JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As Florida faces a growing healthcare worker shortage, two Army veterans are proving that service doesn’t stop after leaving the military.
Karen and Jean Kirsten — identical twin sisters and former Army officers — are now preparing for careers in medicine at Nova Southeastern University’s Jacksonville campus through the school’s Military to Medicine pathway program.
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After years of military service, overseas deployments and one life-changing cancer diagnosis, the sisters are beginning a new chapter together: training to become Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants, also known as CAAs.
“We joined the military in 2009,” Jean Kirsten said.
The sisters built parallel careers in the Army, often following similar paths despite serving at different duty stations over the years. Both working as officers both retiring around the same time.
Both say they always felt drawn to healthcare.
“Ever since I was young, I had kind of like a passion for the medical field,” Karen said. “It’s always been just wanting to help others and kind of make a difference in people’s lives.”
That passion eventually led them to NSU’s Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant program, a rigorous 27-month master’s program designed to prepare students to help administer anesthesia and monitor patients during surgery.
The fast-paced program includes a year of classroom instruction followed by clinical rotations across the country.
But for Karen, the decision to pursue medicine became deeply personal.
Near the end of her military career, she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer while still serving on active duty.
“I went through all the treatment and recovery,” Karen said. “And I’m actually five years cancer free today.”
The diagnosis ultimately changed the direction of both sisters’ careers.
Jean became one of Karen’s caretakers throughout her treatment and recovery, bringing the sisters even closer together.
Now, Karen hopes to eventually work in a cancer center helping patients facing challenges similar to her own.
“I would like to work in a cancer center and help through that way since I will also a cancer survivor myself,” she said.
Their transition into healthcare was made possible in part through NSU’s Military to Medicine pathway — a program designed to help veterans and active-duty service members navigate the often difficult transition from military life into civilian healthcare careers.
Awilda Carozza, director of Military Affairs at NSU, said the university created the program after recognizing a growing need among veterans interested in medicine.
“The military to medicine pathway program was created because we wanted to help our transitioning service members and our veterans transition into healthcare careers,” Carozza said. “We saw that a lot of veterans exiting the military were lacking a clear pathway into healthcare education after their service.”
The program helps veterans with admissions, academic planning, financial aid and using military education benefits such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program.
Carozza said veterans already possess many of the qualities needed to succeed in healthcare settings.
“They have discipline, leadership, real-world experience and the ability to work under pressure,” she said. “Those qualities transition very well and fit perfectly into healthcare.”
According to NSU, dozens of service members are currently enrolled or moving through the program’s pipeline into careers ranging from medicine and physician assistant studies to anesthesia and physical therapy.
The initiative also comes at a critical time for Florida’s healthcare workforce.
The state is projected to face significant shortages of healthcare professionals over the next decade, increasing demand for trained workers in hospitals and healthcare systems statewide.
For the Kirsten twins, the program represents more than just career training — it represents another opportunity to serve.
During interviews at the Jacksonville campus, the sisters laughed about being built-in study partners and support systems for one another.
“It’s kind of like a built-in support system and study buddy,” Karen said.
Although classes have not officially started yet, both admitted they are already studying in preparation for the demanding coursework ahead.
“A little nervous,” Jean said with a laugh. “But excited.”
The sisters said adjusting to civilian life after the military came with challenges, especially after years of structure and routine. But they say this next phase feels rewarding because they are pursuing something they are genuinely passionate about.
“Now we can do what we want to do and actually find what our passion is,” Karen said.
As they prepare to enter operating rooms instead of military bases, the twins say the mission remains the same: helping people during some of their most vulnerable moments.