Articles

April 22, 2026

From Immigrant to Architect of Smiles: The Unconventional Journey of a U.S. Army Dentist

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Captain Rachel Shi, a U.S. Army dentist originally from Lanzhou, China, took an unconventional path to her career. Arriving in the U.S. just before high school graduation with limited English, she joined the Army as a Water Treatment Specialist — not even knowing soldiers were paid — as a way to find herself before rushing into college. While stationed in Germany, an optometrist mentioned the Health Professions Scholarship Program, planting the idea of a healthcare career. In South Korea, a mentor named SFC Hunter built her confidence through competitions and challenges, while another officer encouraged her not to settle for dental hygiene when she could pursue dentistry itself. She earned her associate degree on active duty, then a biology degree from the University of Washington, and eventually graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. In a full-circle moment, her residency mentor at Fort Jackson turned out to be the same officer who had encouraged her years earlier in Korea. Now preparing for a three-year prosthodontics residency — a specialty she calls “oral architecture” — Captain Shi has become a mentor herself, leading her team with inspirational quotes and a culture of gratitude. Her story centers on a simple but powerful theme: the right words at the right moment can change a life.

Jan. 23, 2026

Rising stars: Sgt. Raven Maldonado and Sgt. Jaden Huston selected for Army Medical Department Enlisted Commissioning Program

Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA — In a notable achievement for McDonald Army Health Center, two 68W combat medic specialist noncommissioned officers, Sgt. Raven Maldonado and Sgt. Jaden Huston, have been selected for the highly competitive Army Medical Department Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP). The program enables enlisted Soldiers to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nov. 20, 2025

Red Cross Dental Assistant Training Program Opens Doors for Military Spouses at Fort Eustis

JOINT BASE LANGLEY–EUSTIS, Va. — McDonald Army Health Center, partnering with the American Red Cross, launched a six-month Dental Assistant Training Program at Fort Eustis to help military dependents gain portable career skills despite frequent PCS moves. The no-cost, 600-hour program combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical rotations across the dental clinic, preparing students in chairside assisting, radiography, sterilization, and patient administration. The initiative builds on a Red Cross–Army collaboration dating back to the 1970s and supports both family quality of life and military readiness.