Seven members of the Class of 2019 participated in a promotion ceremony in Butler Chapel on Wednesday. The military promotion ceremony is a special part of the medical school’s graduation week each year when graduates who are members of the health professions scholars program (HPSP) in the United States Air Force, Army and Navy are called for Attention to Orders and take the Oath of Office for their new respective ranks.
For the past two years, Brandis Moore has sung the National Anthem for the ceremony. This year, Moore was a participant in the ceremony receiving promotion to Captain in the United States Army, and she was joined by members of her family to open the ceremony with the Anthem.
“Having been a part of the previous two ceremonies, its amazing that it is now my time, and it was an honor to share this special moment with my family.”
The keynote speaker for the ceremony was CDR (retired) Dr. Richard Jadick. Jadick earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Ithaca College and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed residency training in urology at the Medical College of Georgia and retired from the U.S. Navy in June of 2013 after 23 years of service.
Jadick finished his Navy career as the Chief of Urology at the Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL after returning from a nine month deployment to Afghanistan in October 2012. Jadick is most noted for his service with the Marines out of Camp Lejeune, in 2004 when he volunteered to go to Iraq with 1st Bn 8th Marines as the unit’s Battalion Surgeon. It was during this deployment that his unit was ordered into Fallujah. On the very front lines he established a forward aid station and was credited with saving the lives of 30 Marines and Sailors during the second battle of Fallujah.
Jadick was awarded the Bronze Star with “Combat V” device for valor in January 2006. Jadick’s story was first documented in a Newsweek cover story titled “Hero, M.D.”. He later published his own account of his experiences in a book called “On Call in Hell: A Doctor’s Iraq War Story.” He is board certified with the American Board of Urology and has a wonderful wife Melissa who is a Pediatrician. They reside in Peachtree City, Georgia with their three children. Jadick is currently a practicing urologist and the Chief of Surgery at Piedmont Newnan Hospital in Georgia.
Jadick shared his experiences as Battalion Surgeon in Fallujah with the students and their guests, and he challenged the graduates remain humble and compassionate through their greatest successes and challenges.
“When I applied to medical school I had no idea what osteopathic medicine was,” he said. “What I realized over the next four years, and what you should have realized over your last four years, is that this profession teaches more than just the technical aspects of medicine. Osteopathy is the thought process of commitment to the patients, your family and the community. That’s how it all started. It is the intimacy of physical touch to treat and diagnose patients. These characteristics that were embedded in me as a medical student are what I took to the battle field in Fallujah. These are the qualities I was able to rely on when I had to make hard decisions.”
“Your going into leadership positions,” continued Jadick. “The marine corp. doctrine – leading self, leading others, and leading mission. When you lead yourself, you be your best that you can be…never stop learning. Lead others – its is your job now to set the example…Lead mission – think outside the box…but know your limits. Never get cocky…at the end of your day, when you look at your patients and you’ve done everything you can, look in the bottom of your medical bag and find compassion.”
The ceremony concluded with words of congratulations from COL (RET) Barbara Walker, DO, Campbell University trustee and president of the North Carolina Medical Board.
“Congratulations,” said Walker. “You have taken oaths today. Remember your obligations, and remember your Campbell family is here to support you.”
Class of 2019 members who received promotion:
- United States Air Force: Julia A. Timm Intilli, Internal Medicine, promoted to Captain.
- United States Army: Anna C. DeFrancesco, Psychiatry, promoted to Captain; Michael J. Holcomb, Psychiatry, promoted to Captain; Brandis A. Moore, Internal Medicine, promoted to Captain; Shannon P. Norland, Obstetrics and Gynecology, promoted to Captain; Hamilton Vernon, Family Medicine, promoted to Captain.
- United States Navy: Sarah Johns, Emergency Medicine, promoted to Lieutenant.