{"id":112586,"date":"2024-06-19T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=112586"},"modified":"2026-01-14T10:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T16:17:12","slug":"from-social-media-misty-pocwierz-gaines-human-of-unmc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/06\/19\/from-social-media-misty-pocwierz-gaines-human-of-unmc\/","title":{"rendered":"From social media: Misty Pocwierz-Gaines, human of UNMC"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From UNMC on Instagram<\/a> (@iamunmc<\/a>) and Facebook<\/a> (@unmcedu<\/a>): <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, I knew I wouldn\u2019t have a job that provided me with vacation time. So, I worked for a few months and saved for a trip to Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“During my five months there with the Willing Workers on Organic Farms program, I was in a serious car accident that eventually ended my culinary career. Needing a new path, I pursued my love for animals and science by working at a vet\u2019s office and attending community college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“At 30, I completed my associate\u2019s degree and transferred to Cornell University for animal science, initially aiming for veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“After my first semester, I realized that I was more excited about research than I was with veterinary medicine. I began working in a parasitology lab and fell in love more with research. As a first-generation college student, I had no idea about getting into graduate school, so I became a lab technician in an immunology lab and loved it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My now-husband and I began dating, and he was living in Gretna, Nebraska, so I looked for research opportunities here. I joined Dr. Jenny Black\u2019s lab at the Eppley Institute in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When the Cancer Research Graduate Program coordinator retired, I transitioned to working with students, which was one of my best decisions. With the support and leadership of Dr. Joyce Solheim, I have been able to help grow the program and create an environment that is supportive of all students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As a 22-year-old reconsidering my career, I never imagined I\u2019d end up here. Working with graduate students and Summer Undergraduate Research Program Scholars is an honor, and I\u2019ve learned so much from them. I\u2019m glad to be here.\u201d #HumansofUNMC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by University of Nebraska Medical Center \ud83c\udfe5 (@iamunmc)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>