WELCOME HOME ALUMNI

Pima Medical Institute was a great place for me. I was going through chaos in my personal life, but I wanted something more and I didn't want to be a statistic. The instructors there see your struggles and your desires and they push you and care for you in a way that enables you to be successful. I always had the dream of becoming a veterinarian but life got in the way. I started the Veterinary Assistant program at Pima Medical as a single mom with 7-month-old twins. The evening program worked perfectly for me and I liked that the instructors set clear expectations and then helped us meet them. I started the Veterinary Technician (VT) program in 2015 but due to personal struggles, I had to drop out. I would often call and try and re-enroll, but each time something stood in the way. Finally, in 2018 my program director, Ms. V., agreed to give me another chance. I entered the program pregnant but determined to give it my all. My instructors were great and Ms. V. even visited me in the hospital when I had my baby and helped me through my many struggles. I had never even ridden a horse before, but I found a passion I didn't know I had during our equine class. I was placed at an equine specialty clinic for my externship and I loved my time there! I've also been offered a position at another clinic, but am waiting and hoping to get an official job offer from the equine clinic. I cried the last day of my externship because I did it!! It felt so good to complete something. I have an associate's degree even though many thought I'd never finish high school, and I have a career that will enable me to provide for my children. I don't have the words to adequately thank Pima Medical and my instructors, especially Ms. V. She pushed me, encouraged me, never judged me and never gave me special treatment. She believed in me and I did it!

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 am a working as a multi-modality radiologic technologist at Carlsbad Imaging Center in Oceanside, CA. I function as an x-ray, CT, and DEXA technologist. I also have the privilege of being a clinical instructor for radiography students from Pima Medical Institute. While working at a level 1 trauma center and as a travel technologist I discovered my love of working with student radiographers. I decided to further my education in order to become a radiography instructor and began researching online bachelor's degree programs. I was looking for a program that was 100% online, offered course work relevant to my dream of becoming an instructor and one that was affordable without sacrificing quality. I found all I was searching for at Pima Medical Institute and enrolled in their Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (BSRS) program in 2014. The program was flexible enough that I was able to graduate in about 18 months, all while working full-time, moving once, planning a wedding, and getting married. I appreciated that my instructors were supportive and genuinely invested in my success. I feel that my education at Pima Medical paved the way for the success that I have had in my career. The foundations set in that program have allowed me to build a career that is not only successful, but brings me joy each and every day. My advice to anyone considering the BSRS program at Pima Medical Institute is: DO IT!

I joined the US Army National Guard my senior year of high school, six months after 9/11 and was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2006. While in Kabul, I discovered the possibility of becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). After graduating with my associate degree in Maryland in 2010, I've worked as a PTA for Medstar Health for 11 years and have been an adjunct PTA faculty member. I attempted several times to return to a four-year college to get my bachelor's degree but the passion for the content of general studies was hard to dive into. While researching, I found Pima Medical Institute's Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (BSPTA) program, but it seemed too good to be true. A program full of what I loved and dedicated to the PTA world I so deeply cherished? I enrolled. I found the content and curriculum to be completely relevant to my job. It was challenging working full time while a student, but it was worth it. Then COVID hit. Healthcare changed completely; the challenges were on a different level. All of the instructors were understanding, kind and caring. I felt I could openly talk to them about content, challenges, life and all the bumps that came during 2019-20. I made friends and connections that I hadn't expected as we shared experiences and learned together, from afar. Now that I've completed my BSPTA degree, my goals are to be director of PTAs for all 54 clinics, promote the hiring of PTAs and to eventually become full time faculty in a PTA program and lead the future PTAs. Thank you to the staff and faculty of Pima Medical for the constant encouragement and a caring and safe space to fulfill my dream!

