Pediatric Neurosurgeon Dr. Gwyneth Hughes (at left), who’s a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corp, commissions Dr. Janice McDaniel, a pediatric interventional radiologist, into the Army Reserves in front of an audience of family, radiology staff and other hospital colleges.
At a commissioning ceremony tucked away in a conference room in Akron Children’s Hospital’s radiology department, Dr. Janice McDaniel, a pediatric interventional radiologist, gave the oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and became a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
“The best part of my job is seeing the Army get better one person at a time,” said Capt. David Hilden, an officer in the Cleveland Army Medical Recruiting Station.
Dr. McDaniel was given the oath by Dr. Gwyneth Hughes, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Akron Children’s and a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corp.
Capt. Hilden and Sgt. 1st Class Todd Fitzwater noted the highly competitive process Dr. McDaniel has undertaken as the Army carefully evaluated not only her medical credentials, but her history of community service and proven leadership skills.
Dr. McDaniel said the idea of joining the U.S. Army Medical Corps began early last year when she received a recruiting email. Intrigued, she met with Dr. Hughes to learn more about the commitment.
Dr. Hughes, Dr. McDaniel and Captain Dave Hilden of the Cleveland Army Medical Recruiting Station
“Both of my grandfathers served and my grandma was a Navy nurse,” she said. “I have always felt a calling to volunteer and serve in various ways.”
Dr. McDaniel has led a Girl Scout troop for 13 years and is the founder and president of Akron Children’s Women’s Physician Association, whose members volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of Akron, among other activities. She has participated in a medical mission to Haiti and volunteers at One of Kind Pets.
Her next step will be to complete 2 weeks of Basic Camp for medical officers in Texas and then her first mobilization will likely be in 2020. Her first choice would be the large Army medical base in Germany, but she has heard Kuwait City is in need of radiologists.
“I am very proud to serve,” she said. “I am always looking for new challenges and new opportunities. I am very excited about this whole thing.”
Dr. McDaniel’s family came to support her (from left to right): daughters, Katie and Bailee, husband Hugh and son Bryce.
Read more about Dr. McDaniel’s role at Akron Children’s in this blog post from 2016.
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