I am a Medical Assistant at Children's Hospital of Colorado where I work in the pulmonary department, and I love my job! Believe it or not, I wake up every day excited to come to work. I can't wait to see the families and kids.
Way before PMI, I was trained in the animal science field, and later my husband and I ran an HOA management company for a number of years. Unexpectedly, two family members became very ill, and walking through this very difficult experience led me to desire a career in the medical field.
After finding Pima Medical Institute, I never hesitated. I thought of it one day, signed up the next, and started the Medical Assistant program a month later. It was not only the right timing, it was the right place, and it has been an amazing journey!
I had a great student experience at Pima, and the instructors were amazing. They cared about us and were available anytime any of us needed anything. To be honest, they actually became more like friends than teachers. My current job is a perfect fit for me, and I'm so grateful for my training at PMI!
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I grew up in an unsupportive environment, constantly reminded of my limitations. After dabbling in community college and an unfinished nursing program, I found myself divorced with two young children, wondering what I could do to provide for my family. That's when I discovered Pima Medical Institute and enrolled in the Medical Secretary program. Within three months, I graduated and landed a job in the medical field, giving me the stability I desperately needed. After moving to Las Vegas, I continued to grow my career-first as an office manager and later doing billing. One day, I learned that Pima Medical was launching a Respiratory Therapy program. I jumped at the chance to enroll, excited to take my career to the next level.
Balancing school, work, and motherhood was tough. My kids and I would do homework together, and I showed them it's never too late to change your path. After graduating, I was hired at Summerlin Hospital, where I worked for 14 years. Watching the devastation in New York, when the pandemic hit in 2020, I knew I had to step up and help. I was hired as a traveler at New York Presbyterian Cornell, one of the top hospitals in the country. It was intense-over 230 patients on ventilators when I arrived -but I learned and grew through it all. While on the frontlines, I was also pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy through Pima Medical. I faced moments of doubt, but with the support of my program director, I pushed through. My son and I graduated with our bachelor's degrees in the same year-a moment of immense pride for my family.
I now work for the Nevada Donor Network, a new and upcoming field for RT's, turning tragedy into hope through organ donation. I feel a deep sense of purpose, knowing that I help give families a second chance. Thanks to Pima Medical, I've built a career that I love, and I'll never stop learning or growing.
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At age 19 I got a job as a tech in the emergency room. When I decided to further my education, PMI was my first choice. As a student, I felt very prepared for clinical rotations and found I was well respected as a student wearing PMI scrubs in the hospitals. However, it was really only after I graduated and began working that I realized just how amazing my education was - working alongside therapists with 10-35 years experience in the field, I not only kept up but was able to excel.
It wasn't long before I began working with PMI students as a Clinical Instructor and, within a few years, I became a full time PMI Instructor. Teaching for PMI changed my life and has presented me with even more opportunities than I imagined possible. While teaching full time, I completed a Bachelor of Science degree which opened even more doors. After being a full time instructor for the Respiratory Therapy department for 5 years, I was presented with an opportunity to run the very program that I was a product of.
I have now come full circle beginning as a student, later becoming a graduate, eventually teaching full time, and now being a Respiratory Therapy Program Director. This new endeavor has presented me with the ability to lead a department of professionals that I strongly believe in, and as a former student, bring about effective change. If anyone had told me what I'd be doing by the year 2016, I would have never believed it was possible. My journey began with a tour of Pima Medical Institute in 2007, and here I am today, reaping the benefits of deciding to enroll in a program.
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I was active duty military, deployed 3 times, and worked as a surgery technician in the military for 24 years. I've always had a desire to work with animals. So after retiring, I found PMI's Veterinary Technician Program and enrolled. I was really happy with my choice. The classes were small and, although the program is accelerated, they offer lots of hands-on very early in the program and I really appreciated that. To be honest, I was a little cocky coming in because I'd spent all those years in human medicine, but I quickly realized I had much to learn! With human medicine there is only one species, for example, there are so many different parameters for vital signs when working with all different types of animals.
I'm so grateful for my instructors. They made me feel comfortable and they believed in me, and I know that was a big part of why I was able to be successful. I was pretty nervous going out on my first externship, but the technicians were patient and really helped me transition and get my hands dirty. Overall, the VT program was very tough, but I did it. I graduated! Completing the Veterinary Technician program was very rewarding and my family is so proud of me!
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After graduating from high school, I attended UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso) but despite attempting a number of majors, I still didn't have a plan. The thing that brought me joy was volunteering at the shelter where I adopted my dog. I really loved working with the animals and it made me realize that's what I was meant to do.
I began researching schools with a veterinary program around El Paso and found Pima Medical Institute and enrolled in the Veterinary Assistant program. I cannot tell you how excited and joyful I was to finally start on a path to a career I knew I would love! I had a great experience during my 9-month program. My instructor was wonderful and I received lots of hands-on practice. I was placed in Boerne, near San Antonio, at the Cibolo Creek Veterinary Hospital for my externship and before I left to head back to El Paso, they offered me a position!
