Afghanistan 2011
BUIES CREEK – John Bunyasaranand [CUSOM 2017] is one of 60 students selected from a national pool of applicants to be named a 2015 Tillman Scholar. Veteran, husband, father, civil engineer, and third year medical student, John and the other Tillman Scholars have been selected because they embody the legacy of Pat Tillman.
Pat Tillman was a football star and natural leader from San Jose, California, who had an amazing football and academic career at Arizona State University and who went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Pat decided to leave the NFL and join the US Army with his brother Kevin. Pat and Kevin joined the U.S. Army in July 2002 committing to a three-year term. They were assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Washington. They served tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004. On the evening of April 22, 2004, Pat’s unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his untimely and tragic death.
In 2004, Pat’s family and friends founded the Pat Tillman Foundation to invest in military veterans and their spouses through academic scholarships to build a diverse community of leaders committed to serving others.
The Tillman Scholars, like John and Erasmo Espino (CUSOM 2017 and Tillman 2014), are selected because they embody the true legacy of who Pat Tillman was his entire life; they must show extraordinary academic and leadership potential, a true sense of vocation, and a deep commitment to create positive change through their work in the fields of medicine, law, business, education and the arts.
A native of Griffin, Georgia, John entered the U.S. Army in 1991 and served as a forward observer in the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment before fulfilling his term of service in 1999. He went on to graduate from Georgia Tech, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering, and to begin a civilian career and a family with his wife, Mary Ann. When the events of 9/11 occurred, John – like Pat Tillman – felt called back into service for his country. While working at Kimley-Horn and Associates, he re-enlisted with his wife’s support to try out as a Special Forces medic.
“It was not an easy decision to leave a great job after working so hard to get there,” said John. “But with the Lord’s assurance, Mary Ann and I took the leap of faith.”
As an experienced soldier and professional civil engineer, John had skills and experience that could have been used in any number of positions, but he saw the opportunity to take his service in a specific direction.
“When I decided to re-enlist, I asked myself, ‘who needs help the most?’ – the soldier bleeding out on the frontlines. That was right where I wanted to be. I knew this was a skill set I did not yet have, but felt called to try,” said John.
It was the most critical moments as a medic that inspired him to come back and pursue medical school with plans to continue his military carrier as a military physician.
“Managing my first really bad casualty…providing critical care and incorporating our partner force of Afghan Commandoes as a team to take care of that casualty…that’s how I knew I was called to be a physician,” continued John.
John and his fellow classmates began their third year rotations on Monday at the Leon Levine Hall of Medical Sciences in Buies Creek, and he will soon continue his training at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville. The Tillman Scholarship award is for the remaining 2 years he has at the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, but also provides much more than simple financial aid.
“Being named a Tillman Scholar is an incredible honor because what Pat Tillman did inspired me,” reflected John. “The best part is the people already in the Tillman program – like Espino – and the other scholars including veterans and military spouses….it’s like a brotherhood”.
John will travel to the 2015 Pat Tillman Leadership Summit in Chicago July 16-19 where he and 59 other scholars will be recognized by the Pat Tillman Foundation. The 2015 scholars will be joined by 60 more current and alumni scholars for a weekend of keynote speakers, panels, and workshops across their areas of individual interest. The Tillman Foundation believes the community is a great force for social impact and collaboration, so the foundation provides current and alumni scholars a platform for engagement at the annual Summit in Chicago as well as other regional events throughout the year.
“John has always been a wonderful student. From the very start of his medical education he has established himself as a highly respected servant-leader in his class.,” said Dr. Don Maharty, Regional Assistant Dean and Interium Vice-President for Medical Education. ”He has always been a hard-worker while still being deeply devoted to his family. I look forward to having him as a member of the group of students on rotation at Cape Fear Valley Health System – John exemplifies the type of character CUSOM strives to foster in a student physician. We are proud of him and excited to have him receive this well-deserved honor. “
John Bunyasaranand, MS-III, Named 2015 Tillman Scholar