My dad had a bout of pneumonia and ended up on a ventilator and I was fascinated watching the respiratory therapist control my dad's breathing. I'd been working in the auto industry, never thought I was college material, but I my family believed in and motivated me to look into the field. I set up a tour of Pima Medical Institute with the program director and as I saw the facility and listened to her, I fell in love with her passion for respiratory therapy. Being a student at Pima Medical was certainly challenging for me, but the support I had from instructors and classmates was amazing. Our class decided that no one was going to fail, so when someone was struggling with a concept, we all rallied around them. The instructors were always available for extra help and by the time I got to clinicals, I really felt prepared. Prior to graduation I obtained a position with Banner South, a hospital that had been part of my community since I'd been a child. While performing bedside care as a respiratory therapist, I recognized that healthcare doesn't stop at the bedside. I became interested in looking at how, for example, a patient's social economic situation impacted their outcome. Knowing I wanted to make a bigger impact and with the confidence I gained from my time at PMI I went on and continued my education earning my bachelor's in applied management and ultimately my MBA. I navigated my way throughout the healthcare system from beside care, care coordination, to quality improvement. Wanting to be more proactive than reactive, I took a position as Senior Manager of Medicare Administration. We not only looked at how we delivered advantage plan benefits, I'm proud to say we instituted a non-traditional innovative program for our patients. Recently, I accepted a position as Director of Care Delivery Operations for Banner Health Corporate. I recognize that in order for bedside staff to offer their best care, processes and supply have to be in place. I can now play a role in making that happen and that is very exciting! Pima Medical provided the necessary educational and support a guy - who didn't think he was college material - needed in order to have the confidence to be successful. Next step - CEO!

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.

My story is a bit unique in the way I came to Pima Medical Institute. I was in the Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Brightwood College in 2018 when it suddenly closed its doors. Pima Medical was willing to take those displaced students, so without other options I decided to give it a go. Since Pima Medical didn't have a CNA program, I chose their Medical Assistant (MA) program. My experience at Pima Medical was exceptional! I had great instructors and I felt like I got a fantastic education. One specific thing I really appreciated about the curriculum was that we were able to learn all different aspects of the roles of our profession. For example, although I've never worked as a front office MA, I was able to learn those roles and understand their responsibilities as well. Two days after finishing my program, I was on a plane moving to Colorado. I began applying for jobs as soon as I got settled and had no trouble finding a position. I was hired as an MA at Pueblo Community Health Center where I will soon be celebrating five years. Currently, I am also completing prerequisites so I can go back to school to achieve my dream of becoming an RN. Pima Medical Institute has great programs and amazing instructors! I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting a career in the medical field. If their location here in Colorado offered an RN program, I would already be signed up. I appreciate everything all of my instructors did for me and I wouldn't be where I am without them.

I have always had an interest in the medical field, but had no idea where to begin. My brother went to Pima Medical Institute for the Veterinary Technician program, which led me to look into the school. After my first tour, I knew it was the place for me and I enrolled in the Medical Assistant (MA) program. My student experience was amazing! I had fantastic instructors and got so much hands-on experience in such a short amount of time. At first, it was difficult to balance full-time school while working, but I loved what I was learning so much that putting in the work was something I was more than willing to do. I loved getting to practice my hands-on skills with my classmates. Doing things like injections and blood draws on real people truly prepares you for real patients. I graduated from Pima Medical with a 4.0 GPA, and as soon as I started to apply for jobs, the offers were rolling in! I ultimately chose to work at University of Washington Medical Center because it seemed like the best opportunity for me, and it definitely has been. Since graduating, I have been working at UW for the last year. I have learned so much and have never been more confident in a job. Getting my education at Pima Medical Institute was truly one of the best decisions I have ever made. It prepared me so much for my future and made stepping into a new role a piece of cake. I would highly recommend Pima Medical to others seeking to change their lives.

After high school, I spent four years juggling two jobs-one at Office Max and the other at a bakery-when one day, my aunt called and asked if I wanted to go back to school with her. I had no idea what she meant, but I agreed. That's how I found Pima Medical Institute. I chose the Medical Assistant (MA) program because, when my dad was ill, I saw firsthand the impact healthcare professionals can have on a person's life. I wanted to do that too, and the program was only nine months long, which made it a perfect fit for me. I loved every minute of the MA program! The hands-on training felt so different from high school, and I found myself excited to learn. In particular, I discovered I had a passion for injections and blood draws. When it was time for my externship, I was nervous, but my head MA was incredibly supportive, and I quickly found that it all came naturally to me. Toward the end of the program our homework assignment was to apply for three MA positions. Afterwards, I didn't think much about it, but to my surprise, Saguaro Dermatology called and hired me. Dermatology is fast-paced and challenging, but I love it. My favorite part is working with skin cancers and assisting in surgeries. I also enjoy my role in the lab, processing tissue samples as a histotech. Since relocating to Tucson, I easily found another dermatology position, and I couldn't be happier. Pima Medical set me on a path I'm truly passionate about, and I'd do it all over again. If you're thinking about a medical career, don't hesitate-come to Pima Medical. You won't regret it!