I was born in Uzbekistan and at age 7 my family and I were forced to escape to Russia. We lived as refugees there and life was very difficult. We had no access to healthcare and I was not allowed to go to school past the 9th grade. In 2005, we moved to the United States and, although I struggled with the language and cultural differences, I very much appreciated the opportunities this country provided me. I have been dreaming about working in healthcare since I was a little girl. My husband knew my dream so he helped me find Pima Medical Institute and signed me up for their Phlebotomy program. My life was changed forever! I was able to get a job at a level 1 trauma center and help my family. In my position, I was able to observe the respiratory therapists help people and even save lives. So, several years later I came back to PMI and enrolled in their Respiratory Therapy program. English is my fourth language, so it was not an easy journey! Often I was in class all day, cared for my family in the evening and helped my children with homework, and then stayed up all night studying. I wanted to be successful and make my family proud!
I could not have made it and been successful without the help of my PMI instructors. They taught me so much! Today, my dream has come true and I'm so thankful for the support of my family and my PMI family and this country that has given me such a wonderful opportunity! I go to work each day with a smile on my face.
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My wife, a nurse for 12 years, always encouraged me to join the medical field, but I kept putting it off. I worked as an insurance adjuster, traveling to areas hit by natural disasters, often being gone for 21 days at a time. With young children and older kids involved in activities, I was missing too much. One day, I told my wife I was ready to resign and pursue a medical career at the end of the year. Just a week later, I was let go from my job. We actually laughed at the timing. At the same time, my grandmother began having health problems. Caring for her made me realize the urgency of getting into the medical field-not just for my career, but to better understand her needs. My best friend had gone through Pima Medical's Practical Nursing (PN) program and had encouraged me to join him, but I wasn't ready then. Now, I knew it was the right choice and the right timing.
The PN program was very challenging for me, but I developed a strong small group of classmates who supported me and I had caring instructors who offered extra help. However, when my dear grandmother passed away on Christmas Eve, I was crushed. She had raised me and was my biggest cheerleader and I just wanted to quit. I arranged to meet with my director to withdraw from the program, but she encouraged me to stay. My wife reminded me why I had started the program, and decided to continue. I completed the PN program but still struggling with the loss, I failed my NCLEX exam twice. I felt so defeated, but I knew I couldn't give up. After passing on my third attempt, I drove to Pima Medical to hug my program director and we shared an emotional moment.
I am excited for my new career at the Center at Lowry, a rehabilitation facility where I did clinicals. I can't thank Pima Medical Institute enough; the instructors, especially Director Risner, were amazing and I wouldn't be where I am without them!
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I was working in a motorcycle shop and trying to figure out what to do with my life. I told my manager that I really wanted to work with animals and she told me I should check out the Veterinary Assistant Program and Pima Medical Institute. I checked out Pima and enrolled. I loved coming to school every day and still do! I gained so much knowledge and hands on experience. The instructors made learning fun and they inspired me. I came home from the first day of my externship and thought to myself, this is where I was meant to be.
I was hired right after graduation by my externship site. I have lots of friends there and I love what I do. I recently started PMI's Veterinary Technician Program and I am learning so much every day. My job helps me to prepare for VT and I feel more confident in my learning.
My family has been so supportive. I never really did anything with my life until now, so it brings my parents to tears to see how far I've come. After VT I would like to continue my education and eventually end up in marine biology. Thank you Pima - for everything you've done for me!
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Upon graduation from my radiography associates program in the state of Virginia, I was hired at a local hospital. After a time, I became very interested in pursuing an instructor position at my institution but found a bachelor's degree was required. My former program director handed me a brochure from Pima Medical Institute and told me it was 100% online. I called Donna Luebke in admissions and she signed me up for their BSRS program.
PMI's program was flexible and provided me the opportunity to continue working fulltime. Many of the topics we studied were relevant to my work place. In fact, one of our projects was to prepare a workplace improvement. I choose to totally revamp our workplace training program. Afterwards, I submitted it to our state director and they actually adopted it!
While in the program I left the hospital and started working for a mobile radiology company. After completing my bachelor's they promoted me to lead supervisor for half the state and later offered me the position of director of operations for the state of Virginia.
A funny thing happened in one of our discussions when an online classmate began explaining about a situation at her workplace that started sounding familiar. She had a pretty common name, so I didn't realize until I sought her out at work that we were in the same online program out of Arizona working at the same hospital in Virginia.
I am currently working for the Center for Disease Control. I travel the country doing all types of screening for a project called the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition and Exam Survey). This team establishes national standards for things like growth charts for children. In the 70's their survey results showed high levels of lead in our populations, which resulted in requiring unleaded gasoline. I'm currently using custom ground breaking machinery and devices as I travel the country.
Pima Medical Institute's bachelor's degree prepared me and provided opportunities to move up in my career. For this I am thankful!
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For 20 years I worked in the food industry. In 2016 I took the steps to get my GED and start my life. I attended a semester and at a community college and realized that it was not for me. I left there one day and walked into Pima Medical Institute in tears not knowing what I was doing or where I was going with my life. That is when I met Renee, my admissions advisor. She took me into her arms hugged me and showed me the compassion and love that I needed. She helped me enroll in the Pharmacy Technician program and I started my new life on January 8, 2018. My instructor is the most compassionate person and has been my biggest support through the program. She was even instrumental in helping me obtain my job at Fry's Pharmacy while I was still in school. The teaching and knowledge I received while at Pima Medical Institute has made me the person that I am today and I feel so blessed.
