Photo By Katherine Berland | Two Corpsmen from the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) were selected as candidates...... read more read more
SILVER SPRING, Md. – Two Corpsmen from the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) were selected as candidates for the U.S. Navy Medical Degree Prepatory Program (EMDP2) beginning in August, 2017. Hospital Corpsman First Class Ezechiel Fenelon and Hospital Corpsman Second Class Tania Rodeiro were two of five selected throughout the Navy.
“Leaving NMRC is the hardest part of this experience. Being one of the few lab technicians for the Navy’s only rapid deployable mobile laboratories gives me a great sense of pride and responsibility and it will be hard to let it go, but at the same time NMRC has broadened my horizons and I am very grateful to have been able to experience what Ph.D. scientists do in research labs. This gives me the opportunity to expand my naval career,” said Rodeiro.
Fenelon and Rodeiro have been two major contributors to the operational readiness and validation of NMRC and have spent time both in and out of the labs contributing to a variety of NMRC research endeavors. Stationed at the NMRC Biological Defense Research Directorate (BDRD), Frederick, Maryland, for the past two years, they have spent time analyzing specimens for biological warfare threat agents in alignment with operational goals and training objectives promoting continued refinement of defense strategies for operational forces.
“Their attention to detail and their passion in making sure their work was accurate really made a big impact on the BDRD mission. They are always prepared to go the extra mile to be effective team members. Both (are) outstanding team members I knew I could always depend on,” said Chief Vilma Bauer, Senior Enlisted Leader, NMRC BDRD.
She continued, “With their perseverance and dedication, along with strong planning, flexibility and ability to work independently, and their desire to always strive for excellence, I am confident they are the right choice for this program.”
For the next two years, the two will spend most of their time preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), taking prerequisites, and completing graduate science level curriculum before starting medical school.
As is common with new opportunities, when one door closes, another must open.
“The application process for a Navy academic program like this is quite rigorous and meticulous,” said Fenelon. “Both Rodeiro and I only had about two months to put our packages together, which felt like no time at all.”
EMDP2 is a two-year undergraduate education program that consists of intensive coursework, preparation, and mentoring to prepare students for application to medical school. Upon completion of the program, successful students will be competitive for acceptance to any U.S. medical school.
All applicants are required to submit paperwork including recommendations, tests, and evaluation reports. To be selected for the program, an individual must have met the following requirements: a high cumulative grade point average, a strong commanding officer endorsement, compelling appraisal recommendations, a well-articulated personal statement, as well as a demonstrated sustained superior and academic performance in the classroom and on prerequisite standardized testing.
“My goal will remain the same as it has for the past seven years of my Navy career, to give everything my all and hope for the best. I’m shooting for nothing but A’s in all of my future courses,” said Rodeiro.
Both are planning on dedicating most, if not all, of their time to their academics in order to meet their goals.
“I have an enduring goal that encompasses any type of activity I engage in. I want to succeed and be the best I can. Notwithstanding the challenges, I will do what it takes to meet my objectives. I will use this opportunity to serve at higher capacities in the military and become a leader in international health,” said Fenelon.
When asked if they had anything to add to on their accomplishments thus far, both echoed a common word anyone familiar with a big challenge is familiar with – hope.
“I have an atypical passion for success and I want to believe that we are all built with an iota of pervasive hope,” said Fenelon.
NMRC wishes both Fenelon and Rodeiro continued success on their future endeavors.
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2017 09:25 |
| Story ID: | 245946 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 267 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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