military students on USS Wisconsin for photo

EVMS graduates who will serve in the military forces took the oath of office during a commissioning ceremony on Thursday, May 16.

12 students took part in the ceremony for their promotions in the Air Force, Army and Navy.

“I can think of no greater community service than defending our nation and providing care to those who confront danger on the country’s behalf,” says Dr. Alfred Abuhamad, President, Provost and Dean of the School of Medicine. “You have our respect for your choices, our admiration for your commitment and our deep gratitude for your willingness to serve our country.”

Among those commissioned today were two Physician Assistant students, two Master of Public Health students and eight School of Medicine students.

“PAs in the military are often found in primary-care clinics providing care to active-duty members, their dependents, and retirees. But they can also be found in hospitals, specialty clinics, and providing care in deployed environments,” says Kim Dempsey, PhD, MPA, PA-C (MPA ’03), Director of the Physician Assistant program. “The collaborative practice and role flexibility of PAs make them a valuable medical resource for commanders who must assemble teams of providers who can care for military personnel in a variety of settings and environments.”

See the full album of photos on Flickr.

2024 Graduates


UNITED STATES ARMY

Samuel David Dickerson, CPT
MD Class of 2024
Madigan Army Medical Center
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
Otolaryngology


Elizabeth Fitch, CPT
MD Class of 2024
Madigan Army Medical Center
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
Pediatrics


UNITED STATES NAVY

Christian James Coulson, LT
MD Class of 2024
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Orthopedic Surgery


Michael McCrae Eason, LT
MD Class of 2024
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Internal Medicine


Shanasia Karin Freeman, LTJG
MPH Class of 2024
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Patient Administration


Casey Marie Fryer, LTJG
MPH Class of 2024


Carly Ruth Kliment, LTJG
MPA Class of 2024


US Navy Medicine Readiness and
Training Command
Okinawa, Japan
Family Medicine


Lilian C. Nagle, LT
MD Class of 2024
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
General Surgery


Pallavi Laxmi Samudrala, LT
MD Class of 2024
Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir, VA
Family Medicine


Daniel George Sausen, LT
MD Class of 2024
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Internal Medicine


Tiana Ariane Sotepenra, LTJG
MPA Class of 2024


UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

Joshua Thomas Payne, Capt
MD Class of 2024
UT San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Anesthesiology