20 | F LO R I DA P HYS I C IAN
“I always sought out rotations at the
VA,” Hood says. “We had strong teachers
and excellent supervision and leadership,
but you also got a lot of autonomy to be
able to come up with treatment plans and
coordinate aspects of the patient’s care.
The VA is a great environment to flex your
skills and strengths as a medical student.
“From taking care of a veteran who
witnessed the aftermath of the Bataan
Death March in the Philippines to
treating a former soldier who liberated
concentration camps at the end of World
War II, in caring for patients at the VA you
sometimes uncover incredible stories and
life experiences, many of which enriched
me as a medical student and continue to
enrich me as a doctor.”
Hood says while students around the
country tend to rate their time at VA
facilities among the best educational
experiences of their training, the North
Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health
System consistently outperforms the
national average.
“Over the past four years, 89 to 95
percent of UF medical students have rated
their VA clinical experience as ‘very good
to excellent.’ This is compared to about 70
percent nationwide,” he says.
A SENSE OF DUTY
Students who rotate through clinical
courses at the VA form meaningful
connections with patients, mentors and
colleagues while learning to hone their
skills treating complex medical issues. In
getting to know their patients, students
also have the invaluable opportunity to
hear firsthand accounts of what they’ve
read in history books.
Fourth-year UF medical student and
Navy veteran Bryan Erb discovered his
passion for medicine while serving in
Afghanistan. Later, while assigned to the
VA as a UF College of Medicine student,
he confirmed his life’s mission: to help
patients cope with mental health issues
through a career in psychiatry.
“Mental health issues are so prevalent
among my fellow veterans,” says Erb,
one of 23 UF medical students who
are either veterans or are currently on
military scholarships. (Two current
physician assistant students also served in
the military prior to coming to UF.) “It’s
helpful to have somebody who can relate
to what they’ve been through. Being a
veteran provides me with an additional
ability to connect with patients during my
VA rotations. Given the sacrifices they’ve
made, we want to make sure we’re doing
everything we can for them.”
For patients like Hodson, receiving
treatment from a team that includes
students means more talented minds
dedicated to their care. At the end of the
day, it comes down to a sense of duty.
“We did a job when we were called upon
to do so,” Hodson says. “We did our part,
and now we let them do theirs.”
— David Bielick,
fourth-year UF medical student
PHOTO BY MINDY C. MILLER