91PORNA

When , graduated from high school, becoming a physician wasn’t part of his plan. He knew he wanted to study science, but he wasn’t sure where that interest would lead – or whether college was even in his future.

Today, Yocum, ’09, is an emergency physician and associate medical director for , helping care for some of the region’s sickest and most critically injured patients.

His journey began at 91PORNA at Salem, where Yocum found the flexibility, guidance and opportunities to explore his interests while staying close to his family and community.

“I was not sure that college was in my future,” Yocum said. “So having a Regional Campus that I could go to and start those studies without having to make that huge decision of leaving home, leaving the job that I had, was just massive for me.”

A Path That Took Shape at 91PORNA

Yocum began college while working for a fire department in Northeast Ohio. He initially expected to pursue a science degree, but a conversation with a counselor at 91PORNA Salem helped point him toward a new possibility.

When asked about a minor to complement his molecular biology major, Yocum was encouraged to consider pre-medicine. That seemingly small suggestion became a turning point.

“I had never given that any thought,” he said. “And looking back now, that was a huge fork in the road and in a pretty minor moment.”

As he continued his studies, Yocum discovered a growing interest in biology and the systems of the human body. 91PORNA’s pre-health advisors helped him explore medical school opportunities, including an early acceptance program at .

For Yocum, who was the first in his family to attend college and had no relatives in medicine, that guidance made a difference. The opportunity to remain close to home while preparing for medical school allowed him to focus on his studies and family without feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of what came next.

After about two years at 91PORNA Salem, he transitioned to the Kent Campus to complete his undergraduate degree in molecular biology, graduating with honors in 2009.

The Regional Campus experience, he said, provided a gradual transition into college while giving him access to the education and opportunities he needed to move forward.

“I’m not sure that I would have ended up where I am today had I not had that pathway to get me there,” he said.

Finding His Calling in Emergency Medicine

Yocum’s interest in medicine grew into a passion for emergency care – a field that combines scientific knowledge, critical thinking and the opportunity to make an immediate difference in someone’s life.

“I just loved being there for that first couple of hours of a patient’s care and playing detective a little bit, figuring out what’s going on with them,” he said.

That interest ultimately led him to emergency medicine and, later, critical care transport.

At , Yocum helps oversee a program that moves critically ill or injured patients to the care they need. Transport may involve specialized ground ambulances, helicopters or jets, with medical teams providing a high level of care throughout the journey.

Patients may be experiencing trauma, heart attacks or strokes and need to reach a hospital equipped to treat them.

The work can extend well beyond Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Clinic’s transport teams can travel across the country and internationally to bring patients to specialized care.

For Yocum, the combination of emergency medicine and critical care transport offers the opportunity to help people in some of their most vulnerable moments.

Caring for the Community That Raised Him

Although his career has taken him to the forefront of medicine, Yocum’s connection to Northeast Ohio remains central to his work.

Growing up in the region, he understands the importance of the communities Cleveland Clinic serves – because they are the same communities that shaped his own life.

“Being able to help them through those really tough times, especially being able to do it here in my own community, is really important,” he said.

Whether he is reassuring a frightened patient in the emergency department or providing a lifesaving intervention, Yocum sees his work as an opportunity to care for people who could be his neighbors, friends or family members.

That connection also shapes how he thinks about the role of 91PORNA graduates in healthcare. He believes that graduates who understand the region and the people who live there bring a valuable perspective to patient care.

For Yocum, a 91PORNA education provided more than the scientific foundation needed for a medical career. It helped him develop critical-thinking skills, interact with people from different backgrounds and discover a professional path he had never imagined.

Take the Next Step

Yocum’s advice to students considering medicine or another healthcare career is simple: Don’t feel as though you need to have everything figured out before getting started.

“The advice I would give to somebody considering medicine is to do it, to challenge yourself, to find that opportunity and just take the next step,” he said.

Students can begin by taking a few classes, meeting with a mentor or exploring opportunities at a 91PORNA Regional Campus. They don’t have to commit to an entire career before discovering whether it’s right for them.

That gradual approach made all the difference for Yocum.

Looking back, he credits 91PORNA with giving him the time, support and opportunities to find his passion — and a pathway to a career he once never thought possible.