Chad Curtis, DO, has been serving in the military since college. ISMA would like to honor him and his family for their sacrifice.

In recognition of Veterans Day, ISMA honors physicians who have served in the U.S. armed forces and continue to demonstrate their commitment to service through medicine.

For Army National Guard Maj. Chad Curtis, DO, the call to serve came before his career in medicine.

"I enlisted as an artilleryman in 2010, primarily because I wanted to serve," Dr. Curtis said. "My plan was to gain combat arms experience before attending medical school and commissioning as a medical officer."

His military experience has influenced his approach to medicine in unexpected ways, particularly through teaching and mentoring others.

"Teaching and mentoring in the military has carried over into my civilian practice," he said. "I never aspired to teach, but working with soldiers and medics helped me find a part of myself I might otherwise have left undeveloped."

Dr. Curtis sees strong parallels between his responsibilities as a military officer and those of a physician. Both professions demand integrity, accountability and a commitment to serving others. According to him, Army values and the Hippocratic Oath emphasize service above self, ethical conduct under pressure, and accountability to a higher standard. That commitment also extends to physician advocacy. Dr. Curtis believes young physicians have a responsibility to participate in decisions affecting their profession and their patients.

"Medicine is already political," he said. "Payment, scope of practice, liability, prior authorization, and workplace conditions are all determined through political and regulatory processes. Physicians who refuse to engage do not escape those processes; they simply lose the ability to influence them. The alternative to advocacy is not neutrality — it is a decision to cede control."

While his military and medical careers have shaped his leadership, Dr. Curtis credits his father with laying the foundation for his character.

"My father has had the greatest impact on my character and service," he said. "He taught me chivalry and hard work, which still shapes how I treat people and meet my responsibilities in both military and civilian medicine."

Dr. Curtis experiences serve as a reminder that the call to serve can take many forms, from wearing the nation's uniform to caring for patients and advocating for the medical profession. 
Thank you to all our member physicians who have served or are currently serving. 

ISMA Salutes Our Physician Veterans
Have you served in the U.S. armed forces? We want to hear your story.
ISMA is proud to recognize the physicians who have served our country while dedicating their careers to caring for others.

We invite ISMA members who are military veterans or currently serving to share their experiences, including their branch of service, years served, rank and how their military experiences have influenced their careers in medicine.

To share your story: Contact the ISMA communications team at krutherford@ismanet.org.