WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

Before coming to Pima Medical Institute, I was employed by Toyota and worked on cars for a living. I had always had the desire to help people, but I wasn't sure how to move in that direction. One day, I saw a commercial for Pima Medical Institute and decided it might be a good place for me to start. I was apprehensive at first and wondered if I would be able to be successful in school, but I had a great experience at PMI and everything went very smoothly. Whenever I needed anything from the instructors, they were there for me. Even now, I am still in contact with my former instructors and I know I can call them whenever I need their help. When it came time for my externship, I had a great experience at Children's Hospital. In fact, upon completion of my program, I was offered a position as a Medical Assistant. I've never had a job that I liked before, and now I love my job! Working as a Medical Assistant has helped me realize I want to become a nurse. I am currently working on my prerequisites and plan to start a nursing program this fall. PMI gave me my start and the confidence I needed, and now I can do more! Thanks, PMI!

I am currently working as a Medical Assistant in the area of vascular surgery at the New Mexico Heart Institute and I love my job! It wasn't very long ago that I was working a night shift security position where I was bored, felt like I wasn't getting anywhere and longed for a career. One night I started researching online looking for something in the medical field and Pima Medical Institute popped up. I simply completed a brief form and they called the next day. Before I knew it, I was enrolled in the Medical Assistant Program. I was glad I didn't have a chance to second guess my decision. Going back to school was challenging for me. I was still working security full time at night, going to school during the day and trying to find time to spend with my two-year-old daughter. That being said, Pima Medical provides everything you need to get started, including your uniform and backpack. I heard the passion in the voice of my first instructor when she spoke and it wasn't long before I fell in love with the medical field. I felt like there was no question whether we were going to succeed. Everyone at Pima Medical was so helpful. When it came time for my externship, Pima Medical's career services department worked hard to place me at a site that fit my schedule and enabled me to continue working my security job. Being placed with a plastic surgeon was not my first choice, but I had an amazing experience and the doctor ended up recommending me for my current position at New Mexico Heart Institute. I'm so grateful for my new career!

After my divorce in 2013, I was going from job to job, tired of being laid off and unable to provide stability for myself and my children I decided it was time to find a career. I had attended 4 different community colleges prior to getting married, but never finished a degree. After researching, I found Pima Medical Institute's Radiography program and enrolled. I didn't realize at the time that it would change my life. It wasn't easy. When I started the program I was working a 12 hour night shift at the post office, getting my kids off to school, sleeping for a few hours and then attending class and before heading back to work. But I had a goal, something I didn't have at the community colleges I'd attended. I was able to be successful because of the structure of the Radiography program at Pima Medical. I knew my classes, my schedule and the expectations. The instructors were amazingly supportive and encouraging. In fact, this experience completely changed me as a person because my instructors fed my confidence. I am so proud that as a 37 year old single mother, I became a Radiologic Technologist. The day I completed and passed my state boards, I came out to my car and found a message from Northwest Hospital asking me to come in for an interview. I love my work and my patients. Pima Medical was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I did it for me, but I've set a great example for my children. You always hear "if I can do it, so can you" and this statement is absolutely true!

My journey with Pima Medical Institute began at the Las Vegas campus, pursuing an associate degree to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Balancing part-time work as an administrative assistant with classes, I discovered a passion for the operational side of business. As I neared the completion of my associate degree program I was introduced to the bachelor's program in Health Care Administration, aligning seamlessly with my interests. The transition to the online program was manageable, the content relevant and I enjoyed my experience. My instructors were helpful, offering necessary check-ins for support and guiding me to resources. Toward the end of the program, I faced a medical complication requiring surgery. I communicated with my instructor before and they arranged an appropriate extension so I didn't fall behind and even called to check in on my recovery. I learned the importance of communication and it helped prepare me to be a compassionate administrator in the future. Since graduating I have embraced my role as a COTA at a level 2 trauma hospital in Vancouver, WA. I am continuing to develop as a clinician and am currently a chair member of the shared governance acute care team to be a voice, make changes for best practices and promote team culture within the hospital. My future goal includes using my degree to research and, hopefully, open my own transitional housing program for unhoused individuals who have experienced amputations or are at risk. I absolutely recommend Pima Medical to others, particularly to those who may have responsibilities like a family or work they have to maintain during schooling. My instructors went above and beyond to help me be successful and they have truly impacted my life.

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.

had just graduated from high school and was searching for a career that would allow me to help others while staying active. When I discovered Pima Medical Institute's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, I knew it was the perfect fit. The opportunity to complete the program in just 18 months and start my dream job immediately was exactly what I was looking for. My experience at Pima Medical was amazing. The class schedule allowed me to balance my studies with a part-time job, which was important for supporting myself. The coursework was challenging, but my instructors were incredibly supportive and always took the time to help me understand difficult concepts. I especially appreciated how they related the material to real-world, clinical situations, making everything we learned feel more relevant and practical. The hands-on experience in our lab and during clinical rotations was invaluable. It solidified my skills and prepared me for the workforce. Right after graduation I was hired at Athletico, where I've been working ever since. I'm currently pursuing a certification in pelvic floor therapy, a field I'm very passionate about. I am looking forward to raising awareness about its importance for overall well-being. I'm so grateful to my instructors at Pima Medical. The education I received there truly shaped me into the clinician I am today. I highly recommend Pima Medical to anyone looking to pursue a career in healthcare - it's an amazing school.

