Spartans of UD - Matthew Peterson

Spartans of UD highlights what makes the University of Dubuque special - the people.

Matthew Peterson, of Dubuque, Iowa, is a senior biology major. A non-traditional student, Matthew is a paramedic at Paramount Ambulance in Dubuque and Southwest Health Emergency Medical Services in Platteville, Wisconsin. After completing his bachelor's degree, Matthew plans to pursue a master of science in physician assistant studies.

What inspired you to become a paramedic?

"I have always wanted to find a way to help people, and I decided that medicine would be the perfect opportunity to do just that. I decided that emergency medical services would be an exciting avenue to pursue due to the rapidly changing environment. No day is the same as the next."

How did your time as a paramedic influence your decision to return to college?

"As a paramedic, we focus on getting patients to the hospital for definitive care by experts. I decided that I wanted to join the higher level of medical providers and be a part of fixing the problem instead of only treating the symptoms. This led to me starting on the path to physician assistant."

In what ways have the faculty/staff in UD's Department of Natural and Applied Sciences helped you on your journey as a nontraditional student?

"The faculty of DNAS has been incredibly welcoming to me and has taken an interest in my goals and education. They have always made themselves available for questions and any additional assistance. As a nontraditional student, it always feels easier to build a rapport with the faculty, as we are much closer in age than most of my peers."

How do you balance your classroom studies with paramedic duties?

"This is a difficult thing to balance as my education as a paramedic is always continuing alongside my classroom studies, so I cannot allow either one to lag. Luckily, I am normally able to find time for studies or homework when we have downtime at work."

What advice do you have for future nontraditional students?

"Don't be afraid to jump in! I think the biggest challenge I have faced as a nontraditional student was the internal mental battle of taking the first step and reaching out to schools. While as a nontraditional student I have more responsibilities outside of school, I find that they are manageable with proper time and financial management."

In your opinion, what makes the University of Dubuque unique?

"I love the smaller class sizes, which offer a fantastic learning environment where you can directly interact with your professors. This allows you to build a relationship with your faculty and allows them to take a direct interest in your education."