Abstract: In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Joshua DeJong, an Army pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, shares his journey from aspiring trauma surgeon to dedicated pediatrician serving military families. Dr. DeJong reflects on the challenges and rewards of medical school, the unique benefits of an Army medical career, and offers advice to those considering a similar path. The following selected excerpts showcase his perspective on training, work-life balance, and the evolving landscape of healthcare.
These excerpts of the interview transcript have been lightly edited for clarity.
When did you first know you wanted to become a physician? Do you remember an epiphany moment or was it gradual?
Dr. Joshua DeJong: That’s always the big thing—medical schools always want to know, why medicine? For me, I always wanted to help people. I loved the sciences and the critical thinking aspect of things. I considered physical therapy and other fields, but what convinced me was doing medical mission trips to Romania. One of my mentors at the time was a geriatrician who worked with kids and families. He really took me under his wing and shared his experience with taking care of people at their worst, being a rock, a voice of reason, helping people through science. I saw him treat some pretty incredible things in some of the Gypsy villages in Romania. For me, that experience was when it really kicked off—the idea that, yes, there’s something very special about being able to help someone in this way. During the two years between undergrad and medical school, I did research and shadowing—especially with oncology doctors—following research from the lab to the clinic, and seeing it play out with patients. That solidified my direction, and I focused on finding a way to help people using a special skill set. My time in Romania was really the moment it started.
How did you choose which medical school to attend, and what factors were important in your decision?
Just like anyone else going through this process, you apply for as many medical schools as you can and hope someone says yes. If you’re one of the lucky ones with multiple options, then the big thing is figuring out what factors matter most. For me, it was about finding strong programs for what I was interested in, like pediatrics and trauma surgery. I wanted a place that had those experiences and robust resources, so that’s why Medical College of Wisconsin stood out—they have an excellent children’s hospital and the opportunity for hands-on experience with transplants, heart surgeries, and everything in one place. I also wanted everything locally, so I wouldn’t need to go elsewhere for rotations. That’s sometimes why top schools are so competitive. I shot for Northwestern, University of Chicago, and others, but Medical College of Wisconsin was close to home at the time, and that helped. Being a state resident can also matter. (During my first application cycle), applying to UW-Madison, I wasn’t a resident and got denied quickly, but after becoming a resident, I started the process with them. Sometimes you have a choice; sometimes you don’t. Knowing what I wanted helped guide my decision. It’s also important to consider what your life will look like during those four years—where you’ll live, access to support, lifestyle factors—because medical school is tough, and social support is important.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in medical school?
I think what surprised me was how fast you realize there’s a lot that you don’t know. Everyone goes into medical school as a smart person, but then you realize, I don’t know anything. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve worked in medicine before—medical school is a fire hose. That hits pretty quickly, and it’s a common experience. I had a group of friends, and we were all going through it together, but even with degrees in biology and chemistry and being a straight-A student, it was tough. Classes were overwhelming. My first test, I think I got a 70 in anatomy, and it just hit me like a bag of bricks. I had to buckle down and figure out how to learn at that pace. Another big challenge was balancing my personal life. My first child was born two days before orientation, my second two days before a major cardiology final. At our school, the rotation grade was 80% from the final, so it created real pressure. I could take the test early and study all the material on my own, or take it on the day with everything else going on—I did it and passed, but I don’t remember much from those days. That’s just reality—your personal life collides with medical school, and you need strategies to stay sane. For me, being involved with my community, playing intramural volleyball, and getting my workouts in helped, even when scheduling was hard. Figuring out that balance is a huge part of the experience.
Why did you decide on pediatrics and Army service, and would you choose the same path again?
I don’t have any regrets about going into pediatrics. It’s a fantastic field. Yes, there’s burnout, but I genuinely enjoy working with kids and families. The people in pediatrics are amazing and focused on trying to make the country better by caring for its future—our children. I’d choose pediatrics again, no question. As for the Army, I’m glad I made that choice as well. Not having to pay for medical school and avoiding $400,000–$500,000 in debt is huge. That financial security lets you focus fully on your training and your patients. During residency, civilian programs might pay $60,000–$70,000 a year, but as a captain in Army residency, with incentives, it’s more, plus free health coverage and other benefits. The Army doesn’t pull you into deployments during your residency—they want you to become a good doctor first. In my assignments, I work inpatient and outpatient, cover the nursery, clinic, sometimes do physicals if called upon, and serve military families along with the local community. You get chances to travel and experience different locations. You might be sent somewhere if the Army requires it, but so far, they’re treating their physicians well. There are a lot of opportunities, including leadership and academic roles. If I had to start over, I’d do the same thing again.
What advice would you give to your younger self, or to future physicians?
I’d tell myself to always think about the future—what are you passionate about, what are your goals, and keep those in mind. Even in high school and college, buckle down because those achievements set you up for the next step. Focus on being the best person you can be, including developing the soft skills that are critical for being a good clinician—communication, empathy, being open to different perspectives. Take opportunities to work with different populations, travel, or just broaden your experiences; that will help you relate to people as a doctor. I wish I’d realized sooner how important it is to reach out to people ahead of you in the process. Don’t do it alone—ask doctors to have coffee, pick their brain, build relationships and mentorships. I didn’t do enough of that as a student, and it slowed me down. Having humility and asking questions is essential. Build a community around you for support and seek out advice—you can’t get there on your own, and you’ll need people around you to help you grow.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing healthcare today?
I think the two biggest challenges are physician burnout and the focus on healthcare costs. Burnout is everywhere—I see so many physicians who have lost the drive to be curious about their patients, and medicine becomes just another day-to-day thing. That directly impacts patient care and connections. There’s also such a push to maximize productivity and cut costs, which means shorter appointments, less time to build trust, less chance to develop relationships. That’s a huge problem, especially when trust between patients and doctors is vital, like with vaccine hesitancy or tough conversations. Without relationship and trust, it’s hard to provide good care. These pressures clearly contribute to burnout, too; doctors have less time and more stress, so they lose interest in building connections, which is essential. We need to address both—supporting physicians and finding ways to maintain meaningful time with patients—to truly fix healthcare.
AI Disclosure: Otter.AI was used to generate the interview transcript for this interview and create the Abstract summary.
