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 to
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.