By Francis Von Mann
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2025) — As a first-generation college student, Ryson Neeley didn’t know what to expect from a place as big as the University of Kentucky. What he found in the College of Arts and Sciences is a community that believed in him, one that helped him become a future doctor.
That discovery came in an unassuming conference room.
Neeley was set on going to a different college before an Arts and Sciences information session. But after listening to faculty members and a student ambassador share their passion and experience, he changed his mind.
“I remember talking to them and seeing how much they cared about their students and how involved they were,” Neeley said. “That’s why I chose to come here.”
Neeley enrolled as a neuroscience and psychology major, joined such student organizations such like as NeuroCATS and STEMCats, and and became a student ambassador himself.
Today, he’s graduating with honors, research experience, and a growing passion for rural and global healthcare, a journey that began long before college.
A Conversation that Launched a Career
Neeley was sitting beside his grandfather during a routine neurology appointment when a physician spoke candidly about the limits of medical knowledge.
“He said, ‘The brain can just stop telling someone to eat or sleep, and we still don’t understand why,’” Neeley said. “I couldn’t stop thinking about that.”
The moment led him to neuroscience. But his reasons for medicine would deepen.
Through Global Brigades, he spent a week in Honduras helping treat more than 400 patients, many of whom had traveled hours from villages with no regular access to care. Some lived in communities served by a single nurse.
“It was a humbling, eye opening experience” he said. “It made me realize how much I could do, and how much more I still have to learn.”
Back home in northern Kentucky, he volunteered with Compassionate Care Reaching You (CCRU), a medical outreach program providing street-level care to people experiencing homelessness.
A Bright Future, Shaped by Mentors
Neeley credits the College of Arts and Sciences with more than just a dual degree. It gave him a community of mentors.
Among them is Lynda Sherrett-Field, Ph.D., associate professor of the Department of Psychology and Director director of uUndergraduate Studies studies for Neuroscienceneuroscience. Through her education abroad program in Portugal, Neeley explored global health, harm reduction, and addiction in real-world contexts.
She also taught Neeley’s favorite course: PSY 330, Neuroscience of Serial Killers.
“Dr. Sherrett-Field is an incredible educator and an amazing person. I felt like I could go and talk to her about anything,” Neeley said.
In the neurophysiology lab of Pavel Ortinski Ph.D., associate professor of the Department of Neuroscience in the College of Medicine, Ryson spent over two years learning the rigors of research. Neeley contributed to two peer-reviewed publications, an extraordinary accomplishment for an undergraduate.
“Having my name on two papers before I graduate is a big deal. I’m grateful for Dr. Ortinski and the graduate students in the lab. They’re the best,” Neeley said.
From First-Gen Student to Aspiring Physician
Outside of the classroom, Neeley is a nursing tech in the ER at UK Chandler Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital. , and he’s He’s applying to medical school and preparing for his next chapter. He doesn’t yet know what specialty he’ll choose, n. Neurology remains high on the list, but he is sure of one thing: he He wants to return to the communities that shaped him.
“I want to practice in Kentucky,” he said. “My community was so welcoming to me. I want to return that however I can.”
He knows the path ahead won’t be easy. But like many first-generation students, he has navigated barriers before with the help of scholarships, advisorsadvisers, and a university that welcomed his questions as much as his answers.
“I never thought I’d leave a mark on a campus this big,” he said. “But I have. And I’m proud of the students I’ve lifted up along the way.”
Investing in Future Leaders like Ryson Neeley
On April 24, as part of One Day for UK, Ryson is sharing his story to encourage others to support the First-Generation Trailblazers Fund, which provides scholarships and academic support to students from similar backgrounds.
Through One Day for UK, donors can help fund scholarships, research opportunities, and mentorship programs for students who will go on to transform healthcare and strengthen communities across Kentucky.
Make a difference. Support First-Gen Trailblazers on One Day for UK and help students like Ryson shape the future of medicine in Kentucky.