Growing up, I always wanted to become a police officer, so when I turned 18, I signed up for an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) course. My plan was to get experience and improve my resume so that I could get into the police department, but I fell in love with emergency medicine during that course. I realized there was nothing more I wanted to do with my life than become a paramedic firefighter.
Upon the recommendation of a friend who had gone through Pima Medical Institute's Paramedic program, I enrolled in the program. On the first day, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work that would be required, but my instructors were fantastic, and they helped us all along the way. It's a challenging and stressful program, but it is also a lot of fun and worth it! My classmates and I became great friends, and our class almost felt like one big, dysfunctional, happy family.
I was nervous at the beginning but learned so much and had great experiences during my clinical and field experiences. The whole EMS community is very small and supportive, and it's a great profession to be in. PMI has a really good reputation in the community and has does a great job preparing students like me for the paramedic field.
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When my children were heading off to college, I realized it was my turn to invest in myself. I wanted a career that aligned with my passions-health, fitness and helping people-while also offering job stability and global opportunities. Becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) checked all the boxes, and after researching different programs, Pima Medical Institute stood out as the perfect fit for my timeline and lifestyle.
Going back to school after 15 years as a stay-at-home soccer mom was the hardest thing I've ever done. The fast-paced, condensed program challenged me academically, and the commute from Tacoma to North Seattle meant long days followed by even longer nights of studying. But Pima Medical provided endless support-faculty were always available, and I took advantage of every extra lab and hands-on practice session. They held us to high standards because patients deserve the best, not just someone getting by.
After graduation, I started at an orthopedic outpatient clinic, later transitioning to Olympic Sports and Spine, where I earned my orthopedic sports certification and became a Certified Lymphatic Therapist. Eventually, I sought a setting that allowed more personalized patient care, leading me to a private practice where I now enjoy one-on-one treatment sessions. I plan to retire here.
Pima Medical gave me the knowledge, confidence, and professionalism to succeed. Even after graduating, I've stayed connected with my instructors, who were always honest, supportive and dedicated. My career allows me to keep learning and growing, and for that, I'm forever grateful.
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I have been employed now for almost a year at Lutheran Medical Center. During this time I've recognized just how critical our role is in the sterile processing department of the hospital. We have a very important and serious responsibility, particularly in the operating and emergency rooms.
Just over a year ago I was looking for a complete career change and considering the medical industry. When I visited Pima Medical Institute's campus and learned about their new Central Sterile Processing Program and saw the new and very impressive lab, I decided to enroll. I really appreciated the program director and my instructors. They all contributed a wealth of knowledge due to their long and successful personal experience of being employed as sterile processing technicians themselves.
I worked very hard as a student maintaining a high GPA and was determined to make a good impression at my clinical site. Not only did I achieve my goal of completing my 400 clinical hours at Lutheran Medical Center, but was also offered a job upon graduating and passing my certification exam.
I would recommend PMI to anyone who wants to get into the medical field. They provided a great education and helped me get my foot in the door within a large hospital. I am a huge advocate for continuing education and hope this is just the beginning.
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I always wanted to go into healthcare, but I knew I would need to go to college, which I couldn't afford. I decided to go into the military in order to help achieve my educational goal. I spent four years in the Navy working as a trouble shooter on the flight deck of a nuclear aircraft carrier. Our carrier was the first to respond to the attacks in New York. I am proud to say we arrived outside the New York harbor the morning of September 12th as a show of support.
After the military, I tried college, joined the Army National Guard, and continued my search for opportunities in the medical field. After a series of setbacks, I finally decided to begin as a dental assistant with the hope of ultimately being a dental hygienist. A friend introduced me to the dental hygiene program at Pima Medical Institute and I never looked back. The best thing about PMI is that it is a tight knit group of people, similar to the military. A group of strangers end up becoming your peers, your friends, and eventually, your family. I never experienced that at community college. The friends I have made at school are ones I have made for life. Without my instructors and my peers, I wouldn't be who I am today.
The training I received at PMI truly helped prepare me more than any other training I have ever received. I now have my dream job! My overall experience at PMI was amazing; their commitment to excellence has allowed me to be successful. It can only get better from here!
