Veterans Day Profile: Patrick Quarles
Veterans Day honors those who have served in the United States military. In recognition of their commitment and sacrifice, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix will share a few stories of medical students who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military.
Meet Patrick Quarles
Originally from Columbus, Georgia, Patrick Quarles enlisted in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman after graduating high school. He served at the Naval Medical Center San Diego and 1st Medical Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California.
“I was inspired to join the Navy due to wanting to be part of something bigger than myself,” Quarles said. “I knew the Navy would set me up with skills and benefits that would serve my future self.”
After five years of service, Quarles attended Arizona State University. Following graduation, he enrolled in the Pathway Scholars Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and matriculated into the Class of 2026.
For Quarles, the transition from the military to higher education was somewhat challenging. His mentality changed in the military in such a way that it was tough to share space with others who did not share the same mindset. However, he overcame that obstacle and has connected with his peers in medical school.
As a member of the military, Quarles developed his leadership skills and a passion for mentoring. Even as a junior ranking sailor, he was given the responsibility to help train, develop and lead his fellow servicemembers in a variety of capacities. These proficiencies followed him through medical school — where he has held leadership positions in local and regional organizations.
“I take every chance I get to mentor and offer advice and knowledge to those around me,” Quarles said. “I also gained even more resilience and grit that can, in my opinion, only be obtained through military service.”
Quarles’s time in the military shaped his view of medicine as it highlighted the need for systematic approaches to solve problems. As a result, he approaches patients in a similar way, which has served him well in treating patients and navigating clinical rotations.
As someone who made the transition to medicine, Quarles recommends servicemembers interested in pursuing the same path to start taking classes early in their service career.
“The military offers a lot of money to further your education, which lessens the load once you decide to separate from the military,” Quarles said. “Capitalize on the opportunity to learn from the military physicians and health care workers, as these opportunities are unique and will help you shine throughout medical school.
About the College
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.