As the Dartmouth community and the nation celebrate Veteran’s Day 2025, honoring the sacrifices that American military members make for their country, Geisel School of Medicine is proud to recognize and thank its veterans for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Below, three of our Geisel student veterans reflect on some of the most valuable lessons they learned in the military and the impact of those experiences on their path to medicine.
Angus Mauser MED ’28
Angus Mauser enlisted in the Army Reserve while still in high school, leaving for basic training the summer after graduation. He worked as a Combat Medic during deployments to Kuwait and Iraq, and later, when his unit provided medical support to local response teams facing major disasters on the Eastern half of the U.S. His last activation was during the first COVID-19 lockdown.
During his service, Mauser enrolled in a program for nursing students and applied to commission as an officer, but a knee injury derailed his plans. “I was a little disappointed at the time but later realized it was a blessing in disguise. Being declined made me re-evaluate what I really wanted to do,” says Mauser, who attained the rank of Specialist (E-4).
Mauser went back to school, earning a nursing degree and worked in a variety of specialty areas as a nurse—from rehabilitation to clinical research to primary care. Altogether, his experiences helped him gain the confidence he needed to pursue medicine as a career.
“The number one lesson I learned from my military experiences was that you can always do more than you think you can,” says Mauser. “Sometimes, you can be presented with an obstacle that seems insurmountable. But if you stay calm and believe in yourself, you can get through it.
“Joining the Army gave me a valuable perspective about the world and allowed me to meet people from all walks of life,” he adds. “I gained so much life experience; it helped me grow up in a way I don’t think I could have if I’d taken a different path.”
Anaeli “Ellie” Sandoval MED ’29
After earning her law degree, Ellie Sandoval served for six years on active duty as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army, deploying to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait and attaining the rank of Major.
During that time, she advised a Special Operations Task Force, helping to coordinate medical evacuations and investigations when soldiers were injured or killed in combat. She also served as an Assistant Legal Advisor for the U.S. State Department, stationed in the Embassy of Baghdad.
Whether it was during her deployment or as a military spouse—Sandoval’s husband served 20 years in Ranger Battalion and Special Forces—she witnessed the profound and lasting effects of battlefield trauma.
“From physical injuries to invisible wounds like PTSD, the toll on service members’ health and wellbeing is deep and enduring,” she says. “Wanting to be part of the solution led me to pursue medicine and hopefully to have a role working with the VA.”
Sandoval says one of the most important lessons she learned during her military service was to be flexible. “That sometimes meant doing duties that weren’t necessarily in my job description, but it didn’t matter because it was for the success of our team and our mission.”
She believes that experiences such as serving as a Special Counsel representing victims of sexual assault allowed her to develop skills that will prove useful in becoming a physician. “For me, medicine is the privilege of bearing witness to someone’s truth and holding space for their healing,” says Sandoval. “As a first-generation Latina, it's also about building connections that break down barriers and foster trust, empathy, and care.”
Sean Strayer MED ’29
After a brief stint in community college, Sean Strayer enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was assigned the role of Medic in the Emergency Services Flight 99th Medical Group at Nellis AFB in Nevada—where he attained the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Later, he served in the Air National Guard as an Alternate Emergency Services Site Coordinator and Trauma Casualty Combat Care Instructor in the 163rd Medical Group at March AFB in California.
During active duty, Strayer worked in the ED and on an ambulance in Nevada, learning to operate and even thrive in a fast-paced, dramatic environment. “I was struck not by the chaos but by the calm and confidence of my team—by the end of my first year, I had fallen in love with emergency medicine,” he says.
When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Strayer’s hospital, like so many others, was overwhelmed. But amid that uncertainty, he saw the best in humanity. “One of my most vivid memories was working with medics in training on their first ER rotation,” he recalls. “They were eager to help in any way possible, pleading with staff to learn interventions that could bring comfort to patients.”
Months later, he was honored with the Preceptor of the Class award by a group of students he had taught—a poignant moment that gave him the final push to leave the military, return to school, and pursue medicine.
“The military transformed me from a directionless young adult into a future physician,” says Strayer. “I feel profoundly honored to have served and am forever indebted to those who also answered the call.”
Video: Veterans at Geisel
