WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

After months of researching programs around the country, I chose Pima Medical Institute's Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy online program, largely because of the cost and the fact that they would transfer in my university credits. I really appreciated the well-rounded education I received at Pima. The instructors I had were fabulous and were always willing to help and provide guidance along the way. My professional capstone class really got me thinking outside the box and I created and was able to implement an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program at the long-term ventilator care facility where I work. After pitching it to corporate, they gave me the chance to pilot the program and it's turned out to be a huge success. It's given many of the ventilator and tracheostomy patients within my facility a new-found hope for the future. Since graduating from PMI's bachelor program, I've been able to continue and complete my master's degree in education. Online learning is the place for me! I will never sit in another classroom after completing my bachelor's and master's online. I am currently still working in the field, as well as teaching part-time for college programs, including PMI's BSRT program where I'd been a student! My future goal is to teach full-time. The one-on-one and independent education I received from PMI was so worth it. I'm thankful for my education and if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing

The Dental Hygiene program at Pima Medical Institute has given me the key to unlock my dreams and to give my family the life I've always wanted for them. I moved to Albuquerque with my two young children after going through a difficult divorce. I already had a bachelor's degree from a university, but I found it nearly impossible to find a job. I knew I would need to go back to school. As a newly single mother of two trying to find a way to start a career, my options were slim. Pima Medical Institute offered me that option with their accelerated Dental Hygiene program. After researching and learning about their outstanding staff and program, I was confident I had found my path. The program was extremely challenging and the staff and my fellow classmates bonded quickly. I immediately felt the push and support needed to persevere through the two years of school. As a single mother, the obstacles were mounting. Long days of classes and late nights of studying were exhausting, but as I successfully got through each semester, the reward of accomplishment helped keep me on track. Knowing I would have a successful career to support my family once I graduated was the motivation that got me through each day. Today, I have a stable and fulfilling career as a Dental Hygienist at a private office. I work full-time, just purchased my first home and couldn't be happier. My children got to see that despite the challenges that come your way, your goals are always attainable through hard work, commitment and perseverance. I hope that's a lesson they carry with them always!

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!

1. Which program did you complete and what made you decide to continue your education online? At first, I really didn't think that I needed to complete any more schooling. I was 100 percent satisfied with my education and my career as a Medical Assistant instructor. Then my Faculty Coordinator spoke with me about becoming the Career Prep instructor, which would require me continuing my education and earning an associate degree in Health Care Administration. 2. What was it like to manage a full-time position and your course load? I was really hesitant at first. I worked full time, I was a full-time mom and spouse as well. I wasn't sure I would have enough time in the day to get everything done. Once I started, I fell into a pretty good rhythm of work, dinner, getting the kids to bed, study and then bed (which sometimes would be pretty late, but since I suffer from insomnia, I didn't seem to mind too much). On the weekends, I would try and get as much of my school work done so I wouldn't have too much to do during the work week. Thank goodness it was summertime and I could send the kids outside to play. Of course there were some sleepless nights and some subjects were harder than others, but I knew it would be worth it in the end. 3. Would you encourage others to continue their education and would you recommend this program? It's kind of crazy that I am where I am in life compared to where I thought I'd be by now. I HATED school in high school and I was never a fan of learning. When I told my parents that I wanted to go to Pima Medical (17 years ago) to be a Medical Assistant, my dad actually laughed at me. He knew that I hated school and was shocked that I wanted to go back to school. Well, I made it my goal to graduate from Pima Medical with a 4.0, perfect attendance and the Director's Award, and I did it. My parents were even more shocked when I told them that I wanted to come back to Pima Medical to teach in their Medical Assisting program. Never in a million years did my parents or did I think that I would complete the online Health Care Administration associate degree program with a 4.0 as well. My family was and is extremely proud of me. I am extremely proud of myself too!

My dad had a bout of pneumonia and ended up on a ventilator and I was fascinated watching the respiratory therapist control my dad's breathing. I'd been working in the auto industry, never thought I was college material, but I my family believed in and motivated me to look into the field. I set up a tour of Pima Medical Institute with the program director and as I saw the facility and listened to her, I fell in love with her passion for respiratory therapy. Being a student at Pima Medical was certainly challenging for me, but the support I had from instructors and classmates was amazing. Our class decided that no one was going to fail, so when someone was struggling with a concept, we all rallied around them. The instructors were always available for extra help and by the time I got to clinicals, I really felt prepared. Prior to graduation I obtained a position with Banner South, a hospital that had been part of my community since I'd been a child. While performing bedside care as a respiratory therapist, I recognized that healthcare doesn't stop at the bedside. I became interested in looking at how, for example, a patient's social economic situation impacted their outcome. Knowing I wanted to make a bigger impact and with the confidence I gained from my time at PMI I went on and continued my education earning my bachelor's in applied management and ultimately my MBA. I navigated my way throughout the healthcare system from beside care, care coordination, to quality improvement. Wanting to be more proactive than reactive, I took a position as Senior Manager of Medicare Administration. We not only looked at how we delivered advantage plan benefits, I'm proud to say we instituted a non-traditional innovative program for our patients. Recently, I accepted a position as Director of Care Delivery Operations for Banner Health Corporate. I recognize that in order for bedside staff to offer their best care, processes and supply have to be in place. I can now play a role in making that happen and that is very exciting! Pima Medical provided the necessary educational and support a guy - who didn't think he was college material - needed in order to have the confidence to be successful. Next step - CEO!

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.

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.

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!