“I joined the USMC in June 1989 and served as an aviation ordnanceman until 1993. I then transitioned to the Arizona Army National Guard and used the GI Bill and Tuition Assistance to obtain a bachelor’s Degree from Grand Canyon University in 1998, I was accepted into Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program in Phoenix, AZ, and graduated in 2000. After graduation, I practiced Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care and Cardiology before returning to the active duty Army in 2007.
The Army had taken my family all over the world and given us awesome opportunities, We traveled throughout Asia and Europe before returning to San Antonio, Texas in 2013 for the Army-Baylor Physician Assistant Doctor of Science in General Surgery and Trauma residency. After graduating in 2015, I worked in the level 1 trauma center at Brooke Army Medical Center for 7 years and was also primary faculty for the world’s largest Physician Assistant training program, the Interservice Physician Assistant Program.
My family and I decided to retire from the Army in January 2023 where I made the transition back to civilian practice. I have been taking assignments with Wilderness Medical Staffing since November 2022 while on terminal leave and have not looked back. Locum Tenens has been my saving grace. As a practitioner and Army Officer for over 20 years, I was experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout. WMS has reignited my passion for patient care, and I have become a vital part of a small community in the Aleutian Islands. I absolutely love working with everyone at WMS. Diann and Deanna hear me tell them all the time that this is the best work experience I’ve ever had.
Thank you to all of my fellow Veterans and especially to their families who allow them to wear the uniform. It was my honor to serve this great nation, but it was not possible without a strong woman by my side and 3 amazing/resilient kids who remind me daily of how blessed I am.
Happy Birthday, USMC (NOV 10) and Happy Veterans Day.
Godspeed and Semper Fidelis.
Pete”