Growing up in Winnemucca, Nevada, Shelby Garrison knew that giving back to her community through service and healthcare was her path. Garrison understood the unique challenges of living in a rural area, from limited access to medical care to the need for providers who build lasting relationships with their patients. Those experiences inspired her to pursue a career where she could make a meaningful difference close to home.
Her interest in healthcare began with a love of science. As an undergraduate studying biology at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, she was especially drawn to anatomy and the opportunity to apply scientific knowledge to improve the lives of others.
"I was intrigued by being able to study and use science to help others,” Garrison explained. “I thought that it would be an extremely rewarding career."
Although she initially wasn't certain which health profession to pursue, her experiences working with patients helped shape her future. She discovered that connecting with people and caring for them was the most rewarding part of her work. Becoming a physician assistant offered the flexibility to explore different specialties while still making an impact in patients’ healthcare outcomes.
"I knew the challenges of living in a rural community,” Garrison said. “I wanted to be a part of the solution to rural Nevada's healthcare dilemma."
Throughout PA school at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ School of Medicine (UNR Med), Garrison embraced the rigorous curriculum while learning valuable lessons about resilience and perspective. The reminder that her hard work would one day allow her to care for patients helped her push through the most challenging periods of her training.
UNR Med's Physician Assistant Studies Program, ranked No. 21 in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings, provides students with rigorous academic and clinical training. The program's strong commitment to improving access to care in rural communities is a defining feature for many students, including Garrison, whose career goals closely align with that mission.
That shared commitment shaped the way she approached her education, reminding her that every hour spent studying and training was an investment in her future patients. It reinforced that the challenges she faced along the way were preparing her to provide compassionate, high-quality care to the people who would one day trust her with their health. Like many students in demanding professional programs, Garrison found balancing coursework, clinical rotations and personal well-being to be one of her biggest challenges. Over time, she realized that stepping away from her studies to recharge ultimately made her a stronger student.
Looking ahead, Garrison hopes to return to a rural Nevada community as a family medicine physician assistant, where she can help address provider shortages and improve access to quality care. She also encourages aspiring PA students to make the most of every patient interaction before entering school.
"Keep your 'patient first' perspective, especially during challenging times," Garrison said.
Garrison will be graduating from UNR Med’s PA Studies program as a Class of 2026 graduate. For Garrison, the path to becoming a physician assistant has always been about more than earning a degree. It's about serving the communities that shaped her, building meaningful relationships with patients and ensuring that people in rural Nevada have access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare.
