For fourth-generation Nevadan Kaleb Wartgow, M.D. '16, serving rural communities is more than a career. It is a commitment to the people, places and values that helped shape him. 

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Wartgow has built his career around improving access to care in rural Nevada while helping train the next generation of physicians. Today, he serves as a clinical assistant professor of family medicine at UNR Med, where he combines patient care, medical education and community service in the same communities he calls home. 

“In a rural community, family medicine really allows you to practice the full scope of your training,” Wartgow said. “Just as importantly, you get to know your patients as people and as members of the community you share. That combination of variety, responsibility and long-term relationships is what has kept rural family medicine rewarding for me.” 

After earning his medical degree from UNR Med in 2016 and completing the School’s Family Medicine Residency Program in 2019, Wartgow returned to rural Nevada to join a nearly century-old practice in Wellington previously led by Robin Titus, M.D. '81, one of UNR Med’s earliest graduates and a longtime advocate for rural health care. Today, Wartgow provides comprehensive care at Smith Valley Physicians Clinic while serving as chief of the medical staff at South Lyon Medical Center. 

In rural Nevada, no two days are the same. Wartgow's work can include managing chronic diseases, treating acute injuries, performing procedures, and helping families navigate end-of-life care. The variety and continuity of care are among the reasons he remains passionate about rural family medicine. 

Since becoming a community faculty member in 2019, Wartgow has mentored medical students during their Advanced Clinical Experience in Rural Health Care rotations. 

“I benefited tremendously from physicians who were willing to teach me throughout medical school and residency, so I see precepting as part of giving that investment back to the next generation,” Wartgow said.

He went on to say: “It also keeps me engaged as a physician. Students ask questions, challenge assumptions, and occasionally make you stop and reconsider why you have done something a certain way for years.” 

Through hands-on learning, meaningful responsibility and personalized mentorship, Wartgow helps students develop both clinical confidence and a deeper understanding of patient-centered care. The experience often leaves a lasting impact, with students consistently praising his enthusiasm, teaching ability and commitment to their growth. 

Among their comments: 

• “Dr. Wartgow is hands-down the best attending I've had in medical school and represents everything I aspire to be as a future physician.” 
• “Dr. Wartgow is one of the most engaged clinical teachers I've encountered in my medical school career, and he is an awesome human being to boot. His approach to teaching is extremely refreshing in that he is open to conversations about patients, questions about his approach to various clinical scenarios, and insights from students.” 
• “His relationship with his patients is so inspiring. His patients trust him and see him truly as a pillar in the community. He does a great job of navigating his patients and the resources that the community offers and finding out how to bridge the gaps that occur because of lack of resources.” 
• “I could not have asked for a more positive experience from my rural rotation, and I am very excited about adding rural medicine to my future career.” 

Wartgow also volunteers as a preceptor for UNR Med's Rural Outreach Clinics in Yerington, where he supervises medical students providing care through community and migrant farmworker clinics. These clinics offer free, comprehensive healthcare services to rural residents while giving students valuable hands-on experience caring for underserved populations. 

His commitment to community service reaches beyond the clinic. Wartgow serves as medical director for the Mason Valley Fire Department and provides training and education to first responders in Smith Valley, helping strengthen emergency preparedness and healthcare access throughout the region. 

"Dr. Wartgow is nothing short of a rural hometown hero who cares for our students and the health of our rural communities," said Paul J. Hauptman, M.D., dean of UNR Med. 

A full circle commitment to Nevada 

After receiving his undergraduate education, medical degree and residency training in Nevada, he now helps prepare future physicians to serve communities across the state. 

“One of the things my career has reinforced for me is how important it is for Nevada to train physicians who understand our state and its communities,” Wartgow said. “Rural Nevada continues to face significant challenges in access to healthcare, but giving students meaningful experiences in rural communities and allowing them to see both the need and the rewards of practicing there is an important part of the solution.” 

Through his dedication to patients, students and communities, Wartgow continues to demonstrate how physicians can make a lasting difference close to home. His work reflects a deep commitment to rural Nevada and serves as an example of how UNR Med graduates are helping build a healthier future for communities across the state. 

“I have been fortunate to build a career that combines clinical medicine, teaching and healthcare leadership while serving a community that my family and I are proud to call home,” Wartgow said. “There are certainly easier ways to practice medicine than rural primary care, but there are very few that offer the same sense of connection and purpose.”