Pima Medical Institute pushes allied health pipeline amid workforce shortages

By AI, Created 5:43 AM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Pima Medical Institute says healthcare shortages are widening demand for allied health workers and that employer partnerships, hands-on training and career-ready education are key to filling gaps. The Tucson-based school outlined its approach after leaders discussed workforce trends on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew.

Why it matters: - Healthcare systems are facing broad staffing pressure, and the demand is extending beyond doctors and nurses to allied health roles that keep patient care moving. - The shortage affects medical assistants, dental assistants and hygienists, respiratory therapists, radiologic technologists and veterinary science roles. - Pima Medical Institute is positioning career-focused education as one way to help close those gaps.

What happened: - Pima Medical Institute Chief Executive Officer Andy Andress and Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer Andrea Merisotis Snow discussed healthcare workforce trends on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew. - The Tucson-based college highlighted employer collaboration, workforce readiness and allied healthcare career pathways in its latest message to prospective students and industry partners. - Pima Medical Institute listed upcoming certificate program start dates for May 20 and July 1. - The school directed prospective students to more information at pmi.edu.

The details: - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects healthcare employment will grow much faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade, creating millions of new healthcare-related job openings nationwide. - Pima Medical Institute was founded in 1972 and has spent more than five decades training students for allied healthcare careers. - The institution says its model combines career-focused education, clinical experiences and employer partnerships to help students move into the workforce. - Andress said the school focuses on students who want to enter the workforce with a strong education and be career ready at graduation. - Andress also said healthcare employers need skilled professionals who can step into patient care environments, making hands-on training and workforce alignment important. - Merisotis Snow said Pima Medical Institute goes beyond technical training by building relationships and teaching soft skills and critical thinking so students are career ready on day one. - The school said it works with healthcare systems, workforce organizations and community partners to strengthen talent pipelines and align education with industry needs. - Pima Medical Institute said it has more than 175,000 healthcare professional graduates nationwide. - Pima Medical Institute described itself as an employee-owned, private, accredited allied healthcare college with classroom instruction paired with real-world training at medical facilities. - The curriculum includes certificate, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. - The school has online offerings and operates 16 campus locations across eight states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Washington. - The campuses are in Tucson, Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona; Chula Vista and San Marcos, California; Aurora, Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Houston, El Paso and San Antonio, Texas; and Seattle and Renton, Washington. - Pima Medical Institute said more information and a complete list of programs are available at pmi.edu or by calling 1-888-442-5998.

Between the lines: - The message reflects a broader shift in healthcare hiring, where employers are looking for graduates who can contribute quickly and communicate well, not just complete technical tasks. - Pima Medical Institute is emphasizing allied health because staffing shortages are not limited to one profession, which raises the value of training multiple job pathways at once. - The school’s focus on classroom, lab and clinic experiences suggests a strategy built around speed to employment and practical readiness.

What’s next: - Pima Medical Institute is likely to use the new certificate start dates to bring in students seeking faster entry into healthcare careers. - The school’s ongoing partnerships with employers and community organizations will remain central to its pitch as workforce demand stays elevated. - Continued collaboration between educators, healthcare systems and industry leaders will be necessary to keep talent pipelines moving into patient care roles.

The bottom line: - Pima Medical Institute is betting that allied health training, employer alignment and job-ready skills can help address one of healthcare’s most persistent workforce problems.