SAMOPS Specialty Spotlights

Dr. Cuevas is currently an Army Reserve Anesthesiologist and Staff Anesthesiologist at Marion General Hospital in Ohio. He was also a prior Air Force Health Services Administrative officer before attending medical school at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. In this interview he discusses his path to anesthesia, imparts wisdom on thriving in military medicine, and discusses the pros and cons of the specialty. 

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

CDR Marra discusses her personal journey of coming out, meeting her wife, and forming her own rainbow family with the help of a military fertility treatment center. She describes being double board certified in family medicine, with a CAQ/fellowship training in Sports Medicine (FAAFP/CAQSM), and her time working in Okinawa Japan. CDR Marra focuses on her experience with policy changes within the military, including the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy (1993 - 2011), and the importance of “firsts” and representation within the military. Finally, CDR Marra speaks about being involved in the initiation of the transgender care team, and eventually taking over as chair. She believes many of the discriminatory policies against transgender athletes are “based on fear, rather than facts.”

CDR Marra recently published her editorial in AFP this month on transgender athletes. You can read it here: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0501/afp20210501p518.pdf

Visit https://www.transathlete.com/ for more information about transgender athletes and state policies at various levels.

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

Dr. Moore is board certified in Family Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He has over 27 years of military service, first as a Marine Officer, then as a Naval Doctor. He earned his BS degree from the United States Naval Academy, DO degree from Nova Southeastern University, holds a master's degree in public health from the University of West Florida, and has completed residencies in Family and Aerospace medicine. During his active duty service with the US Navy and Marine Corp, Dr. Moore had the privilege of caring for active duty members of all service branches in peacetime and in combat, as well as, providing care for their families. He is currently part of the faculty of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, serving as the Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Principles and Practice.

Dr. Moore discusses some of the travel and education experience he has been granted by being a Naval doctor, how he chose Family Medicine as a specialty, and why students should not be discouraged from choosing a primary care specialty. Dr. Moore also talks about the importance of being professional and honest, as a physician and as a military officer, and how the two positions are very similar. He shares some of the challenges being a member of the military presents, especially in regards to family life.

In this podcast, we have the privilege of interviewing Dr. Cote, a retired US Army Colonel with over 30 years of service. Dr. Cote is a graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences' College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Internship, Internal Medicine residency, and a Nuclear Medicine Fellowship at the former Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American Board of Nuclear Medicine. Dr. Cote discusses how he chose his specialty, his experience doing research with the Army (both as a physician and before he became a physician), and how to develop officership as a medical student, resident, and physician. He also discusses the importance of developing a network, maintenance of physical & mental health, and his experience of being a military physician with a family. 

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week 2021, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Plowden to the podcast! Dr. Plowden is the OB/GYN Department Chief at Womack Army Medical Center - she completed her OB/GYN residency at Tripler Army Medical Center and her REI fellowship at NIH. Tune in to listen to Dr. Plowden discuss everything OB/GYN, Infertility, and, what we, as future healthcare providers, can do to work towards a more equitable and just healthcare system.

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

Dr. Rogers attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine and spent 24 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring as a family physician in Colorado Springs, CO. He also holds additional board certifications in Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine and continues to perform flight physicals through the FAA. He talks about the importance of taking the time to listen to attendings and discuss the good and bad of their specialties while on clerkships. He also provides wisdom on balancing the various aspects of being a military physician and highlights the importance of gaining the trust of your patients. 

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

Dr. Rogers attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine and spent 24 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring as a family physician in Colorado Springs, CO. He also holds additional board certifications in Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine and continues to perform flight physicals through the FAA. He talks about the importance of taking the time to listen to the attendings discuss the good and the bad of their specialties while on clerkship, to truly know what you’re getting into. He also provides wisdom on balancing the various aspects of being a military physician and highlights the importance of gaining the trust of your patients. Stay tuned for a part two with Dr. Rogers for more advice and insight into life as a military physician!

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

Dr. Nicholas was a cook in the Army for 3 years and a medic for 3 more. She left the Army for undergrad (National Guard and ROTC) before attending medical school on the HPSP. She completed her OBGYN residency at Trippler Army Medical Center. Interestingly, she never saw herself going into her specialty, but ended up falling in love with it during rotations. Dr. Nicholas discusses the pros and cons of her specialty, and the importance of time management, communication, observation, and never saying “never” When choosing a specialty, she suggests going in with open eyes, figuring out what you’re willing to give up, and what you’re passionate about.

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

Captain Jordan Damschen graduated from Timberline High school in Boise, Idaho in 2011. He then obtained an Associates of Biology degree at Arizona Western University in 2013 followed by a bachelor’s degree in Biology at Idaho State University in 2015. He was accepted into the HPSP scholarship program that same year and completed his medical training as a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine in 2019 from Kansas City University. He is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord where he is a PGY-2 orthopedic surgical resident at Madigan Army Medical Center. In this podcast, he delves into what motivated him to pursue orthopedic surgery. He also touches upon the characteristics he believes an officer within the military should have, and the advice he was given during his 4th year of medical school to be prepared for residency.

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.

Dr. Thomas completed his PM&R residency at Walter Reed. He discusses what PM&R physicians do in their daily practice, and touches on the fact that it’s a smaller field within the military, but an integral part of our workforce. He provides some advice and insight into matching into PM&R, given how few spots there are each year, and how competitive the specialty can be. Dr. Thomas also passes on some wisdom regarding being a good officer, and how the overly-competitive nature of many medical students to outperform their peers does not help them become strong military leaders. Instead, they should focus on bringing each other up, and working to build a stronger team unit.

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions presented in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the opinions of any branch of the U.S. military, or the Department of Defense.