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Upon graduation from my radiography associates program in the state of Virginia, I was hired at a local hospital. After a time, I became very interested in pursuing an instructor position at my institution but found a bachelor's degree was required. My former program director handed me a brochure from Pima Medical Institute and told me it was 100% online. I called Donna Luebke in admissions and she signed me up for their BSRS program.
PMI's program was flexible and provided me the opportunity to continue working fulltime. Many of the topics we studied were relevant to my work place. In fact, one of our projects was to prepare a workplace improvement. I choose to totally revamp our workplace training program. Afterwards, I submitted it to our state director and they actually adopted it!
While in the program I left the hospital and started working for a mobile radiology company. After completing my bachelor's they promoted me to lead supervisor for half the state and later offered me the position of director of operations for the state of Virginia.
A funny thing happened in one of our discussions when an online classmate began explaining about a situation at her workplace that started sounding familiar. She had a pretty common name, so I didn't realize until I sought her out at work that we were in the same online program out of Arizona working at the same hospital in Virginia.
I am currently working for the Center for Disease Control. I travel the country doing all types of screening for a project called the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition and Exam Survey). This team establishes national standards for things like growth charts for children. In the 70's their survey results showed high levels of lead in our populations, which resulted in requiring unleaded gasoline. I'm currently using custom ground breaking machinery and devices as I travel the country.
Pima Medical Institute's bachelor's degree prepared me and provided opportunities to move up in my career. For this I am thankful!
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Back in 2001 I enrolled in Pima Medical Institute's Medical Assistant Program. I was actually interested in nursing, but I had a young child and I just didn't have time to be on a waiting list. I enjoyed the program and ended up working as a Medical Assistant for 10 years until I felt like I had hit that glass ceiling and I couldn't grow any more.
I called PMI to see if they had a next step for me. When I learned about their online Health Care Administration associate's degree program, I got really excited! It was challenging, but I was motivated. My kids were a little older and they understood our life would change for a time while I was working and going to school, so we made it a family affair and we all studied together each night. My classes were really beneficial. They prepared me for leadership and management; skills I need for my current position. Our instructors made the classes practical. For example, we would have class discussions on how to handle patients who were upset. When I finished the program I realized I wanted to keep going, so I continued on and completed PMI's Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration. I am currently employed at Westmed Family Healthcare as their Clinical Supervisor. I would encourage other MAs to continue their education. Combining my years of experience with the online degrees from PMI has opened more doors for me in the healthcare field.
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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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While facing setbacks in my undergraduate BSPS (Bachelors in Science of Pharmaceutical Science) program due to grade issues, I decided to step away. My advisor from the University of Arizona (UA) suggested I apply to Pima Medical Institute's Pharmacy Technician program. From the moment I stepped into the program, I knew I was in the right place. I had wonderful instructors to help guide me on the path of reaching my goal. I enjoyed meeting new and different people, each with their own unique story. Probably the biggest obstacle I faced was the poor performance that was lingering from my time at UA and wanting to show that I wasn't the reason for not doing well there. I'm proud to say I cleared that hurdle and finished my program with a 4.0 GPA.
One of the most invaluable aspects of Pima Medical was the accessibility of instructors for one-on-one guidance and always knowing I could easily ask questions and get help. This bolstered my confidence during my externship, enabling me to be comfortable with my colleagues and have the confidence to ask questions. I was thrilled to receive a job offer from Banner University Medical Center Tucson. My time there as an extern showcased my capabilities, earning me a position as a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
I owe immense gratitude to my instructors Shaun, Sara and Grace for their unwavering support and dedication to my success. Pima Medical Institute is able to offer opportunities to those that believe they don't deserve it, when in reality they do!
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While initially interested in Dental Hygiene (DH), at age 18, I chose to pursue Dental Assisting (DA) instead, partly because I was hesitant to commit to a university four-year DH program. Later, as I learned about Pima Medical Institute's two-year DH program, my research told me it was highly reputable and very challenging. This both intrigued me and motivated me and I enrolled.
