UNLV Student Makes Plans to Pay it Forward

Children have a special place in Michael Krainock’s heart – and he wants to do something to help their hearts.

Krainock’s education in the UNLV Honors College as a biology major with a chemistry minor will build a strong foundation for his dream of becoming a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.

“A what?” you say.

These types of surgeons treat heart defects in newborns. Krainock hopes to have a career where he can not only practice medicine and treat these very small patients but also to help advance the profession through research on alternative and non-evasive surgeries. He would also like to explore which factors cause these heart defects.

Krainock recently graduated and hopes that by this time next year he’ll begin the next chapter of his studies in medical school. He attributes his strong work ethic to his parents, who are no strangers to hard work and perseverance.

“My parents have always raised us to decide what we want and to go after it,” he says.

Krainock excelled at Palo Verde High School and received the Millennium Scholarship. Still, he had to come up with additional money to cover all the costs of getting a university education. Like more than 1,000 students here, he has had to rely on the generosity of others on more than one occasion. He’s grateful that through the Honors College, he received three scholarships for academic merit.

“When you support the ambitions of young people who have lofty career goals, you are going to serve the entire community,” he says, noting that he would like to someday come back and work in Las Vegas. “The members of this community help build a stronger foundation for Las Vegas. That just won’t happen without their support.”