After almost three years as a Veterinary Assistant I decided to continue my education and enrolled in the Veterinary Technician program, this time at the Pima Medical in San Antonio. I have been learning so much and am enjoying getting exposure in different areas like exotics and livestock. I appreciate my instructors sharing their experiences and providing hands-on instruction. I plan to graduate later this year.
I love the veterinary field and I am so thankful to Pima Medical for providing a path to a great career that I love!
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I spent about 10 years feeling bored and unfulfilled while working in the currency vault at a bank. I wanted more and was interested in the x-ray field, so I enrolled in the Radiography program at Pima Medical Institute. I liked that I didn't have to do any prerequisites and could get right in. The program was challenging but I had taken out all those student loans and I knew I had to give it my all. It was pretty rough financially while in school, but it was worth it. I had no trouble finding a job after graduation and paid off all my student loans in less than a year.
I'm currently working at several different hospitals. I love doing X-rays and, particularly, enjoy doing surgery; vascular and complex spine surgeries are my favorite. The more challenging the case, the more I enjoy it. Pima Medical has provided me with a great education and a great career. I not only get to do what I love, I get to constantly keep learning new things and help people in the process. This field has been so rewarding and I am forever grateful for the knowledge and skills my instructors provided me.
I recall one of our instructors telling us that the connections we'd make in class would last a lifetime, and he was right. This program changed the trajectory of my whole life! You see, I ended up marrying Melinda, the girl who sat in the row in front of me and we recently had our first child. Pima Medical's Radiography program has changed my entire life in ways I would have never thought imaginable.
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When I received straight A's while growing up my parents would often reward me with a gift. One day I asked for two snakes for my reward and that's when my love of animals began. I just didn't see myself going to a university after high school, so I decided to lean on my love of animals and enrolled in East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT). During my junior/senior years I completed the Veterinary Assistant (VA) program.
I learned so much about animal care and just loved my EVIT experience. While at my externship, I realized there were limitations to what I was allowed to do, so I decided to become a Veterinary Technician (VT). Pima Medical Institute partners with EVIT by hosting seminars and having representatives available on campus. Since they had a good reputation and would accept my 30 credits, it was an easy decision and I started the VT program shortly after high school graduation.
The instructors were incredibly creative and flexible in their instruction, especially considering the COVID restraints, and we had plenty of hands-on practice opportunities. One of our requirements was to submit at least three applications to employers. The first resume I sent out was to Trilogy Veterinary Medical Center where I ended being hired as a Veterinary Technician. I really enjoy my clinic; it's relatively new and there's lots of room for growth.
Pima Medical Institute was one of the hardest things I've done to date, but it was a great investment in myself and I wouldn't change a thing. I am 20 years old and I have a career in a field that I love!
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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.
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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.
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When I got braces in high school, I was fascinated by how something so simple could transform a person's smile-and their confidence. That experience sparked my interest in the dental field, and after researching options, I found Pima Medical Institute's Dental Assistant (DA) program. I enrolled right after high school and jumped into the program.
My instructors were incredible! I never considered myself a standout student, but the hands-on learning style was perfect for me. I learned so much, and when it came time for my externship, it felt like a breeze because I was so prepared. They even offered me a job as soon as I finished, and I worked there happily until I moved out of state.
Since graduating in 2011, I've worked in every part of a dental office-from assisting to managing the front desk to being an office manager. Today, I'm a mom of two fast-growing kids, and I want more flexibility to be with them, so I'm going back to school for billing and coding. This will allow me to continue working in the dental field from home.
I love the dental field because I get to make a difference-helping patients find relief from pain or transforming their smiles - and I'm excited about the next chapter in my dental career. Pima Medical is an amazing place with caring instructors and I would choose it all over again. It's changed my life.
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My journey into healthcare wasn't planned. During my senior year of high school, I was preparing to study engineering when my dad passed away. It was a tough time, and I decided to take a break. My mom, a nurse, suggested I become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), so I completed an accelerated program and started working at Silver Hills Healthcare Center in Las Vegas. I never imagined a career in long-term care, but I excelled as a CNA and was promoted to rehab aide. One day my regional director, who saw potential in me, signed me up for an informational seminar at Pima Medical Institute for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. I attended, was intrigued, and decided to enroll.
Balancing school and work wasn't easy, but Pima Medical made it possible. I worked flexible hours, attended classes and studied late into the evenings. The instructors were experienced, and the small class sizes made learning enjoyable. When I took the national licensing exam, I achieved one of the highest scores my instructor had ever seen. After working in the field, I wanted to grow my career even more, so I enrolled in Pima Medical's online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA) program. Today, I'm an Assistant Administrator at Alta Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, finishing my Administrator in Training program. Soon, I'll sit for the licensing exam to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and my ultimate goal is to own a skilled nursing facility.
Pima Medical gave me the tools and confidence to succeed. Their programs may cost a bit more, but they are efficient and effective with no prerequisites. I received a quality education at Pima Medical and I'm proud to be a graduate!
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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!
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