I graduated from ASU with a degree in nutrition and applied to physical therapy school too late and didn't get in. My husband and I sat down and researched the physical therapy field and decided PMI's PTA program might be the best fit for me. When I called, the lady on the phone said, "We're going to make all your dreams come true!" and I looked at the phone and thought - she's crazy! But, I met with an advisor and started 2 weeks later. They tell you it is an accelerated program and it certainly is. The instructors were amazing and they inspired me to do more. I became very involved with my profession; PTA Co-Chair for the PTA Special Interest Group within our Arizona Chapter and helping start what is now our annual "TRYke It" event for adults with disabilities.
I remember being nervous walking into my first clinical. But, in this neurology setting I was able to witness a stroke patient or a traumatic brain injury patient make progress on things that we often take for granted and that was just simply MAGICAL! My passion for neurology PT grew from just two weeks in that setting and I accepted a position there after graduation. I also gained valuable experience working in pediatric aquatic therapy and hippo therapy with adults and children with disabilities. After some years in the field, I was offered an opportunity to come back to PMI as an instructor. I believe it gives me an advantage having recently sat in those same student chairs and my ability to relate to my students on that same level. I am happy to have come full-circle at PMI and my dreams far exceeded my expectations and continue to come true! My instructors did an incredible job preparing me for my profession and I hope to have the same influence on my students!
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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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I was a mother of four who was tired of the long hours spent working in restaurant and hotel management. I decided to make a change and enrolled in the Respiratory Therapy program at Pima Medical Institute. My mother had COPD and my daughter was born with breathing issues, so I was pretty familiar with the respiratory field. Despite my familiarity with the field, I was very nervous about going back to school. Once I realized I could do it, I started really enjoying learning. My clinicals gave me a wide variety of experiences that made me totally fall in love with the field, especially when I realized that I was the one helping a patient breathe. I was making it happen!
After graduation, I struggled to find a job. I went back to retail for a little while, but then I was hired on with one of the Fundamental facilities. While I started by training the nursing staff on the stent unit, I continued to advance, and today I am the Director of Respiratory at our College Park facility. In fact, now I have PMI clinical students training in my department. I love seeing the look on their faces when they get their hands-on training. I often hire PMI graduates because they are confident, well trained, and I believe in them.
I had the most amazing instructors at PMI, and I'm so thankful for my experience there. My next goal is to continue my education with PMI by enrolling in the BSRT program.
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My whole life it was my dream to work in a career that took advantage of my love for science, my love for helping others, and my biggest passion, caring for animals! So, at a very young age I set my mind on becoming a veterinarian. But unfortunately, school didn't come easy, I struggled with learning difficulties, and people told me I would never reach my goal.
I let go of my veterinary dream, found Pima Medical Institute and decided to pursue becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. While talking with my admissions advisor at PMI, I mentioned my past dream of working with animals. My advisor encouraged me to follow my heart and my love for animals and showed me the new Veterinary Technician lab. I left feeling confused. Almost a year later I heard a song about following your dreams and it really moved me. The next day I told my family I was going to PMI to follow my dreams. Within a week I was signed up for the VT program and I started a month later.
I fell in love with PMI! My instructors cared about us students like family. I have a whole new confidence to follow my heart. I have made lifelong friends and have found a job where I feel like a success. I learned so much while at PMI but of all the things I learned, the most important one was to believe in yourself! Thank you PMI - I truly don't know where I would be without you!
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After being a stay at home mom for about 14 years to my three children, I decided it was time for me to have a career. My inspiration for choosing the Occupational Therapy field was my autistic son and the therapists I had observed working with him. As I began looking at schools, I was very impressed with Pima Medical Institute and their small class sizes. My biggest challenge coming back to school as an adult was time management. When I was home, I wanted to be totally available for my family. So I made the choice to get up early every morning and be at the local Starbucks by 5 am to study for two and a half hours before class. I knew it was a short term sacrifice for a long term goal.
