Quillen College of Medicine promotes graduates into military
Of the four students promoted, two will join the U.S. Army and two will join the U.S. Air Force.
East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine held a military promotion
ceremony last week for four members of its Class of 2024.
On Friday, May 3, the following graduates were promoted into the military just hours
before the college’s formal commencement ceremony:
Dr. Alexander Davila, Captain, U.S. Army. Davila will complete residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, specializing in anesthesiology.
- Dr. Cecelia Brown, Captain, U.S. Army. Brown will complete residency at Womack Army
Medical Center in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, specializing in orthopedic surgery.
- Dr. Lillith Bulawa, Captain, U.S. Air Force. Bulawa will complete residency at UMass
Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, specializing in emergency medicine.
- Dr. Stephen Roberts, Captain, U.S. Air Force. Roberts will complete residency with ETSU Health in Kingsport, specializing in orthopedic surgery.
“I did not know for sure I wanted to join the military until a year into medical school,”
said Bulawa, who had been involved with the college since attending a Rural High School
Medical Camp when she was younger. “I think my trepidation could have gotten the better
of me, but I was surrounded by military students who encouraged me. I couldn’t have
done it without them.
“Any accredited medical school will get you where you need to be, but Quillen provides
students with the support to allow them to thrive,” Bulawa continued.
The Quillen College of Medicine has a strong reputation for being “Military Friendly®,”
and boasts one of the highest percentages of enrolled veteran and military students
in the nation.
“At Quillen, our commitment to being Military Friendly® runs deep, and we are incredibly
proud to host this ceremony annually to celebrate the brave men and women who have
chosen to serve their country after graduating from Quillen,” said Dr. Bill Block,
dean of the College of Medicine and ETSU vice president for Clinical Affairs.
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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