Sylwia Bareja, MMS, PA-C

Sylwia Bareja was born in Warsaw, Poland. She graduated from the University of Ecology and Management with a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Management. After graduating in 2000, she moved to the United States and immersed herself in the study of the English language.

In 2005, she began her studies at Nova Southeastern University in the Physician Assistant Program in Naples, Florida; where she received her Masters of Medical Science degree. She then entered the field of Emergency Medicine as a full-time Physician Assistant at Southwest Regional Medical Center and Gulf Coast Medical Center in their respective Emergency Departments.

In 2012 she left the Emergency Department to work as a solo provider in a busy Urgent Care Center of Southwest Florida in Estero, Florida. She also joined the Internal Medicine practice in a part-time capacity while continuing to work in the Urgent Care Center.

While in her clinical practice, Professor Bareja had the opportunity to precept Physician Assistant students in Emergency and Urgent Care Medicine. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for teaching. This led her to pursue academia at her alma mater, Nova Southeastern University, in the capacity of Assistant Professor at the College of Health Care Sciences Physician Assistant Program in Ft. Myers, Florida. She served as Academic Director of the program from 2016 - 2020. Sylwia was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023. 

When Professor Bareja is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Additionally, she is an avid cyclist and spends most weekends on her bike cruising around the Fort Myers area. She likes to spend any extended time off visiting family and relatives in Poland and when she is not traveling overseas; she also enjoys short trips to various destinations within the USA.