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NEWS | May 13, 2009

Charleston Airman reaches for new heights through education

Strayer University

When Tech. Sgt. Christina Dodson starts a family, she wants them to value education and its capacity to change lives.

If they ask for an example, they can look no further than Sergeant Dodson, who is an aerospace medical technician with the 437th Medical Operations Squadron and was honored as the Outstanding Graduate Student during the April 25 Strayer University commencement ceremony in Atlanta.

"I am honored to be the first in my family to earn a bachelor's and a master's degree," she said. "Growing up in a disadvantaged community, my mom taught me that I had a choice to remain where I was or to get an education that would enable me to become a productive member of society.

According to Sergeant Dodson, getting a master's degree, while working full time, is tough.

"It requires sacrifice and commitment," said Sergeant Dodson. "I utilized my lunches each day to read my home assignments. I also researched and wrote papers after work almost every day.

"I want to be a role model to my future children and hope they will embrace education and even obtain a doctorate degree," she added.

The Outstanding Graduate Student Award recognizes a graduate student who maintained a 4.0 GPA and has made positive contributions to his or her local community. Sergeant Dodson graduated with her Master's of Health Services Administration and has served in the Air Force for 12 years.

"Sergeant Dodson has been very committed toward achieving a master's degree," said Col. Consuella Pockett, 437th Medical Group commander. "She has balanced her Air Force duties with her educational goals very well by consistently taking off-duty classes and staying on top of work requirements. Sergeant Dodson's ability to lead fellow staff members enables both civilian and active-duty patients to receive quality health care, providing vital support to the 437th Airlift Wing's mission."

As an aerospace medical technician, Sergeant Dodson supervises a team consisting of a doctor, physician assistant, two nurses and two medical technicians who provide care to more than 1,000 patients each month. Sergeant Dodson also assists medical providers in obtaining vital signs and patient medical history as well as obtaining specimens to assist in patient diagnoses.

Outside of work, Sergeant Dodson volunteers with Airmen Against Drunk Driving, which provides a safe ride home to any Airman on the weekends and initiated a deployment care package program at her workplace, sending a monthly care package to deployed Airmen.

She said earning her master's degree will help her both in the short term with the supervisory role she plays at the clinic and in the long term as she progresses into hospital administration positions.

"My ultimate goal, after I serve 20 years in the Air Force, is to become a hospital administrator in the Veterans Administration system," she said. "I have been taking care of military healthcare needs for so long that I can't imagine doing anything else."

Airman Ian Hoachlander, 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this article.