Megan Unrath ’21 says her Cornell ROTC training helped her become a leader

Following her core values led Megan Unrath ’21 to the conclusion that she wanted to become a doctor.

She was a Human Biology, Health, and Society major in the College of Human Ecology. The interdisciplinary nature of the major was what initially attracted Megan to apply to Cornell. She had always enjoyed learning about science, but it was her military service that helped her recognize that she wanted to practice medicine in the Army.

“For me it was wanting to be part of something bigger than myself,” she says, “and also wanting to serve with the people and for the country that has given us so much.”

Megan graduated from medical school in May 2025 and moved to Hawai‘i to begin her pediatric physician residency at Tripler Army Medical Center. Megan reports that her residency program is rigorous. She works six days a week, serving patients from military families in Hawai‘i and from U.S. Army facilities throughout the Pacific region.