Dr. Eddie L. Copelin II (AUA Class of 2015) M.D., M.H.A.

Internal Medicine Resident, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island
Sergeant, United States Marine Corps (Ret.)

Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran

Recipient

• National Defense Service Medal

• Navy and USMC Achievement Medal

• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

• Navy Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon

• Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

 

As an institution dedicated to training community physicians, AUA is especially proud of its graduates and students who have served their country. If there’s one who exemplifies this commitment to service and is the type of student AUA wants to attract, it’s Dr. Eddie L. Copelin II, a highly-decorated veteran who served in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

 

At 17, the Long Island, New York native enlisted in the Marines and headed to Paris Island, South Carolina for boot camp. Trained as a 2831, his technical specialty was the AN/TRC-170, a long-distance communication system that uses microwave radio signals to cover long distances. During his eight years and one month in the Reserves, he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq, and was also stationed at bases throughout the United States. He was Honorably Discharged as a Sergeant in June 2007. The third eldest of 12 kids, Dr. Copelin grew up in what he describes as a strict household and enjoyed the outdoors. Science interested him early on, and that interest, a drive to serve his community, and the experience of losing his father to complications from diabetes, all factored into his motivation to become a doctor.

 

While most of Providence’s veterans go to a nearby Veterans Administration hospital, Dr. Copelin works with retired servicemen and women as often as possible when they’re brought to Emergency Department at Roger Williams Medical Center, where he works. He feels a connection to them only those willing to sacrifice their lives for their country can share. “This bond is forever forged in our decision to defend our country at any cost.”

AUA thanks Dr. Copelin on this Veterans Day, for his service to our nation. He is a role model for all AUA students, current and future.