Montana Tech alumna finds purpose in spine surgery, bringing specialized care to rural Montana
When Chloe Jones (Biological Sciences, ’17) graduated from Montana Technological University, she never imagined that less than a decade later she would be assisting in spine surgeries just a few miles down the road.
Now a physician assistant (PA) with the Community Hospital of Anaconda, Jones is part of a small but highly skilled surgical team providing advanced spine care to patients across southwest Montana.
“It’s pretty incredible to have this level of care available right here in our small town,” Jones said. “Around here, there can be a disparity in healthcare options, especially in specialty care. Being able to help provide that locally makes a huge difference for our communities.”
Jones grew up in a military family, moving frequently, but spending most of her childhood in Montana. After graduating high school in North Dakota, she initially planned to attend college there on an athletic scholarship. But a winter visit to Butte to see her sister changed her course.
“I just fell in love with Butte,” she said. “There’s really nowhere like it. When I visited Montana Tech, everyone was so kind and welcoming. It felt familiar to me as a small-town kid, so I changed my plans.”
Jones thrived at Montana Tech. She earned a full-ride academic scholarship, joined an EMT class as a freshman, and gained hundreds of hours of hands-on experience by working on an ambulance that helped her stand out when applying to PA school.
“That EMT class made a huge difference,” she said. “Getting to see things in person instead of just reading about them in a textbook helped me so much. It gave me real experience early on.”
After graduating, Jones attended Idaho State University’s physician assistant program, where she found that her Montana Tech education had prepared her well.
“When you get into PA school, it feels like drinking from a fire hose,” she said. “But I felt ready. Montana Tech’s biology program really taught me how to put in the hours and stay focused.”
Today, Jones works side-by-side in surgery with a spine surgeon in Anaconda, assisting in operations and seeing patients from throughout the region—including Butte and surrounding communities like Whitehall, Wise River, and Melrose.
“Each surgical practice is different, but in ours I am lucky enough to get a lot of OR time,” she said. “I have been fortunate to be trained by and operate with a truly first-class, accomplished surgeon. It’s been an incredible learning experience.”
Looking back, Jones credits much of her success to the close relationships she built with faculty at Montana Tech—particularly her research advisor, Dr. Marisa Pedulla.
“Dr. Pedulla invested so much time in me,” Jones said. “She was a great resource and someone I came to really trust and admire. You don’t get that kind of mentorship at many schools. Having someone like her in my corner made a huge difference.”
For students considering a career in healthcare, Jones encourages gaining as much hands-on experience as possible—through volunteering, shadowing, or clinical work.
“Everyone who applies to PA school is smart,” she said. “What sets you apart is the experience you’ve had and the connections you’ve made. Get out there, help where you can, and learn everything you can.”
Though her path to Montana Tech—and to her current job—was, as she puts it, “a happy accident,” Jones wouldn’t change a thing.
“I never would’ve imagined this back in high school,” she said. “But every step, every experience, brought me here. I feel really lucky to be able to do what I do, right here in Montana.”