The COMmunicator 2019-20 Vol. 4 | Page 24

2LT MEGHAN E. JASTRZEMBSKI, COM '21 (UNITED STATES ARMY)

My name is Meghan Jastrzembski. I am a fourth-year medical student at UNE COM, and a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.

Well before applying to medical school, I knew that I wanted to serve in the military. I grew up with exposure to the military through the service of my grandfather, uncle, and cousin, which played a large role in my pursuit of becoming a military physician. Because of their experience, military values of honor, integrity, and duty were also family values that I grew up with, making the big decision to serve in the military not only less intimidating, but very fitting.

While in college I decided to pursue medicine, and I learned of the opportunity to combine life in the military and in medicine. For me, becoming a doctor and joining the Army were a package deal; I was going to be an Army physician. I could not imagine a more fulfilling job than caring for those that serve our Country. These service men and women deserve the highest quality of care, and I look forward to playing a role in providing that attention.

During my brief time in the Army thus far, I have completed training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and have met soon-to-be health professionals from all over the United States. I have very fond memories from our months at summer training and I look forward to the many opportunities this path will continue to offer. I am fortunate to have developed lifelong friendships with other UNE COM students in the military, and I look forward to serving alongside them in the future.

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Left: COM 2021 Army students (Paul Lee, Meghan Jastrzembski, Jennifer Darroch and Mason Adams).