A dedicated military medical team providing critical care in a challenging environment.
Stephanie Cumbey, a Medical College of Georgia student, merges her passion for emergency medicine with her commitment to military service as an Air Force officer. She will soon begin her residency while honoring her father’s legacy. Cumbey has completed rigorous military training and is set to provide critical care within the Air Force, showcasing dedication and resilience in both medicine and service.
Augusta, Georgia – Stephanie Cumbey, a student at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University, is poised to embark on an exceptional journey that merges her passion for emergency medicine with her commitment to military service as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. This dual path signifies not only her dedication to her own career but also reflects a legacy of service inspired by her father, Gary Cumbey, a former Army pilot.
Cumbey is preparing to begin her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Texas in San Antonio. With the completion of her residency, she is set to transition to full-time military duty, where she will serve as a physician within the Air Force. Her scholarship, awarded upon her entry into MCG in 2021, has fully subsidized her medical education, allowing her to pursue her distinct path without the financial burden often associated with medical school.
As a future emergency medicine physician in the military, Cumbey anticipates engaging in various critical roles, including participation in ground surgical teams, critical care air transport, humanitarian missions, and providing care for service members in high-pressure environments. Her choice to marry her medical career with military service is not only a career decision but also a personal commitment to honoring her father’s legacy.
Before her upcoming hooding ceremony, Cumbey successfully completed Officer Training School, a rigorous five-week program that instills military discipline, leadership skills, and an understanding of military culture. The intensive training was designed to challenge recruits, particularly during the demanding first week, branded as “brutal” due to limited sleep and the high-pressure nature of the program. Nonetheless, Cumbey found the camaraderie with her fellow trainees to be a rewarding aspect of the experience, reinforcing her belief in the military principle of “embracing discomfort and adversity,” a philosophy that she feels applies to her future responsibilities as a doctor and as a leader.
Born in Kentucky and raised in Georgia, Cumbey took a purposeful hiatus between her undergraduate studies and her medical school applications, ultimately influencing her decision-making process. MCG emerged as her top choice after receiving strong recommendations from physicians and feeling a significant sense of belonging on campus. Her medical training at MCG has spanned four transformative years, including two years at the main campus in Augusta and an additional two years at the Northwest Clinical Campus in Rome.
During her time in Rome, Cumbey experienced invaluable hands-on training, which included delivering babies and assisting in C-sections, significantly pushing her beyond her expected capabilities. Additionally, she participated in a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic during her third year, further enhancing her understanding of patient care in resource-limited settings. These experiences deepened her appreciation for compassion in medical practice, especially against the backdrop of challenging circumstances.
Cumbey also reflected on the obstacles associated with the demands of medical education and military training, emphasizing the importance of mental resilience in overcoming time constraints and rigorous responsibilities. She perceives the journey through medical school as a “marathon” that necessitates both perseverance and a positive outlook to navigate successfully.
As she prepares to transition into her roles as a resident and an Air Force officer, Stephanie Cumbey represents a new wave of medical professionals dedicated to serving their country while providing critical care in diverse and often challenging situations. Her journey is an inspiring amalgamation of personal motivation, professional ambition, and a profound commitment to service.
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