Honorees

Rachel Ellis, April 2009

On April 16, 2009 Rachel Ellis became the first student to receive the Captain David Brown Aerospace and Medical Research Endowment. The following is the application from this extraordinary applicant.

List activities with which you are or have been involved and describe your level of involvement.

I am a member of the Dermatology Club, Project SMILE, International Medicine Club and the EVMS chapter of the American Medical Association. As a Project SMILE buddy, I am assigned to a child at CHKD that was diagnosed at age five with cancer. I go to events through the club with my little buddy, and see her and her brother as often as possible outside of those activities, providing a mental break from life with cancer. As an active member of the Dermatology Club, I have attended club meetings, as well as the weekly dermatology resident conference. This summer I will be assisting with melanoma screenings at the Oceanfront with the dermatology residents. I have applied to be a counselor at Camp Discovery, a camp through the American Academy of Dermatology for children with skin disorders. I am an interviewer for EVMS applicants, fulfilling my passion for bringing people to this school that contribute more than just good academic numbers to the student body. I am also one of three members of the EVMS cadaver memorial service committee. Besides planning all aspects of the service, we want to provide a DVD or other product from the memorial that can be given to the families of donors so they can see how grateful we are for their family member's most precious gift.

Describe previous experiences supporting your interest in aerospace and medical research.

After graduation from the US Naval Academy, I was given the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a naval aviator. I reported to Naval Flight Officer training in September 2000, and received my wings of gold in March 2002.1 was one of the first two women chosen out of the training command to fly the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Navy's newest strike fighter aircraft. My career has taken me on flights across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, from the Paris Air Show to the sands of Iwo Jima. As an aviator, we were constant subjects in training and research. Experiences like the centrifuge (anti g-induced loss of consciousness training), night vision goggle use, and water survival were all driven by the Navy's desire to mitigate the risk of placing a human in flight. I participated in many studies, including those for next generation flight survival gear, new oxygen masks and microphones. I was also involved with finding an effective system for women to use to urinate in the jet; it is very difficult and can be very dangerous while on a 10 hour flight wearing 45 pounds of flight gear!

Even though I have left the naval aviation community, I am still very passionate about aerospace research. I am looking forward to returning to the Navy after graduation to serve with those whom I flew with for 8 years. I want to ensure my friends in all aspects of naval aviation, to include a few that are applying to NASA, are provided with the best possible environment and equipment to perform their duties. I am interested in studies on female aviators involving bone density changes and the effects tactical flight and life on ships has on the health of all aviators.

I am also interested in dermatology research. This summer I will be working alongside one of the dermatology residents writing up case studies on some of their most interesting patients, as well as help design and distribute a patient questionnaire for local dermatology clinics.

Indicate why you feel that you are particularly well qualified for this scholarship designed to honor Captain David Brown.

I am particularly well qualified for this scholarship because I am a naval aviator who will be returning to the Navy to provide care to the Sailors and Marines who I had the pleasure to serve for eight years with. As a physician in the Navy I will be in the unique position of having prior service as a warfare qualified officer and understand the challenges of life in the military. Throughout my career I have personally benefited from several advances brought forth by medical research. These include photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), ergonomic cockpits, and improved helmet liners. Because of my positive experiences with these advancements I will act as an advocate for increased funding for equipment that will improve the human response and efficiency while in flight. I will also work for research on how flight and the naval environment affect the health of aviators and those that maintain the aircraft. I am also interested in the possible correlation between high output avionics, particularly radar, and cancer, as well as the long-term effects on the body after years of tactical flight.

Like Captain Brown, I am passionate about service to others and service to my country. I admire his career path and the extensive impact he made on the world. As for my own career, I made the decision to stay in the Navy because I know I can make a difference. The Navy is not providing a scholarship for my tuition at EVMS; I need to take out loans for school. Captain Brown's scholarship will provide much needed assistance for the cost of my medical education. I will be honored to receive this scholarship in Captain Brown's memory and strive to honor his lifetime of service. Thank you very much for this gift to a student in memory of a great American.