After serving eight years as a Naval Submarine Officer, M1 student Miles Hill was sure his time serving his country had been completed. The now EnMed student, has once again sworn back into the Navy by receiving one of the finite Navy Health Services Collegiate Program Scholarships. This time, Hill is serving his country with a new, innovative perspective.
From serving on a submarine at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to being a naval instructor in Connecticut, the University of Texas at Austin graduate knew he wanted to follow his heart’s true passion. This passion led Hill to leave the Navy and begin his career in the pursuit of becoming a physician. The transition went all but smoothly. Due to his major in Physics, Hill was missing some of the needed credits to apply to medical school. He decided to get a job in Washington D.C. as a defense contractor, where he gained an immense background in engineering.
The road eventually led to EnMed, where Hill was accepted and moved to Houston last year along with his wife. Hill said, “EnMed sounded like it fit me perfectly with the marriage of medicine and engineering,” as he described why he ultimately chose EnMed. Last summer, the desire to return to the Navy emerged. Hill aspired to continue his studies in hopes of practicing medicine, but yearned to serve his country, which led him down the path to applying for the Navy HSCP award. This limited award is only given to a select number of recipients each year – one to three students.
The application process came with many letters of recommendation, including some from EnMed’s very own faculty. Hill gives immense thanks to Rhome Hughes, MD, MS, Michael Paolini, MD, and inaugural dean of the School of Engineering Medicine, Roderic I. Pettigrew, PhD, MD, for taking the time to write on his behalf. Finally, after rounds of interviews with Navy physicians, Hill received final confirmation that he was one of the official recipients. Hill was awarded the scholarship this year and sworn back in as an active-duty service member to the United States Navy on May 24, 2023.
Excitement is at the forefront of his mind knowing what he can offer this time around. His observations and personal perspectives grant him the knowledge to know exactly how to help those in need and what specific issues sailors sometime experience. “The observation that I had was sometimes sailors aren’t always receiving the treatment they should be receiving. I want to be one of the people on the inside making change and giving adequate medical treatment,” Hill explained.
Although he is unsure of his exact specialty, his ultimate goal is to help. Hill feels that EnMed has fully prepared him for this very moment. “The great faculty that we have here at EnMed and the access along with resources provided by Houston Methodist has been awesome,” Hill said.
The gracious recipient made sure to let it be known that this accomplishment could not have been done without his wife, family, and the incredible EnMed faculty as well as his Navy recruiters. He gives full credit to them for their support and endless encouragement.