I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be in the medical field. When it came time for me to graduate from high school, I wasn't interested in a four-year college or university because I just wanted to jump right into the workforce as soon as possible and begin my career in the medical field. After explaining this to my gramma, she recommended Pima Medical Institute. We visited together and took a tour; I knew then that the nine-month Medical Assistant (MA) program was the best fit for me. My experience as a student was amazing! The MA program is an accelerated program and while you're learning lots of information in a short time, the hands-on practice helps you apply your skills and prepares you for the profession. All the nerves, tears and anxiousness were so worth it. I was so well prepared for my six-week externship that I was offered a position as an MA upon completion. I am still employed there and I recently began going back to school to obtain my associates in Nursing with plans to continue on to get my bachelor's (BSN) degree. I want to say thank you to every single one of my instructors. Pima Medical changed my life, and I will always be grateful for the education I received, the lifelong relationships I built with my instructors and classmates, and the lasting career it has given me.

Q: How did you learn about Pima Medical Institute? A: I started out as a 20-year-old looking for a job that could get me out of being a waitress. I found Pima Medical Institute and was very interested in the pharmacy technician program. I started the program in 2010 and graduated in 2011. I was a pharmacy technician from 2011 to 2022. In 2019, I decided to go for my bachelor's degree in health care administration. From then I found a position in 2022 as a product manager/business analyst and continue to be a certified pharmacy technician. The bachelor's degree program helped me in my current career and it also helped me pursue my master's degree in information systems at the University of Denver. Q: What was your experience like as a student in the Pharmacy Technician and Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration programs? A: When I was a student in the pharmacy technician program at Pima Medical Institute, I was on campus and it was a great experience. Overall, I was able to socialize with those who were also interested in being a pharmacy technician. It was very nice to be in the classroom and have hands-on experience during that time. When I decided to go for my bachelor's degree, I was online full-time and it had everything that I needed to pursue my degree. It was a great experience as well because I was able to still manage my full-time job and also gain the experience I needed to pursue another position as a product manager/business analyst in 2022. Q: What would you say is one specific thing you appreciated about your education at Pima Medical Institute? A: One thing I would say that I appreciated about the education at Pima Medical Institute was how it prepared me for my pharmacy technician experience. I really liked the fact that I had an externship for it so that I could get hands-on experience and get into the field easily. I believe that Pima Medical Institute paved the way for my path to where I'm at today. Q: Would you recommend Pima Medical Institute? Why? A: I would recommend Pima Medical Institute to others because it started my career and it has developed me into what I am today. I was young, as a 20-year-old, not knowing what to do or where to go because I thought I was not able to be successful or be able to pay for an education, but when I found Pima Medical Institute, that is what helped me to be more successful. As I gathered more experience as a pharmacy technician, I was able to find ways to pursue my education even further. This got me to where I am today as a product manager with a master's degree in information systems with a specialty in business intelligence. If I had not attended Pima Medical Institute, I do not believe I would be where I am today, because they gave me the tools I needed to succeed. I was able to be very successful in the pharmacy field. My 12 years of experience and dedication really helped me to earn the role I have today as a product manager in the pharmacy automation field.

Naundi Perkins is a three-time graduate of Pima Medical Institute. She earned her Phlebotomy certificate from the Renton campus and went on to earn her Veterinary Assistant certificate and Veterinary Technician associate degree from our Chula Vista campus. Q: How did you learn about Pima Medical Institute? A: Back in 2017, I was working as a home care aide and wanted to get my foot in the door in the medical field. I completed the Phlebotomy program, and two years later I was relocated in California where I made the decision to get into the veterinary field. Q: What was your experience like as a student in the Phlebotomy and Veterinary programs? A: I had amazing instructors in all three programs. My biggest struggle was work/school/life balance with working full time and being a student. I opted for evening classes for all programs, which made things a lot easier. I felt like I was with a lot of like-minded individuals that were going through the same obstacles. Q: What would you say is one specific thing you appreciated about your education at Pima Medical Institute? A: I feel that having caring instructors is what kept me going during the difficult times. I still communicate with one of my instructors to this day. My Phlebotomy instructor put in a good word for me with their previous employer, and my Veterinary Assistant instructor also recommended me for my first client services coordinator position while I was in school. Q: Would you recommend Pima Medical Institute? Why? A: I would recommend Pima Medical Institute because getting my education changed the trajectory of my life! I am in the best position I have been financially while doing something that I love. I currently work as a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Oncology specialty, and I am working toward starting my own business doing simple mobile grooming services for the community. The best advice I could give anyone looking to get into the veterinary field would be to gain as much experience as you can, and learn how to network. Doing things out of your element of what you initially thought you would want to do will only improve your knowledge, skills and overall resume. New things can be uncomfortable but everyone has to start somewhere!