WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I grew up in California and at age 18 I fell in love via Facebook with a boy from Seattle. Instead of going to my senior night, I booked a flight to Washington and my boyfriend and I eloped. I had no job, no college education, and no money. I found a job at Albertsons and thus began the cycle of frustrating jobs that didn't pay the bills or offer benefits. A month after moving to Seattle, I became pregnant with our first child. After she was born, I decided I needed a career so I found a Phlebotomy program at another school and enrolled. I did my best to study and care for a young child, but I didn't pass the program. After this I continued to hop around from job to job. When my second daughter was born, I decided to try school again and I found Pima Medical Institute and enrolled in their Phlebotomy Technician program. The teachers were amazing and so was the school staff. They all had my best interest at heart. I'm a slow learner and my instructors worked with my level of learning. They were always available to help me. I was hired at Labcorp, the site where I completed my externship. I love my job! They work with my schedule allowing me to drop my kids off at school in the mornings. Because PMI gave me a second chance at pursuing Phlebotomy, my husband and I have become financially stable and have even bought a house. Thank you PMI! You gave me the chance of a lifetime and I don't know where I'd be without you!

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 had been a Physical Therapist Assistant for 15 years and was very happy with my career choice, but changes in my field prompted me to go back to school. I heard about Pima Medical Institute through a coworker so I reached out. Donna, my admissions advisor, got to know me, listened to my goals and advised me to consider their Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration. I was 40+ years young with a family and I was working full-time, but the bachelor's program turned out to be a great fit for me. The flexibility of online education allowed me to continue to live my daily life, work and even travel without falling behind. I graduated with a 3.94 GPA and received my degree with high honors. I was a little unclear about my direction after graduation. But, I remembered what my program director, Donnie Smith, had said after I had completed my project for my capstone. My project involved creating a business plan and he said it was so great; I should explore the idea of pursuing it. So, that's just what I did! I teamed up with two like-minded colleagues and a year later we are the proud owners of a brand new outpatient physical therapy clinic called In Motion Therapy in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY. The BSHCA program at Pima Medical provided me with the tools to achieve my dream. I want to thank my family, my partners, May and Joe, and the Pima Medical staff and instructors for all their help and support. I would not be where I am today without them. I cannot tell you what it felt like to treat my very first patient in my OWN clinic. I am living my dream!

In 2012 I was in a bad accident and spent time in the hospital. This experience enabled me to observe the nurses and see how they cared for people. I had been working as a team lead at Target for a number of years but I decided that I wanted to do more than help people spend money, so I began pursuing the medical field. I started as a CNA and after 4 years decided I wanted to attend school to become an LPN. I heard about Pima Medical Institute on the radio and got excited about attending their Practical Nursing program. I have to admit my first sequence of classes was really challenging! The whole program was a huge learning experience for me, but my hard work paid off. I appreciated how the whole program was laid out ahead of time, including our course work and the schedule. This really helped us be successful. I was offered a job at my clinical site. The administrator took notice of me and offered me a position as a unit manager, not your typical first job as an LPN. I believe Pima Medical helped me develop a level of confidence that made a difference in obtaining this position. Recently, I was contacted by another facility and offered a job as another unit manager. I am honored and proud that in such a short time my education and hard work has provided opportunities for growth in my career. Pima Medical prepared me to be successful. The encouragement and support I got from my instructors was just overwhelming, and it's an experience I am always going to cherish.

I wasn't happy with my job at the time, working in the procurement division of a tech company. My mother suggested I explore a career in HIMS (Health Information Management Systems)/Medical Billing and Coding. I found Pima Medical Institute by doing a general Medical Billing and Coding search and then remembering passing by Pima Medical's campus, as I had grown up in the area. My time at Pima Medical was unlike any educational experience I'd had before. The support from instructors and staff felt new and genuine. It was clear that they cared about my education and my success. From enrollment to graduation, the entire experience was life-changing for me. As soon as I began my 80-hour externship, I started searching for job opportunities. I felt very prepared for my new career and I wanted to hit the ground sprinting. Two weeks before graduation, I interviewed for a Billing Specialist position at Nevy Health. They offered me the position and I've been there ever since. I owe a lot of my success to my instructors' guidance and patience. I graduated with honors for the first time in my life, and I was well-prepared for my first credential exam, which I passed on my first attempt. This journey from dissatisfaction in my old job to a fulfilling career in Medical Billing and Coding is proof that with determination and support, transformation is possible. Pima Medical made it all happen for me.

