After a life-changing hospital stay in 2017, a nurse’s care and compassion inspired Marisa to work in the health care field. Even though she didn’t want to become a nurse, she realized her management background could help her thrive in a medical office. The challenge? She didn’t have medical experience. That’s when she found Pima Medical Institute’s Medical Assistant program—a decision that set her on a path to a fulfilling career in health care administration. Here’s how Marisa transformed her life with Pima Medical’s support and guidance.
“After 25 years in restaurant management, I always knew I wanted to go back to school, but life kept getting in the way. In 2017, everything changed when I got very sick and ended up in the hospital for 10 days. One nurse, an older, highly skilled woman, was so inspiring that I thought, ‘If she can do this, so can I.’ Though I didn’t want to be a nurse, I knew my management background could help me run a medical office. However, when I tried applying for receptionist jobs, I kept hearing the same thing—I needed medical experience.
That’s when I decided to take a leap and enroll in Pima Medical Institute’s Medical Assistant (MA) program. The nine-month program gave me the education I needed to get my foot in the door. It wasn’t easy—after being out of school for 20 years, I had to relearn how to study and manage my time. But thanks to Pima Medical’s support system and my fellow students, I got through it.
I landed my first job as an MA through my externship at Pima Heart. I soon enrolled in the online Health Care Administration (HCA) program, while moving up in my job and then continued into the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (BSHCA) program. Upon completion, I applied to administrative positions and was humbled to have 15 interviews scheduled. After considering numerous job opportunities, I chose to join Banner Health as a Practice Manager, overseeing a staff of 20 (with eight providers and 40 residents).
Pima Medical provided the education I needed to excel in the medical field. My instructors were there for me every step of the way. If you’re considering going back to school, just do it! Choose Pima Medical and you will get the support you need.”
Find your inspiration into health care at Pima Medical Institute! You’ll never know what can happen once you take that first step toward your future. Contact us today to get started.
