The partnership between Hofstra University’s Zucker School of Medicine (SOM) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) represents a pioneering effort to support veterans transitioning into medical careers called SOFtoSOM. This initiative not only aims to simplify the medical school application process for veterans but also leverages their unique experiences and perspectives, enriching the medical profession with a diverse array of skills and backgrounds.
“Hofstra University leans into their mission of creating diversified physicians who come from various backgrounds,” Zachary LeBlanc, director of SOFtoSOM. “When the dean and the president of the school realized this from our briefings, they were like, ‘This is what we want in our physicians.’” This sentiment underscores the alignment between the university’s mission and the unique value veterans bring to the medical field.
LeBlanc is a former Special Operations Forces member and a 2023 SOFtoSOM scholar and is now in medical school in Virginia.
Navigating the Application Process
One of the core benefits of this partnership is its ability to help veterans navigate the often daunting medical school application process. Typically, medical school applications are reviewed by algorithms and committees that may not fully appreciate the non-traditional backgrounds of veteran applicants.
The Hofstra-SOF partnership ensures that applications from SOF scholars are reviewed by individuals familiar with special operations medicine or veterans themselves. This tailored review process allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the applicants’ unique experiences and contributions.
“What this partnership does is allow the veteran who may not have the quantifiables that a traditional student who’s 24 years old might have on their medical school application has but does have other qualities, such as deployments and doing medicine overseas, and years of service in the workforce,” LeBlanc explained. By doing so, the partnership not only facilitates the entry of veterans into medical school but also enhances the diversity of medical professionals, enriching the field with a broader range of perspectives and skills.
Financial and Mentorship Support
Recognizing the financial barriers that veterans may face, the partnership provides significant financial support, including funding for MCAT preparation, third-party study materials, and even the MCAT itself. This financial assistance is crucial in ensuring that veterans can focus on their studies and application processes without the added stress of financial constraints.
Veterans receive guidance on how to prepare for the MCAT, how to craft compelling application essays, and how to excel in medical school interviews. The mentorship extends through the pre-application, application, and pre-interview phases, ensuring that veterans are well-prepared at every step of the process.
“When these veterans write their primary application essays, like their personal statement and their working activities, they’ll submit these to the editors within SOF, and these editors will say, ‘Hey, you know, this is a great story, or maybe you should say this,’” LeBlanc said. This meticulous review process helps veterans present their stories compellingly and authentically, increasing their chances of acceptance into medical programs.
Addressing Challenges and Breaking Down Stigma
Despite their extensive training and experience, many veterans face significant challenges when transitioning to civilian careers, particularly in fields like medicine. There is often a stigma associated with medical school being too lengthy and demanding for older applicants. The nature of military experience can sometimes be undervalued or misunderstood by traditional medical school admissions processes.
“We are pleased to partner with SOFtoSOM, an organization that shares our vision of creating improved pathways for diverse groups to enter the field of medicine and enhance healthcare throughout the United States and the globe,” said David Battinelli, MD, dean and Betsey Cushing Whitney professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine, and executive vice president and physician-in-chief for Northwell Health. “U.S. Special Operations Forces service members embody values inherent in physician leaders, such as excellence and service to others. We are committed to helping them pursue their dreams of entering the medical field and ultimately improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve.”
The Hofstra-SOF partnership is actively working to break down these barriers. By providing a clear and supportive pathway for veterans, the partnership aims to reduce the stigma and demonstrate that veterans can thrive in medical careers. This effort is crucial not only for the veterans themselves but also for the broader medical community, which stands to benefit from the inclusion of individuals with such diverse and rich backgrounds.
Expanding The Initiative
“We have a couple of agreements, but our formal public partnership is the first one with Hofstra,.” LeBlanc said. The goal is to replicate the success of the Hofstra partnership in other institutions, providing veterans nationwide with similar support and opportunities.
While Hofstra University was the first to formalize this partnership, there are ongoing efforts to expand the initiative to other medical schools across the country. This expansion will further enhance opportunities for veterans and help to create a more inclusive and diverse medical profession.
“In the Special Operations community, we live by the motto: Humans are more important than hardware,” said Ricky Ditzel, Jr., an Army Special Operations Flight Paramedic currently pursuing a career as a physician and is also the chairman and co-founder of SOFtoSOM. “We are proud to share this commitment to our people with the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. This collaboration will enrich the healthcare system by introducing highly skilled and resilient physician-leaders from our SOF veterans.”
To date, 30 scholars have completed the SOFtoSOM program and are currently medical students, accepted medical students, or future applicants.
Visit www.SOFtoSOM.org for more information.
