Coming from San Antonio, Texas, Steven Gomez (Biology, ‘19) had his pick of universities – but he found his fit at UNI.

“The environment was really welcoming, and you could tell the professors really cared and were generally interested in helping us succeed,” he said. “The big thing that drew me to UNI was that tight-knit community. I didn’t want a big school where I was just a number.”

Gomez flourished with small class sizes, unique research opportunities and close faculty mentorship not afforded at larger institutions. With the help of his dedicated advisors, he found his calling, and decided to pursue a pre-physician assistant track in the UNI Department of Biology.

“I liked that as a PA, you can specialize in any field, and you don’t just have to stick to one area,” he said. “You can jump from ER to family medicine to general surgery without any additional training. I ended up talking with my advisor, Joan Smothers – who was such a great resource – and she helped make a road map of what I needed to do to graduate and get into PA school.”

After graduation, Gomez ended up going back home to Texas, where he enrolled in the PA program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

After completing his boards and getting his certification, he got his first job in a hospital setting in June of 2020, working in a burn and reconstructive surgery center.

Gomez says his time at UNI was invaluable in launching his career as a PA.

“UNI helped me to prepare professionally by giving me all the tools needed to succeed,” he said. “But beyond that, the professors and advisors are really kind and want to help students succeed.”