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November 11, 2024
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While Jessie Milaski held several roles after he left the Army, he didn't find his path to a career in medicine until he enrolled in a Military Medicine course at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Jessie Milaski was a medic in the U.S. Army's 3rd Ranger Battalion and served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
While he held several roles after leaving the Army, it wasn't until he enrolled in a Military Medicine course at Mayo Clinic in Arizona in 2019 that he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life.
"It was the special operations tactical medics course. I came here for five days, and it was phenomenal," says Milaski, who was pursuing an undergraduate degree in emergency medicine at the time. "I realized I want to be involved in this. I had no idea how, but I knew this is what I was going to do."
Turning the key on a lifetime career
Milaski grew up in a small town in New York and attended community college after he graduated from high school in 2006. He was the first in his family to attend college.
"But I didn't have a focus or goal," he says. "I didn't have a lot of money, and I felt directionless."
He enlisted in the Army in 2008 and was stationed at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore) in Georgia as a medic in the 3rd Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, which has a storied history tracing back to World War II.
"I picked the medic job out of the blue," Milaski says. "No one in my family had been in the medical field. But I talked with a few people and I knew I wanted to be a soldier but help people, too. Early on, I said I wanted to keep doing medicine and go to medical school eventually."
After leaving the Army in 2012, he worked at a variety of medical-related jobs and served in the National Guard for three years. It was the experience at Mayo Clinic in 2019 that began to bring all the puzzle pieces together.
Milaski went on to complete his undergraduate degree in emergency medicine, and in 2021, he applied to the Military Medicine Fellowship Program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where he spent two years.
"When the fellowship opportunity at Mayo came up, I knew I had to take the leap," he says. "It was a whirlwind — moving across the country with only a month's notice during a pandemic. But I've always found that growth comes from putting myself in uncomfortable situations."
Milaski now is in his second year of medical school at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.
"Attending the Military Medicine course in 2019 was the epitome of medical education for me," Milaski says. "I loved everything about it and my goal was to attend medical school. I never thought someone like me would actually get into a place like Mayo Clinic."
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Fellowship program opens doors to medical education and clinical practice
Milaski credits the Military Medicine Fellowship with giving veterans like him the opportunity to gain the training and experience needed to prepare for medical careers in the civilian world, while continuing to serve the military community.
"For me, the fellowship was a vital bridge between my military experience and the academic rigor of medical school," he says. "It helped me transition from hands-on, operational medicine to a more evidence-based, academic approach. Teaching during the fellowship solidified my understanding of medical concepts and gave me a greater appreciation for the educational process. Most importantly, it gave me the confidence to apply to Mayo Clinic for medical school."
At Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona, Milaski is focused on anesthesia and critical care.
"It's the perfect next step to apply the skills I developed as a special operations medic, where quick decision-making and high-stakes interventions were essential," he says. He's hopeful that his medical studies will one day lead to a staff position at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Program honors Mayo's commitment to supporting the military
Since 2019, the Military Medicine Fellowship Program, which serves the enterprise with a home base in Arizona, has provided recently retired Special Operations medical personnel the opportunity to expand their clinical and medical education skills.
The fellowship helps prepare people to become independent educators in military medicine and can be a pathway to medical school or other training. A key priority of the program is advancing existing competencies and skills while developing new ones.
The Military Medicine Fellowship Program currently has two fellows, who serve from 1-2.5 years.
"The fellows ensure that what we teach is relevant and aligned with the needs of military medical personnel," says Pierre Noel, M.D., medical director for Military Medicine and a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel.
The fellowship program, which is funded by the Leona Helmsley Foundation, is in keeping with Mayo Clinic's historical commitment to supporting U.S. military personnel and their training, says Melissa Barr, an administrator in Military Medicine.
"The journey from military service to medical school at Mayo Clinic embodies the deep-rooted tradition of excellence that not only defines Mayo Clinic but also our Military Medicine program," Barr says. "Jessie's story is a testament to how the values of service, education, and leadership converge at Mayo Clinic."
Honoring Veterans Day
Mayo Clinic recognizes and honors Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, with observances and activities across its locations. Milaski, who has always supported veterans and active-duty military personnel, attended the observance at the Mayo Clinic campus in Scottsdale, Arizona, before going to class.
For me, Veterans Day is about honoring those who dedicated part of their lives to serving our nation. The military community has shaped who I am today, and as a future physician, my goal is to continue giving back to that community.
Jessie Milaski
Military Medicine Program instructor