Army ROTC and Health Sciences Grad Aspires to Become ER Doctor

“Hearing these stories sparked my desire to go into the Army. I was inspired to become a part of something bigger than myself and serve my country,” said the Slippery Rock, Pa., native, who is now a Second Lieutenant. 

Alongside Zach's deep admiration for the military and aspirations to follow in his grandfathers' footsteps, there burned another fervent passion: a desire to work in health care—which ultimately led him to Duquesne University.

However, he was skeptical at first about going to college in the middle of a big city. That all changed when he stepped foot on campus and met some of the University's Health Sciences program faculty.

"The faculty made me feel so welcomed. They were all very passionate about health care and their classes and talked about networking and extracurricular activities, too. I also met Fr. Sawicki, who is the Sigma Nu fraternity counselor. Fr. Sawicky introduced me to Sigma Nu, helping me relate to its military background and offering supportive insights on professional development and encouragement to my goals," Zach explained.

"I remember thinking then that this would be a place where I could grow and thrive," he added.

A Health Sciences major minoring in Biochemistry and Public Health, Zach particularly loved two spots on campus: Gumberg Library and the Power Center. At the library, he worked on group projects and prepared for exams with his friends while the Power Center was where he relieved that exam stress playing intramural football, basketball and soccer with his fraternity brothers.

"I liked the group study area on the fifth floor of the library where all the large whiteboards are. The big windows on that floor showed nice views of Brottier Commons and the student union. If I was studying by myself, I would go to the lower levels of the library for a quieter environment," he said.

Zach's horizon-expanding education at Duquesne—from the comprehensive health sciences curriculum of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and ethics to the University's interdisciplinary approach to health care and emphasis on building strong communication and collaboration skills—has prepared him for anything.

In his Organic Chemistry labs, Zach would work with classmates on a compound for hours on end to ensure the proper amount of solution was being added at a certain rate.

"This is just one example of how my Duquesne education has instilled thoroughness in all of my work. By repeatedly doing labs such as this every week, I was able to hone my discipline and attention to detail, which I now use with emergent and critical patients in the emergency departments where I work," he explained.

Currently, Zach works as a patient care technician in the ER at UPMC Children's and UPMC McKeesport hospitals and serves in the Army National Guard as a medical service platoon leader, responsible for leading and managing a team of medical personnel. He is also studying for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

Additionally, Zach plans to begin working in research labs to help build his portfolio and strengthen his application for when he applies to Duquesne's new College of Osteopathic Medicine for fall 2025 with the goal of becoming an emergency medicine doctor.

Zach credits various individuals for supporting him in his professional and personal development including Professor William Jones and Dr. Jason Scibek in the Health Sciences department, Master Sergeants Greggory Space and Matthew Young, cadre in the Three Rivers Battalion Army ROTC program and Mr. Chris Boissonnault, director of Duquesne’s Office for Military and Veteran Students.

“Mr. Boissonnault was always eager to assist cadets or student veterans with anything they need. Each year, he organized veterans breakfasts where I was able to make new connections with people who gave amazing advice to me about the military and ways to advance my education,” he remarked.

According to Zach, Duquesne was an excellent choice for him due to its strong academic reputation, diverse range of programs and commitment to student success.

"The University really prepares students to excel in their careers and make meaningful contributions to society,” he remarked.

His advice to prospective students: “If you feel as though you are unsure about what you want to do in the future or have any interest in the military, I highly encourage speaking with the ROTC program because they provide benefits you cannot find anywhere else!”