Service Shapes Passion for Military Medicine
Four members of the Miller School of Medicine’s Class of 2025 will partake in the military match, a residency matching process for medical students who are part of a military scholarship program and committed to serve their country.
Growing up, Aidan Scagel, M.D., M.P.H. ’25, was inspired by his mother’s work as a nurse and his father’s service in the U.S. Army. These formative experiences shaped his career path. Now in his final year at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Scagel recently went through the military match in the U.S. Navy for an emergency medicine training residency.
“The seeds of medicine were planted early by having parents who served as great inspirations and role models both through their professions and engagement in the community,” Scagel said. “Growing up in a rural area in upstate New York, I had a lot of peripheral exposure to medicine and saw the important role physicians play in the health care of rural communities. I realized medicine was how I could make a real difference in the community.”
Helping the Underserved
Scagel’s commitment to service determined the course of his undergraduate career at St. Lawrence University, where he majored in biology and minored in chemistry. An undergraduate public health course gave him new perspectives on social determinants of health and health disparities in his own neighborhood and internationally.
Scagel studied abroad in Kenya and pursued an African studies minor to support his public health and medical aspirations. That knowledge proved invaluable during his Peace Corps service in Ethiopia. While many graduates follow a more traditional path to medicine, Scagel found himself in a rural town without running water or electricity.
“In Ethiopia, I worked with the families of children under 5 years old to improve malaria prevention and breaking the transmission cycle for gastrointestinal diseases,” Scagel said. “This experience taught me to appreciate both the clinical side of medicine and the vital role public health plays in a community’s wellbeing.”
Miller School Dual-degree Experience
It didn’t take much convincing for Scagel to choose the Miller School for his medical education. The school leads the country in dual-degree programs, with its combined M.D./M.P.H. program front and center. Miami’s diverse culture is ideal for a well-rounded physician experience.
After committing to the U.S. Navy during his first year at the Miller School, Scagel became deeply involved with the Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Department of Community Service (DOCS). As a first-year medical student he extended that same dedication to the Miami Rescue Mission, where he helped manage specialty clinic for the unhoused and underserved, overseeing clinic volunteers and care logistics. Through DOCS, Scagel has continued to work with underserved communities, providing access to essential health care services.
My time at the Miller School has been both inspiring and transformative, with each challenge shaping me into a compassionate and dedicated physician that is ready for residency.
—Aidan Scagel
For his M.P.H. capstone project, Scagel focused on children serving as caregivers for sick or disabled family members. He partnered with the American Association of Caregiving Youth in Palm Beach County and Julia Belkowtitz, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean for student affairs at the Miller School, to research the challenges these children face and ways to support them.
“I have been privileged to work with various communities during my time at the Miller School,” Scagel said. “It’s been an incredible experience growing alongside such a special group of peers over the last four years. I am constantly inspired by the students and faculty at Miller.”
Military Pathways in Emergency Medicine
While becoming a physician has always been Scagel’s primary goal, he sees military service as a way to give back to military members and their families. His military pathway is also a way to practice medicine in unique and austere settings.
“Emergency medicine allows you to see people at their most vulnerable moment, filled with emotions and difficult decisions,” Scagel said. “How one interacts and educates patients in this setting impacts how they internalize their disease and sets the tone for the rest of their care.”
Scagel matched into his top choice program, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC). The organization hosts the largest hospital and the only level one trauma center within the Department of Defense. This year, the SAUSHEC emergency medicine residency expanded its joint Army/Air Force program to include one spot for a Navy resident.
“I’m excited to pursue my passion for medicine, public health and service as a military physician,” Scagel said. “My time at the Miller School has been both inspiring and transformative, with each challenge shaping me into a compassionate and dedicated physician that is ready for residency.”
Tags: M.D./M.P.H. Program, medical education, military match, residency