SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- There are people who encourage themselves no matter what obstacles and challenges lay ahead. At the age of 27, Col. Ed San Miguel, chief of Aerospace Medicine and Squadron Medical Element for the 77th Air Refueling Squadron, was told he was too old to be a doctor and was better off being a physician assistant instead.
Years later at the age of 42, he became a doctor.
Now, several years into the future he has accomplishments that prove that age is just a number. He holds several titles in the military, as well as in his civilian occupation, all pertaining to the medical field. He did not expect when he volunteered with the community rescue squad in the 70s that it would open the door down a career path that he enjoys.
Surprisingly, his undergraduate degree is is about a far from medicine as one could expect, it's in electrical engineer technology. Col. San Miguel said that medicine came easier to him than technology.
In 1984, Col. San Miguel graduated from
Bowen Gray Medical School in the physician assistance program. After becoming a practicing physician assistant in Lumberton, N.C., he went through
East Carolina University's pre-med program in which he graduated in 1994. After that he did his residency in Ohio with Emergency Medical Services.
When asked about the most challenging part of becoming a doctor later in life he responded by saying that it was a little harder since he had been away from formal education, and his first year was the most challenging because of the basic science classes he had to take.
Col. San Miguel joined the
Air Force Reserve in 2001 and has traveled to several places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany and Spain just to name a few. He informs Airmen about the Air Force Reserve in the most positive manner.
"The Reserve component is a great opportunity and with the new
GI Bill it allows for continuing education, opens avenues for professional growth, on- the-job training, travel and service to the community," he said.
"I love it, it's a huge, and great, opportunity to serve country and people," he said.
He did share the best experience he has had as a Reservist is flying in the aero-medical evacuation missions into and out of
Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.
"Taking care of the people who have given so much to serve and protect our nation is truly an amazing experience and it really touches you," said Col. San Miguel.
Col. San Miguel's passion for being in the medical field doesn't stop here while he is performing his military duties.
In his community he mentors potential medical students, has five to seven students who desire to go into the medical field shadow him at his job and teaches at
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC-Wilmington's nursing program.
"It is a great experience to see them grow professionally and how they make their dreams come true; and now some are my colleagues," he said.
Since he has been promoted to colonel he does not desire leave Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
"I want to continue to take care of our people, look after the health of the wing, continue to fly and deploy to bring the injured and the sick back home and make positive contributions to the command staff," he said.
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