Military Matches: Kyle Avery and Katie Huisman

Being both an army veteran and a medical student requires fortitude and perseverance to serve others and become a part of something bigger than yourself.

Kyle Avery and Katie Huisman are finishing up their time at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. Avery, who’s already served as a medic in the Army, participated in the Military Match last December. Huisman, who selected civilian deferment, will know what program she matches into on Match Day and will rejoin the Navy after residency.

Both Avery and Huisman learned valuable skills from medical school that will be applicable for their future experiences. Each student relied on their community of supporters that helped encourage them along the path of pursuing a career in medicine.

“My biggest supporters are definitely my family,” Huisman said. “They’re always just a quick flight away, and our weekly phone calls are a constant source of encouragement.”

Avery credits his wife, family, mentors and medical school friends as his sources of support throughout his journey in medical school.

Kyle Avery

Originally from Missouri, Avery — who first gained an interest in medicine from being a lifeguard in high school — earned his bachelor’s degree in health science from Purdue Global University and a master’s degree in biology from George Mason University. 

“As a medic, I feel like I hit a plateau in terms of what I knew medically and what I could do to treat patients,” Avery said. “Ultimately, I wanted to be the one responsible for patients’ care and more educated.”

Avery pursued medical school through a military offering called Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program, which allowed him to fulfill his premed prerequisites during his active duty in the Army.

From 2015-2022, Avery served in the Army. When medical school started, he commissioned as an officer and 2LT under the Health Professions Scholarship Program.

Avery’s time in medical school taught him a foundation of medical knowledge. After learning how to use trauma-informed care and how to listen to and advocate for patients, he now feels prepared for the next step: residency.

“I am very excited to start residency, learn more about my specialty and exist my role as a medical student to becoming a physician,” Avery said.

In early December, Avery received his Military Match results where he learned he matched into obstetrics and gynecology at Womack Army Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

With the finish line in sight, Avery aims to finish his rotations and his MPH coursework to graduate with his dual MD/MPH degree in May.

“My goals are to be a successful intern and resident, a strong contributing member of the team that people want to work with and a strong advocate for my future patients,” Avery said.

Post-graduation, Avery said he will miss the friends he made along the way. His advice for incoming medical students is to keep an open mind regarding specialty decisions.

Katie Huisman

Huisman, born and raised in Great Falls, Montana, remained in-state for her undergraduate studies at Carroll College, where she studied biochemistry. Always drawn to the intersection of science and people, medicine felt like a natural path early on for her.

“I’ve always been fascinated by how and why things work, especially when it comes to the human body,” Huisman said. “Pair that curiosity with enjoying working with people, and medicine felt like the perfect fit.”

Joining the Navy through the Health Professions Scholarship Program, Huisman always wanted to be part of something bigger than herself.

“The military community, including service members and their families, is such a rewarding group of people to work with,” Huisman said. “The military also offers incredible opportunities to gain unique skills and see different parts of the world.” And she cited how many people look back on their time in service as some of the most meaningful years of their lives.

That commitment to helping others extended to her time in medical school. For Huisman, one of the most impactful experiences was working with Street Medicine Phoenix and caring for the unhoused population.

“It taught me a lot about working in limited-resource settings and meeting people where they’re at,” Huisman said. “That experience really shaped how I think about creative problem-solving and patient-centered care.”

After exploring different specialties, Huisman found anesthesiology to be the right fit for her. The spontaneity of each day and the wide range of patients — from newborns to complex adult cases to trauma patients — drew her in to the field.

“You are constantly applying physiology and critical care knowledge in real time,” Huisman said. “I love that during a case you get to focus completely on the one patient in front of you. There’s something really meaningful about being fully responsible for their safety and well-being in that moment.”

After Match Day, Huisman plans to complete a four-year anesthesiology residency and will return to the Navy to serve as an attending physician. One of her goals is to be stationed at a military teaching hospital where she can work with and mentor Navy anesthesia residents.

The next step, though, is completing her MD. And she’ll always reflect fondly on her time with the college — the people she met and the friendships she built will last a lifetime. She encourages incoming students to make time for what brings them joy.

“Medicine will always feel busy, but it’s worth intentionally carving out time to step away and enjoy life with the people around you,” Huisman said.