Healthcare runs in Bloomington physician assistant's blood, and his heart

For Gaven Moore, PA, working in healthcare was more than a calling, it runs in his blood.

His grandmother was a nurse at Bedford for over 50 years, and his mother is a nurse practitioner there today.

“People always come up to me and tell me how much they love my mother or grandmother, which has made me really appreciate the genuine impact they’ve had in the community,” says Moore. “I knew I wanted to make a similar impact, so that's what led to my desire to go into medicine.”

He was drawn to becoming a physician assistant (PA) because he can build a career in medicine while still prioritizing his family and personal goals.

Moore joined the Bloomington Cardiothoracic Surgery team in September 2025, just a few months after graduating PA school.

Before graduation, Moore spent more than three years working as a tech in the Bedford Emergency department.

“It was just a great foundational learning experience to start out in the ED,” says Moore.

Since stepping into his role as a PA, Moore has enjoyed learning, growing, and adjusting to working with a rapidly expanding cardiovascular surgery team.

Many of his new team members have been at IU Health for less than a year, and they have quickly become a close-knit and trustworthy team.

“The teamwork has been truly outstanding,” says Moore. “They have allowed me to learn and grow as a provider by giving me the chance to do things on my own, but also being there to support me.”

Moore spends most of his time in the operating room (OR) assisting with surgeries, which is one of his favorite parts of his role.

“I love the intricacies of operating,” says Moore. “Whether it's open-heart procedures like coronary artery bypass or valve placements, or robotic procedures on the heart or lung, I like just being in the OR and learning everything I can.”

Outside the OR, he handles a wide range of responsibilities, including outpatient consults, pre-op appointments, post-op checks, and inpatient rounding on post-op patients. He especially enjoys being able to interact with patients, some of whom are also his mother’s patients.

“It's cool to see the loop of a patient that my mother sees, and then they see me for surgery, and then they go back to her,” says Moore.

When asked to describe his new team, he says everyone genuinely cares about the work they do and are dedicated to taking care of patients and each other. “They just care about being there, showing up every day, and doing the best they can.”