A salute to service
Meet four UF medical students whose military careers inform their patient care
Nov. 8, 2019 — The uniforms they don and the instruments they wield may differ, but there is one vital similarity that those in the military share with health care professionals: a steadfast commitment to service.
The UF College of Medicine is home to many veterans who comprise the faculty, staff and student body. Patrick Duff, M.D., associate dean for student affairs, says those who serve in the military gain lifelong skills and characteristics that contribute to excellent patient care.
“Military service fosters maturity, responsibility and accountability and encourages a deep commitment to duty, honor and integrity,” says Duff, who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps for 21 years, retiring in 1989 as a colonel. “Our students with prior military experience have consistently been among our most distinguished graduates.”
In recognition of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we highlight four UF College of Medicine students whose time spent serving in the U.S. Army, Navy and Marines continues to impact their lives and the care they put into their medical training.
Richie Artola, squad leader, U.S. Army
Richie Artola, class of 2023
For Richie Artola of the class of 2023, joining the U.S. Army in 2011 provided lessons in discipline, resilience and leadership. Working as a squad leader in signal intelligence overseas, Artola established communications between tactical and strategic units like the Special Forces and the National Security Agency. He also was assigned to a funeral team and transported the deceased for the medical examiner. Interacting with the surviving family members of his fallen comrades inspired Artola to pursue a career in which he could serve as a voice for the often voiceless, those experiencing great trauma and stress. Building on his later experience as a platoon medic, he chose medicine to be that career.
“In the Army, I learned that there’s so much to life that is outside of myself, so much to fight for and so many people that need care,” he says. “Working with surviving family members and reflecting on my difficult childhood reinforced my belief that I need to be strong for those who are going through trauma and hardship. Fortunately, I found medicine: a beautiful combination of leadership, science and serving those in need.”
Kathy Ehresmann, lieutenant commander, U.S. Navy
Kathy Ehresmann, class of 2020
When Kathy Ehresmann of the class of 2020 served in the U.S. Navy from 2001 to 2012, she gained skills in teamwork and communication that have proved useful as she navigates her medical training. Ehresmann, whose service included working as a medical evacuation pilot in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, aims to pursue a general surgery residency after graduating, a specialty that will allow her to provide a measure of comfort to those facing uncertain times. For this wife and mother of three, the impact her fellow veterans have left on her continues to grow even as a medical student. At the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, veterans facing terminal illnesses have granted Ehresmann and her classmates intimate access to their lives, an opportunity Ehresmann doesn’t take lightly.
“The lessons of selflessness we learn in the military continue long after veterans leave the service. These veterans have contributed to my education in ways I couldn’t have imagined,” Ehresmann says. “Being in the military, I was able to grow through developing not only technical but interpersonal skills. I was able to develop phenomenal lifelong relationships. Though I’ve left the service to pursue medicine, my roots will remain deep throughout the rest of my life.”
Russell Wnek, corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Russell Wnek, class of 2023
From making contact with a landmine while removing a Taliban-controlled machine gun bunker in Afghanistan to rescuing victims of a typhoon in the Philippines, Russell Wnek’s unforgettable experiences during his career in the Marine Corps imbued him with an internal sense of discipline and stamina he continues to use as first-year medical student. Wnek, who was awarded a Purple Heart and the Humanitarian Service Medal for his service, says being a Marine had a profound impact on him that carries into his medical training.
“In the Marines, I’d take a moment to collect my thoughts and gather myself before moving forward. That’s something I’ve used during medical school. Same with discipline. When I’m tired or frustrated, there’s an innate part of me that pushes through those feelings and gets the work done,” says Wnek, a member of the class of 2023. “I’m also able to be comfortable in stressful environments. Being stressed in Afghanistan meant that anytime you walked or drove on unclear terrain, you thought, is this the time I get blown up? In medical school, it’s a different type of stress. It’s more like thinking, am I doing enough?”
Daniel O’Neill, lieutenant, U.S. Navy
Daniel O'Neill, class of 2021
His current role as president of the UF College of Medicine class of 2021 isn’t Daniel O’Neill’s first experience in leadership — his career as a U.S. Naval officer from 2007 to 2014 afforded him the opportunity to lead teams and learn the nuances involved in small group dynamics. During his Naval service, O’Neill first worked as a gunnery officer and a force protection officer on board a guided missile destroyer. He later ran the ship’s counterterrorism and boarding team before joining the Navy Seal community. With each of the positions he held, which took him to both U.S. coasts, O’Neill was impacted by the people he worked with and the lessons he learned.
“The overwhelming majority of the people I served with in the Navy didn’t do it for the glory or for fame or money. They did it because they purely wanted to make a difference,” O’Neill says. “As a Naval officer, I was put in the position to lead selfless, motivated individuals who influenced and taught me life lessons I will carry over in my medical career.”
