University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine graduate Zoee Castro shared her experiences and motivations for pursuing a career in medicine, describing how resilience, compassion, and connection have shaped her path. Raised in Elko, Castro said she was inspired by the challenges of accessing health care in rural communities and by the physicians who provided support through genuine human connection.
Castro explained that growing up in a small mining town taught her the importance of community reliance during times of uncertainty or hardship. She said it was common for families to drive long distances or wait months for medical care. “Despite these barriers, what always stood out to me were the physicians who bridged that gap through genuine human connection,” Castro said. She cited her family medicine physician as an example who made patients feel seen and cared for.
During medical school, Castro faced personal loss with the passing of her mother to cancer. She described this as the biggest challenge she encountered during her education but noted that support from family and UNR Med helped her continue on her path. “That decision taught me one of the most important lessons of my medical training: while medicine will always demand a great deal from us, we must also learn to set boundaries and care for ourselves,” she said.
Castro highlighted leadership roles with the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association as significant influences on her growth as both a leader and advocate. Attending conferences such as ACEP Leadership & Advocacy Conference gave her insight into advocacy work at a systems level. “This experience also expanded my understanding of what it means to be a physician,” she said.
Looking forward, Castro expressed enthusiasm about emergency medicine because it allows hands-on clinical work combined with meaningful patient interactions during moments of crisis. She advised future students interested in becoming doctors to focus on enjoying each stage rather than only looking ahead: “The days can feel long, but the years pass quickly…if you can find purpose and even joy in the process itself, that becomes one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.”