 100% confident with my skills. Everything I learned, I learned from the best.
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Pima Medical Institute provides a topnotch hands-on educational experience and prepares you for the real world. I believe it's an amazing and worthwhile investment.
I had always been interested in the healthcare industry, but after researching and learning about Respiratory Therapy, I fell in love with the profession. As I looked into schools, Pima Medical Institute just seemed to be the obvious choice, and I had a great experience at their Denver Campus. The instructors were great, there was a team-like atmosphere among my classmates, and I had a job before I even graduated.
I was running a respiratory program for over 30 skilled nursing facilities in the Denver area when I decided to continue my education, so I signed up for PMI's online Health Care Administration bachelor's degree program. I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure how I would be able to handle working full-time and going to school, but I quickly realized that if I was goal-oriented and committed, it really wasn't that difficult. In fact, I found myself looking forward to the next assignment or project, and it turned out to be a great experience. Interestingly, my final project involved walking through the process of developing my own company. As I was completing my assignments, I was literally putting them into practice. I was able to use my project to set up my own independent sleep test company, Elevation Respiratory Care & Diagnostics, which I still own and operate today.
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I had some major setbacks while I was a student at Pima Medical Institute. In the middle of my program we lost our condo and two cars due to flooding from Hurricane Harvey. About the only things we saved from high water were my textbooks which I'd left on a high table. My classmates, instructors and administrators rallied around and helped me during this time. In fact, they provided enough money for a down payment on my car. The support was amazing! Also, right before my finals I lost my father to cancer. I was left emotionally drained but more determined than ever to finish my program.
The Dental Hygiene program was a very challenging and an accelerated program, but a great experience! Pima Medical prepares you and gives you the tools to move into the real world of your occupation. I had been interning at a small dental office and after graduation the dentist offered me an opportunity to begin building my customer base. After 4 months, I had worked up to full-time and was able to create and implement my own set of procedures. While at Pima Medical, I mentored a student in the class behind me and I was able to bring her on at my clinic. I now have a full schedule and she is building her customer base.
Although I had some major setbacks while at Pima Medical, I bit my lip and soldiered on. I'm grateful for the support of my instructors and others at Pima Medical. I am proud of my success and I even had a perfect score on my boards!
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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.
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Dentistry was always in my plan, but life took a turn when I became a young mom while attending NMSU (New Mexico State University). Returning home, I started working for a family friend's dental practice, fell in love with the field, and decided to officially pursue a career in Dental Assisting (DA). I was looking for a fast-paced program and Pima Medical Institute was the perfect fit. My experience there was fantastic-I applied what I learned on the job and made lifelong friends.
After working as a dental assistant for a year, I decided to further my career and enrolled in the Dental Hygiene (DH) program at Pima Medical. The program was challenging, but the instructors were incredible. I was taught by some of the icons of dental hygiene and I thrived in the rigorous environment. Upon graduation, I quickly secured a job as a dental hygienist, working five days a week to maximize my education. Over time, I got married, had another son, and excelled in my career, and began working in a corporate dental setting. In 2021, I returned to Pima Medical as an instructor in the hygiene clinic, a full-circle moment. To say I loved it would be an understatement. Not only did I find my passion for teaching, I got to continue learning alongside my students.
Currently, I'm preparing to open New Mexico's first dental hygiene studio to meet the needs of preventative care. I hope to employ several dental hygienists and we plan to collaborate with local dentists. I'm also starting a dental hygiene consulting business. I am excited about this business venture and genuinely credit my success to the education I received at Pima Medical. I am incredibly grateful to my instructors for shaping me into the professional I am today.
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I had an amazing experience in the Medical Assistant (MA) program at Pima Medical Institute. I had the best instructors and, as we spent time studying together, my classmates became amazing friends. I had always known I wanted to be in a profession where I could help people and I wanted to work with children. My older sister had completed the Veterinary Technician (VT) program at Pima Medical, so I knew it was a school I could trust and enrolled in the MA program.
I appreciated all the knowledge and information they gave us about working in the real world. The hands-on experience helped us feel prepared for our new career. Since graduating in 2018 I have worked for three clinics or organizations as an MA and have gained experience in family practice, OB/GYN and specialty clinics and have learned so much!
I love my job! Every day is different and I am constantly learning new things. I am so very grateful for my instructors at Pima Medical for helping me to be able to achieve my dream job. I love what I do and I am so grateful I took the leap to enroll in the Medical Assistant (MA) program.
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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.
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I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be in the medical field. When it came time for me to graduate from high school, I wasn't interested in a four-year college or university because I just wanted to jump right into the workforce as soon as possible and begin my career in the medical field. After explaining this to my gramma, she recommended Pima Medical Institute. We visited together and took a tour; I knew then that the nine-month Medical Assistant (MA) program was the best fit for me.
My experience as a student was amazing! The MA program is an accelerated program and while you're learning lots of information in a short time, the hands-on practice helps you apply your skills and prepares you for the profession. All the nerves, tears and anxiousness were so worth it. I was so well prepared for my six-week externship that I was offered a position as an MA upon completion. I am still employed there and I recently began going back to school to obtain my associates in Nursing with plans to continue on to get my bachelor's (BSN) degree.
I want to say thank you to every single one of my instructors. Pima Medical changed my life, and I will always be grateful for the education I received, the lifelong relationships I built with my instructors and classmates, and the lasting career it has given me.
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