On my 35th birthday I woke up to go to work and told myself: "I won't be doing this next year."
After researching several schools, I chose Pima Medical Institute because of the variety of programs offered. After taking the tour I chose the Radiography program and I started in the very next class. The program was tough and demanding of my time. However, with the personal sacrifices of my family and an employer who was flexible, I was able to complete the program. The biggest challenge was making time for my family and trying to make the most of the time we had.
The clinical rotations gave us experience with all the various types of facilities and exposure to many different employers and technologists. My first job was as a PRN Rad Tech at Lovelace Westside Hospital. I was hired about 2months after graduating. On September 4, 2014 I opened JCAT Imaging Services with my fellow classmate and business partner, Anita Torrez. I currently half own and operate the only independent X-ray clinic in Los Lunas, New Mexico.
In January, 2015, I started Pima's Bachelor program to get my BSRS and look forward to putting that to use later. I recommend Pima to anyone interested in a medical career not just Radiography. I would like to thank my instructors for guiding me through my program. My dreams have come true, in part, because of them.
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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!
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I chose PMI because of the quality of instructors and because the local community college would take three times as long and I want to reach my goals as quickly as possible. I found my instructors really cared about the progress of the students and our ability to care for patients. I felt my experience was enhanced because I was active in student groups, including two years as president of the NSNA. This helped me develop my leadership skills and exposed me to other professionals locally and nationally. PMI did an excellent job of preparing me for my profession. We had a lot of lab and clinical hours which was invaluable real world experience that translated directly to my future career.
I found my first job with ABQ Health Partners by networking with other medical professionals in the community. My comfort in speaking with health care professionals, because of my medical knowledge, experiences and training from PMI, was vital in obtaining a job. Since then I have moved from being the Lead RN at one clinic to RN supervisor overseeing three different clinics at ABQ Health Partners. I have continued my education and in just a few months I'll have my master's of nursing and will begin working as a Family Nurse Practitioner. My long term goal is to open my own clinic.
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At the age of 15, I knew I wanted to serve others. I joined the U.S. Air Force when I was 18 and spent 27 years serving this country. Upon retiring from the military, I elected to return to school for Respiratory Therapy. My mother was a Respiratory Therapist, and I enjoyed her stories about how she had helped not only the patients, but the patients' families during their time of need.
I heard a commercial on the radio about Pima Medical Institute, and three days later I completed my entrance test and was accepted for a class. Upon finishing school, I started working at a level two trauma hospital, and then I moved to a level 1 trauma hospital that also took care of children. I felt blessed to have the opportunity to help students from PMI as an instructor while I worked at the hospitals. This gave me the feeling of giving back to the school from which I graduated.
I also continued setting educational goals, completing my master's degree in Health Care Administration and beginning part-time work for PMI as a clinical instructor. In December 2017, I returned to the Renton Campus, the same one from which I graduated just seven years earlier, as a full-time instructor. PMI not only helped me achieve my professional goals, they have helped me realize my personal goals through my educational development. Moreover, they have given me the opportunity to be a positive role model for my children while providing them with a higher quality of life.
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I worked at a restaurant for 14 years and had worked my way up from dishwasher to kitchen manager. My family was growing, but my income was staying the same. I was at the top but we were still living pay check to pay check and I couldn't afford health insurance. When my daughter was born with a heart defect, everything changed. We were told she would need multiple surgeries and my wife and I decided we didn't want to rely on AHCCES for her healthcare and didn't want her to be saddled with bills later in life. It was a huge step for us, but I quit my job and went back to school to obtain a career that would pay the bills and provide health insurance. I began researching the respiratory field after having watched a respiratory therapist work on my daughter when her lungs collapsed. I visited several schools before meeting with an advisor at PMI who was real with me and made me feel at home.
I never felt like I was a good student in high school, but stepping into the Respiratory Therapy program at Pima Medical Institute, I found out I loved to learn! The instructors were fantastic and the classes are set up like building blocks taking someone like me, from a completely different career field, and setting me up to succeed.
I recently signed up for PMI's online bachelor's program and I just want to keep on learning! I am currently working at Banner University Hospital, I have health insurance, and my daughter just had her third heart surgery and is doing phenomenal! I love my job and my new profession - thanks PMI!
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I was looking for a Radiography program that had a high pass rate for both classes and state boards when I found Pima Medical Institute. I chose them because of their short waitlist and because my coworker spoke of them with such overwhelming praise. I had been working in the field as a limited scope radiology technologist for about 9 years but, I wanted to further develop my knowledge in radiology. My instructors were great and they all wanted to see me and the other students excel in our field. I could talk about each one but they were all knowledgeable, kind and caring, and poured their hearts into their teaching. During my clinicals I was sent to Banner Thunderbird Hospital where I was able to work with the staff in intervention radiology and the catheter lab, which I believe helped me with my success in getting my first job at Banner Boswell Hospital.
One of the first things I noticed about attending Pima Medical Institute was the prestige that came with the name. When I told coworkers and managers that I went to Pima Medical it felt like I was held to a higher standard and was more sought after when looking for a job. I truly believe going to Pima Medical helped me achieve my goal of becoming a catheter lab technologist. My eventual goal is to become a manager of a catheter lab. I am so grateful to each of my instructors and I always recommend Pima Medical Institute to others.
