Last modified Wed., September 02, 2009 - 04:22 PM
Originally created Thursday, September 3, 2009

TV Bachelor courts healthcare recruits at Naval Hospital

By Marsha Childs, Naval Hospital Jax Public Affairs

Lt. Cmdr. Andy Baldwin hands out his business cards to prospective naval healthcare recruits Aug. 4 at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. He encouraged them to consider a Navy career for its many education and travel opportunities. His presentation and tour were co-sponsored by the hospital, NRD Jax and Navy Recruiting Command. Photo by Marsha Child

Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Baldwin, season 10's "The Bachelor" from the popular ABC show of the same name, courted prospective medical recruits during a presentation and tour Aug. 4 at Naval Hospital Jacksonville The event was sponsored by Navy Recruiting District Jacksonville (NRD Jax) in conjunction with the Navy Recruiting Command.

Baldwin, an undersea naval medical officer or "Dive Doc," shared his experiences with 13 healthcare professionals considering military service. He told them, "It's the best decision I ever made."

Growing up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania, Baldwin joined the Navy not only for the adventure but also for the free education. He graduated magna cum laude with a biology degree from Duke University in 1999 on a Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship.

Baldwin

Then he attended University of California-San Francisco on a full Navy Health Professions Scholarship. He did clinical rotations at Naval Hospital San Diego and graduated with his medical degree in 2003, along with a promotion to the rank of lieutenant.

"Do you know how much I paid for my education," he asked? "Zero!" Baldwin told the audience of podiatrists, nurses, dieticians and others that he had traveled the world and lived in many interesting places.

As an Undersea Medical Officer trained for mixed gas diving up to 300 feet, he treated all military and civilian diving casualties in Hawaii during his three-year tour.

During a three-year tour in Hawaii, he treated 20 divers in a hyperbaric chamber for decompression sickness, a condition that forces bubbles into the bloodstream that can block blood flow to the brain, joints and other organs.

But some of his fondest memories during his 10-year period were of his humanitarian missions. He was part of a rapid response team dispatched to Utapao, Thailand in 2005 onboard the hospital ship, USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) to provide medical aid and humanitarian relief to victims of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami.

During Operation Continuing Promise 2009, Baldwin helped treat more than 1,500 patients while deployed on USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

These missions are vital to the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead's global maritime partnership strategy. Public opinion of the United States has greatly improved in these strategically important locations.

We are leading from the tip of the spear in Navy Medicine right now," he told the potential recruits and urged them to serve their country. "You are choosing a very noble career."

For more information about Navy careers in the health care profession, go online at http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare or contact Lt. Todd Zoller (904) 396-5909 at NRD Jax.