Anna Doyle, a senior majoring in radiologic sciences who’s originally from Cottonwood, CA, served five years in the United States Navy before attending Boise State. According to Travis Armstrong, a clinical assistant professor in the radiologic sciences department, “Anna is a model student with a deep and sincere commitment to serve others, and I cannot think of a time when there was not a call for volunteers to aid our program when Anna didn’t immediately step forward to help out.”
Doyle spent 10 weeks last summer volunteering at the St. Luke’s hospital in McCall to complete her clinical rotation. She will soon engage on a student panel to share strategies for success in the clinical setting for the department’s first-year students.
“I can only imagine that it was this same commitment to service that motivated Anna to join and serve in the Navy as a young person,” Armstrong said.
She tells us what led her to serve her country, the inspiration behind selecting her field of study, and why supporting fellow veterans while completing her degree is important to her.
Q&A with Anna Doyle
Where were you stationed during your time in the Navy?
I spent six months at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, which is north of Chicago, for bootcamp and training for my role as an operations specialist. I then spent four and a half years at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, VA on a destroyer called the USS Nitze (DDG-94). I did two seven-month long deployments to the Middle East during 2016 and 2019, and I have been to a total of 11 different countries.
What inspired you to join the military?
I was raised in a patriotic family and the military was a way to support my country. Along with this, I was excited to travel and see new things. The benefits that come from the military are unmatched and that was a factor in my decision as well.
Why are you passionate about radiologic sciences and what do you hope to accomplish with your degree?
I wanted to pursue medical imaging before joining the military for several reasons. There is so much to offer in medical imaging, and I chose it because I wanted to work in the healthcare field and help people. Radiologic science is an exciting career with new technology always changing and improving patient care.
After I graduate in spring 2023, there are many specialties I will be able to advance towards. I hope to get a job with a hospital or clinic as a radiologic technologist. I also want to pursue another specialty qualification such as ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (commonly referred to as MRI) or computerized tomography (CT). I can pursue these programs through Boise State, or some can be done with on the job training. My current plan is to apply for Boise State’s ultrasound program in the spring.
How has Boise State supported you during your undergraduate journey?
I started at Boise State in January 2020 and was quickly moved online due to the pandemic. Despite that hardship, I always felt that Boise State had my best interest in mind. I had two faculty members that have gone above and beyond once I was accepted into the radiologic sciences program.
[Clinical Associate Professor] John Lampignano is always available for his students. He goes above and beyond to make sure everyone has the support they need. He also is a great mentor and helpful in all aspects, talking to us about continuing our education or helping find jobs that will fit well with what we want to do.
Travis Armstrong is another faculty member that has gone above and beyond to ensure we are successful. He works hard to make sure we all get a variety of clinics and hospitals as our clinical coordinator. I was lucky enough to spend 10 weeks at a small St. Luke’s hospital in McCall last summer. It was a great learning opportunity and opened up job opportunities for me in the future.
How important is it to you to serve fellow veterans?
I was able to do a clinical rotation at the Boise VA Medical Center through Boise State. I really enjoyed working at the VA with veterans and would like to work for the VA in the future to continue to support veterans.
I am very proud to be a veteran and very appreciative to be recognized on Veterans Day. While on active duty, all members of the military give up personal time to serve our country and it means a lot to be recognized.