As a four-year-old child growing up in Chicago, Colonel Lisa A. Black, DO, MPH, was sure that she wanted to be a doctor. No one in her family was a physician; her father was a policeman, and she had lost her mother at a young age. She viewed her pediatrician as a role model and, despite the challenges she faced, did not lose sight of her goal of attending medical school.

Dr. Black attended Loyola University Chicago and became involved with the U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), drawn to the support and maturity level of the individuals she encountered. After graduation, she applied to both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools, but she believes that Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM) looked beyond her exam scores and grade point average to consider her accomplishments and goals as an individual.

Before beginning her medical education at DMU-COM, Dr. Black worked as a teaching assistant and laboratory instructor at Loyola, volunteering at Olympia Fields Osteopathic Medical Center in her spare time. She enjoyed the excitement of the emergency room and found an inspiring mentor in Lou Steininger, DO, who enthusiastically sponsored her work in the ER. In medical school, Dr. Black received advice from a classmate, advice that would change the course of her career. David Towle, DO, MPH, recommended that she apply to the U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship Program. Her acceptance into the program, and her subsequent military involvement, opened many doors and created unique opportunities for her.

Since that time, Dr. Black has attended the Harvard School of Public Health, has been board certified in both occupational and aerospace medicine, and has piloted 13 different aircraft, not to mention becoming a decorated war veteran.

“I’ve been in one sort of uniform or another since 1977,” she said.

During her deployment to Operation Desert Storm, Dr. Black assembled wood scraps to set up an osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) table. Her popularity rose as she received a growing number of treatment requests from fellow soldiers. OMT was especially valuable in treating the aviation population, as aircrew were unable to take muscle relaxers or pain medications to alleviate back, neck or other similar pain.

Dr. Black is currently the Brigade Surgeon for the Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. In the Warrior Clinic, she and her staff care for hundreds of critically wounded, injured and ill soldiers, and she feels that she has a very demanding and rewarding position. The perseverance and dedication of the soldiers give her strength to do the best job that she can do.

“It’s a distinct honor to take care of these brave men and women,” she said.

Although she has not had any medical students job shadow her in her primarily administrative role at the Headquarters, students are welcome and frequently found in the Warrior Clinic, shadowing her Primary Care team. Dr Black notes that although seeing the results of war is always a difficult thing, the strength and determination of the soldier patients is ever-inspiring and working with them during their recovery to return to military duty or productive civilian life is extremely fulfilling.

“I have been given so much, and I feel like it’s my turn to give back,” she said.