I knew I wanted to work in pediatrics so I researched the best clinics in my area, sent them my resume, participated in several interviews and received two job offers. My motivation to become an occupational therapy practitioner was to advocate and educate for Autism, as these children are our future. That motivation has revealed the overwhelming need for neurodiversity education and training for employers. I am embracing this challenge. I have been invited to Pima Medical on several occasions as a guest speaker for current OTA students and have discovered a passion for teaching as well! Educating and advocating, it's what I love about OT. Someday, I would love to share my passion by becoming an instructor and training future Occupational Therapy Assistants.
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I grew up in a medical environment as my dad was a Navy doctor and my mom was a nurse. I ended up getting a bachelor's degree in biology and after working for a time in construction, decided my love of animals was prompting me to pursue a career in the veterinary field. I heard about Pima Medical Institute and liked the idea that I would get experience in the field through their Veterinary Assistant program.
I still remember my first day of the VA program when my instructor looked at me and said, "You have a degree and are way overqualified for this." I explained I wanted to learn the basics of caring for animals and get hands-on experience. It's been over 25 years and that instructor and I are still in touch. She always told us, "I can teach you how to do a procedure correctly, but it's more important to teach you the WHY." I still emphasize this and repeat it often to my staff.
While working as a VA, I applied to veterinary schools, but my bachelor's degree GPA was low and I was rejected from many vet schools. Finally, I was accepted at an offshore school in the Caribbean and later transferred to Kansas State, where I earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. I was a Veterinarian at a couple of clinics before owning my own. Over the years, I have hired graduates from Pima Medical and have taken their externs. They still offer a very good program and teach the basics.
My time at Pima Medical was an opportunity and a doorway into the veterinary world. I am a great example that it's not always about grades. If you have passion and are willing to work hard, you can accomplish your goals. My mom always told me, "As long as you are doing something you love, you'll be happy!" Down the road, I think I might enjoy returning to Pima Medical ... this time as an instructor.
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I was five years old when I decided I wanted a career in the veterinary field. When I couldn't find a program that fit my needs, I gave up and was taking classes at a local community college that had nothing to do with a career choice working with animals. When Pima Medical Institute opened a campus in El Paso, I looked into their Veterinary Assistant program and realized it was exactly what I wanted and had been looking for.
My educational experience was wonderful, like nothing I had ever experienced. My instructor was very knowledgeable and patient. I really didn't know how to study, but my teachers helped make studying fun. They never made me feel embarrassed to ask questions and I passed my exams with flying colors. Once I began my externship, I was able to put everything I had learned in class into practice at the clinic.
Pima Medical helped me get a position at Harwood Veterinary Clinic as a Veterinary Assistant. I am so grateful to my instructor for helping me get where I am today. I plan to continue my education to become a Veterinarian Technician and hope to, in the future, become a doctor of veterinary medicine. I recommend Pima Medical Institute all the time. They provided wonderful teachers and an amazing learning environment.
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I was injured while playing soccer in high school and my physical therapist said to me, "I think you'd be a really good physical therapist!" I tucked that away until I was at Texas State University heading toward becoming a nurse when I realized it just wasn't for me. I switched to Exercise Sports Science with a pre-physical therapy emphasis. After graduation, the doctorate physical therapy programs were extremely competitive and I just didn't have the confidence to apply - still a regret. Instead, I reviewed my options and began searching for a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program and found Pima Medical Institute.
It was a challenging, accelerated 18-month program, but my instructors were super motivating. Although they were hard on us, they gave us all the tools needed to be the best professional clinicians we could be. I was awarded the most "outstanding student" at graduation and offered a job at each of my clinical rotations. I began my therapist journey as a pediatric PTA until I found the place I really loved; working in sports medicine and rehabilitation. During my five plus years in orthopedics, I worked with multiple students as a clinical instructor. This drew my passion for education and I began my journey as a clinical director and instructor back at the same PTA program I'd attended. I tell my students I've been down their same path and I am going to give them everything they need to be a success in their clinical experience. I remind them that I am invested in their success because not only is Pima Medical's reputation on the line, so is mine as a graduate of this program.
