Hundreds of people were on hand for the July 12 grand opening ceremony of the newly relocated Pima Medical Institute Tucson campus at 2121 N. Craycroft.
Students, instructors, staff, and community partners gathered for an official ribbon cutting and many in attendance took part in campus tours and classroom lab demonstrations. Demonstrations included, vein location procedures by Phlebotomy Technician students and Pharmacy Technician students showing the skills they are learning.
Richard Luebke Sr. and his wife Jo Ann founded Pima Medical Institute in 1972. Since that time, the medical career college has grown to 18 campuses throughout the Western United States. Without Luebke Sr.’s dedication and commitment, Pima Medical Institute would not be where it is today. To honor that commitment to education, the new campus was dedicated to the memory of the man responsible for its creation.
Family and friends travelled from across the country for the event. Luebke Sr.’s children attended and son Richard Luebke Jr., Pima Medical Institute’s Chairman of the Board, said he was proud and humbled at the outpouring of support.
“Our dad has always been dedicated to a student-first approach – that has been his legacy here at Pima Medical,” said Luebke Jr. “For more than 47 years his founding principles have allowed us the opportunity to expand and grow. So far, we’ve educated and prepared more than 125,000 graduates for meaningful careers in healthcare and I know he would be grateful and humbled by where we are today.”
While the new campus is definitely impressive, featuring spacious study areas, an expansive courtyard, real-world labs and classrooms and a seven-bed nursing simulation theater, President and CEO, Fred Freedman, pointed out that Pima Medical is truly successful because of the people.
“Yes, this is a beautiful building, featuring industry-reflective and equivalent equipment,” said Freedman. “Here at Pima Medical, it’s about more than a building and its equipment. It is about our student outcomes. Each year, thousands of students find success and reach their career goals, thanks to all of our dedicated faculty and staff. So as we celebrate this new facility, let’s also celebrate the commitment to our students and our students’ success.”
Known for the hands-on learning and real-world settings it provides its students, Pima Medical prides itself on offering the best learning experience possible. Pima Medical is viewed as one of the top healthcare career colleges in the Western United States, offering certificate, associate and online bachelor’s degree programs—all in the healthcare field. Programs focus on medical, dental and veterinary careers. Get more information about all the programs offered at Pima Medical.
