WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

After graduating from Akron University in Ohio with a degree in biology, I was left without any direction on where to go or what to do next. I moved back to Tucson and began looking for a career. After going through rehab for a soccer injury, I began considering a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant. I found Pima Medical Institute's PTA program and knew it would start me on my career path. After graduating from PMI, I had no problem finding a job in a setting I desired. Seven months later my daughter was born and we moved back to Ohio where my wife was from. Again, I found jobs to be plentiful. After obtaining experience in many different settings, including skilled nursing, home health, outpatient and hospital acute care, I decided I wanted more. I was accepted to the PTA to the Doctorial PT transitional program at The University of Findlay in Ohio. It was a challenging time working 40 hours a week and attending school, but after two and a half years I became a Dr. of Physical Therapy (DPT). I've found a great interest in outpatient therapy and am currently enjoying working in orthopedics and sports medicine. My wife and I have recently welcomed our third child and I am so thankful to Pima Medical Institute for providing my base and starting me on this career path. Thanks PMI; I am a certainly a success of yours. Dr. Corey Sipos, DPT

One day while working in retail assisting a customer who had a personal assistant and, obviously had a different lifestyle than mine, I struck up a conversation and ended up asking her what she did. She explained that she was a VP for San Ysidro Health Center and, after our conversation about her work, she gave me her card and asked me if I knew any CNA's to send them her way . Something about that conversation caused me to look at my life differently and think about where I was headed. I'd been working in retail for 10 years and I just couldn't see it taking me anywhere. At the time, my cousin was attending Pima Medical Institute. He told me the school was great, the program was fast and it wasn't too expensive and encouraged me to attend. So I went to PMI and enrolled in the Medical Assistant program. It was the best experience I've ever had! I never considered myself a great student and wasn't very book-smart, but PMI was very hands on and I loved it. The instructors were super helpful and would come in early to help me and the students became my lifelong friends. Even the security guard was awesome. I did my externship with a plastic surgeon and learned a ton. It had been 2 years since I'd had contact with that customer, but I found her business card, called her, and asked if she remembered me - Delilah from Pier One. She was blown away that she had touched me enough to encourage me to get my education and she told me she wanted to help me find a job at her company. She called me back and offered me a position as a health educator in their HIV department, with a brand new branch working with the Center for Disease Control and their federally funded grant. It is an amazing opportunity typically reserved for someone with a bachelor's degree. We offer free HIV testing and counseling for those who test positive for HIV. Even though it was a little different route than I'd planned, if I hadn't gone to PMI and gotten my education, I would have missed a fantastic opportunity! I've kept in touch with Pima. I'm on their advisory board, I come back to speak to classes, and I am able to offer their students opportunities to volunteer with our organization. I am so grateful for my education at PMI!

In 2012 I was in a bad accident and spent time in the hospital. This experience enabled me to observe the nurses and see how they cared for people. I had been working as a team lead at Target for a number of years but I decided that I wanted to do more than help people spend money, so I began pursuing the medical field. I started as a CNA and after 4 years decided I wanted to attend school to become an LPN. I heard about Pima Medical Institute on the radio and got excited about attending their Practical Nursing program. I have to admit my first sequence of classes was really challenging! The whole program was a huge learning experience for me, but my hard work paid off. I appreciated how the whole program was laid out ahead of time, including our course work and the schedule. This really helped us be successful. I was offered a job at my clinical site. The administrator took notice of me and offered me a position as a unit manager, not your typical first job as an LPN. I believe Pima Medical helped me develop a level of confidence that made a difference in obtaining this position. Recently, I was contacted by another facility and offered a job as another unit manager. I am honored and proud that in such a short time my education and hard work has provided opportunities for growth in my career. Pima Medical prepared me to be successful. The encouragement and support I got from my instructors was just overwhelming, and it's an experience I am always going to cherish.

I came to this country with the German Air Force and have spent the last nine years of my military career, either as a trainee or as an instructor, at the air defense school in El Paso, TX. Upon retiring from the military, I was interested in X-ray and began considering going into the medical field. I interviewed at Pima Medical Institute's El Paso Campus and decided to enroll in their Radiography program. I was 45 years old and the oldest person in my program. School wasn't difficult for me and I often found myself helping my classmates. This helped me learn and helped me retain the knowledge. I had a really good relationship with the clinical and program director, in fact we now have a friendship. I am working for Southwest X-Ray as a technologist and have cross trained in MRI. Only four months after graduation, I was asked to be a Chief Technologist and my counterpart and I are in charge of all the technologists from multiple modalities at all five of our clinics. I also recently started a bachelor's program in Radiology Management and hope to one day be an Imaging Director or possibly become an instructor. In fact, I'd love to come back to Pima Medical to teach and close the circle. Pima Medical Institute's Radiography Program is a really uncomplicated way to get higher education. Everything is set up to the benefit of the student. It's a very good program!

