From UofL to the front lines of military medicine

In a spotlight series, the University of Louisville School of Medicine is celebrating students selected for the Military Match, a specialized process that places medical students into residency positions at military hospitals across the country. Through this process, students are commissioned as officers in their respective branches, receiving a specialized education that combines advanced medical training with leadership responsibilities. For the first time in more than a decade, the University of Louisville has an all-female Military Match class. Taylor Gebhart, Rebecca Black and Taylore Baker, all planning to enter the U.S. Army, serve as a historic representation of the next generation of military medicine. 

Gebhart matched to the Emergency Medicine residency program at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas. As the largest military hospital and the only facility within the Department of Defense with a Level I Trauma designation, BAMC offers an elite training ground for her chosen specialty: Emergency Medicine. 

Gebhart is pursuing her medical career through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), an elite program that fully subsidizes medical students as they commission as officers. This unique path allows her to focus entirely on her high-level training rather than the financial burdens of medical school, bridging the gap between her role as a student and her future as a military leader. 

While she was initially encouraged to explore the HPSP for its financial benefits, the research process revealed a much deeper calling. For her, acceptance into medical school was the catalyst that allowed her to finally envision herself in a military uniform. 

“Growing up, before discovering that I wanted to become a doctor, I could always envision myself serving and giving back to the country,” Gebhart said. “Now, I get to serve my country and give back to patients in need. It’s truly a win-win.” 

As she prepares to begin residency, Gebhart embraces both the intensity and the opportunity the program provides. For her, working through the "beast" of residency is a unique opportunity that simply cannot be found anywhere else. 

With every shift and training day, Gebhart plans to immerse herself into the military lifestyle to better understand the experiences of the patients she will serve. She believes that connection is essential to mastering the niche medical challenges unique to her field, ensuring she can provide expert care for the specific needs of the soldier population. 

Beyond the challenge of the workload, Gebhart is inspired by the chance to learn from those around her. “I think the breadth of opportunities is what excites me the most," she said. "I get to learn from faculty who come from very unique backgrounds with such varying experiences to pick their brains on. This is, ultimately, what will make me a better physician.” 

Honored to represent a demographic that has been historically underrepresented in Army Emergency Medicine, Gebhart is acutely aware of the decades-long fight for visibility in these spaces. She does not belittle the power of this representation, noting that women in these roles are strong, resilient and capable. “We’ve only just begun,” she said, paving the way for a long line of female military leaders to come. 

For Gebhart, this journey is about more than just gaining an education; it is about personal growth and contributing to America’s mission as part of an elite team of inspiring medical professionals and soldiers alike. Serving as a walking example of the University of Louisville’s foundations of respect, integrity and excellence, Taylor Gebhart is a resolute leader ready to meet the challenges of military medicine head-on.