WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I was a golf pro for 10 years; a member of the PGA of America here in Vegas. When our first daughter was born I really didn't want to put her in daycare, so I started a golf business out of my home. Then the economy hit and my business went under. My wife suggested I go back to school but I just felt too old. I said, "By the time I graduate, I'll be 45!" In response my 12 year old daughter said, "Aren't you going to be 45 anyway?" So, I went back to school. When I looked at Pima Medical Institute's accelerated 18 month Physical Therapist Assistant program, I knew it was for me. During my whole tenure at Pima my days consisted of getting up at 6 am, dropping my kids off at 7:30 am, come home and study or sleep for a few hours, go to classes from 1-5 pm, then work from 6 pm to midnight. Then I would do it all over again. I loved learning and going to school. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and we definitely felt prepared. I enjoy my job and I'm thankful and thrilled to be in my position. I'd highly recommend PMI's PTA program to others; both older second career individuals and young people. If someone doesn't have 6 years to give to become a physical therapist, this is a great way to go. You can make a good living and make a great impact on the community.

I have always been interested in the field of physical therapy. My younger brother had a lot of issues and in fact, he had 18 surgeries before the age of 18. I saw the role that physical therapy and rehabilitation played in his life. So, physical therapy has always been my dream career. I went to college straight out of high school, but I just was not ready for it. I hated going to classes, life happened, and I dropped out after one year. Eight years later I was working in a call center and had just gotten married and I decided it was time to do something with my life. I knew about Pima Medical Institute and had considered it before, but I finally pulled the trigger and signed up for their Physical Therapist Assistant program. It changed my life! The program was challenging and I had to learn how to study and be a student again, but this time I had help. My instructors were always there; they helped me figure out my learning style and taught me how to be successful. My last clinical rotation was at Tucson Orthopedic Physical Therapy and before it was over they offered me a position. For seven weeks, I was able to show them who I was and my clinical experience really opened the door to my new job. I love my job! It has really changed our lives. I have a solid income, benefits, and we were recently able to purchase a home! Having a great career, not just a job, is amazing!

Both of my parents have careers in the medical field and my older sister was working as an X-ray technologist's assistant at the same hospital. I had many broken bones as a kid and recall getting many X-rays, but when my sister started talking about what happens behind the scenes in her department, I started considering a career as a radiologic technologist. Both my sister and my mom encouraged me toward the Radiography program at Pima Medical Institute. It is a robust program for sure. It was super challenging for me and required a lot of study. But, the instructors were very knowledgeable and encouraging. I formed great relationships with my classmates; we became quite close and helped each other get through the program. It was quite intimidating to walk into my clinicals. Although I was well prepared and had help from the technologists, it was quite overwhelming to be in trauma situations and be interacting with nurses and doctors in real life situations. I worked really hard in my final round of my clinicals at Sharp Memorial Hospital and a couple months after graduation, I was hired as a radiologic technologist. I spend the majority of my time in the ER and I really enjoy my current job, but may consider a position in mammography in the future. I want to thank Pima Medical and especially my instructor, Dr. Schmidt, who was so helpful and supportive. I was in a terrible car accident during the program and without her guidance I may not have been able to finish my program. I am 23-years-old, I have a career in the medical field and I am really proud of myself.

Prior to attending Pima Medical Institute, I worked in HR in the gaming industry for 10 years. I knew I wanted to pursue a new career, and having several family members in the medical field helped me decide to go in that direction. After researching different schools and programs considering length, cost and convenience, I chose Pima Medical Institute's Respiratory Therapy program. It was very challenging and required dedication but our program director was very knowledgeable and the instructors were really helpful. My clinicals prepared me for my job and I was hired shortly after passing my state boards at the same hospital where my husband is currently employed. He works days and I work nights, which works well for our family. COVID-19 has clearly made everyone aware of what a respiratory therapist does, but it brought on a whirlwind of emotions for me. I found out right before it hit that I was pregnant which has added to my concern and my family's concern for me. I have worked with some COVID-19 patients, but my hospital has been trying hard to keep me extra safe, so I'm mainly assigned to our non-COVID patients needing respiratory care. One way our job has changed with COVID-19 is that we now fill the role of family members. Right now even our non-COVID patients can't have family with them. They are lonely and want to talk, so we spend extra time with each patient. It's so important for their healing to have face-to-face interactions and right now we provide that and fill the role of family. Being a respiratory therapist is a very rewarding job and I encourage others to a career in the respiratory therapy field! Pima Medical was quick and hands on and it worked well for me. My job is very rewarding and I love it!

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.

Growing up I'd always had my heart set on healthcare and my dream was to become a nurse. Despite being a good student initially, family issues led me to drop out of high school. I eventually got my GED and completed a nursing assistant program through Job Corps. Life threw more challenges my way, including a young marriage, poor partner choice and raising five children as a single mother. After seeing advertisements for Pima Medical Institute, I was drawn to enroll in the Medical Assistant (MA) evening program. Balancing work, school and motherhood was tough, but I persevered for nine months. I began my new career in urgent care and later pediatrics, where I've been ever since. After a few years, Pima Medical reached out encouraging me to pursue an online Health Care Administration (HCA) associate degree. This degree opened more career doors for me. Today, I am a Lead Medical Assistant at Phoenix Children's Hospital, working with the Homeless Youth Outreach Department. I wear many hats, including clinical lead, Spanish interpreter and vaccine coordinator. Recently, I enrolled in an accelerated nursing bachelor's program at Grand Canyon University, transferring many Pima Medical credits and moving closer to my dream of becoming a nurse. Pima Medial provided the foundation for my success. And even today, I always accept their student externs. The difference in skill between their students and others is noticeable. Returning to school as a single mom with five kids was challenging, but it was worth it. Many feel stuck in minimum wage jobs, but education can change that. Though it's tough initially, the long-term benefits include better job opportunities and more time with family. My journey was hard, but Pima Medical Institute was the key to my success. With determination and effort, you can achieve your dreams too.

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 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.

Before going back to school, my life wasn't on the best path. After high school, I planned to become a nurse, but deep down I knew it wasn't what I really wanted. Eventually, I moved out on my own, but I found myself surrounded by the wrong people and making choices I wasn't proud of. It wasn't until I met my fiance that I seriously considered going back to school. He encouraged me to think about my future and what would truly make me happy. After some soul-searching, I decided to look for a Dental Assistant program - and for the first time, I felt excited about my future. I found Pima Medical Institute through an online search, and after seeing so many great reviews from alumni, I knew it was the right place for me. Enrolling was the best decision I could have made. My experience at Pima Medical was nothing short of amazing - the support from my classmates, instructors, and family kept me going. My instructor, Margarita, was especially supportive. In fact, I wouldn't have made it through without her guidance. I was excited for my externship at Associates in Family Dentistry and grateful to be hired upon completion. As I plan to move soon, I'm holding off on furthering my education for now, but I'm eager to explore my options. I am a proud graduate of Pima Medical and my ultimate goal is to build a successful career while growing my family with my fiance.