Pima Medical provided what I needed to become a great therapist and for that I am thankful. I believe I've found my place in education and I am hoping to further my education through the master's degree program in the future.
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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.
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After twelve-plus years as a personal trainer, I found myself needing a job with benefits like a 401K and insurance, so I transitioned to a desk job. However, I was miserable and knew I needed a career that left me feeling fulfilled. I reevaluated my passions and realized I still loved working with bodies and physical health. A co-worker who had attended Pima Medical Institute for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program encouraged me to consider it. After researching and learning about the program, I decided to go back to school. Despite my experience, I wasn't initially accepted into the PTA program. Crushed but determined, I quit my desk job and worked as a rehab tech at an assisted living facility for a year. When I reapplied, I was accepted and I set a goal to graduate with honors.
At 39, I was older than most of my classmates, but I felt more prepared for the professional aspects. My instructors were great clinicians and I was able to learn and draw on their experiences. My clinicals were challenging, especially when COVID hit, causing disruptions. Despite the added stress, our instructors ensured we gained the necessary practical experience. After graduation, I worked at a skilled nursing facility, which I enjoyed, but quickly experienced burnout. I accepted a Physical Therapist Assistant position at Rocky Mountain Physical Therapy, where I have been thriving. In fact, a year ago I was promoted to Clinic Director. I love my job, my patients and the challenges of managing the clinic.
As a clinical instructor, I work with Pima Medical students, drawing on my experiences to engage them in hands-on learning. I'm proud to have graduated with honors and have even inspired a former client of mine to enroll in Pima Medical's Respiratory Therapy program. Now, both of us are medical professionals making a difference in people's lives. It's incredibly fulfilling!
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I had an amazing experience in the Medical Assistant (MA) program at Pima Medical Institute. I had the best instructors and, as we spent time studying together, my classmates became amazing friends. I had always known I wanted to be in a profession where I could help people and I wanted to work with children. My older sister had completed the Veterinary Technician (VT) program at Pima Medical, so I knew it was a school I could trust and enrolled in the MA program.
I appreciated all the knowledge and information they gave us about working in the real world. The hands-on experience helped us feel prepared for our new career. Since graduating in 2018 I have worked for three clinics or organizations as an MA and have gained experience in family practice, OB/GYN and specialty clinics and have learned so much!
I love my job! Every day is different and I am constantly learning new things. I am so very grateful for my instructors at Pima Medical for helping me to be able to achieve my dream job. I love what I do and I am so grateful I took the leap to enroll in the Medical Assistant (MA) program.
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After high school, I spent four years juggling two jobs-one at Office Max and the other at a bakery-when one day, my aunt called and asked if I wanted to go back to school with her. I had no idea what she meant, but I agreed. That's how I found Pima Medical Institute. I chose the Medical Assistant (MA) program because, when my dad was ill, I saw firsthand the impact healthcare professionals can have on a person's life. I wanted to do that too, and the program was only nine months long, which made it a perfect fit for me.
I loved every minute of the MA program! The hands-on training felt so different from high school, and I found myself excited to learn. In particular, I discovered I had a passion for injections and blood draws. When it was time for my externship, I was nervous, but my head MA was incredibly supportive, and I quickly found that it all came naturally to me.
Toward the end of the program our homework assignment was to apply for three MA positions. Afterwards, I didn't think much about it, but to my surprise, Saguaro Dermatology called and hired me. Dermatology is fast-paced and challenging, but I love it. My favorite part is working with skin cancers and assisting in surgeries. I also enjoy my role in the lab, processing tissue samples as a histotech.
Since relocating to Tucson, I easily found another dermatology position, and I couldn't be happier. Pima Medical set me on a path I'm truly passionate about, and I'd do it all over again. If you're thinking about a medical career, don't hesitate-come to Pima Medical. You won't regret it!
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