Nicole M. Cottle

Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program

I grew up in Fruit Heights, Utah, a small town outside of Salt Lake City. I attended both Stevens-Henager College, where I earned an Associate of Science degree in respiratory therapy, and the University of Utah, where I received a B.S. in business administration. I was hired as a respiratory therapist at the University of Utah Hospital, and spent seven great years there working in the medical, surgical, neuro, and burn intensive care units. The last three years I spent at the University of Utah Hospital were some of the most rewarding years of my life. After all, they were like family – I thoroughly enjoyed my colleagues, the patients we cared for, the hard days, and the uplifting days. It solidified my choice to further my career as a Physician Assistant, knowing that I would have many more opportunities to work with some of the greatest people in health care. Outside of my career environment, I have participated in multiple community service opportunities, including being community service chair for the Pi Beta Phi sorority, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, and working on a medical mission to Ghana, Africa.

Urban Service Track is my opportunity to take what I have already learned and branch out into a part of medicine that I have never been exposed to. I admire and look forward to working with a group of well-organized individuals that comes to together to provide care for those in underserved communities. I chose to apply and become a part of UST for three main reasons: I have never had the opportunity to work in primary care and this was my opportunity to pursue something I am passionate about, I have shown a strong background in working with the underserved and wanted to continue that while in physician assistant school, and I am very passionate about the Affordable Care Act and feel that UST is a great way to provide access to care for thousands of underserved communities. This was my opportunity to be part of a new movement in America’s health care system.