MAJOR SHANE ANDERSON

Well I considered the Army because my grandfather was medical service officer. He encouraged me that I could find good training in the military. My grandfather sent me a letter saying the Army will pay for you to go to medical school.

If I would not have taken an Army scholarship and joined the Army, I would be a quarter of a million dollars in debt today.

The Army considers you an officer first, as you’re in training, and of course, as you’re in training to be a physician, gradually you become recognized as a Board Certified Physician and find your place in the Army as well.

When I see a Soldier coming in and being able to say that is my mission for the day, that’s why I’m here, that’s whom I’m here to take care of. And I feel like I’m part of a team. It’s a great opportunity not only for learning, but for that patient but to have 10, 20 sometimes 30 physicians talk about their particular case, what the best course of action would be them. Everybody who’s wearing the uniform is on the same team and they’re there to help you out.

So, I think anytime you have the opportunity to just purely practice medicine and do what you’re trained to do, that’s were the real satisfaction from this job comes from. Just taking care of that patient that walks in the door, particular in our case, the Soldiers.