Captain Aaron Griffin M.D., U.S. Air Force
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For Captain Aaron Griffin, being a military physician means more than just treating patients—it’s about resilience, advocacy, and ensuring the military remains a place where all service members can thrive. As a family medicine physician in the U.S. Air Force, Aaron has dedicated his career to caring for service members and their families while navigating the challenges of serving openly as a transgender officer.
Aaron commissioned in 2017, just weeks before the Trump administration announced a ban on transgender military service. "I remember getting an alert on my phone for breaking news shortly after the tweets were posted," he recalls. "I didn’t know how to explain that all my plans for the future had just come crashing down around me." Faced with the uncertainty of whether he would be allowed to continue his medical training, he made the difficult decision to come out—knowing that doing so could jeopardize his career before it even began. Transitioning while in military medical school was far from easy. "I spent nearly a year fighting the administrative and medical system before I could make meaningful progress in my transition," Aaron explains. The delays impacted not only his mental health but also his ability to fully focus on his training. Yet, once allowed to transition, his performance skyrocketed. "I scored over 90% on my first exam after starting gender-affirming hormone therapy. Before that, my highest score had been in the 70s," he says. Now, as a practicing Air Force physician, Aaron is committed to providing excellent care and advocating for military healthcare equity. His own experiences have given him a unique perspective in treating patients, particularly those in LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities. "I can’t go back and fix the challenges I faced, but I can help make it better for the next generation," he says. With uncertainty once again threatening transgender service members, Aaron remains steadfast. "The military is stronger when we embrace diversity," he affirms. "I’m here to serve my country, to care for my patients, and to ensure that others like me have the opportunity to do the same." You can read more of Aaron's story in 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦! |