ith more than half of U.S. college students being the first in their families to pursue a bachelor’s degree, according to data from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the University of Florida has built an extensive network of support to ensure first-generation students have the social and economic resources they need to thrive on campus and beyond.

Meet two first-generation alumni who, thanks to their drive and their experiences at the UF College of Medicine, are building a legacy for their families, impacting the communities they serve and changing the landscape for the scientists and health care providers who come next.

Nikea Pittman, PhD ’19

Growing up, Nikea Pittman, PhD ’19, spent her free time reading and playing with the animals that lived on her grandmother’s rural Virginia farm. Her parents, who had not completed a traditional college degree, recognized her love of learning and encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

While a pre-vet animal science major at UF, however, Pittman realized her fascination with science derived from discovering how things work at the molecular level. Having never been exposed to lab environments or careers in science, she was introduced to the world of research by a college mentor, which lit the path for her future in biochemistry.

“The biggest lesson I learned at UF was the importance of mentorship,” says Pittman, who went on to earn a master’s in translational biology and a doctoral degree from the College of Medicine. “Seeing so many peer and faculty-student mentorship programs sent a signal to me that you should get a mentor and then once you gain your own experience, you should in turn mentor others.”

Now, as a teaching assistant professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she focuses her research on STEM education themes in early-career learning environments that are especially beneficial to first-generation and historically underrepresented scientists, teaching about 200 students per semester.

“I always share with students that I’m a first-gen grad and tell them my story because you often see the end result, but you don’t know the path they took to get there,” Pittman says. “This work is personal to me.”

Sal Anzalone, MD ’86

Sal Anzalone, MD ’86, spent his high school and undergraduate years volunteering in labs and emergency rooms, where he found joy building relationships with patients.

“I liked dealing with people on a personal level, and it was cool to be able to see patients get better as a result of their care,” says Anzalone, who was the first in his family to attend college and likened getting into the UF College of Medicine to hitting the lottery. “It felt more like a vocation than a job, something I do just because I enjoy it.”

During medical school, he found himself gravitating toward a career in pediatrics. After completing his studies, Anzalone served as chief pediatrics resident at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Tennessee and practiced in Pennsylvania for two decades.

During that time, Anzalone’s two eldest sons, inspired by their father’s career, attended medical school themselves. They both now carry on the legacy that Anzalone began.

“When my sons were growing up, the idea was always to be the best you can and to think about what you can do that will make the world better,” he says. “It means a lot that two of my sons saw my excitement for my work and went on to become successful doctors in their own right.”

Anzalone returned to the Sunshine State as the medical director of pediatrics at Healthcare Network in Naples, Florida, where he helps children lead healthy lifestyles. In 2021, he founded the Togetherhood Initiative, a project funded through grants and the Florida Department of Health that offers free nutrition counseling and physician visits to more than 30,000 children in Collier County, with the goal of addressing the growing issue of childhood obesity.

“It’s a phenomenal opportunity for the kids in our county, and it’s just the beginning,” he said.