Dedicated to Serve: Medical Students in the Armed Forces Honored at Military Commissioning Ceremony

May 18, 2009

On May 15, 18 students from three branches of the Armed Forces were honored in a special ceremony dedicated to them, their friends and their loved ones. Each year, the Armed Forces Commissioning Ceremony is held to recognize individuals who are part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). This program offers medical students in the Armed Forces the opportunity to study at the Georgetown School of Medicine and allows them to graduate free of financial debt in exchange for two to eight years of service. Currently, the average medical student will leave school owing more than $150,000.

Each year, it is with great pride, that the Georgetown School of Medicine honor these dedicated men and women, who have served our country with dignity and respect. “I have the great honor to join with senior leadership of military medicine and the HPSP students to honor their commitment to our country,” said Stephen Ray Mitchell, MD, dean of Medical Education. “It is a privilege to watch these remarkable men and women grow as doctors and embark on a rewarding career.”

Speakers included dignitaries representing all three branches of the military: Rear Admiral Alton Stocks, U.S. Navy, Georgetown class of 1986; Colonel Georffrey S.F. Ling, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Corps, U.S. Army, Georgetown Class of 1989; Colonel Timothy T. Jex, Medical Corps, U.S. Air Force, Deputy Assistant Surgeon General.

This year’s graduating class of men and women are:

United States Air Force:
• Derrick Beckman, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, San Antonio, Tex. Internal Medicine
• April Haury, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, San Antonio, Tex. Internal Medicine Internship and Anesthesiology
• W. Preston Laslie, U.S. Air Force Regional Hospital, Englin Air Force Base, Fla. Family Medicine/Flight Medicine
• Grant W. Mallory, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minn. Neurosurgery
• Dwayne Steele, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Pediatrics

United States Army:
• John P. Cody, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Orthopedic Surgery
• Elizabeth P. Puntenney, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Transitional Internship and Diagnostic Radiology
• Joshua A. Scott, Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, GA. General Surgery
• Bridget A. Sinnott, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash. Emergency Medicine
• Sarah E. Spring, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Tex. Pediatrics

United States Navy:
• Amy B. Clark, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif. Pediatrics
• Mark R. DeBuse, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. Orthopedic Surgery
• David T. Fleishmann, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif. Psychiatry
• Gavin W. Ford, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. Internal Medicine
• Karen G. Mayr, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. Internal Medicine
• Kerry E. Meagher, National Naval Center, Bethesda, Md. Internal Medicine
• Diego A. Vicente, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. General Surgery

Following the ceremony, a reception was held for students, family, friends and special guests in the McShain Lounge of McCarthy Hall. ABC News 7 (Washington-affiliate) taped the ceremony which aired on Friday, May 15. Please see below for the news clip.


Submit your news at any time to the GUMC Office of Communications at gumccomm@georgetown.edu.



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