I was 45 years old and working in sales when I had an experience that changed my life. My father fell very ill and after seeing him in and out of rehab facilities, I decided to take him home. I cared for him during the last six months of his life. As a result of that experience, I made the decision to leave my job and pursue a career in the nursing field.
After a little research, I enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's Nursing program. I hadn't been in a classroom since high school, so it was a little intimidating. It was a challenge, but the quality of the instructors and the quality of the program were great and I had a really supportive class. Clinicals are the real deal and where you work with your patients and get immersed into the culture. All of my clinical sites allowed me to be hands on and that set me up for success.
During the last week of nursing classes, Dependable Home Health gave a presentation explaining their company and nursing positions. I applied and have been working their ever since. I really enjoy home health because you have a different level of independence; you are required to use your critical thinking and reasoning every day and the doctors trust your assessments and opinions. After about a year of working in the field, I was promoted to their Clinical Manager position supervising other nurses, therapists, LPNs and aides.
I would highly recommend Pima Medical Institute to anyone looking for a career in the nursing field. The program is well structured and, although it's demanding, it is very rewarding!
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I wasn't completely sure about going back to school until I walked through the doors at Pima Medical Institute. From the moment I took the tour and sat down for the exam, Admissions Representative Mary Mikiel made me feel welcomed and encouraged. I don't love taking tests, but her support and positive energy truly made a difference that day. A few days later, she called to tell me I had only missed one question - and that I was officially accepted into the Medical Assistant program.
Starting the program, I connected quickly with my classmates and discovered a great sense of community. My instructors were not only knowledgeable, but genuinely invested in my success. There were five of us who graduated together, and that experience gave me newfound confidence in myself. I was working full time while attending school, and although it wasn't easy, I proved to myself that I could push through the ups and downs and make it to graduation day. I started working at a fast-paced urgent care where everything I learned at Pima Medical came flooding back like second nature.
After about a year of hard work, I was encouraged to apply for a higher position. I'm proud to say I am now the Center Manager at Carbon Health Carlsbad. None of this would have been possible without the incredible support and encouragement I received from the staff and instructors at Pima Medical. They believed in me when I didn't fully believe in myself and constantly pushed me to grow. For that, I will always be grateful. Pima Medical Institute didn't just prepare me for a career, they helped me believe in myself.
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Pima Medical Institute made me a more successful and much happier person. All of the teachers were great and very knowledgeable in our field. I learned so much while going to PMI, that I got a job as a CT Technologist right out of school. I got a great education from a great school.
I'm currently attending Chadron State to get my bachelors degree and I figure,"Why just stop at an Imaging Technician, when I can continue on a much greater path and, eventually, become a Physician?" PMI motivated me to want to do more with my life.
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I was self-employed as a building contractor for many years, but I was looking for a new challenge. If you do anything for a while and get good at it, it doesn't require as much effort. Plus, I really had a desire to do something that would more directly be of service to people. My wife is a Physical Therapist and she encouraged me to pursue this field.
I looked into three PTA programs in Seattle, but I chose PMI because it included all of the prerequisites. The other programs may have been less expensive, but it would have taken much longer to complete. As a father of three, I wanted to get through school and into the field as fast as I could.
My experience as a student was phenomenal! My classmates and I totally bonded. The program was very competitive and demanding and that served us well. I had my third clinical at the University of Washington Hospital, which is where I was hired. The hospital is a teaching hospital with a culture that encourages learning and being your best. Some of my colleagues are some of the best in the world at what they do. Today I had a PMI student working with me and together we worked with lung transplant and heart transplant patients. And it's not even noon!
My PMI instructors facilitated a whole new life for me. Their insistence on excellence in all we do has really paid off. I love getting up in the morning and going to work.
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After attending university for a while, I realized that traditional school wasn't the right fit for me. I spent several years working in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas until a layoff pushed me to reconsider my career path. Instead of looking for another casino job, I decided to pursue a future in healthcare.
After researching options, I chose Pima Medical Institute and was determined to take all the programs necessary to obtain my bachelors degree. I began with the Medical Administrative Assistant (MAA) program, building a solid foundation in the healthcare industry. From there I enrolled in the online Health Care Administration (HCA) program, gaining deeper knowledge in the field. I ultimately completed the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA) program, which provided invaluable lessons I had never received in previous academic experiences.
Because of the intensive programs at Pima Medical, I was able to parlay that education and experience into a job at a home health organization, starting as a biller and quickly rising to the Director of the Billing Department. I later combined this experience with my hospitality background to land a job at Desert Valley Hospital, where I served as a Patient Experience Manager before being promoted to Director or Performance Improvement and Patient Experience. There I led projects to improve quality, reduce hospital-acquired illnesses and enhance patient satisfaction scores.
Currently, I am the Director of Patient Experience at the University of Maryland - Upper Chesapeake Hospital. I am leading quality initiatives that drive patient satisfaction and community partnerships. Pima Medical gave me the foundation to excel in healthcare, and I'm incredibly grateful for the education that started me on this rewarding journey.
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I served proudly in the United States Navy for 6 years as an electronics technician. After getting out of the military I was unsure which career to choose. One day I heard a radio advertisement for Pima Medical Institute and decided Radiography might be the career path for me. Starting the Radiography program was a little bit of a culture shock after the military because I often times performed my duties alone on the ship. Pima Medical helped me make the adjustment to a setting where I needed to interact and communicate with co-workers, patients, and other clinicians. It was both exciting and scary to enter a very competitive program. My Radiography instructors were amazing and prepared me so well for my new career. As a technologist at the hospital, I see a noticeable difference between students from other schools and students from Pima Medical who are confident, prepared, and knowledgeable.