I am becoming the person that I have always wanted to be. I'm educated, successful, and compassionate towards others and a knowledgeable person. I am so thankful for my success. I am 37 years of age and I have been in such a rut, not knowing where I am going with my life. But all that has changed. I want to say thank you to everyone at PMI! They went above and beyond to teach me how to become a successful Pharmacy Technician. My externship site has already offered me a job and I am excited to see what the future holds.
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Pima Medical Institute gives you everything you need to do your job well in your new career. I find myself recommending them to everyone.
Before I started at Pima Medical, I was a stay at home mom to my two kids. As they got older, I started looking for something that would work for someone who had been out of school for 10 years, and a place with a good reputation. A lot of my motivation was my kids; I needed something stable for them. I've always had an interest in the medical field, and after seeing an advertisement on a bus for Pima Medical, I decided to look into their programs. I applied online, later stopped in for a tour of the campus and signed up for the Medical Assistant Program.
The program, my teachers and my classmates were a perfect fit for me. My classmates were helpful and we had a lot of fun. I had the help and support from instructors not only for my education, but personally as well. My instructors have become my friends.
I was hired on at Presbyterian Medical Center as a Medical Assistant in their orthopedic department. It was a transition for my kids to have me go back to work, but I am teaching them the importance of an education. My kids are looking up to me and I'm proud of my new career.
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I was a waitress for 10 years and felt like I was going nowhere, stuck in a rut. While lying on the couch one day I saw a commercial for Pima Medical Institute. As soon as it was over I called the campus and set up an appointment. Once my admissions advisor showed me the Respiratory Therapy lab and I saw how hands-on it was, I immediately enrolled.
It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but my instructors were amazing and it was worth it! One of the greatest experiences during my time at Pima Medical was the opportunity to be part of their Sputum Bowl Team, a Jeopardy type game using respiratory questions. Our team won at the state level and then headed to Las Vegas where we won the national championship! The experience provided great networking and exposure for all of us new graduates. In fact, after the championship I met a department educator from the University of Colorado (U of C) and I took the opportunity to tell her I was hoping to get a job there. She encouraged me to contact her once I'd applied and I was later hired and am still working there today. I am a certified preceptor, a co-chair of our guideline committee, and most importantly, I absolutely love my job! Working at a level one trauma center means we have been a base for COVID patients. It has been super busy, hectic, and stressful and yet, we've had so many success stories of people walking out of the hospital when we thought they might not make it.
I went from going to a job I hated, to a job I LOVE! My life has done a 180. I'm so thankful for Pima Medical Institute and every one of my instructors. I am just so grateful!
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My mother had a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis, which resulted in her needing to be intubated and trached throughout her life, so I was familiar with respiratory. At age 19, I started my career path in the medical field as a transporter at Sunrise Hospital. As I worked with and observed the Respiratory Therapists (RT), I began to understand the importance of their profession. I knew then, this was the career for me, so I enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's RT program.
I appreciated the support from both administration and instructors and their belief that I could become a productive member of the RT community. My classmates provided support throughout the rigorous program and there was a great camaraderie among us. I remember having study sessions, gatherings, and cookouts in the parking lot with the faculty, staff and students. Having the opportunity to work in professional clinical settings while in school provided the perspective I needed and upon graduation, I was promoted to a full-time Respiratory Therapist at my hospital. I also worked with University Medical Center (UMC). I continued my education in Pima Medical's Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) and then went on to complete my Master's Degree in Business Administration at Columbia Southern University. I am still employed with UMC as their Senior Respiratory Therapist and I have been a Clinical Instructor for Pima Medical Institute's Las Vegas Campus since 2016. My eventual goal is to move into hospital administration becoming a VP or COO.
I am very thankful for Pima Medical Institute. Anything worth having is worth working for, and true education is what you are willing to put into it whether you're at Yale, Harvard or Pima Medical. Therefore, always attempt to set the standard of excellence in everything you do and everything you love.
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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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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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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.
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Nineteen years ago, I took my first step toward a life-changing career by enrolling in the Medical Assistant (MA) program at Pima Medical Institute. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but I didn't realize how transformative this journey would be. During my time as an MA student, I became fascinated with Respiratory Therapy (RT), so I enrolled in Pima Medical's RT program. My instructors believed in me and pushed me beyond my limits. The administrative team was equally supportive, showing me that my education mattered to them as much as it did to me.
While still an RT student, I secured my first job at North Vista Hospital. After graduating, I joined University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas. Both hospitals hired me after completing my clinical rotations. I worked my way up and built my career at UMC, eventually earning a management role. While there I continued my education, completing a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) online program from Pima Medical and later a master's degree in Business.
After retiring, I returned to Pima Medical to give back. In April 2024, I became the Clinical Director of Education for the RT program and by October 2024, I became the RT Program Director. I am forever grateful to Pima Medical Institute for believing in me. This journey wouldn't have been possible without the incredible instructors and staff who stood by me every step of the way.
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