Saluting service: UTHealth Houston honors and celebrates veterans

(Photo by UTHealth Houston)

Across UTHealth Houston, veterans are making an impact every day, bringing their legacy of service and dedication to the university.

On Veterans Day, UTHealth Houston celebrates and honors the students, faculty, staff, and trainees who served our country and now bring their values of teamwork, discipline, and focus to their roles on campus.

Stories of service

Behind every veteran is a story of service, sacrifice, growth, and transition. Six members of the UTHealth Houston community share a glimpse into their military experiences, what they learned along the way, and how those experiences continue to influence who they are today.

Bryan Alfaro

Medical student at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

U.S. Army

Fulfilling both a lifelong dream of service and a desire to give back to his country, Alfaro joined the U.S. Army and served from 2021-25. His military career included time stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky and a deployment to Romania, where he worked in clinical settings providing and coordinating medical care to soldiers and overseeing clinical operations.

Alfaro said one of the lessons he learned while in service was the importance of teamwork, and how effective teamwork can be cultivated through training, discipline, trust, and a commitment to excellence. His experience now informs his time in medical school.

“As medical students, we are in the training phase of our journey toward becoming physicians. Much like in the military, teamwork in medicine is paramount,” Alfaro said. “We are developing our knowledge, sharpening our skills, and learning to work together because, one day, patients’ lives will depend on how well we do those things.”

Eric Corbello

Director of IT User Experience and Support

U.S. Marine Corps

In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, and the start of the 2003 Iraq war, Corbello realized he needed structure and a sense of purpose.

“I literally woke up one day and decided I was going to join the Marine Corps,” Corbello said.

Joining in 2004 and serving until 2009, Corbello’s military career included being stationed in North Carolina and deployments to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as part of an incident response platoon and quick reaction force.

While on active duty, Corbello said one of the most valuable lessons he learned was how to stay calm and collected in crucial times, a skill he now uses in his role at UTHealth Houston.

“Working in IT, issues affecting a broad spectrum could occur at any moment, and I feel like my experience in the military has helped me remain calm in a crisis, allowing me to think clearly to resolve issues that may arise,” Corbello said.

Joseph DuBose, MD

Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at McGovern Medical School

U.S. Air Force

Joining to continue his family’s tradition of service, DuBose served in the U.S Air Force for 20 years, from 2001 to 2021. During his military career, he worked as a trauma and vascular surgeon stationed at locations including Travis Air Force Base in California and Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. Deployed seven times, DuBose also served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations in the Middle East.

DuBose said the greatest value of service was the opportunity to care for the military population and solve problems in a team-oriented fashion. He now applies the principles he learned in the U.S. Air Force to his work every day at UTHealth Houston.

“To me, the greatest meaning of being a veteran is the opportunity to belong to a unique and special professional family,” DuBose said. “It really is a special bond veterans of all ages have with one another.”

Roy Fajardo

Medical student at McGovern Medical School

U.S. Air Force

The youngest of four children, Fajardo felt a sense of duty to give back to the country that provided his family with so many opportunities. So, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served from 2012-19.

Working as a military police officer in Security Forces, Fajardo safeguarded nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles during his enlistment in Montana and eventually rose to the rank of staff sergeant, working in missile security control.

Fajardo said serving in such a demanding and highly structured environment taught him the importance of teamwork, collaboration, accountability, and communication, which he carries with him as a medical student.

“Medicine, much like the military, relies on people from different backgrounds and specialties working together toward a common goal,” Fajardo said. “My experiences have taught me to value the contributions of every team member, remain adaptable under pressure, and recognize that accomplishing something meaningful often requires a collective effort.”

Saleem Khan, MD

Professor in the Department of Surgery at McGovern Medical School

U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps

Desiring to give back to the country, Khan was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy in 1989. After a year, he transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps and served until 2016.

As part of his military career, he served as a trauma surgeon in the Gulf War, spent seven years in Iraq, and was deployed in Afghanistan. Because he speaks five languages, also worked to bridge the gap between the Marines and the local population while overseas in the Middle East.

Following his many years of service, Khan received a Combat Action Ribbon, a Legion of Merit, and two Bronze Stars, among other decorations. He said his service gave him experience with organization, problem-solving, and learning how to lead and teach leadership.

“Being a veteran means having done your duty and done it honorably,” Khan said. “I stood up every time they asked me to.”

Edwin Thomas

Public safety manager for UT Police at Houston

U.S. Air Force

As a first-generation American, joining the U.S. Air Force meant Thomas could give back to the country that gave him the opportunity to pursue his dreams and demonstrate to his children how important serving others is.

Serving from 2016-24, Thomas worked as a ground transportation airman and was deployed to the Middle East, leading more than 15 convoy missions. Thomas said those experiences taught him the importance of trust, teamwork, accountability, and looking out for others.

Those lessons now guide him in his role as a public safety manager for UT Police, as he helps lead the Uniformed Security Operations, overseeing more than 250 noncommissioned security officers.

“Although my military service has concluded, my commitment to serving others has not,” Thomas said. “For me, the uniform may have changed, but the mission remains much the same: Take care of people, support your team, and make a difference through service.”

Veterans Day Parade

The city of Houston will host its 2026 Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11. A ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. to mark the occasion, and the parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed.

As one of the event sponsors, UTHealth Houston will have a float in the parade, which will begin at Dallas and Bagby streets and proceed east on Dallas Street, north on Louisiana Street, west on Walker Street, south on Smith Street, west on Lamar Street, and end at Lamar and Bagby streets.

For more information, visit the city of Houston’s website.