OVER 50 AND SPUTUM WITH PRIDE
Denver, CO – Fort Collins Resident and PMI Student Helps Denver Career College Win National Honor

After more than 26 years as a lineman in Fort Collins and four years as a computer technical support engineer, Gary Ellis wanted to change careers and enrolled for the Respiratory Therapy program at Pima Medical Institute, 1701 W. 72nd Ave. Suite 130 in Denver.

The 55-year-old Fort Collins resident is already making a great impression as he and three other respiratory therapy students at the career college defied the odds against the challenge of larger schools with Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, and help PMI capture 1st place in the National Student Sputum Bowl competition.

The Sputum Bowl is a knowledge contest that has been around since the late 1970s and is a part of every American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) convention. The primary objectives of the Student Sputum Bowl Competition are to stimulate interest in the current knowledge and practice of respiratory care, to call peer attention to the achievements of the respiratory care program in the area, and to provide academically stimulating entertainment at the annual symposium.

PMI was the only career college represented in the 16-state competition No one expected the small career college to be much of a threat, but Ellis, along with fellow classmates Heidi Hosner, Kathrin Barthel and Anna Lee Smith, pulled off an amazing victory.

“I didn’t know how we were going to do in the competition knowing that we were going to be going against the top players in the nation, ” said Ellis. “I did quite a bit of research before selecting Pima Medical Institute to train as a Respiratory Therapist and I felt their curriculum and instructors were first rate. As an older student, I had high expectations, and PMI has met every one of them. I’ve had a long commute to drive to Denver every day, but when I graduate in April, I expect to find a great job that will be in demand for many years to come.”

Winning the Sputum Bowl is one of PMI in Denver’s many accomplishments. In 2005 the Respiratory Therapy program was the recipient of the Health Educator Award from the American Lung Association of Colorado and student, Vicky Hedberg, was awarded the 2005 Student of the Year Award in the Allied Heath Specialist—Clinical category.

Graduates of the 88 credit-hour respiratory therapy program receive an Associate of Occupational Studies degree. The Denver campus also has programs for Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Administrative Assistant, Ophthalmic Medical Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiography Technician, Respiratory Therapy and Veterinary Assistant.

PMI is one of the premier medical career colleges in the western United States. The privately owned, accredited school provides students with a well-rounded education embracing theoretical classroom studies, as well as on-site training in allied health facilities within the community. This gives the student the opportunity to function in a working environment.

PMI has been serving students since 1972, with campuses in: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Mesa and Tucson, AZ; Chula Vista, CA, Seattle and Renton, WA; Las Vegas, NV; as well as Colorado Springs and Denver. Additional information is available by calling their toll free number, 888-442-5998 or online at http://www.pmi.edu.