After my second rotation at my clinical site I went to the manager, handed her my resume and said, "I'm going to work here, what are the steps I need to take?" I wasn't nervous and it made for an easy transition starting my first job since I knew the protocol and knew the staff. About a year later I had the privilege of being cross trained so I am now able to also work in Computed Tomography (CT). I love my job! I am almost finished with my bachelor's in Health Care Management and I hope to continue and obtain a master's degree. Pima Medical was a critical stepping stone from my military career to my civilian career and I would do it all over again
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I have always been interested in the medical field, but when my father had a heart attack it validated my desire to help people like him. After hearing a radio advertisement for Pima Medical Institute, my husband pushed me to inquire. His support gave me the confidence to enroll in the Medical Assistant (MA) program. I wasn't very focused in high school, but despite having to work and take care of my young son while in the program, I am proud to say I graduated with honors.
I completed my externship and was hired at a combined urgent care and family medicine office. I had a fantastic experience and worked for two brilliant physicians who helped further my education. I worked there for seven years and eventually worked my way up into management. After 11 years in the field, I decided to return to Pima Medical to complete the online Health Care Administration program, which helped prepare me for my current position as Lead MA Instructor at Pima Medical's Denver Campus.
One of the things I appreciated most about Pima Medical was the instructors. My MA instructor gave me confidence and unwavering support, even after I was no longer her student. Both my on ground and online instructors prepared me for every aspect of my career and helped me realize what a bright future I had. I am planning to continue in the bachelor's program and I recommend Pima Medical to anyone interested in pursuing an education in the medical field.
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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.
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After being a truck driver and construction worker for 20 plus years, I made a promise to my mother before she died that I would go back to school. For nearly five years I passed Pima Medical Institute on my daily drive, and finally found the courage to pull in and take the pretest for the Nursing program. Going back to school at age 50 was scary, but I loved the atmosphere, the instructors and my classmates at Pima Medical. The instructors did an exceptional and extraordinary job preparing us for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
I applied at Banner Desert in Mesa where I had completed my clinicals and I was hired. It was 2019, and I was immediately thrown into the COVID Pandemic. A year later I decided to become a traveling nurse. Initially, I worried I might not be qualified enough or have enough experience, but I quickly got over that. Every place is different, but most of the core staff really appreciates the relief that travelers provide. I have been to 10 different places in four years. I'm considered a Banner Staffing Traveler within the Banner facilities nationwide and I call Banner Tucson my home, as it is where I spend the most time. Some of the challenges of being a traveler are finding a place to live and being away from family and friends. But, I am getting experience and confidence in different facilities and becoming more adaptable and flexible in my career. Plus, I am making a great salary.
Pima Medical Institute changed my life forever. I made some lifelong friends during my experience, I had some incredible, humble, giving and caring instructors and I am truly grateful!
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Pima Medical Institute has been a cornerstone in my career, providing a foundation that has endured through different stages of my life. Now, I'm excited to return to school and build on that strong base.
No one in my family is in the dental field, but I've always had a passion for becoming a dental hygienist. After high school, I spent five years working in Alaska's fishing industry. Upon returning to Seattle, I inquired about the Dental Hygiene program at Pima Medical Institute and ultimately enrolled in the Dental Assistant program. Balancing full-time work during the day with evening classes at Pima Medical was challenging but rewarding. My teacher was great, and I formed lasting friendships-I'm still close with one of my classmates more than 20 years later.
My first job was with a doctor in West Seattle, where I worked for two years before needing to go on bed rest due to pregnancy. I took a 15-year break to focus on being a mom. Remarkably, I was able to jump right back into my career as a Dental Assistant when I was ready. After moving to Phoenix, I started working as a temp and then secured my current position at Anthem Sonoran Valley Implants and Dental Center. It felt like riding a bike-everything came back to me. I love educating patients and helping them take care of their teeth. Currently, I'm in the process of applying to a Dental Hygiene program in my area. I want to further my education in the dental field and one day I hope to be able to clean teeth for free to help people who can't afford dental care.
Pima Medical Institute has been supportive throughout my journey, from enrolling and securing financing to ongoing assistance whenever I need it. I'm incredibly grateful for the education and opportunities Pima Medical has provided me.
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At age 19, I started at Pima Medical Institute after realizing that my initial path at UNM wasn't the right fit for me at that time. A friend suggested looking into CT technology, and after some research, I found that Pima Medical's Radiography (RAD) program offered a quicker and more fitting path to my career goals. The structured environment in the RAD program was exactly what I needed, although it wasn't always easy. My father passed away during my second semester, which made it tough to stay on track, but with the support of the school, I persevered. The clinical experiences were mostly positive, giving me valuable hands-on learning. Even in challenging situations, I gained skills by working independently, which proved to be great learning experiences.
Graduating in 2004, I entered the workforce during a tech shortage and quickly landed a job. I started in x-ray and, over the years, expanded my expertise by becoming registered in mammography, bone density, and MRI. However, I chose to focus on mammography, as it offered a better work-life balance compared to MRI.
After a decade at a hospital, I transitioned to a quieter clinic setting where I could work more independently, which suits me well. I've been at a small clinic for nearly a year now, enjoying the stability and better hours. Alongside my career, I'm also completing my bachelor's degree in university studies, thanks to a state program offering free classes to those close to finishing their degree.
Looking ahead, I'm content with where I am but open to new opportunities, possibly in management. Pima Medical set me up for success, giving me the tools I needed to start and grow my career in radiology. Now 20 years later, I'm grateful for the education and experiences that have brought me to where I am today.
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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.
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