WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I worked retail for almost eight years. I wasn't motivated and would wake up each day dreading going to work and seeing no future in my job. I had a friend in the same situation who left to attend Pima Medical Institute's nine-month Dental Assistant (DA) program. Watching her experiencing success in her new career, made me decide to look into the program. My experience as a student was great. I loved it! I woke up motivated every day and was surrounded by peers with the same goals as myself, which made it easy to succeed. COVID was definitely the biggest challenge we faced throughout the program, but my instructors gave us the detailed training we needed and even allowed for one-on-one instruction. I completed my externship and was immediately hired at that practice as a DA. I quickly achieved my RDA (Registered Dental Assistant) and soon after became the lead dental assistant of that office. I know that I have so much opportunity for growth within my company and am excited for my future. I would like to thank my Pima Medical instructors. They gave me so much knowledge during the program, but more importantly they continue to make themselves available for any questions I have. I recommend Pima Medical to prospective dental assistants all the time. They gave me the tools I needed to succeed and for that I will always be grateful!

My mother had a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis, which resulted in her needing to be intubated and trached throughout her life, so I was familiar with respiratory. At age 19, I started my career path in the medical field as a transporter at Sunrise Hospital. As I worked with and observed the Respiratory Therapists (RT), I began to understand the importance of their profession. I knew then, this was the career for me, so I enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's RT program. I appreciated the support from both administration and instructors and their belief that I could become a productive member of the RT community. My classmates provided support throughout the rigorous program and there was a great camaraderie among us. I remember having study sessions, gatherings, and cookouts in the parking lot with the faculty, staff and students. Having the opportunity to work in professional clinical settings while in school provided the perspective I needed and upon graduation, I was promoted to a full-time Respiratory Therapist at my hospital. I also worked with University Medical Center (UMC). I continued my education in Pima Medical's Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) and then went on to complete my Master's Degree in Business Administration at Columbia Southern University. I am still employed with UMC as their Senior Respiratory Therapist and I have been a Clinical Instructor for Pima Medical Institute's Las Vegas Campus since 2016. My eventual goal is to move into hospital administration becoming a VP or COO. I am very thankful for Pima Medical Institute. Anything worth having is worth working for, and true education is what you are willing to put into it whether you're at Yale, Harvard or Pima Medical. Therefore, always attempt to set the standard of excellence in everything you do and everything you love.

Initially drawn to nursing, I spent a few years juggling shifts as a CNA while attending traditional community colleges and universities attempting to get my prerequisites. Those avenues did not fit my learning style and I never found the guidance I needed so I wasn't successful. The struggle intensified after losing my mother unexpectedly, prompting an immediate return home to support my father and a complete reset. Advertisements for Pima Medical Institute led me to make an appointment. After hearing my advisor talk about the Medical Assistant (MA) program, I knew this was going to be my next stepping stone into the medical field. I had amazing instructors who provided the guidance I needed and launched me into my new career. I started working at US Healthworks/Concentra specializing in Occupational Medicine/ Urgent Care where I obtained skills in drug screening, audiology and pulmonary testing, as well as basic x-rays. After three fulfilling years I was ready for my next challenge, so I returned to the Renton Campus where I transitioned into teaching the Medical Assistant program. I loved being right back where I had started, now teaching the next generation of MA's. Pima Medical's support extended beyond the classroom and I was given the opportunity to use their Enrichment Scholarship to earn an associate degree in Health Care Administration (HCA). In 2023, I ventured into Pima Medical's Admissions Department as a Medical Career Specialist. This role truly feeds my purpose. I am able to inspire students by sharing my experiences and then encourage them to take the first step toward their own career. My decade long journey with Pima Medical Institute is a testament to the transformative impact that has truly changed my life.

