Sometimes the path we take in life is one completely unexpected. For Dr. Jennifer Baynosa, professor and residency associate program director in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV Department of Surgery, she always knew she was going to become a physician, but the surgeon’s first choice for a specialty was not initially surgery.

“I always thought I was going to be a pediatrician,” says Baynosa. “My older sister is a pediatric rheumatologist, and I thought that for sure I was going to follow in her path and that our plan was to practice together.”

It was during her medical school clerkships that Baynosa realized that pediatrics was not the right fit for her. “I got to pediatrics and I was like, ‘Ooh, I really hate this.’ Like, I love children, but I really don't love seeing children in pain,” Baynosa says. “Or, a lot of times, kids come in and they don't love the doctor, and they're always crying. So I was like, ‘I don't think I could do this for life.’”

From there, Baynosa tried hard to find the specialty that called to her. As someone who used to faint at the sight of blood, she believed that surgery was not in the cards. But as soon as she began her surgical rotation, Baynosa knew that she found what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

“Once I stopped fainting at the sight of blood, I realized that I really actually loved surgery, but I also knew it was a difficult career, especially for a woman. You need a good partner, and somebody who could support you if you're going to do that path,” she says. “So, I didn't think that that was the kind of career that I should be in. But I looked really hard at all the other options, and there was nothing that I loved as much as surgery.”

Realizing this, Baynosa had to decide whether to pursue something that would lead to an easier life or something that was going to make her happy in life. For her, there was no other option but to be a surgeon. This led her to pursue a general surgery residency at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) School of Medicine, which is what ultimately led her to work at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine.

During her fourth year of residency, the former chair of the UNR School of Medicine Department of Surgery had approached Baynosa with a job offer. “It was amazing. I never really thought of myself being an academic surgeon. Never thought I had it in me to teach the next generation. I always looked at myself as a clinician that was going to just practice medicine and take care of patients,” says Baynosa.

The rest of the department faculty also believed Baynosa would be a good addition to the residency program. At the time, she was dating her now-husband, Dr. Richard Baynosa, so this meant she would have been able to have a faculty position while he was finishing up his plastic surgery residency.

After completing her breast oncology fellowship at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Baynosa returned to assume a faculty position at the UNR School of Medicine Department of Surgery. After completing his residency, her husband was also recruited to stay at the UNR School of Medicine. In 2017, after the UNR School of Medicine’s Las Vegas-based programs were transitioned to the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, the couple both officially joined the school of medicine and have been here ever since.

“That's how we joined the school of medicine, because other people had this plan for us,” says Baynosa. “It was very nice that other people knew what we could do and saw our potential, which was much more than I thought I would ever be, which was awesome.”

In 2025, Baynosa was recognized as a Breast Cancer Champion by the Clark County Board of Commissioners for her outstanding patient care and everything she has done to help in the fight against breast cancer.

“There's so many different layers in a breast cancer diagnosis, so I do love being somebody that patients can rely on to answer their questions, to be honest about what their process is going to be, what the next steps are, and then letting them know breast cancer, thankfully, is usually treatable,” she says. “I like being there for my patients and being somebody that they can rely on to give them their plan of care and being that person that they can come to and ask questions to and give them what they're gonna go through.”

As for being recognized as a Breast Cancer Champion, Baynosa notes how it was such an honor to be recognized for everything she does.

“I feel like I've sacrificed a lot for my career and for my patients. My kids know that I'd give up time with family for my patients, so it's a hard compromise of my time in order to be there for my patients as well as my family,” she says. “It's very nice that I received that honor because I feel like I was recognized for the sacrifices I've made, and it was nice to be recognized because everything I do is for my patients. My life revolves around my patients and my family, and that's all I live for.”

To make an appointment with Baynosa, please contact the UNLV Health General Surgery Clinic at 702-671-2288 or visit the UNLV Health website.