WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I am a single dad. I bounced around to so many different jobs trying to provide for us. But, I knew if I wanted my son to get an education someday, I needed to be a model for him. I had a friend who was a respiratory therapist and after learning about his job, I signed up for the Respiratory Therapy program at Pima Medical Institute. I loved it! Every instructor I had was amazing! I was not really a book learner and I had many challenges as a single dad, but the instructors really cared about me and worked with me. During my first rotation, I fell in love with respiratory therapy. I currently work at Banner Desert Hospital, a level one trauma center. About three months after being hired, I was moved into our ICU (intensive care unit). It has been quite a learning curve but I work with some really smart people, many of them Pima Medical graduates, and I have learned so much from them. Working with COVID-19 patients has been scary. I'm learning every day; from handling codes, to PPE, to proper proning techniques. We have such an important job caring for these people. I'm currently continuing my education through Pima Medical's online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program. I want to show my son the importance of education and I'm doing it for myself because I love learning. It's been a challenge focusing on classes during COVID-19; seeing the things I'm seeing and experiencing high levels of stress and fear at my job. But, the instructors are there for me. I would certainly encourage others to consider the respiratory field and Pima Medical Institute for their training. I was a single dad with no money and Pima Medical went above and beyond for me; providing a work study job, gas cards and caring about me as a person. Most importantly, they got me ready for my new career. I'm dealing with life and death on a daily basis and I feel prepared. Thanks PMI!

My daughter is a neonatal nurse and an associate director at Banner Hospital. I've always said I wanted to be just like her when I grew up! I was just 16 years old when I had my daughter and spent the next 32 years working in the grocery industry while raising my kids. It wasn't until last year when my sister passed away that I experienced firsthand just how short life can be. I decided to take that tragedy and do something positive with it. My sister had always told me I could do anything and was smarter than I thought, so I decided to be like my daughter and obtain a career in the medical field. My daughter had originally attended Pima Medical Institute for her CNA, so I boldly made the call and set up an appointment. Coming in as a 56-year-old mother who hadn't had any education since getting my GED in 1989, was intimidating. But from the person who welcomed me in the lobby, to the admissions advisor and then my instructors - everyone was kind and encouraging. I loved my instructors and I learned so much from them. It was a wonderful experience and it empowered me. I feel like I can do anything! I thought it would be fun to work with babies and young parents, so I pursued and obtained a position working in the neonatal intensive care unit at Banner Health. My plan is to absorb as much information as I can and then continue my education. This is such an open field with so many opportunities. I'm so thankful for my new career and everyone at Pima Medical. You can do anything you set your mind to and you're never too old to take the risk to start over!

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.

At age 18 I got a job as a receptionist at a veterinary clinic. After gaining more experience at several hospitals as both a receptionist and an assistant, I knew I wanted to become a Veterinary Technician (VT). It seemed everyone I had worked with in the Seattle area had attended Pima Medical Institute, so that made their VT program an easy choice. I had struggled in classes at a traditional college, but loved my classes at Pima Medical. The instructors were excellent and very understanding. Everything I was learning seemed to apply to my experience at my job, giving me a conceptual understanding of the material. I felt very prepared for my clinicals and was offered a position at one of my sites. I worked at a number of clinics and an ER in the Seattle area, volunteered at a wildlife hospital and worked at a high- volume spay neuter clinic. When we moved to rural Alaska, I spent a short time at a bear sanctuary before landing at Sitka Animal Hospital. I am the hospital supervisor and lead LVT and we see everything at the facility. Last week we cared for a ferret, a gecko, dogs, cats, bunnies, rodents, as well as performing surgery on a duck that had been attacked by a bald eagle. I am also on the board of a nonprofit animal shelter and a municipal animal hearing board where we hear appeals for animal control. I am currently in pursuit of a master's degree. I hope to be part of the first group of technicians emerging into a mid-level practitioner position, much like a veterinary nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. Almost every day I think about my Pima Medical instructors and how grateful I am to have learned from them. I am proud of my successful career and I know I have them to thank.

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.

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.

After 12 years working primarily as a public health nurse at a Federally Qualified Health Center (BQHC) serving medically underserved populations, I became a supervisor at the Florida Department of Health. It was then that I realized that I needed to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to remain competitive in the job market. When I changed jobs, my new employer offered a deal I couldn't pass up; a FREE RN to BSN program, with the only contingency being that I remain with them 12 months after my degree attainment. I was initially accepted at a much larger and well-known university for an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, but the communication between myself and their recruiters left a lot to be desired, and as an older student who had never taken online classes, it spooked me. I searched and found Pima Medical Institute's online BSN program. I applied and was immediately welcomed by a veritable squad of people helping ease my fears and walk me through a new-to-me online educational experience. The director even called me personally to ensure the program fit my needs for maximum success. I graduated with a 3.9 GPA this past May, and I couldn't praise my professors or fellow students more! I had access to kind and helpful staff even at odd hours, and it has helped me become so much more confident in my current practice. My positive educational experience at Pima Medical has me seriously considering the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) online program. This is something that was never on my radar before and I know I would only want to tackle this goal with Pima Medical Institute.

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!

Maria Christina Baxley is a two-time graduate of Pima Medical Institute. Baxley earned an Occupational Therapy Assistant associate degree in 2017 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration in 2026. Baxley is now sharing that knowledge and love for OTA as an instructor at our El Paso campus. How did you learn about Pima Medical Institute? My journey to Pima Medical Institute began when the school stepped up in El Paso to help students from a closing institution complete their education; a group that included my brother-in-law. Hearing their experiences revealed how my background in construction and ADA compliance naturally aligned with the field, particularly in home modifications. As I looked deeper into the program, I realized this was my next path. I wanted to serve my community on a deeper level, moving beyond structural changes to actively participate in client care, track their progress, and be a meaningful part of their rehabilitation. What was your experience like as a student in your program(s)? Stepping back into academia after a 20-year gap was one of the toughest challenges I've faced. Entering the medical field without prior experience meant starting from scratch, but I leveraged the unique skill set I developed in construction and bartending. I used practical mnemonic strategies to master complex concepts. Fueled by a determination to redefine my future, I dedicated myself entirely to the program. Earning this degree proved that those sacrifices were completely worth it. What would you say is one specific thing you appreciated about your education at Pima Medical Institute? One of the things I appreciate most about Pima Medical Institute is the strong alignment between the administration and the instructors. Their shared priority isn't just student turnover or enrollment numbers, it's a genuine commitment to student well-being and education. This supportive environment ultimately empowers us to provide the highest quality care to the patients in our communities. After completing my Level II fieldwork, I earned my COTA certification and state license, beginning my career in pediatric practice. Over the next three and a half years, I gained invaluable clinical experience working with children. When the opportunity arose to join Pima Medical Institute as a Lab Assistant, I jumped at the chance. Teaching as an OTA instructor had long been a goal of mine, and this role marked an exciting first step toward fulfilling that dream. Would you recommend Pima Medical Institute? Why? Yes- I would recommend Pima Medical Institute! Over the past six years, I have transitioned into an Instructor role while earning my Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration through the institution. Looking ahead, I am actively pursuing HSE and OSHA 500 certifications. My next professional milestone is to combine my clinical, educational, and trade experience to become a Safety Coordinator Instructor. Looking back, I am deeply grateful for every opportunity I embraced and for the perseverance that kept me moving forward. My journey taught me that with determination and the right support, no challenge is out of reach. I set a goal, built a plan, and executed it, and today, I am living the result. Thank you, Pima Medical Institute for being such a vital part of my success!