From Coast to Coast, USU Students Honor the Lives and Legacy of 9/11

Separated by clinical rotations, Uniformed Services University students marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at five sites nationwide.

September 16, 2026 by Sharon Holland

On September 11, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) marked the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks with a ruck march, a run, and a remembrance ceremony at its Bethesda campus. But for many members of the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine Class of 2028, clinical rotations across the country meant they could not attend.

So they created their own.

Inspired by the observances at USU, students at five clinical rotation sites organized memorial runs, walks, dinners, and conversations to honor the day and reflect on its lasting impact on military medicine, their profession, and their lives. Wellness representatives and classmates helped coordinate the efforts, ensuring that distance did not prevent the class from standing together.

From a memorial stair climb at Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington state to a 9.11-kilometer run at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, students found their own ways to remember, reflect, and remain connected.

Remembering Through Movement and Conversation

At Madigan, Army 2nd Lts. Nigel Park and Alex Barret participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Challenge. Navy Ensign Sam Nakagawa, the class wellness representative, organized a dinner where classmates gathered to remember and honor those affected by September 11.

In San Antonio, Army 2nd Lt. Nam Tran organized a walk to the Alamo. Navy Ensign Lorraine Rowe, Army 2nd Lt. Mihai Fratian, and Air Force 2nd Lt. Daniel Schleif joined him, using the time together to discuss how 9/11 has reshaped medicine.

At Portsmouth, Navy Ensign Anne Fisher, the class wellness representative, joined Navy Ensign Brian He and Army 2nd Lt. Miguel Pantano for a 2.5-mile memorial run.

In San Diego, Navy Ensign Arianna Chase, the class wellness representative, hosted a beach bonfire where students gathered to discuss how 9/11 has affected their lives.

And in Hawaii, students at Tripler organized one of the class's most extensive observances.

A Run to Remember in Hawaii

At Tripler, Army 2nd Lt. Michael Kim organized a 9.11-kilometer memorial run. Students built a memorial board telling the stories of eight people who died in connection with the attacks.

Participants wrote the names of those they were remembering on wristbands and wore them during the run.

Kim was joined by Army 2nd Lts. Kate Weathersby, Amy Castellano, Diego Duklis, Jake Glass, Patrick McManamon, and William Blumberg; Air Force 2nd Lts. Claire Sharp, Nicolas Dimauro, and Kevin Karlick; and Navy Ensign Aja Mckeython.

Following the run, Duklis, the class wellness representative, organized a dinner discussion where students reflected on the stories they had encountered and on which ones had affected them most.

One Class, Many Locations, A Shared Commitment to Remember

While the Class of 2028 was separated by thousands of miles and the demands of clinical training, its observances reflected a shared commitment to remembering September 11 and the people whose lives were forever changed.

Each observance began the same way: one student organizing a run, a walk, a dinner, or a conversation, and classmates choosing to show up.

At USU, where students are educated to care for those who serve, the Class of 2028 marked the anniversary on its own terms, at the sites where its members were training.