WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

I am currently a Registered Respiratory Therapist and a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist. I work for SleepMed Inc., the largest sleep company in the United States. I run two sleep centers here in Tucson and where I do the hiring, training, quality assurance, physician's reports, and more. I was working on my bachelor's in psychology when a couple of my immediate family members experienced respiratory issues. This began my understanding and then passion for the respiratory field. It wasn't long before I knew I wanted to become a Respiratory Therapist and I scheduled a meeting at Pima Medical Institute. I loved my experience as a student! My instructors were caring and kind, my classmates were so supportive, and we all became like a big family. I had amazing clinical experiences and the relationships I built with some of those physicians are relationships I still have to this day. Now, I get to host PMI students on their clinical rotations. PMI instills a confidence in their students so that when they come to me they are respectful, versatile, and willing to ask questions. There is simply a different culture with PMI students and when I have an opportunity, I hire them. Since PMI, I've obtained a bachelor's in Health Science and I'm currently pursuing a master's in Public Health, with the goal of doing sleep research. PMI has changed my life in so many ways and I'm so grateful!

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.

Being Filipino, I felt like everyone expected me to become a doctor or a nurse and although I was interested in the medical field, I did NOT want to be a nurse. A friend recommended Pima Medical Institute and after speaking with my advisor, I enrolled in their Medical Assistant (MA) program. I had the best experience at Pima Medical! The structured set up helped me be organized and I became a straight A student who never missed a class. Everyone there was genuine and responsive and I received excellent hands-on instruction. I felt very prepared for my externship at University of Washington where I was able to get experience in several different specialties. They even offered me a position, but I had plans to move back to LA to be near family. Once there I had no trouble obtaining an MA position in pediatrics at Comprehensive Community Health Centers. I am in the third semester of my bachelor of science in nursing program at West Coast University. How did this happen you may ask? Well, I had a "moment". My visual picture of nursing has always been pushing a patient's wheelchair. I had this dramatic moment during the last week of my externship when I was asked to push a patient to another department which required crossing a sky bridge. As I was slowly pushing him over that bridge, I just stopped and thought, "Oh my gosh, I want to be a nurse!" This patient had no idea how he changed my future. Now, my actual goal is to be a missionary nurse for children in Southeast Asia. I'm so thankful for Pima Medical. Their guidance and instruction gave me a foundation for my medical career. I will always boast about my time at Pima Medical ... they really do change lives!

How did I become an Occupational Therapy Assistant? Well ... it all started when a friend invited me to participate in a Personal Self Improvement weekend seminar. Little did I know how it would push me to get out of my comfort zone. One of our exercises was to create goals for ourselves. School wasn't really on my radar at this point, as I had completed an associate degree back in 1992 and I had raised four kids, but simply to fulfill the assignment, I went home and looked at a couple school options. Over the years while working with special needs children, I was exposed to and intrigued by Occupational Therapy (OT). The following day we were challenged to put our goals into action, so I made an arrangement to tour Pima Medical Institute's Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. By the time the grueling weekend was over, I knew I had to go back to school and I enrolled in the program. Again, little did I know what I was getting myself into returning to school while in my 40s. I had never used a laptop, didn't know how to navigate my way around a touch pad and had to Facetime my son in college to get help creating a PowerPoint. But my instructors offered support, tutoring, time to ask questions and were very responsive to my need for extra help. Every time a new area of focus in the field of OT was introduced, I got so excited and wanted to work in every area from traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, memory care, orthopedics, pediatrics, to burn patients. I was fortunate to be assigned to hippotherapy for my fieldwork rotation with an instructor who had years of experience working with horses and after graduation, I was given the opportunity to take her position at ABLE Acres, where I've been working for almost two years now. I appreciate all my Pima Medical instructors and the extra time they took to make sure I would succeed in this field.

After earning a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology, I struggled to find a job and ended up in finance. When COVID hit, my new job offer was rescinded and I was forced to take a job at a grocery store bakery, far from my career goals. I kept hearing advertisements for Pima Medical Institute which piqued my interest in the medical field. This led me to enroll in their three-month Phlebotomy program, allowing me to work and study simultaneously with minimal school commitment. It was a way to dip-my-toe into the water of the medical field. The Phlebotomy program was a turning point in my life. Small classes, hands-on experience, and an excellent instructor, Miss Denise, made a significant impact. I soon secured a position at Chandler Regional Hospital, where I interacted with various departments and realized my passion for patient care. Nursing stood out as the most versatile and impactful role, prompting me to pursue a nursing degree at the institute I trusted and I enrolled at Pima Medical's Mesa Campus. The Nursing program was challenging and intense, pushing me to grow and become accountable for patient care. Through diverse clinical experiences, I gravitated towards ER and ICU settings. I've recently accepted a position at OBS Banner Dessert, aiming to transfer to the ICU and eventually join the trauma team. I am immensely grateful for my education at Pima Medical. The Phlebotomy program provided a crucial foundation, giving me the framework I needed for a career in the medical field. I invited Miss Denise to my nursing pinning ceremony and my dad told her COVID had been difficult for me and she had saved my life. He was right, Pima Medical Institute truly changed my life.

After moving from Texas to Colorado for a fresh start, I was determined to build a stable career in the medical field. Research led me to Pima Medical Institute, and from the moment I began speaking with admissions, I knew it was the right choice. Despite facing many challenges, I embarked on the Medical Assistant (MA) program with unwavering determination. I started living in my car three weeks after starting the MA program. I was juggling homelessness, school and a full-time job. I struggled finding safe places to park, hot and cold nights, and finding time between work and school to do homework, sleep and get to the gym to take showers. I found incredible support from caring and understanding instructors who became like family to me. They provided resources and encouragement, helping me navigate the toughest moments. As difficult as my situation was, school was my biggest motivation and the people at Pima Medical were my support and prepared me for my future. Thanks to great instructors and comprehensive training, I excelled at my externship at Advanced Urgent Care, impressing my supervisors enough to secure a job offer before even graduating. To my instructors at Pima Medical, I owe a debt of gratitude. I am the person I am today because of you. Your unwavering support and belief in me kept me going when times were toughest. Thank you for never giving up on me. You've shaped me into the professional I am today and I will forever be grateful.

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.

Back in 2005, I was working in Public Relations at National Jewish Health, the nation's #1 respiratory hospital, when I first discovered the field of Respiratory Therapy (RT). Fascinated by the work, I asked the Director of Respiratory who offered the best RT program. Without hesitation, he said, "Pima Medical Institute." My decision was made. My time in the Respiratory Therapy program at Pima Medical was incredible. The hands-on training during clinical rotations left me feeling fully prepared to enter the field. In fact, I had two job offers before I even graduated. Pima Medical's commitment to student success is unmatched-they're truly invested in 100% job placement, and it shows. Over the years, I've precepted students from many schools, and Pima Medical graduates consistently stand out as being the most prepared. Today, I work at Craig Hospital near Denver, Colorado, a leading acute rehabilitation center specializing in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. I've built a new division within the department and now serve as the Respiratory Patient Education & Discharge Coordinator. My role involves training patients and their families to manage ventilators and tracheostomies at home, coordinating equipment and supplies, and often flying with patients across the country to ensure a smooth transition home. In 2012, I was honored as Colorado Respiratory Therapist of the Year and in 2025, I received the National PHIL Award for Patient Advocacy. I owe much of my success to Pima Medical Institute's exceptional program. To this day, I recommend it to anyone interested in Respiratory Care-it truly is the best!

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!