Her brother is a doctor, her sister a physical therapist.
But it was a torn anterior cruciate ligament in high school that spurred Ramona Zephier’s interest in a career in health care.
On Dec. 18, Zephier graduated from the physician assistant program at the UNMC.
“I really became interested in this field after shadowing Rob Baum, a physician assistant who works with Dr. Jennifer Larsen,” Zephier said.
She liked the program she said, because it allowed her flexibility and variety.
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Ramona Zephier |
Zephier spent two years working as a research assistant for Dr. Larsen, associate dean for clinical research in the UNMC College of Medicine, before enrolling in the PA program. During that time she worked on a research project involving the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota that focused on insulin resistance in American Indian youth.
Zephier — a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota — offered valuable insight into the project.
“I really appreciated Ramona’s input on this particular research,” Dr. Larsen said. “She had a perspective that the average person might not because she is familiar with the community. She was very easy to work with, learned quickly, is very responsible, and cared about what she was doing.”
Now that she has graduated Zephier said she is pursuing opportunities in orthopedics.
“I shadowed the same orthopedic surgeon who worked on my Achilles tendon when I injured it during my senior year of college,” she said. “I really enjoyed being in the operating room, following up with the patients and seeing them recover.”
After taking her board exams, Zephier plans to apply for jobs in Chicago, Denver and Phoenix, where she has friends and family.
“What I really would like to do is to be in sports medicine ultimately,” Zephier said.