WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I worked in home health care for many years but when I moved to Colorado my license wasn't recognized, so I enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's Medical Assistant (MA) program. When I started my classes, I began to doubt my decision because everyone looked so young and I thought I might be too old to learn. But my instructor encouraged me and really helped me believe in myself. Both the classroom and externship experience prepared me for my profession. I was hired as a traveling MA. I went with a doctor to nursing homes, rehab centers and assisted living facilities and I loved it! Later, I was offered a job at the same place where I had completed my externship. Today I am working as an MA 2 for Centura Health in their OB/GYN department where I am a preceptor. I also serve on Centura's Diversity, Equality and Inclusion board. Since my goal is to move into management and even eventually run my own clinic, I completed Pima Medical's Health Care Administration (HCA) online program. At first I was nervous about how to manage working full time while going to school. But, when other students further along in the program shared their strategies, I was able to set up a system that worked for me. I enjoyed my classes and they helped me see the other side of management. I recently started the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA) program and who knows, I might just keep going on to a master's. I recommend Pima Medical to everyone! They care and go above and beyond to help their students. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

Before coming to Pima Medical Institute's Dental Hygiene program, I lacked confidence and simply didn't have the education needed to provide well for my family. What made me choose the dental field? I had been doing contract work and after completing a bathroom remodel for my dentist, he said, "You're good with your hands and you're really good with people, let me know if you ever go into the dental field." A year later I enrolled in a dental assistant program and then went to work for my dentist. After observing our dental hygienists, I realized that's what I really wanted to do. I had the choice of going to a four year program at the University of New Mexico or Pima Medical Institute's two year program. I was impressed from the moment I walked into Pima Medical. My wife inspired me to invest in myself and in our future and Pima Medical was the route we took to do it. I had a great experience in the Dental Hygiene program. The instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful, but also not afraid to point out my deficiencies. The process not only opened doors for me professionally, it helped me on a personal level. I was hired by Aspen Dental and in the last year or so I've helped open several new offices, I've worked with an incredible team and I have become the trainer for new Dental Hygienists. I was recently recognized for being number one in our company of over 700 hygienists. I feel blessed and am so grateful to my instructors. I'm finally able to support and take care of my family. It was a big investment of time and money, but it was so worth it. Pima Medical sets you up for success. I wake up every day excited to go to work and help others!

Both of my parents have careers in the medical field and my older sister was working as an X-ray technologist's assistant at the same hospital. I had many broken bones as a kid and recall getting many X-rays, but when my sister started talking about what happens behind the scenes in her department, I started considering a career as a radiologic technologist. Both my sister and my mom encouraged me toward the Radiography program at Pima Medical Institute. It is a robust program for sure. It was super challenging for me and required a lot of study. But, the instructors were very knowledgeable and encouraging. I formed great relationships with my classmates; we became quite close and helped each other get through the program. It was quite intimidating to walk into my clinicals. Although I was well prepared and had help from the technologists, it was quite overwhelming to be in trauma situations and be interacting with nurses and doctors in real life situations. I worked really hard in my final round of my clinicals at Sharp Memorial Hospital and a couple months after graduation, I was hired as a radiologic technologist. I spend the majority of my time in the ER and I really enjoy my current job, but may consider a position in mammography in the future. I want to thank Pima Medical and especially my instructor, Dr. Schmidt, who was so helpful and supportive. I was in a terrible car accident during the program and without her guidance I may not have been able to finish my program. I am 23-years-old, I have a career in the medical field and I am really proud of myself.

I suffered from dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and dropped out of high school two months before graduation. I went on to raise two kids and ran the office for my husband's plumbing business. But once my kids graduated from high school, I decided I really wanted a career in the medical field. After being out of school for 30 years, I just didn't have the confidence to get my GED and was afraid of failure. Pima Medical Institute and their partnership with Penn Foster offered me a way to be successful. The Penn Foster program provides an opportunity to earn your high school diploma and Pima Medical provides a classroom and an instructor for 4 hours a day while you learn online. Best of all, Pima Medical pays the tuition. I was able to complete my requirements, graduate within 6 weeks and transition directly into the 9 month Medical Assistant program at Pima Medical. I loved the MA program and my instructors. I was motivated and studied hard and am proud to say I graduated with a 4.0. I completed my externship at Tucson Orthopedic Institute (TOI) and not long after graduation, they called and offered me a position working for Dr. Evans in the Podiatry department. I love my job! I highly recommend the Penn Foster program to others. It provides discipline by requiring you to attend classes and it gives you the confidence to learn the information. I would have failed without it. I'm so thankful for Pima Medical Institute - it's been nothing but positive. I finally have a career I love. If I can do it, anyone can!

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.

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.

My mom had been a nurse in the Philippines, but after moving to the US she cared for us and began working as a phlebotomist. This influenced my decision to go into the medical field after high school. On a whim one day, I stopped by Pima Medical Institute and ended up enrolling in the three-month Phlebotomy program which started two weeks later. It was fast paced and very different from high school as students were all ages and yet we were all looking for a change or a new career. Even though our time together was short, it felt like family. My first job was with a blood donation company and after moving to eastern Washington, I worked at a hospital. This gave me a variety of experiences and built my confidence and I later transitioned into dialysis. I knew I eventually wanted to become a Medical Assistant (MA) and even though Pima Medical was a long commute, I had confidence in them so I enrolled in the MA program. I was pregnant, worked full time and had a long commute each day, but I did it! I feel like Pima Medical helped shape me into a resilient person. After graduation I worked at a hospital and a few other sites as an MA. But it wasn't long before I began to envision myself in administration, so I chose to complete the Health Care Administration online associate degree. That program gave me so much confidence and I loved it. After graduating, I saw an opening for a Career Services Advisor at Pima Medical, applied, and got the job. Now, I get to guide students and share my journey with them. Watching them grow reminds me of my own transformation. Pima Medical has been a constant in my life, and I'm proud to be part of a team that changes lives every day.

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.

After running a travel agency for fifteen years, I began searching for a new career in the medical field. I'd always been interested in photography, so radiology seemed like a natural fit. At 43, I returned to school to earn my associate degree in Radiologic Science. I gained experience working at a regional hospital in Minnesota, learning X-ray, CT, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. Then in 2014, my husband and I, looking to fulfill our dream, moved to Alaska where I became a multi-modality technologist with Providence in Seward. Eventually, I stepped into the role of Diagnostic Imaging Supervisor, leading a $1.8 million department remodel to improve patient care. Upgrading our equipment to include a new CT scanner and digital X-ray systems has enabled us to offer year-round mammography, allowing for earlier breast cancer detection and better outcomes. In 2023, my love for learning led me to Pima Medical Institute, where I completed my Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science (BSRS) online. Graduating with honors was a major accomplishment. I was especially impressed with the instructors and the quality of education at Pima Medical, and I'm proud to be a graduate. We are a critical care access hospital that sees patients from around the world. Tourists visit our community for various reasons, such as sport fishing, sightseeing, mountain hiking, mountain biking and cruise ships. This year we had ninety-six cruise ships bringing thousands of passengers on and off the ship. In my role, I often meet patients on one of the toughest days of their lives. My goal is to make a difference for them. I'm grateful for the skills and support from Pima Medical that has allowed me to provide the best care possible.