Gratitude for all the Huskies who've served their country on this Veterans Day
At UConn Veterans are helping Veterans. Veteran Dr. Brett Sloan with his longtime patient and fellow Veteran Michael Puttin (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo).
Professor of Dermatology at UConn School of Medicine Dr. Brett Sloan is not only a Veteran, he's also long cared for his fellow Veterans during his military service, at UConn Health, and at the Connecticut Veteran's Administration Hospital in Newington.
"I'm a veteran," proudly states Sloan who served 16 years of active duty in the United States Air Force.
"My grandfathers, father, uncle, brother and sisters all served in the military," he says. Sloan is a proud "military brat" having spent his youth growing up on military bases in Germany and Cuba as his father served. In fact, his father, Lieutenant Colonel William G. Sloan Jr., an F-4 pilot, flew 130 air missions over North Vietnam and was bestowed 9 Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Following in his father's footsteps, Sloan started his military career at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and was projected to be a fighter pilot like his father.
"But medicine was more my calling," recalls this first doctor in the Sloan family. In fact, the Air Force empowered him to attend medical school at the Uniformed Services University and training at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he trained to become a flight surgeon.
"I loved it, it was a lot of fun!" says this retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, who had the amazing career opportunity to travel the world with pilots ensuring their top medical care, health, and safety, and even provided them and their families with primary care.
"It's a challenge, and tight quarters traveling from Italy to Las Vegas non-stop in an F16," he exclaims.
When he was stationed as a flight surgeon in Italy, he found his next calling: to become a dermatologist.
"My youngest daughter started struggling with eczema, and as her parents were both doctors ourselves, we felt helpless to adequately treat her," says Sloan. "I also encountered numerous infectious skin disease while deployed overseas, so pursuing a career as a dermatologist was then a next, natural fit to help my daughter and my fellow veterans too."
Helping Other Veterans
Sloan says that during his active military duty he had to make sacrifices, too.
"Part of my interest in advocating for veterans is my experience as a disabled vet, as I lost my right lower leg from a traumatic event while stationed overseas." He stresses how instrumental the VA has been during rehabilitation and getting him back on his "feet."
After being medically retired from the Air Force, in 2007 Sloan joined the dermatology faculty at UConn School of Medicine.
"When I got to UConn, our dermatology residency training program was just beginning, and we didn't have a relationship with the VA. It was important for me to start one," says Sloan. "Ever since 2007 our UConn dermatology resident trainees have been visiting the CT VA three times a week to care for veterans. Our trainees continue to offer a robust medical and surgical dermatology clinic to veterans, along with UConn faculty."
"The veterans we care for at the CT VA are really grateful, and so supportive of our dermatology trainees learning experiences," says Sloan, as veterans may be higher risk for skin issues and skin cancers due to their service locations in the sun or other environmental or chemical exposures.
Since 2010 Sloan served full-time at the CT VA as its dermatology site director, and just recently retired from VA service this March. But he serves as UConn's dermatology residency program director and still sees dermatology patients, including many veterans at UConn Health's South Road dermatology location in Farmington.
A Grateful Veteran Patient
U.S. Navy Veteran Michael Puttin, 72, of Stafford Springs, is one of the many Connecticut Veterans benefiting from Sloan's dermatological care and the care of UConn residents at the VA, and the Mohs Surgery expertise at UConn Health.
Puttin spent 21 years in the U.S. Navy. But he says his fair skin did not fare so well during half of his military service spent outside in places like Florida and Cuba.
"I've had over 30 precancerous and cancerous skin removal procedures like Mohs Surgery, mostly on my face, scalp, and arms," says Puttin.
He recommends his fellow vets be sure to seek care.
"The CT VA health system is one of the best!" says Puttin who enjoys being cared for by UConn dermatology residents there. "It's very friendly, I have had nothing but excellent care. It's been great. I know care will be the same with doctors like Dr. Sloan overseeing the residents. The residents are superb."
And Puttin is a big fan of helping future dermatologists learn and train.
"It's great. You have to learn sometime. Dr. Sloan wasn't born a dermatologist," says Puttin, who just had another Mohs Surgery procedure on Nov. 5 at UConn Health to remove a suspicious spot with expert Dr. Dan Klufas.
How to Thank a Veteran
Sloan says, "Most Americans hold those who have served in high regard, yet sometimes are unsure how to properly thank a veteran without unintentionally saying the wrong thing, appearing intrusive, or somehow offending them."
But Sloan urges everyone this Veterans Day, to always remember to simply say thank you and ask them how they are doing.
"Please say thank you for your service and sacrifice to veterans, but also thank their family too. It's not just about veterans; the whole family has sacrificed a lot. It's not an easy road," concludes Sloan.
Happy Veterans Day to all who have served the U.S.A. We thank you!
