For as long as he can recall, first-year PNWU Osteopathic Medical Student (OMS I) Erik Jacobson has had a desire to serve others in their greatest times of need. On Tuesday, September 28, in the shadow of his new medical school’s waterfall-backed sign, Jacobson raised his right hand, swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. As his family looked on, eyes glistening with tears of joy in the warm September sun, his dream of making a difference through service became clearer than ever.
“I want to serve as an Army physician and an officer because I believe it is a great way of giving back to my country, learning about the aspects of leadership, and providing medical service to our troops and their families,” explained Jacobson. Upon acceptance to PNWU, he applied for the U.S. Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). After being accepted in September, a commissioning ceremony was scheduled to take place at PNWU, where Jacobson would be sworn in as a Reserve Second-Lieutenant Medical Officer by United States Army Captain Efrem Lee. As Jacobson and Capt. Lee discussed the ceremony, Erik’s grandfather Morgan Jacobson watched proudly.
Morgan had enlisted in the Army in 1960, served in the 61st Infantry Division, and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. “My father’s cousin also served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot for over 20 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel,” he added. “The stories they told me about their experiences truly inspired me.”
“The most impactful memory for me was witnessing my son’s first official military salute,” said Erik’s father, Mark, who helped to organize the ceremony. “With my family and PNWU staff present, Erik’s commissioning was one of the most personally inspiring moments of my lifetime. On top of the immense challenge of being a first-year medical student, my son has displayed the courage to step up and commit to serving as an Army Medical Corps Officer. However, this doesn’t surprise me, as Erik has always pushed himself and his boundaries to grow and become a better person and leader by taking on new challenges.”
“The ceremony really signified my transition to medicine and the military, and having my family there made it even more impactful,” said Erik. “They’ve been supportive of me since day one and have sacrificed a lot for me. I would not be in this position without them, and I hope to honor and continue my grandfather’s legacy by serving in the Army with dignity and integrity.”
As the ceremony concluded, Jacobson shook hands with Thomas Scandalis, DO, Dean of PNWU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Having him there, as well as other staff members of the school, made the ceremony so meaningful,” Jacobson explained, “especially considering his own military service. It was a surreal honor to have him present, and being able to salute him and pay tribute to his service after I was officially sworn in was even more powerful.”
Jacobson hopes that his military service will enhance his ability to impact PNWU’s mission of providing care to rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. “I look forward to the opportunity to work in underserved communities in this country, as well as in other countries if I am deployed. In addition, I hope that this further equips me to help our nation’s veterans with their health care needs. Too often they are overlooked and underserved, and they deserve the proper care that they earned through their service to our country.”