Climbing to New Heights: Logan Goddard and the Military Match Program
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine M.D./M.B.A. student hopes to see the world as he fulfills his post-graduation Navy obligation.
Well into his undergraduate education at Cornell, Logan Goddard wanted to be a veterinarian. In his junior year he decided to study some human medicine, too. He liked anatomy and physiology, so he shadowed a pediatric anesthesiologist in his hometown of Pasadena, California.
Goddard was so inspired, he decided to apply to medical school. To make time for the MCATs, he took two gap years after his 2020 graduation. Today, Goddard is a fourth-year M.D./M.B.A. student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Envisioning a Future of Leadership
During his gap years, Goddard worked at a San Diego health care-adjacent startup. His role was on the science side, but he got a lot of exposure to the business of medicine, as well. As he explored his options and learned about the Health Professions Scholarship Program, a military program that provides financial assistance for students pursuing health-related degrees in exchange for a service commitment, he began to imagine himself as a U.S. Navy physician. He decided he wanted to add an M.B.A. to his credentials. That brought him to the Miller School of Medicine, one of the few in the nation offering a combined M.D./M.B.A.
Once his medical school applications were in, Goddard applied for and was awarded a Navy scholarship.
“The Navy pays for medical school,” he said. “And I owe them four years as an attending physician.”
Having his medical school tuition covered wasn’t the only thing that drew Goddard to the program.
“I wanted to travel and explore and practice medicine in other parts of the world,” he said. “In military medicine, you will be stationed overseas, in places like Japan, Guam, France, Italy, Spain or on a ship. I thought this is a good way to be flexible as a physician, managing anesthesia in different environments.”
A Challenging Climb
Goddard participated in the military match program for residency and recently found out he’ll be a resident at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California—one of three Navy sites that offer an anesthesiology residency.
Though he didn’t end up pursuing a civilian residency, it did appeal to him, for a specific reason. Goddard is an avid rock climber and could have seen himself in a desert climate, honing his skills. Miami features few inclines, to say nothing of imposing, vertical rock structures. Goddard climbs at a gym and wants to take his passion outdoors.
The biggest challenge of rock climbing, he said, is recognizing the line between logical and illogical fear.
“Sometimes you find yourself in a truly dangerous situation,” Goddard said, “and other times it feels scary, but it is actually quite safe. Finding that line is very important, both for safety and personal growth.”
Kind of like learning to be an anesthesiologist.
“You want to be as independent as possible without endangering patients,” Goddard said. “You have to be able to find the line of when to call for help.”
After completing four years of active duty, Goddard will consider staying in the Navy for his career. But that decision can wait. Meantime, he has his residency, a service obligation to pay off and, wherever he goes, challenging climbs ahead.
Tags: Department of Medical Education, medical education, medical students, military match, residency