Trevor McCarthy has built a successful career in medicine after graduating from Elms College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. He currently works full-time as a Physician Assistant in Neurosurgery at UConn Health while also serving in per diem roles in both Neurosurgery at Baystate Medical Center and Orthopedic Surgery at UConn Health. Outside of medicine, he works as an adjunct professor at his PA school alma mater, Bay Path University, in both didactic and clinical education, and assists with admissions.
Trevor knew from an early age that he wanted to become a Physician Assistant, so he began his college career right out of high school. After starting his college career at an institution in the Boston area, Trevor realized he wanted to transfer to another school closer to home in Western Massachusetts. Beginning at Elms College in 2018, Trevor pursued his degree in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Medicine.
Reflecting on his experience, Trevor credits Elms College with providing both the academic rigor and flexibility he needed to achieve his goals.
“The coursework was challenging and even more importantly, flexible.” He said, “I was able to graduate a year early while also training to become an EMT in the evenings.”
Trevor also attributes much of his success to the mentorship of both Dr. Janet Williams and Dr. Nina Theis.
“They were both helpful advisors to me as I planned out courses and my degree path. They were flexible and gave me several opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that helped prepare me for my career and PA school.”
These opportunities proved very valuable during Trevor’s time at Elms College. He was one of the first undergraduate students to serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in the Genetics Lab with Dr. Williams and later worked in the Microbiology Lab. The teaching experience he gained ultimately fostered a lasting passion for education that led him to serve as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Microbiology Lab courses after graduation. He carries this same passion into his current work teaching future physician assistants.
He also worked directly with Dr. Nina Theis as a research assistant, primarily focusing on analyzing scents and studying symbiotic relationships. Outside of these opportunities, he held a lifeguarding position on campus.
Looking back on his time at Elms College, Trevor is grateful for the education he received and the relationships that continue to shape his career.
“I am so pleased with my time at Elms. I am grateful for the relationships I have been able to maintain since my time there and am thankful to Elms for being a part of my journey. I feel as though I was well prepared to enter PA school and succeed.”
Today, Trevor’s success as a Physician Assistant and his continued commitment to patient care, education, and professional growth reflect the strong academic foundation and supportive community he found at Elms College.
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