During my third semester an unexpected pregnancy brought huge challenges. My baby son was diagnosed with gastroschisis, a high-risk condition requiring frequent medical visits and a 54-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Despite the challenges of being a new mother and the emotional strain of the situation, I remained determined to succeed in my studies. I studied and completed assignments while at the NICU, my son serving as my inspiration. He was a reminder of my strength and my determination to never give up on my dreams. My DA employer had been supportive and excited about my becoming a Dental Hygienist and invited me to join their team as a DH upon obtaining my license.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of my instructors at Pima Medical for their unwavering support during my journey, especially as I navigated the challenges of my son's condition. Each instructor was incredibly helpful and supportive, always striving for my success. I am confident in the quality of education I received and would enthusiastically recommend it to others. While the program is rigorous, it is definitely achievable-I am living proof of that!
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After completing high school, I was looking for a temporary source of income that would pay enough to allow me to put myself through college. I had several family members who had attended various programs at Pima Medical Institute, so decided to enroll in their nine-month Pharmacy Technician program, figuring it might be a quick way to make more than the average college student.
The class schedules were ideal, allowing me to work while going to school. It was a strenuous curriculum but my instructor, a Doctor of Pharmacy with many years of experience, ensured his students became successful Pharmacy Technicians. He knew exactly what made a great technician and he prepared us well to become nationally recognized Certified Pharmacy Technicians.
I have spent the past 17 years as a Pharmacy Technician working in inpatient pharmacy performing sterile and chemotherapy compounding. I moved away from Arizona about seven years ago and I was hired at the VA Medical Center, where I was quickly promoted to Lead IV Trainer.
Recently, the Mayo Clinic in Mankato reached out to me and offered me a job as their Technician Supervisor with a focus in Sterile Compounding. The temporary job I thought would support further education became my career. I am very proud of my work as a Pharmacy Technician and I'm thankful for my Pima Medical instructor. As a result of being trained by him, I feel like my career has been really distinguished and for that I will always be grateful.
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My mom had been a nurse in the Philippines, but after moving to the US she cared for us and began working as a phlebotomist. This influenced my decision to go into the medical field after high school. On a whim one day, I stopped by Pima Medical Institute and ended up enrolling in the three-month Phlebotomy program which started two weeks later. It was fast paced and very different from high school as students were all ages and yet we were all looking for a change or a new career. Even though our time together was short, it felt like family. My first job was with a blood donation company and after moving to eastern Washington, I worked at a hospital. This gave me a variety of experiences and built my confidence and I later transitioned into dialysis.
I knew I eventually wanted to become a Medical Assistant (MA) and even though Pima Medical was a long commute, I had confidence in them so I enrolled in the MA program. I was pregnant, worked full time and had a long commute each day, but I did it! I feel like Pima Medical helped shape me into a resilient person. After graduation I worked at a hospital and a few other sites as an MA. But it wasn't long before I began to envision myself in administration, so I chose to complete the Health Care Administration online associate degree. That program gave me so much confidence and I loved it.
After graduating, I saw an opening for a Career Services Advisor at Pima Medical, applied, and got the job. Now, I get to guide students and share my journey with them. Watching them grow reminds me of my own transformation. Pima Medical has been a constant in my life, and I'm proud to be part of a team that changes lives every day.
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Nineteen years ago, I took my first step toward a life-changing career by enrolling in the Medical Assistant (MA) program at Pima Medical Institute. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but I didn't realize how transformative this journey would be. During my time as an MA student, I became fascinated with Respiratory Therapy (RT), so I enrolled in Pima Medical's RT program. My instructors believed in me and pushed me beyond my limits. The administrative team was equally supportive, showing me that my education mattered to them as much as it did to me.
While still an RT student, I secured my first job at North Vista Hospital. After graduating, I joined University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas. Both hospitals hired me after completing my clinical rotations. I worked my way up and built my career at UMC, eventually earning a management role. While there I continued my education, completing a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) online program from Pima Medical and later a master's degree in Business.
After retiring, I returned to Pima Medical to give back. In April 2024, I became the Clinical Director of Education for the RT program and by October 2024, I became the RT Program Director. I am forever grateful to Pima Medical Institute for believing in me. This journey wouldn't have been possible without the incredible instructors and staff who stood by me every step of the way.
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