Stories from Displaced South Dakotans: The Adventures of CAPT Bruno Himmler

Sometimes South Dakotans find themselves living and working outside of the state as they progress in their health careers. In this series, we will share stores from some of these displaced South Dakotans and hear the advice that they have for others pursing careers in the healthcare industry.

Bruno participating in rescue swim
in Mobile, AL as part of USCG
Flight Surgeon training.  

CAPT Bruno Himmler graduated with his B.S. in Biology from Augustana University in 1989 before going into medical school at the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine. He is currently in Ketchikan, Alaska, serving as the primary provider for 220 active duty personnel. He also attended the Coast Guard flight surgeon program. He participates in call coverage for medical evacuation cases and search and rescue missions the Coast Guard carries out in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. We caught CAPT Himmler to ask him about his pre-med experiences, career path, and advice that he has for students looking into careers in medicine.

Where did you go after leaving South Dakota? How did you land where you are now (geographically speaking)?  After graduating from medical school, I did a transitional internship in Sioux Falls before heading to serve with the US Navy as a General Medical Officer for 3 years, 2 of which were on a LPD class ship as the sole physician for 413 crew members and 1 year doing sick call at a Naval Air Station Clinic in Norfolk, VA area.  The Uniform Services (Air Force, Army, Navy, United States Public Health Service) all offer up scholarships for students attending medical school to pay for tuition room, board and misc. expenses.  In return, graduates receive a commission into the respective service and serve on active duty as pack back.  It also affords the individual opportunities to see the United States and world and practice health care with the pressures of private, fee for service health care.  I attended the Wausau Family Practice Residency Program for 2 years after my active duty time and then went to work at a Community Health Center in NW Iowa serving populations who experience barriers to health care, either financial, cultural, language or personal life choices.  In 2005, I had the opportunity to join the USPHS and serve full-time again on active duty with Indian Health Services in Ft Hall, Idaho.  I have served since then with several Federal Agencies to include Dept. of State, US army War College, Health and Human Services HQ, Defense Health Agency, and currently since 9/11/2017, United States Coast Guard in Ketchikan, Alaska.

What kinds of shadowing did you do to get a better feel for medicine before applying to medical school? What did you learn from those experiences? 
During much time as an undergraduate, I did volunteer with a social worker at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls. This gave me my first real exposure to health care and the hospital setting.  I learned that the health care system was made up of more than doctors and nurses and there were several other health professionals that made positive impacts on people’s lives.  

Do you have a “defining moment” or other strong memory from an experience that made you realize that medicine was the right career path for you?
There wasn't a clear defining moment that I can recollect.  My strengths in school involved math and the sciences and I enjoyed classes in chemistry, math and physics. I also am a people pleaser and wanted to help people.  Medicine provided a venue to help others and to utilize science skills.  It also provides an universal language that allows people from other cultures and languages to come together to improve the health of a people.

What kinds of volunteering do you do?
I have volunteered at various medical clinics during my career to ensure I maintained by clinical abilities. After doing primary care for 6 years, I decided to pursue an opportunity to become involved in health care diplomacy and spent several years as a SME for Health and Humanitarian Assistance, with a focus on international development.  I obtained a Master’s of Public Health from Des Moines University in 2013 which also helped broaden my knowledge relating to public health.

Bruno and his wife, Mary (one of our
SD Mines alumni!), taken this summer.

Did you do any research as an undergraduate?
I did research work in the biology department while I was an undergraduate.  One project I participated in dealt with trace element analysis of human remains to determine their eating patterns and diet composition.  This entailed a 4 week trip down to Arica, Chile, where I joined a team from the University of Rhode Island to gather plant samples, marine life samples and human remains samples.  The analysis was able to demonstrate that the indigenous people in that region of Chile from 4000 BC were both hunters, gatherers and ate red meat, sea food and plant food.

How did you prepare for the MCAT?
My main preparation involved reviewing study guide books.  Good course to complete before taking the MCAT include, basic biology, chemistry, biochemistry, trigonometry, physics and human anatomy.  In our medical school class, we had people with various degrees to include History, English, Sciences, and Engineering.

What techniques do you use to manage your time and stress levels? 
After I believe the key is to engage in physical activity that you enjoy to help relieve stress.  Also, relaxation methods such as Yoga or meditation are also helpful.  In today’s society, youth are learning the skills on how to multi-task utilizing modern technology.  This skill can be translated into the health care field as many times, I have needed to multitask and deal with several issues simultaneously.

What advice do you have for pre-health students who are struggling?  
Struggles are actually healthy.  I would worry about someone who never had to face adversity or struggle at some point in their education or career path.  It is through struggles that we are able to grow and become more confident in our abilities.  The other key is to reach out for help and not to struggle alone.