Six SHSU-COM Student Doctors Earn Early Residency Placements Through Military Programs
Six SHSU-COM Student Doctors Earn Early Residency Placements Through Military Programs
Six SHSU-COM student doctors in the class of 2026 recently learned where they will complete their residency training, months before their classmates receive results in March. Residency is the next stage of medical training after graduation, where new physicians care for patients under supervision while specializing in a chosen field.
Each of these student doctors participated in the military’s early match process, which includes placements through the Health Professions Scholarship Program, or HPSP, as well as other military pathways. The military match reflects a rigorous and highly competitive selection process grounded in clinical excellence, leadership and service readiness.
“These students have chosen a path that combines rigorous medical training with a commitment to service,” said Nikea Vernardo, residency placement coordinator for SHSU-COM. “Their placements speak to their dedication and to the quality of preparation they have received throughout their time here.”
Emergency medicine
Matthew Burgess will begin his residency in emergency medicine at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, or SAUSHEC, one of the premier emergency medicine training environments.
Connor Timmons will train in emergency medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson through a civilian residency that partners with the U.S. Air Force. While the program is civilian, it includes military training slots selected through the military match as part of the U.S. Air Force Operational Emergency Medicine Program. These positions prepare physicians for high-acuity clinical care and future operational service.
Family medicine
Ethan McDonald will train in family medicine at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he will care for active-duty service members, families and retirees.
Internal medicine
Bradley Engel matched to the National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the U.S. military’s flagship academic medical center in Maryland, where he will begin his residency training in internal medicine.
Justin Gee will train in internal medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, the largest military medical center in the United States.
Psychiatry
Tyler Rawlinson will train in psychiatry at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia, one of the Navy’s key sites for behavioral health education and clinical training.
Each of these student doctors has put in the effort and dedication required to reach this next chapter, and their next steps are being watched with bated breath by their families, friends and the faculty and staff of SHSU-COM.
Together, these student doctors exemplify SHSU-COM’s commitment to preparing compassionate, capable physicians who serve with purpose, whether in Texas communities or across the globe. Their success in the military match reflects not only their personal dedication and resilience but also their commitment to serving others throughout their careers.