EMDP2 Alumni Association: The Future of the Updates Section

The EMDP2 Alumni Association exists to connect, to mentor, and to strengthen the bridge between military service and the medical profession. This blog will be one of the ways we carry that mission forward. It will give shape to our shared experiences, preserve the lessons we have learned, and offer guidance to those who will follow the same path.

In the months ahead, the blog will take several forms. We will feature profiles of alumni, highlighting the diverse stories of those who began in the enlisted ranks and pursued the calling of medicine. Each profile will show that while the journey is demanding, it is also achievable and deeply meaningful.

We will also provide guides to navigating programs such as HPSP and HCSP, breaking down the benefits, trade-offs, and practical steps. These programs can be daunting at first glance, and clear, experience-driven guidance can help turn uncertainty into confidence.

Another focus will be the path of USUHS, the nation’s military medical school. We will explore what makes USUHS unique, how it prepares students to balance the dual identity of physician and officer, and what future students should expect along the way.

Finally, we will look to the past, drawing on the legacy of historic military physicians. From figures like Jonathan Letterman, the “Father of Battlefield Medicine,” to innovators who advanced surgery, evacuation, and public health in times of war, their example reminds us that military medicine has always been about adaptation, resilience, and service in the most challenging of circumstances. By revisiting their stories, we connect our present efforts to a tradition larger than ourselves.

The School of Athens (1509-1511) by Raphael

The aim of this blog is simple: to create a space where information, mentorship, and connection come together. By sharing experiences, offering practical tools, and reflecting on the lineage of those who came before, we hope to strengthen both our alumni network and the future generations of EMDP2 graduates.

At its core, this blog is about continuity. It is about ensuring that no one walks this path alone, and that the wisdom gained through service, scholarship, and history remains alive and accessible to all.