Page 4 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 12-11-15

Dec. 11, 2015 SPOTLIGHT
4 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Mayo Clinic cardiologist joins AFRC
Story and photo by Tech. Sgt.
LOUIS VEGA Jr.
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Both a father’s dream for his son’s suc-
cess and a son’s desire to serve his country
came true Oct. 24.
Dr. John Beshai, Arizona Mayo Clinic
cardiologist and senior associate consul-
tant, took the oath of office for the U.S.
Air Force Reserve Command, and more
specifically the 944th Aeromedical Staging
Squadron, during a short ceremony here.
His wife, eight month-old-son and mother
were also there.
Beshai has been a doctor for more than
20 years and is one of 31 cardiologists at
the Mayo Clinic. He practiced in Chicago
and even served as the team cardiologist
for the Chicago Blackhawks before coming
to Arizona in 2013. His main reason for
joining the Air Force at age 46 is as humble
as the man himself – to give back to the
troops and to serve the country that has
given him so much.
Col. Kurt Gallegos, 944th FW com-
mander, tendered the oath and welcomed
Beshai to the unit. Gallegos expressed how
lucky the wing was to have him and how
lucky Beshai was to be a part of a wing like
the 944th.
Beshai was an infant when his family
came to America in 1969 via Jersey City,
New Jersey. Like so many immigrants,
they were looking for opportunity and had
hopes for a better life than they had left. A
Coptic Christian born in Egypt, raised in
Ohio, Beshai was brought up with values
of spirituality, respect, appreciation, and
earning everything through hard work, and
perseverance.
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Dr. John Beshai, Arizona Mayo Clinic cardiologist and senior associate consultant,
raises his right hand while Col. Kurt Gallegos, 944th Fighter Wing commander, ten-
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24 at Luke Air Force Base.
At15, he found his life’s calling when
his father, 45, was diagnosed with heart
disease and had to have open-heart
surgery.
“Having to watch my dad go through
that ordeal was when I knew I wanted to
be a cardiologist and to one day be able
to care for him,” Beshai said.
His father survived the surgery but
later succumbed to pancreatic cancer at
63. He never got to see the results of his given me, he said. “Those opportunities and
efforts and sacrifices for his children’s
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Mayo Clinic Arizona. Cook peaked his inter-
success. Beshai’s only other sibling is his
younger sister, who is a surgeon.
The interest to serve his country had been
growing inside Beshai throughout his life
but out of respect for his father’s desire for that Dr. Beshai lives by the Air Force core
him to go to college and obtain a better life, values already; integrity first, service before
Beshai followed his wishes.
“Over the years, as I became more suc-
cessful in my career, I became more thank-
ful for the opportunities this country has
freedom came at a great cost.”
Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
His interest in joining the Air Force
Reserve started in 2009 but it wasn’t until
2013 when he moved to Arizona and met
Col. Curtiss Cook, 944th Aeromedical Stag-
ing Squadron commander and professor
of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of
Medicine, and endocrinology division chair,
est in joining the military once again, before
eventually getting in contact with Master
Sgt. Randi Cross, AFRC health professions
recruiter, who helped guide him through the
recruiting process.
“I believe his actions send a message
self and excellence in all we do,” Cross said.
“I have recruited over 500 members into
the Air Force Reserve over my tenure as
a recruiter, but I must say that Dr. Beshai
is one of the most accomplished, skilled
professionals that I have had the pleasure
of working with.”
Beshai has a long list of accomplishments
including completing fellowships in clinical
cardiac electrophysiology, cardiovascular
medicine, and internal medicine. He was
the associate director of the heart rhythm
center and director of pacemaker and
defibrillator services at the University of
Chicago; his resume includes his research
activity, peer reviewed manuscripts, and
book chapters that he has had published.
He is a fellow of the American Heart As-
sociation, Heart Rhythm Society and an
internationally renowned researcher and
invited speaker to many courses and confer-
ences on the subject.
“Dr. Beshai always expressed an interest
in giving back to his country,” Cook said.
See CARDIOLOGIST, Page 11