The agency Chief Health and Medical Officer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spoke to Campbell medical students during Grand Rounds on Thursday and at today’s White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2022.
A Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, Dr. J.D. Polk has been NASA’s top doctor since 2016, overseeing the medical needs of astronauts and aviators and ensuring crews both in space and on earth are healthy to decrease mission risk. Polk is also the former dean of medicine for Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and served as Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Polk spoke to Campbell first and second year medical students in Thursday’s Grand Rounds about the dynamics of health care in space — the limits, challenges, unique atmosphere and effects of space on the body; from muscle effects to cranial pressure and emotional stress.
He spoke in the context of current space travel versus the future and its additional challenges — for example, NASA’s immediate goal of training astronauts for a mission to Mars. Polk and his staff have also served as consultants on recent movies such as The Martian and The First Man.
“I didn’t set out to be the chief of space medicine,” Polk said when asked how his career led him to NASA. “I have 3 masters degrees, and after my residency, I joined the Air Force Reserve to pay off loans. I started covering search and rescue space recovery sims as a pilot, and one day, someone said to me, ‘You know … you’re pretty good at this,’ and recruited me to NASA.”
The School’s students found him to be an entertaining and personable speaker. Dean Dr. John Kauffman received a round of applause when he asked Polk about his students’ rotation opportunities at NASA. Polk smiled and said half of his flight surgeons are DOs, and half of the students on rotations are DO students.
“There are two competitive rotations in Texas and health policy out of my office in Washington,”Polk said. “They involve significant research and are a great opportunity.”
First-year med student Caleb Newton said he appreciated Polk’s holistic approach to medicine while in a high-profile position at NASA.
“His work encourages me to excel in my studies during my time here at Campbell,” he said.
Dakota Boisseau said she was thankful to have heard Polk speak.
“He was inspiring and informative regarding space medicine, and I believe his research and improvements to the field will not only benefit aspiring doctors, but the medical practice as a whole,” Boisseau said.
Dr. Polk will bring the White Coat Address to the Class of 2022 and their guests today during the medical school’s White Coat Ceremony.