This November, Alaska WWAMI is honoring our veterans and the incredible commitment they make to our nation. Among them is Caleb Wagle, a second-year Alaska WWAMI medical student and a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, whose journey blends military service with a dedication to compassionate patient care.
Wagle was commissioned in February 2024 and comes from an Air Force family. Though he once dreamed of becoming a pilot, he realized he was ineligible due to color blindness. Undeterred, he discovered another meaningful way to serve: through medicine.
“I was fortunate to join the military through medical school, which allows me to serve as an Air Force physician,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support the health and well-being of those who served and are serving.”
His training has already shaped his approach to patient care.
“Many of my colleagues who were previously enlisted shared how they sometimes felt unheard in medical settings,” Wagle said. “That’s motivated me to become a physician who truly listens and respects the time I have with each patient.”
For Wagle, Veterans Day is about gratitude and respect.
“We are fortunate to live in a nation where military service is voluntary, and yet several Americans have bravely chosen to put themselves in positions of risk to protect the freedoms we so often take for granted.”
Through his service and training, Caleb exemplifies the dedication, compassion, and respect that define both a physician and a veteran.