White coat and combat boots: Stephanie Cumbey’s journey to medicine

Stephanie Cumbey isn’t just preparing for her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Texas in San Antonio, but she’s also beginning military service as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. It’s a trajectory few take, and one Cumbey embraces wholeheartedly.

A member of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University’s Class of 2025, Cumbey’s path combining medicine and military service was partially inspired by her father, Gary Cumbey, a former Army pilot, and it feels like a natural continuation of his legacy.

“As an emergency medicine physician in the military, there are some really neat opportunities,” she said. “You can be part of ground surgical teams, critical care air transport, support humanitarian missions and care for fellow service members in incredibly challenging environments.”

Her decision to pursue military medicine also came with tangible benefits – a scholarship that covered medical school expenses and early commissioning.

While she technically commissioned in 2021 when she entered MCG, her full-time assignment in the Air Force will begin after completing her residency. Before MCG’s annual hooding ceremony, Cumbey completed Officer Training School, a five-week program that immersed her in military discipline, leadership and culture.

“The first week was brutal,” she said with a laugh. “You’re running on little sleep, getting yelled at constantly and adjusting to a whole new way of life. But you learn to embrace the suck, and the camaraderie with my fellow trainees ended up making the whole experience enjoyable.”

That military mantra, “Embracing discomfort and adversity,” resonated deeply with her, both as an aspiring doctor and as a leader.

Born in Kentucky and raised in Georgia, Cumbey took time between undergraduate studies and applying to medical school. When it came time to choose, the Medical College of Georgia was her top choice.

“I knew doctors who had gone to MCG, and it just felt right,” she said. “From the start, I knew that’s where I wanted to be, and I knew I would get a great medical education there.”

After completing her first two years at MCG’s main campus in Augusta, Cumbey spent her final two years at the Northwest Clinical Campus in Rome. Her experience in Rome was transformational.

“It was some of the best hands-on training I could’ve asked for,” she said. “We were often one-on-one with attending physicians. I got to deliver babies, assist in C-sections — it was an incredible opportunity to push beyond what I thought I was capable of.”

Her time in Rome also included a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic during her third year.

“We were still early in our clinical training, but the faculty challenged us to take ownership of patient care. It was intense, but it was also deeply meaningful,” she recalled. “Sometimes, we didn’t have the medicines or resources we needed, but just being present, listening and showing compassion went a long way.”

As she prepares to head to San Antonio for residency, Cumbey reflected on the challenges that have shaped her, including time constraints, the grueling pace of medical school and the rigors of military training among them.

“Medical school is a marathon. You have to have the mental fortitude not just to survive it, but to do it with joy,” she said.

It’s that mental toughness — and a heart firmly rooted in service — that will carry her into the next phase of her journey.