WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

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!

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.

My mom is an instructor at Pima Medical Institute and she highly encouraged me to go into the medical field. Contrary to her advice, I spent many years working as a server in a restaurant and attending a local university. When I got really tired of working as a server, I decided to enroll in Pima Medical's three-month Phlebotomy program. I figured at the very least, I'd have a job to fall back on. It was a bit of an adjustment, but I loved my experience. At the university you're pretty much on your own. At Pima Medical the amount of support you get, whether its financial aid or help from instructors, is amazing! I got a great job as a phlebotomist at UMC (University Medical Center of El Paso), a level one trauma center. I've gotten experience in all different areas of the hospital but mainly was assigned to the ER. I was well prepared, but when I stepped into that hospital I felt like I walked into a whole different world. I had to learn how to speak to doctors and nurses without being intimidated and I learned to deal with patients, including those who were inebriated or with dementia. Nothing can quite prepare you for this, but I love my job! One day while in a room of a 19-year-old patient with a traumatic brain injury, I got a glimpse of what it's like to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant. I saw and heard the passion of this OTA as the patient was finally able to move their hand. I began researching and learned about all the different opportunities there are in the field of Occupational Therapy and decided to pursue a new career. Shortly after, I enrolled in Pima Medical's two year OTA program and I can say that after just three months, I love it! My mom always told me I belonged in the medical field. She used to say, "It takes a special kind of heart to work in the medical field. Those people are walking angels here on earth and they are healers!" My mom was right!

I was new to San Antonio and had done some volunteer work, but was looking for something purposeful for my life. After seeing an online post about Pima Medical Institute's Phlebotomy program, I began to wonder if I could do it. I felt way too old to go back to school, plus I struggle with panic attacks. But, I stopped by Pima Medical to get information and when I told them I wasn't sure I could do it, they encouraged me and helped me enroll. I was so afraid after that first day of class and I told my husband that everyone else was younger than me and I wanted to quit. He encouraged me to keep trying and my instructor encouraged me not to quit. The hands-on learning came easy for me, but I was deathly afraid of tests and my anxiety would overtake me. My struggle was real, but I had the support of my classmates and my patient instructor. When I went to my externship site interview, they actually started talking about hiring me. I had a great experience and found myself drawing blood with confidence and making my patients feel comfortable. Upon completion, APPS Para Medical hired me. I am a traveling phlebotomist and go to people's homes to obtain their bloodwork. I really enjoy meeting people in their own environment and I get lots of compliments that I have soft hands and am good at my job. I am so thankful for everyone at Pima Medical. I finished the program because everyone there believed in me, encouraged me and cheered me on to the finish line. I just love my job!

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.

In 2005, while browsing technical programs online, Pima Medical Institute's Veterinary Assistant (VA) Program caught my eye. I filled out a request for more information and, to my surprise, Niki Riggleman, a recently retired yet highly esteemed instructor, called me immediately. Despite never having had an interest in veterinary medicine before, that call changed my life. I can't imagine being in any other field today and I'm so grateful Niki called me! I completed the VA Program and returned to complete the Veterinary Technician (VT) Program in 2007. It was a privilege to be part of the very first VT class at the Seattle Campus. One aspect of Pima Medical I truly appreciated was its accessibility; the ability to attend night classes and work during the day allowed me to maintain a steady income while pursuing my education. The hands-on classroom experience, combined with working in the field, was crucial to my professional growth. My journey with VCA Animal Hospitals began with my first externship, where I was hired even before completing it. Almost 20 years later, I'm still with VCA and grateful to have found my place there. I worked as a VA, a VT and then quickly moved up to Technician Supervisor and a regional training role. In 2020, I became the Regional Technician Director for the Northwest & Hawaii Group, supporting veterinary teams across five states. Additionally, as the current President of the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians (WSAVT) and a former District Chair for the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), I am dedicated to improving the careers of Veterinary Technicians and Assistants. Ensuring their optimal utilization and safety is crucial to our profession, helping us continue to serve our patients effectively.

After 12 years working primarily as a public health nurse at a Federally Qualified Health Center (BQHC) serving medically underserved populations, I became a supervisor at the Florida Department of Health. It was then that I realized that I needed to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to remain competitive in the job market. When I changed jobs, my new employer offered a deal I couldn't pass up; a FREE RN to BSN program, with the only contingency being that I remain with them 12 months after my degree attainment. I was initially accepted at a much larger and well-known university for an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, but the communication between myself and their recruiters left a lot to be desired, and as an older student who had never taken online classes, it spooked me. I searched and found Pima Medical Institute's online BSN program. I applied and was immediately welcomed by a veritable squad of people helping ease my fears and walk me through a new-to-me online educational experience. The director even called me personally to ensure the program fit my needs for maximum success. I graduated with a 3.9 GPA this past May, and I couldn't praise my professors or fellow students more! I had access to kind and helpful staff even at odd hours, and it has helped me become so much more confident in my current practice. My positive educational experience at Pima Medical has me seriously considering the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) online program. This is something that was never on my radar before and I know I would only want to tackle this goal with Pima Medical Institute.

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.

had just graduated from high school and was searching for a career that would allow me to help others while staying active. When I discovered Pima Medical Institute's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, I knew it was the perfect fit. The opportunity to complete the program in just 18 months and start my dream job immediately was exactly what I was looking for. My experience at Pima Medical was amazing. The class schedule allowed me to balance my studies with a part-time job, which was important for supporting myself. The coursework was challenging, but my instructors were incredibly supportive and always took the time to help me understand difficult concepts. I especially appreciated how they related the material to real-world, clinical situations, making everything we learned feel more relevant and practical. The hands-on experience in our lab and during clinical rotations was invaluable. It solidified my skills and prepared me for the workforce. Right after graduation I was hired at Athletico, where I've been working ever since. I'm currently pursuing a certification in pelvic floor therapy, a field I'm very passionate about. I am looking forward to raising awareness about its importance for overall well-being. I'm so grateful to my instructors at Pima Medical. The education I received there truly shaped me into the clinician I am today. I highly recommend Pima Medical to anyone looking to pursue a career in healthcare - it's an amazing school.