My story is a bit unique in the way I came to Pima Medical Institute. I was in the Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Brightwood College in 2018 when it suddenly closed its doors. Pima Medical was willing to take those displaced students, so without other options I decided to give it a go. Since Pima Medical didn't have a CNA program, I chose their Medical Assistant (MA) program. My experience at Pima Medical was exceptional! I had great instructors and I felt like I got a fantastic education. One specific thing I really appreciated about the curriculum was that we were able to learn all different aspects of the roles of our profession. For example, although I've never worked as a front office MA, I was able to learn those roles and understand their responsibilities as well. Two days after finishing my program, I was on a plane moving to Colorado. I began applying for jobs as soon as I got settled and had no trouble finding a position. I was hired as an MA at Pueblo Community Health Center where I will soon be celebrating five years. Currently, I am also completing prerequisites so I can go back to school to achieve my dream of becoming an RN. Pima Medical Institute has great programs and amazing instructors! I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting a career in the medical field. If their location here in Colorado offered an RN program, I would already be signed up. I appreciate everything all of my instructors did for me and I wouldn't be where I am without them.

When I first walked through the doors of Pima Medical Institute, life was a challenge! My husband was out of work, and we, along with our six-month-old baby, were living with his mother. Plus, I had dropped out of school at 5th grade and since my mother wasn't familiar with homeschooling, I taught myself at home through high school. Today, after completing four programs, we own a beautiful home, and our now eight-year-old daughter is thriving. Our lives have completely transformed. I'm a 5th grade dropout with a master's degree - nothing is impossible if you really want it. I began with the nine-month Medical Assistant (MA) program. Balancing full-time work and school was tough-I cried many times on my drive to class-but I never gave up. I was determined to build a better life for my family. That determination drove me to continue my education, earning my associate degree in Health Care Administration (HCA), a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA), and eventually a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL). Throughout this journey, I've worked and gone to school simultaneously. Thanks to the education and skills I gained at Pima Medical, I've never struggled to find opportunities. In fact, I've had the privilege of being selective about my career path. I've grown from being an MA to a referral coordinator, and now, I'm in my first management position-a role I secured a month before earning my master's degree. Each program at Pima Medical played a crucial role in my career progression. My master's degree, in particular, has been invaluable. As a clinic manager building a new practice from scratch, I've relied on the knowledge I gained every step of the way. Thank you, Pima Medical Institute, for changing my life and helping me achieve my dreams. If only my first instructor, Ms. Lakeeta Garfield, could see me now. So often her words - "Be thorough," have run through my mind. I have strived to be thorough in everything I do and I have been successful.

I had been working at a grocery store for 12 years when I decided it was time for a change. I hadn't been in school in a very long time and wasn't quite ready to commit to a four-year university. When I found Pima Medical Institute, it felt like the right fit for me in my stage of life. I chose the nine-month Medical Assistant (MA) program because I viewed it as a great stepping stone into a career in the medical field. I really enjoyed my time at Pima Medical. It was exciting to be in a learning environment surrounded by students who were all motivated to succeed. My biggest challenge was balancing full-time work with evening classes while still finding time to study. It wasn't easy, but I did it! The thing I appreciated most about Pima Medical was the genuine commitment to student success. There was always help available whenever I had questions or needed support. Because of that, I walked out of the program feeling prepared and confident in my new profession. Upon graduation, I quickly found a job and began working as a Medical Assistant with Providence in family practice, where I stayed for six years. Currently, I work for Optum Primary Care, continuing my career in family medicine. While at Providence, I had the opportunity to be a preceptor in the apprentice program, and I hope to take on that role again at Optum in the future. Educating and mentoring others is a passion of mine, and I look forward to continuing to make a difference in the field of healthcare.

I have always admired health care professionals and knew from an early age that I wanted to contribute meaningfully to patient care. As a young adult preparing for college, a routine physical led to the discovery of a benign brain tumor. I spent much of that summer in and out of the hospital. The compassion, skill and reassurance shown by my nurses and doctors left a lasting impact on me during a time filled with fear and uncertainty. I began working as a dental assistant for a family friend, which gave me a glimpse into the profession and led to a transformative mission trip to Nicaragua, where I assisted in providing dental care to underserved communities. Soon after, I applied to the Dental Hygiene program at Pima Medical Institute's Seattle campus. The program was rigorous, but the unwavering support from instructors made all the difference. They were dedicated to our success academically, clinically and personally. When it came time to take my clinical boards and graduate, I felt fully prepared and confident. Now, with eight years of experience as a Registered Dental Hygienist, I often hear from employers how much they value Pima Medical graduates. This reputation for excellence inspired me to continue my education and enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration program. That journey equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to start my own myofunctional therapy practice. Through my Capstone project, I developed a comprehensive business plan and learned what it takes to build and sustain a health care practice. I am proud to now serve as a Hybrid and Clinical Dental Hygiene Instructor at the Seattle campus. It's an honor to be a Pima Medical graduate, a dental professional, a business owner, an educator and, above all, a mother to three amazing children. I feel truly blessed to support my family while thriving in a career I am passionate about.