WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I am a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. My Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in the Army is 68P, which is a Radiologic Specialist. I've served in Washington state, D.C., Korea, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now back in Washington. Army x-ray technicians cannot do their job in the civilian job market, because they are not registered. It really bothered me that I could not take the boards, despite my extensive experience. I didn't feel like a real technologist because I wasn't registered and I couldn't do what I loved in the civilian job market. While deployed in Afghanistan, I did research on the internet.You should have seen my face light up when I found Pima had an Advanced Placement Program in Radiology. My experience at PMI was AMAZING! I am so much more knowledgeable than I ever was before and I often find myself sharing what I learned with others. My clinical experience gave me what I needed to successfully complete my boards. Now, endless possibilities are in my future. Pima has really changed my life, and I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given.

Many different paths have led students to Pima Medical Institute but rarely, if ever, has one involved a thousand mile trek through the jungles of an African nation, decimated by civil war, at the age of seven. One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Chris was a refugee in various camps throughout Africa, after being orphaned at the age of 7. His saga began the night his village in Southern Sudan was attacked and destroyed, with the men, women and girls murdered or enslaved. He fled into the jungle, eventually joining forces with other displaced Sudanese boys (estimates up to 26,000) to begin a three month walk barefoot to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. He was forced out just a year later when civil war erupted in that country as well, fleeing by foot once again. His childhood realities included watching fellow boys lose eyes to vultures and necks getting snapped by lion attacks, or witnessing daily deaths from poisonous snake bites, dehydration, starvation or tropical disease. Less than half of the boys survived. Chris was one of 4000 refugees picked by the United Nations to resettle in the US in 2001 and one of 15 in Tucson. He attended PMI, graduating with honors from the Pharmacy Technician program, and has subsequently furthered his education with the addition of a Licensed Practical Nursing degree. His long term goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner, a degree which he hopes to use in fulfillment of his life vision of returning to his country to improve the quality of health care. He, along with two of his comrades, has started the non profit organization of "Jumpstart Sudan." This foundation's goal is to establish a health clinic which will provide basic medical care in Southern Sudan, the area from which Chris was forced to flee over 16 years earlier. Chris Garang is the epitome of a PMI success story. However, it is not just in his achievement of overcoming obstacles as a child, obstacles that could have easily overwhelmed even the strongest man, nor his perseverance in tackling and mastering academics in a foreign language, which define his success. The true testament of his character is that, instead of anger and bitterness, he has the grace to pass on what he considers the "blessing" of his new life and knowledge to his native country. This sense of gratitude and his commitment to spread his good fortune is a triumph of spirit. We are so proud of you, Chris!

Before attending Pima Medical Institute, I had tried taking classes at the university, worked a few years as a lifeguard, and had been unemployed for a year. When my grandmother encouraged me look into a career taking x-rays, I researched and found Pima Medical and enrolled in their Radiography program. Going back to school at 30 years of age was challenging, but what a difference it was being in a class of only 25 students at Pima Medical rather than my previous experience of 300-500 students at ASU. I found it so much easier to focus and my instructors were great! By the time I graduated I had job offers from both of my clinical sites. I worked in a hospital setting as a radiologic technologist for two years and then returned to school to pursue a post-graduate education in St. Louis. In April 2019 I graduated from Logan University with a Doctorate in Chiropractic. Pima Medical not only gave me the start I needed in the medical field, it gave me a huge advantage over my classmates at Logan. Even though I was taught by many well-known chiropractic doctors, I still consider my Pima Medical instructor, Mike Hawkes, to be the best instructor I ever had. At 39 years of age I am opening my own business, Pyle Family Chiropractic, in Peoria, AZ. If you had told me nine years ago when I started Pima Medical that I would be a doctor and a small business owner, I would have said you were crazy! I'm so thankful for the start Pima Medical provided me! Dr. Nicholas Pyle DC R.T.(R)(ARRT)

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

My journey into healthcare wasn't planned. During my senior year of high school, I was preparing to study engineering when my dad passed away. It was a tough time, and I decided to take a break. My mom, a nurse, suggested I become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), so I completed an accelerated program and started working at Silver Hills Healthcare Center in Las Vegas. I never imagined a career in long-term care, but I excelled as a CNA and was promoted to rehab aide. One day my regional director, who saw potential in me, signed me up for an informational seminar at Pima Medical Institute for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. I attended, was intrigued, and decided to enroll. Balancing school and work wasn't easy, but Pima Medical made it possible. I worked flexible hours, attended classes and studied late into the evenings. The instructors were experienced, and the small class sizes made learning enjoyable. When I took the national licensing exam, I achieved one of the highest scores my instructor had ever seen. After working in the field, I wanted to grow my career even more, so I enrolled in Pima Medical's online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA) program. Today, I'm an Assistant Administrator at Alta Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, finishing my Administrator in Training program. Soon, I'll sit for the licensing exam to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and my ultimate goal is to own a skilled nursing facility. Pima Medical gave me the tools and confidence to succeed. Their programs may cost a bit more, but they are efficient and effective with no prerequisites. I received a quality education at Pima Medical and I'm proud to be a graduate!