UNK junior Carter Moss works as an EMT with Midwest Medical Transport in Kearney. He plans to attend medical school before serving rural Nebraska as a physician. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)
KEARNEY – Carter Moss has seen the reality of rural health care from the back of an ambulance.
As an EMT transporting patients to facilities across the state, the University of Nebraska at Kearney junior often encounters people who must travel long distances – sometimes to Lincoln or Omaha – for treatment not available in their hometowns.
Those experiences have reinforced his goal of becoming a physician who serves rural communities.
“Seeing that problem and how difficult it can be to access care has motivated me a lot more to want to help people and be part of the solution,” Moss said.
A molecular biology major from Plattsmouth, Moss is part of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), a partnership between UNK and the University of Nebraska Medical Center that prepares students from rural areas for careers in health care. He plans to attend medical school at UNMC after graduating from UNK.
Alongside his coursework, Moss works as an EMT, conducts biomedical research and participates in numerous campus organizations – commitments that are shaping the kind of physician he hopes to become.
Serving rural Nebraska
Launched in 2010, KHOP provides financial assistance, academic support and professional development opportunities for students pursuing careers in health professions. The program focuses on students from rural communities who want to return to similar areas as health care providers, aligning perfectly with Moss’ goals.
“I think rural health care is incredibly important,” he said. “The provider shortage that’s currently being experienced is something that can’t be ignored for too long, otherwise we’re going to see a lot of these smaller towns start to fade away. Having access to health care is a necessity, and it’s really key to keeping these towns going.”
Through KHOP, Moss has toured rural hospitals, shadowed physicians and explored different medical specialties. The program also emphasizes leadership, a skill he showcased while serving as a mentor for incoming KHOP students during his sophomore year.
Those opportunities have helped him better understand the needs of rural communities and the role physicians play beyond clinical care.
“What I enjoy most about rural medicine is seeing the impact access to care has on people’s lives,” Moss said.
That perspective has deepened through his work as an EMT.
After earning his license last summer, Moss started with Omaha Fire Department before transitioning to Midwest Medical Transport in Kearney. During the academic year, he typically works between 12 and 24 hours each week while balancing classes.
The part-time position provides another perspective on patient care.
“As an EMT, you’re going to see people on their worst days,” Moss said. “What makes this job special is that you can make that day a lot better. They might not be at their best, but you can help them get to that point again.”
The job also reinforces the responsibility rural health care providers carry.
“I want the people I care for to know that they’re being treated like a member of my family,” Moss said. “That’s something super unique to rural practice and rural health care, the level of empathy between patients and providers.”
Research and discovery
In addition to gaining clinical experience, Moss is contributing to biomedical research at UNK.
Since his freshman year, he’s worked alongside biology professor Austin Nuxoll studying persister cells – a type of bacterial cell that can survive antibiotic treatments and contribute to chronic or relapsing infections. By examining how these cells interact with white blood cells, they can help researchers better understand why some infections persist despite treatment.
Nuxoll describes Moss as a hardworking, reliable and engaged student who quickly distinguished himself in the lab.
“Carter is an exceptionally motivated, thoughtful and well-rounded student,” Nuxoll said. “He brings a genuine enthusiasm for learning and discovery, paired with a strong intellectual curiosity that elevates those around him.”
Through the Undergraduate Research Fellows initiative, Summer Student Research Program and National Institutes of Health-funded Nebraska INBRE program, Moss has been able to take on a significant role in research projects – one of the many unique opportunities that drew him to UNK.
“The faculty here are great, and they aren’t afraid to put a project in the hands of students,” Moss explained. “You can play an important part, and you can be the first author on a publication. That’s what makes it so special and why you see so many students who are passionate about undergraduate research.”
His research has already earned recognition, including a third-place finish at a regional microbiology conference and a presentation at a national immunology conference in Hawaii.
Those achievements are noteworthy, but they represent only part of his story.
“What stands out even more is how he defines success,” Nuxoll said. “When I asked Carter what accomplishment he is most proud of, he did not mention these awards or national presentations. Instead, he spoke about his experience as a KHOP mentor and the fulfillment he found in watching the freshmen he mentored grow, gain confidence and find their place on campus. That perspective speaks volumes about who he is.”
Continuing the mission
Outside the lab, Moss is involved in a wide range of campus organizations, including Chancellor’s Ambassadors, Health Science
Ambassadors, the A.T.L.A.S. Honor Society for health science students and Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He’s also served as a campus tour guide and New Student Enrollment leader, helping introduce prospective and incoming students to the university.
The opportunities to lead, connect with others and explore different interests have been a defining part of his college experience.
“UNK is a great university,” Moss said. “It’s done a lot for me in the last couple of years, and I can’t thank the staff and the people around here enough for helping me get to where I am today.”
Moss has one more year as a Loper, then he’ll attend medical school in either Omaha or Kearney, where the $95 million Health Science Education Center II opened earlier this year.
“It’s such a toss-up right now,” Moss said of the two UNMC locations. “With the new facility here, they’ve made my decision incredibly difficult. But I guess that’s a good problem to have.”
Wherever he ends up, Nuxoll knows he’ll continue to make a positive impact.
“Carter is exceptionally well-suited for a career in medicine,” he said. “He possesses the intellectual ability and scientific foundation required to succeed, but more importantly he brings empathy, humility and a patient-centered mindset. I have no doubt that he’ll excel in medical school and go on to become an outstanding physician.”