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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 was in my early 20's, ready to complete a degree in finance when I realized I really didn't want to spend my life sitting behind a desk. I had a few family members working in the radiography field and I noticed they not only had a great career, but they could choose to work in different modalities and had lots of variety in their jobs. I began researching, found Pima Medical Institute's Radiography program and enrolled.
I had wonderful instructors! It's an intense and tough program, but the way the program is structured really makes you feel prepared for your profession. I enjoyed the shorter rotations for clinicals which exposed me to many different areas and modalities. Once I knew what I was looking for, I was able to complete multiple rotations in my area of interest which prepared me for a job at that very location. I was hired at University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) and after a year I was promoted to a charge technologist and almost 2 years ago I moved into the role of General Radiology Supervisor. I love the fast-paced environment at UNMH. We're the only trauma one hospital in the state and we see something new every day. I'm not the only Pima Medical graduate in my department, we currently have five employees that were my classmates and each year I hire multiple new Pima Medical new graduates.
Pima Medical provided a great education and really prepared me for the field.
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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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I wasn't completely sure about going back to school until I walked through the doors at Pima Medical Institute. From the moment I took the tour and sat down for the exam, Admissions Representative Mary Mikiel made me feel welcomed and encouraged. I don't love taking tests, but her support and positive energy truly made a difference that day. A few days later, she called to tell me I had only missed one question - and that I was officially accepted into the Medical Assistant program.
Starting the program, I connected quickly with my classmates and discovered a great sense of community. My instructors were not only knowledgeable, but genuinely invested in my success. There were five of us who graduated together, and that experience gave me newfound confidence in myself. I was working full time while attending school, and although it wasn't easy, I proved to myself that I could push through the ups and downs and make it to graduation day. I started working at a fast-paced urgent care where everything I learned at Pima Medical came flooding back like second nature.
After about a year of hard work, I was encouraged to apply for a higher position. I'm proud to say I am now the Center Manager at Carbon Health Carlsbad. None of this would have been possible without the incredible support and encouragement I received from the staff and instructors at Pima Medical. They believed in me when I didn't fully believe in myself and constantly pushed me to grow. For that, I will always be grateful. Pima Medical Institute didn't just prepare me for a career, they helped me believe in myself.
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I completed my Limited Radiologic Technologist (LRT) program and wanted to continue into a full radiologic technology program. I learned from a friend that Pima Medical Institute offers a bridge program for LRT graduates, which made it the best fit for me. My experience as a student was very positive. The program is designed in an exceptional way, making it manageable for everyone, including full-time employees.
One thing I really appreciated about my education at Pima Medical Institute was the professionalism and knowledge of my professors, program director, and clinical director. Their support and guidance helped me feel confident, and I do feel well prepared for my profession. I was already working at MedStar Urgent Care as a Limited Radiologic Technologist, but after graduating and passing the ARRT board exam, I was promoted to a Radiologic Technologist position.
Since graduation, I have continued gaining clinical experience and strengthening my skills in patient care and imaging. I am also planning to return to Pima Medical Institute next week to start the Bachelor's in Health Management program as part of my future career growth.
I would definitely recommend Pima Medical Institute. The program is well structured, the instructors are very knowledgeable, and the clinical training prepares students well for real-world practice. I am very grateful for my experience; the support from faculty and staff played an important role in my success.
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Angela Lee is a two-time graduate of Pima Medical Institute. After earning her associate degree in respiratory therapy from our Mesa campus, she went on to earn her bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy through our 100% online program.
Q: How did you learn about Pima Medical Institute?
A: My youngest daughter attended Pima Medical Institute a couple of years before I did. When life circumstances required a second career path I knew Pima Medical Institute was the place to go.
Q: What was your experience like as a student in the Phlebotomy and Veterinary programs?
A: My son and I enrolled in the respiratory program together! Being healthcare students during COVID was difficult, as everyone was learning to navigate new systems and protocols.I also experienced a divorce and moved my family during the program. It was definitely overwhelming at times!
Q: What would you say is one specific thing you appreciated about your education at Pima Medical Institute?
A: The instructors relayed years of experience and skill that translated to the real world. The program director especially. When I thought I wanted to give up or quit, she constantly assured me it would be worth it, and she was right!
After finishing my associate degree, I earned my Bachelor's through Pima Medical Institute. Because it was online, I could keep working while going to school. After Pima Medical, I earned a Master's degree in Healthcare Law in May 2025 at another institution. I still work as a travel therapist and have been privileged to work at some of the most prestigious children's hospitals in the country! And I get to visit great places while I'm working!
Q: Would you recommend Pima Medical Institute? Why?
A: I always recommend Pima Medical Institute; in fact, I convinced my new fiances two grown sons to enroll in the respiratory program at Pima Medical. It has changed my life for the better; how could I keep that kind of success a secret?
Pima Medical provides an incredible opportunity for anyone, at any stage in their journey, to get the education they need.
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