Mission Statement

Easy Route

            I always took the easy route or path of least resistance when it came to what I wanted to do with my life. I've always been above average. Above-average grades, athleticism, and drive. I first wanted to be an Intel Officer in the Navy; to achieve this, I needed to get into college. There was only one college I wanted to attend, and that was the Virginia Military Institute. Yet the denied letter came in the mail. What to do? I switched gears. I didn't want to go to a community college and work my way into VMI. So, I decided to be a Navy Surface Combat Craft Crewman. I am in the Navy Special Forces, so I attended one workout and took the fitness test. I was dead last. The instructor said the only redeeming quality was that I didn't quit and to keep coming back to the workouts. I thought that was too hard, and besides, I had already signed a contract with the Navy to be a Corpsman. Well, when I did that, I had no Idea what that was or even what a Corpsman did. All I knew was that my recruiter said that they were badass. I embarked on a journey that changed my course and instilled in me some core values, and above all, a sense of pride. I let the wind carry me cause, well, it's easier flying with a tailwind.

Background

            In 2015, I joined the military as a Navy Corpsman. I was told it was like a medic, but that's not what interested me. It was the fact that I was told I'd go into combat. So they trained me, shipped me off to be a greenside corpsman or “medic for marines”. I did great there; I actually thrived. I was at the top in PT, in the books, and in all my assessments. From there, I attended the School of Infantry to serve as a medic for Marines in training. Not what I wanted because it wasn't with a deployable unit. I made the best of it, became in charge of a whole unit, and had another peer under me. After two years of mostly sick calls, a whole lot of HEENT, muscle, skeletal exams, and Heat injuries. I finally made my way to the 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines Scout Snipers, where I deployed once and saw no combat, just a whole lot of STIs and more HEENT exams. Then I was moved to the next deploying unit (so I was told, but we weren’t deploying anytime soon), 1^st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

There, I witnessed my first death, a vehicle rollover accident that resulted in the life of a Marine Officer and several other Marines injured. After that, I worked for 9 months in the Emergency Department of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. After that, I arrived at my last command, a small clinic on Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek. I led a team of 108 sailors in providing and organizing COVID-19 vaccinations to 2^nd Fleet and Hampton Roads beneficiaries. Then I deployed to the Afghan Refugee mission. Finally, I deployed to Iraq with a surgical team. In Iraq, I saw my first combat-related death or KIA. An Iranian drone strike caused it.

After that, my thoughts of seeing combat seemed like a foolish thought. However, before I deployed, I was accepted into the Independent Duty Corpsman C-School. I was offered the Iraq deployment at the same time. The only problem was that they told me to choose Iraq and separate, or go to school. I always took the easy route, but I wanted to be a PA. I still do. So, for the first time, I chose the challenging path. I separated after the deployment and went to school full-time. Shortly after my wife and I were expecting, I pivoted and moved back to our hometown (Virginia Beach) and started working full-time and going to school full-time. Now I work at Merryview’s emergency department as an Emergency Department Technician. I have also just accepted a new job at the Hampton VA hospital, where I will be working in the same role with a broader scope of practice.

Experience

            I have 8.5 years of experience as a hospital corpsman, working in a variety of medical environments and performing procedures such as laceration repairs, incision and drainage (I&Ds), Chest tubes, and more. I have administered medications from Motrin to Ketamine. I have dealt with heat cases of 109 to the blast injuries. I have worked in a civilian ED for 2 years and have served an underprivileged community. From overdoses, gunshots, and unruly psych patients, I've seen a fair bit. I'd say I've seen it all, but in the medical field, I don't think anyone can say that.

Skills

            Throughout my career, I have had numerous opportunities to showcase my leadership capabilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I led a team of 108 sailors, coordinating schedules, planning events, and fostering a great working environment despite long, grueling hours. I also have excellent organizational skills. In Iraq, my primary role was to coordinate Medical evacuations to higher echelons of care when not engaged in direct patient care. Not only that, but I also improved MASCAL patient tracking. As for job skills, I've performed thousands of IVs, hundreds of ultrasound-guided IVs, administered numerous medications, and performed numerous HEENT exams. However, by far my best quality is my drive to "Outwork anyone". That is my motto, that I live by, and it’s a compilation of everything I've learned in my life. I may not be the smartest, the best, or fastest, but I assure you, I can outwork you.

Goals

            My ultimate life goal is to die knowing that I was a good man, a good father, and a good husband. You know that feeling when you hear someone has passed, and someone says, 'Wow, he was such a good man.' That's what I want, that's my goal. As for my career goals, I want to be a PA. Why? Well, on this twisted wind that swept me on life's path, I found I love medicine. I love the feeling of helping someone, and when they thank you for it, it's a great reward. Although I don't have time to process the thank you in the ED, I still enjoy it. It makes me happy, and it's a great way to provide for my family and its future. So why PA? Well, in my military career, it wasn't the doctors I learned from the most. It was the IDCs. Which is what the PA program is modeled after. Additionally, being a PA offers flexibility and, after the workday is over, a work-life balance that I want for myself.

Closing

          In closing, I feel as though I've already lived a life. Being a PA is what I aspire to in my next career. I work full-time and go to school full-time. I'm finally choosing the challenging route. I chose higher risk, greater reward. I could've stayed in the military, become an IDC, and live out my 20-year career with a much larger bank account and less stress. Yet, I would have ended up going to PA school anyway because this is the goal. I will do what it takes to achieve it this time. If that means staying up later than I do now, waking up more tired than I am now with a 1-year-old. Then I'll do it. I will accomplish this dream, and I'll do it by working harder than everyone else.