I started my journey to become a nurse back in my twenties, but my plans kept getting interrupted. At the age of 49, after years of being in various office jobs and property management roles, I finally decided to pursue my lifelong dream. When I stumbled upon an advertisement for Pima Medical Institute's one-year Practical Nursing program, something just clicked and I knew it was time. Entering the program, I was the oldest among my classmates, but age was never a barrier. We were all there with a common purpose, united in our determination to succeed. My instructors were awesome and were clearly there to help us get through and be successful. Despite any doubt's others had about my starting a new career later in life, I knew it was never too late to pursue my passion. My life experience brought a unique perspective to my studies, making certain topics easier to grasp. My maturity gave me confidence and I eagerly volunteered for tasks in clinicals wanting to immerse myself in real-world experience. After graduation, I embarked on my nursing career, initially working in long-term care facilities. After moving to Mississippi, I found my place at Enhabit Home Health and Hospice in Mississippi, where I am an LPN/Patient Services Coordinator. I love my job and appreciate helping my patients from a whole person perspective. It's a great fit for me. Looking back, I can confidently say that enrolling at Pima Medical was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It's never too late to chase your dreams.

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.

After moving from Texas to Colorado for a fresh start, I was determined to build a stable career in the medical field. Research led me to Pima Medical Institute, and from the moment I began speaking with admissions, I knew it was the right choice. Despite facing many challenges, I embarked on the Medical Assistant (MA) program with unwavering determination. I started living in my car three weeks after starting the MA program. I was juggling homelessness, school and a full-time job. I struggled finding safe places to park, hot and cold nights, and finding time between work and school to do homework, sleep and get to the gym to take showers. I found incredible support from caring and understanding instructors who became like family to me. They provided resources and encouragement, helping me navigate the toughest moments. As difficult as my situation was, school was my biggest motivation and the people at Pima Medical were my support and prepared me for my future. Thanks to great instructors and comprehensive training, I excelled at my externship at Advanced Urgent Care, impressing my supervisors enough to secure a job offer before even graduating. To my instructors at Pima Medical, I owe a debt of gratitude. I am the person I am today because of you. Your unwavering support and belief in me kept me going when times were toughest. Thank you for never giving up on me. You've shaped me into the professional I am today and I will forever be grateful.

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 have always wanted a career in healthcare. I had previously pursued a nursing route, but was discouraged and unsure if nursing was really what I wanted to do. I came to Pima Medical Institute interested in the Pharmacy Technician program, but the admissions counselor I spoke to asked if I had heard about Respiratory Therapy (RT). She showed me a video explaining what an RT did and I was sold. Then and there, I found my calling. I was meant to be a Respiratory Therapist. I graduated from the Respiratory Therapy (RT) program with an Associate of Occupational Science in 2011. Knowing where the industry was headed, and my drive to move beyond bedside, I enrolled in the online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program (BSRT) and graduated in 2014. Since then I have worked in a critical access hospital, an acute care hospital, and a level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The NICU was my favorite place to work and where I excelled. My experience allowed me to sit for three additional specialty certifications, adding some hard-earned credentials to my resume. Along the way, I found my second calling and passion - teaching all things respiratory. I continued on to obtain a Master's degree, which opened up another door for career advancement. I began teaching in a local respiratory therapy program while still working bedside, waiting to make the full transition into education. Fortunately, an opportunity came up to teach in the very same program here at Pima Medical Institute where I had attended 14 years earlier. Here I am, walking the same halls and teaching in the same classrooms I was a student in many years ago. I've come full circle from student to faculty ... I am still learning and doing what I love!

Before going back to school, my life wasn't on the best path. After high school, I planned to become a nurse, but deep down I knew it wasn't what I really wanted. Eventually, I moved out on my own, but I found myself surrounded by the wrong people and making choices I wasn't proud of. It wasn't until I met my fiance that I seriously considered going back to school. He encouraged me to think about my future and what would truly make me happy. After some soul-searching, I decided to look for a Dental Assistant program - and for the first time, I felt excited about my future. I found Pima Medical Institute through an online search, and after seeing so many great reviews from alumni, I knew it was the right place for me. Enrolling was the best decision I could have made. My experience at Pima Medical was nothing short of amazing - the support from my classmates, instructors, and family kept me going. My instructor, Margarita, was especially supportive. In fact, I wouldn't have made it through without her guidance. I was excited for my externship at Associates in Family Dentistry and grateful to be hired upon completion. As I plan to move soon, I'm holding off on furthering my education for now, but I'm eager to explore my options. I am a proud graduate of Pima Medical and my ultimate goal is to build a successful career while growing my family with my fiance.