Army Medical Corps Liaison Col. Thomas Hustead speaks to medical students about Army careers in healthcare.
Speak With an Army Physician
A Novel Approach Utilizing SMEs
By Capt. Habi Mojidi, South Bend Medical Recruiting Center
March 25, 2015
As a new recruiter with the South Bend Medical Recruiting Center, I was eager to build a working relationship with Notre Dame. I met with the university’s pre-medical advisors to discuss what the Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program could offer their students.
No matter how often we visited the school, or how often we promoted various programs, it was not easy to get access to this top tier school.
The situation changed after we hosted an event at the college giving students the opportunity to speak one-on-one with an Army physician.
The event was promoted digitally throughout campus attracting five medical students. Individual appointments allowed students to speak with subject matter expert, Army Medical Corps Liaison Col. Thomas Hustead. For up to two hours, the students asked questions about the program ranging from basic military life to medical professional opportunities.
The response was phenomenal! One student who had been seriously considering both the Navy and Army HPSPs decided to go with the Army. After talking with Col. Hustead, four of the five students began the application process.
This event allowed students to discuss their concerns with someone who had taken the path they chose to follow.
One student commented, “I would say that the best part of speaking with Col. Hustead was hearing how he felt about his patients. I could hear in his voice how moved and inspired he was by them. I immediately understood that these patients, and the respect he has for them, are the reason why he is compelled to help them in the significant way that he does. Those sentiments resonated with me, and thus confirmed my decision to apply for the Health Professions Scholarship Program.”
We will continue to host similar events.