After being a truck driver and construction worker for 20 plus years, I made a promise to my mother before she died that I would go back to school. For nearly five years I passed Pima Medical Institute on my daily drive, and finally found the courage to pull in and take the pretest for the Nursing program. Going back to school at age 50 was scary, but I loved the atmosphere, the instructors and my classmates at Pima Medical. The instructors did an exceptional and extraordinary job preparing us for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). I applied at Banner Desert in Mesa where I had completed my clinicals and I was hired. It was 2019, and I was immediately thrown into the COVID Pandemic. A year later I decided to become a traveling nurse. Initially, I worried I might not be qualified enough or have enough experience, but I quickly got over that. Every place is different, but most of the core staff really appreciates the relief that travelers provide. I have been to 10 different places in four years. I'm considered a Banner Staffing Traveler within the Banner facilities nationwide and I call Banner Tucson my home, as it is where I spend the most time. Some of the challenges of being a traveler are finding a place to live and being away from family and friends. But, I am getting experience and confidence in different facilities and becoming more adaptable and flexible in my career. Plus, I am making a great salary. Pima Medical Institute changed my life forever. I made some lifelong friends during my experience, I had some incredible, humble, giving and caring instructors and I am truly grateful!

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.

I was looking for a change from my previous jobs in food service and explored various community colleges in Seattle. After considering culinary arts, I decided to pursue a healthcare career where I knew jobs were more in demand. I chose Pima Medical Institute because the stories from previous graduates resonated with me. They were just like me, seeking change and career advancement. Despite having no prior knowledge or experience in pharmacy, I chose the Pharmacy Technician program to challenge myself. My experience at Pima Medical was fun and engaging. The courses, from Career Prep to the Pharmacy Technician classes, were well planned. I learned everything I needed to succeed. The biggest challenge was balancing homework and projects with a full-time job, but it was worth it. The support from the staff at Pima's Renton campus was invaluable. The admissions and financial aid advisors helped me with my FAFSA, easing my financial worries. My Career Prep instructor made learning exciting and engaging. The staff provided support and organized stress-relieving activities like the Halloween costume contest. My instructor imparted all the pharmacy knowledge I needed and now apply daily in my work. Since graduating from Pima Medical in 2018, I worked at ReadyMeds for nearly four years and I've spent the last several years working as a Specialty Pharmacy Technician at Kaiser Permanente of Washington. I highly recommend Pima Medical Institute for the support and programs they offer to help you achieve your goals and succeed in your career. Now I'm one of those graduates sharing my story to inspire others!

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.

After graduating from high school in Rio Rico, I moved to Tucson to attend a community college, but it just wasn't the right place for me. One of my friends had gone to Pima Medical Institute, and after checking out their Medical Assistant (MA) program, I thought-this is perfect! The program was fast, flexible, and had no wasted classes. Since there were options for morning, afternoon or evening classes, I was able to continue working while attending school. At just 19 years of age, I graduated with my certificate and started working in a "grown up job" while most of my friends were still in college. I knew I had made the right choice. I landed a job at Catalina Pediatrics where I worked as an MA for 13 years, eventually becoming the back-office manager. Wanting more, I considered nursing, but a co-worker suggested I look into Respiratory Therapy (RT). When I found out Pima Medical had an RT program, I knew it was for me. The classes were challenging, but my instructors were supportive, and my classmates and I helped each other through the program. The biggest challenge I faced was during my ICU rotation, when COVID hit and we were sent home. After graduating, I saw a job opening at Banner Main as Program Manager for their Sleep Research Lab. I applied, and got the job! It was a tough first year learning the ins and outs of research, but now I love the responsibility and even the pressure. If I hadn't gone back to school for RT, I wouldn't be where I am today, with a job I love. My advice? Whether you're 19 or 39, go to school. Pima Medical gave me opportunities I never imagined, and it can do the same for you!