Sydney Gould, a Class of 2025 student at VCOM-Louisiana, discovered her passion for military medicine during her formative years in northern Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. Although she was not from a military family, she was surrounded by friends whose parents served in the armed forces. It wasn’t until her mid-twenties, while living in Oceanside, California— a city with a strong military presence—that Sydney realized she belonged to the military community. The camaraderie and sense of purpose she experienced there solidified her decision to pursue a career as a military physician. Sydney applied for and was awarded an Army Health Professions Scholarship.
Upon arriving at VCOM-Louisiana, Sydney wasted no time getting involved. She joined the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS) chapter, where she facilitated physical training sessions for military students in her first year. Her commitment and leadership earned her the role of chapter president. In this position, she focused on increasing member engagement and organizing key events, including Memorial Day physical training sessions, 9/11 remembrance ceremonies, and Veterans Day activities. Sydney also played an instrumental role in leading a lecture series on military and veteran mental health, ensuring the content was accessible to the entire student body.
Nathan Kinnard, EdD, associate dean for student affairs at VCOM-Louisiana, highlighted Sydney's indispensable role within the SAMOPS student chapter, “Coordinating information for our health professions scholarship program (HPSP) students has been a learning process, and Sydney’s leadership has been invaluable,” he said. “Undoubtedly, she will be an outstanding member of our armed forces and military medicine. We will miss her when she leaves next year to serve our country!”
Sydney’s leadership within SAMOPS led to opportunities at a national level. After attending the Armed Forces Medical Society (AMOPS) National Convention in 2022, she became even more determined to stay involved. She held the position of service liaison on the AMOPS national board before stepping into the role of assistant conference chair for the 2024-2025 term. In this role, Sydney collaborated with the national conference chair to develop student-focused programming, including a CV and personal statement workshop and a student town hall with national leadership. She also coordinated logistics, assisted residents with hands-on skills stations, and ensured the conference ran smoothly.
The 2025 AMOPS national convention, held in February in Texas, brought together osteopathic physicians, medical students, residents, and distinguished military medical leaders. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with high-ranking officials, including the Army surgeon general, the Air Force surgeon general, and the commander of Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, who served as keynote speakers. The conference featured a variety of student-focused programs, workshops, and networking opportunities, fostering collaboration and professional development within the military medical community.
My favorite part of organizing the AMOPS National Conference was ensuring students had a memorable experience—one that would encourage them to stay involved in the future. Meeting the distinguished guests and keynote speakers was also an honor.
Kinnard was impressed by Sydney’s impact at the conference. “Sydney went to the national conference and helped change the nature of information sharing between medical schools across the country and the United States military,” he said. “I couldn’t have been more impressed with the AMOPS conference this year, her leadership and inexhaustible work ethic were visible throughout the weekend.”
As Sydney approaches graduation, she leaves behind a legacy of leadership both at VCOM-Louisiana and within the broader military medical community. As an HPSP student, her primary focus has been on excelling in medical school and preparing for her board exams. She was commissioned into the Army as a second lieutenant through the program. After graduation, she will complete the Army’s direct commission course and basic officer leadership course, after which she will be promoted to captain. She will then begin her emergency medicine residency training, further preparing for her role as a military physician. Upon completing her residency, Sydney will be fully trained to serve as an emergency medicine physician in the Army.
“I’m not sure what life or my career has in store, but I know there are many opportunities to take on in an operational medicine role,” Sydney shared. “My goal is to save as many lives as I can, as close to the battle as possible.”
