WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --
When asked what he had accomplished last summer, SSgt. Jose
Gutierrez said he traveled to Ecuador to conduct his independent research
project for his studies at Yale University. The bioenvironmental technician --
assigned to the 439th Aerospace Medicine Squadron -- downplayed the
significance of his multi-pursuit life.
“I conducted research that examines factors associated with growth
progress in pediatric patients that have completed a nutrition supplement
program,” he said.
The clinic where he studied, Futuro Valdivia, is planning to use
his data and results in order to re-appeal for funding for future endeavors
with the Downs Fellowship, which supports graduate and professional Yale
students who undertake health-related research primarily in low- and
middle-income countries.
It provides opportunities for challenging experiences abroad as
Fellows create and improvise in the face of unforeseen events, acquiring new perspectives
on their responsibilities and capabilities as professionals.
“The families participating in the study were so warm and
accepting, and it is easy to feel a raw, emotional mix of happiness and
heartbreak when hearing their experiences and desires to provide their child
with a healthy upbringing,” SSgt. Gutierrez said. “It reminds me that there’s
still a lot of work to be done in global health, and am excited that I am able
to contribute to this knowledge as a nurse through research.”
As a full time student at Yale and an Air Force Reservist at
Westover, SSgt. Gutierrez manages a busy schedule with a knack at working it to
his advantage -- the innate ability to balance his civilian career decisions
with his military career.
“I work as a research clinician for a bariatric study and also as
a registered nurse in an infectious diseases clinic. The military has enhanced
my civilian career by helping me develop teamwork skills in an environment
where adaptation is unexpected events to key,” he said. As a bioenvironmental
technician, his military job has enabled him to investigate how a patient’s
environment, occupation and other activities can affect their health.
“This perspective of what can cause ailments and what can be done
to reverse those affects is so valuable,” he said.
“Why did I enlist? In all honesty, I wanted an adventure.” He
said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life yet, but I knew that I
wasn’t ready to commit to a life of monotony and predictable routine.” As for
the future, SSgt. Gutierrez hopes to begin a PhD program after his current
master’s program ends and eventually pursue a commission as a registered nurse
in the reserve upon completion of his schooling.
SSgt. Gutierrez was chosen to represent the Air Force Reserve in
Futures magazine. It features service members who go above and beyond the call
and is distributed to high school guidance counselors to shed light on
otherwise unknown military possibilities.