Mobile Co. Health Officer Dr. Kevin Michaels brings his military experience to public health
Mobile, Ala. (WKRG) — Dr. Kevin Michaels says his path to his medical career began as a second lieutenant in the Army — after graduating from college and an ROTC program.
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“I went on to graduate school at the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Public Health. Got my MPH — within 9 months, got my MPH and reapplied to medical school and got accepted into South Alabama,” said Michaels.
MPH is Master of Public Health — and the basis for the job he has now, as Mobile County Health Officer.
“I was engaged by a mentor in the military, and he said, ‘Hey — you’ve got your MPH — are you interested in doing public health?'” Michaels said.
“… I got this pamphlet telling me about all these great things of what I could do as a public health physician. And I said that’s what I want to do.”
He took over from Dr. Bernard Eichold, who retired after 31 years and has a military background.
Michaels, a New York native, says he first met Eichold as a medical student at South, which eventually led to his return to Mobile after a 24-year military career.
Michaels said, “When I was in medical school, I thought, ‘What do I want to do when I’m done with the military?’ And one of the things was maybe come back to South Alabama and maybe work at the health department.”
Now, as a health officer, Micheals joins a long line of former health officers with military experience, including Eichold. Many health department employees today also have military backgrounds.
I wondered if the track to a medical career in the military differs from a civilian one.
“They meet the same training requirements whether you do it in the military or civilian, you have to sit for the same civilian boards,” he said.
One key difference is on the military track, the training is paid for — although there is a requirement for active duty service for many years.
Michaels was obligated to 8 years, although he stayed longer. Today he has a daughter and son serving in the Army — and another son pursuing a medical career in the Air Force.
“And then when he opted to go to medical school, I told him ‘Hey, listen — you’ve got to find somebody else — consider somebody else to pay for medical school, because it’s costly,” said Michaels.
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Micheals continues his public service as Health Officer for Mobile County — and it’s why we are proud to recognize him for Serving Those Who Serve.
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