From being a single mom working in retail to part owner at an outpatient rehabilitation facility, Carmen found purpose in continuing her education with Pima Medical. She graduated with a Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree from our Albuquerque campus and went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (BSPTA) online.
Carmen and her husband hire Pima Medical graduates at the outpatient facility they own. She has come a long way since walking through our campus doors and hasn’t stopped with her education just yet.
Carmen is currently enrolled in our Master of Science in Organizational Leadership online program where she is building her leadership skills, which will continue to help her business grow.
Her story is below.
“I was a single mom with two children living in a really small town and working at a hardware store. I knew I needed an education and my drive was my kids. One day I saw a commercial for Pima Medical Institute and I said, “Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) – I want to do that!”
I worked in the mornings, attended afternoon classes, and spent the evenings being a mom and studying. It was really difficult! But, the support I had from my instructors kept me going and it was completely worth it. I never felt like I was good at anything in my life until I became a PTA.
A year later I started Pima Medical’s online BSPTA program. Not only was it helpful for my professional development, as a result of continuing my education, I was able to get a promotion.
I met my current husband in the PTA program. I literally opened the door to the lab for him one day and opened the door to a new life. In 2015, my husband and I started an outpatient rehabilitation facility, of which I am the director. It was a lot of hard work and I had to learn all the processes and make sure things were done the right way. We continue to grow and we love hiring Pima Medical graduates!
I recently enrolled in Pima Medical’s Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program. I feel like I’ve already learned so much about the kind of leader I am and the kind of leader I want to be. The possibilities are endless with this degree, especially being in a rural community and wanting to advocate for public health. This degree will give me credibility.
Pima Medical has been essential in my growth as a person and as a professional and I am so grateful!”
Are you looking for ways to advance your career and grow into leadership opportunities? Continuing your education online may be the right choice for you.
