Kyle Hoyer

Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program

I was born and raised in Aloha, Oregon, and currently live in Portland, Oregon with my family. I am attending Quinnipiac University’s Physician Assistant Graduate Program. I have a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Whitworth University, and an Applied Associate’s Degree in respiratory therapy from Mt. Hood Community College. My work as a Respiratory Therapist over the last five years in Portland at OHSU has brought me into frequent contact with urban and underserved communities, and raised my awareness of and desire to help these populations.

The Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholar Program is a unique opportunity that will help me grow not only as a clinician but also as a human. The program’s focus on urban health care and its associated challenges is what initially drew me to the UST/AS Program; I live and work in the city, and I plan to continue living and working in a city in my future career as a PA. In addition to my work, my desire to work in primary care derives in part from the troubles I myself have had navigating the healthcare system. I hope that I can help those worse-positioned than myself avoid the fear and worry of trying to access a basic necessity like healthcare in our current system. I also hope the UST/AS Program grants me a greater understanding of the challenges faced by the people who live in urban communities, which knowledge, true to the tenets of the UST/AS Program, I believe is best gained through direct engagement with these communities. Equipped with this understanding, I will be better-prepared to deliver excellent healthcare, and to take part in the lives of community members both inside and outside the clinic.