Honoring Our Veterans

“I chose the Navy because of its legendary healthcare field for enlisted personnel, specifically as a Hospital Corpsman, which I joined as. For those who may not know, it’s the most decorated rate (job) in the Navy. Corpsmen not only care for the Navy’s finest but also for the Marines. I’m deeply grateful for my experiences, as they led me to become a radiology tech during my service and shaped my career path into healthcare management. My time in the Navy profoundly impacted my outlook on life, made me stronger, instilled a stronger work ethic, amongst many other traits I will be forever grateful for. “

“I did not come from a military family, and it wasn’t really on my radar. I got married young and did not come from a family with a lot of money, and I was introduced to a gentleman who said he could help me pay for college. I joined ROTC, intending to do my four years and get out, since I needed help paying for college. I quickly realized this is absolutely something I enjoyed and was good at, and I liked being part of something bigger. The military is a large organization, and being part of something bigger than you is kind of satisfying. Fast forward, I took them up on the offer to pay for medical school, and I became a doctor while I was in the military. Every time the military offers to pay for school, they ask for more time, and I was glad to give it. By the time I was done with paying off the time I owed for my school, I was a colonel, and I was ready to retire. During the path along the way, I had so many leadership jobs and opportunities to go to different parts of the world.”

“I chose the Army at the time because I had experience in Army JROTC while in high school. My experience in the Army afforded me an opportunity to meet some amazing leaders and friends, which ultimately influenced my work ethic, goals and standards.”

“My time serving as an officer in the U.S. Air Force established a strong foundation in my career by teaching me how to be a leader, operate in a team and contribute to a bigger mission. My experiences also cultivated my mindset to be gritty and embrace challenges. I’m proud of my time in service, and I draw on that foundation every day as a leader at RP.”

“I initially joined the Army in 1995 to help fund my college education, but it ultimately shaped my values. Fourteen years later, I transitioned to the Air Force seeking new career opportunities and a fresh perspective on military service—an invaluable decision. Nearly 30 years on, serving in both branches has profoundly impacted my outlook, instilling discipline, teamwork, leadership and resilience. It has shifted my priorities and deepened my understanding of what truly matters in life. This journey has fueled my passion for service, sacrifice and camaraderie, while exposing me to diverse cultures and experiences that have enriched my personal and professional growth.”

“I briefly considered the Navy and the Air Force. I ended up being married to an Army infantryman and living at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Ultimately, I joined the Army after volunteering in an Army X-ray clinic on base. The active-duty X-ray techs gave me a lot of good insight and advised me to join the Army Reserves, which allowed me to get the same training but then work as a civilian rad tech. That led to getting into the military physician assistant (PA) program and the progression of my career in the Arizona National Guard as an Aviation PA. Through 25 years of military service as an active guard/reservist, three combat deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and Kosovo, and multiple extended training courses and humanitarian medical missions, I learned to be grateful – things can always be worse. No one can appreciate how blessed we are to be born in the U.S. until you’ve seen first-hand what it’s like in other countries. ”

“I grew up at the end of NASA’s lunar missions and the dawn of the space shuttle program. Watching the shuttle launch as a child left me awestruck at how innovative teams could accomplish great things. That feeling of inspiration never left me. When the time came to serve the military as part of my medical training, there was only one choice – the U.S. Air Force. During my active-duty years, that belief was reinforced multiple times. As part of the USAF Air Mobility Command, I saw firsthand the speed and efficiency with which our military could deploy worldwide at a moment’s notice. Whether it be reaching New Orleans the morning after Hurricane Katrina or the distant sands of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was reminded that anything was possible if an entire team worked together for a mission. Those core experiences and memories motivate my approach to clinical patient care at Radiology Partners and the bigger challenges our practice and patients face. I know that each physician member and teammate at RP plays an important role in our collective mission to transform radiology. It is why our work at RP still creates that same level of awe I felt as a child and young military radiologist.”