Leading with purpose: Bela’s path to Medicine and Air force

Mar 31
7 min read

Bela Karajagi is a senior at The Ohio State University majoring in Health Sciences and preparing to commission as an officer in the United States Air Force.

The medical field is often seen as a well-worn path within the Indian American community, a testament to generations of discipline, academic excellence, and commitment to service. Yet even within that familiar trajectory, there are students who expand what a career in medicine can look like. Through Air Force ROTC, early-morning physical training, and a commitment to serve, Bela has chosen to merge two worlds rarely discussed together: military service and medicine. In doing so, she is redefining how impact in healthcare can be achieved — not only through clinical care, but through leadership and national service.

Interview is conducted by Avani Wagh.

When you look back on your early academic years, was medicine always the destination, or did that clarity emerge gradually over time?

I’ve always loved science. In middle school and high school, I did science fair every year. I would go to regionals at UC and then states at Ohio State. None of my projects were particularly medicine-focused… I just genuinely loved science. It was always my favorite subject.

In high school at Mason, I joined the Biomed program, and that’s when my interest in medicine really took shape. Biomed is different from a standard biology class. It goes deeper into human body systems, disease, and the clinical side of science in a way most students don’t get exposure to. It was more in-depth than a typical anatomy and physiology class, and that experience sparked something in me.

Through Biomed, I also joined HOSA, where students compete regionally and nationally in healthcare-related events. What I appreciated most was that it didn’t center solely around becoming a physician. You could explore pharmacy, nursing, and many other paths. That’s when I began to understand that medicine isn’t just doctors, but an entire healthcare team. Exploring those different options as a young student was really important for me.

While pre-med coursework alone is demanding, ROTC also requires its own physical, academic, and leadership commitments. How do you balance the two, and what does a typical week look like for you?

Actually, when I began at Ohio State, I started in Biomedical Engineering. My original thinking was that engineering would serve as a backup in case I didn’t get into medical school. But balancing engineering, pre-med requirements, and Air Force ROTC quickly became overwhelming. My advisor even told me I might need a fifth year to graduate, and I didn’t want that. So I switched to Health Sciences. This allowed me to focus on what I truly wanted — medicine — while still being fully committed to ROTC. Though engineering would have given me a job if medical school didn’t work out, ROTC also guaranteed me a career path, so I felt comfortable taking the risk and switching majors.

However, I’m the only pre-med student in my ROTC class. There isn’t really anyone going through the exact same path as me. I did know someone two years ahead of me who had done pre-med through ROTC, but once he graduated, I was essentially navigating it alone.

A typical week requires discipline. On training days — Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday — I wake up at 4:45 A.M. Physical training runs from 5:45 to 6:45 A.M. After that, I go to Air Science class, where we learn about the Air Force, leadership, and what it truly means to be an officer. They assigned leadership and self-development books and really worked to instill officer characteristics in us.

Then I go to my regular classes, such as organic chemistry, biology, and other pre-med courses. I usually stay on campus all day because if I go back to my dorm, I’ll end up napping.

One challenge for me was extracurriculars. Ohio State offers so many pre-med clubs and opportunities, such as BuckeyeThon. While other pre-med students were joining clubs to build connections and volunteer hours, I wasn’t part of any traditional pre-med clubs at Ohio State. That was intimidating at first. But ROTC became my major commitment, and it gave me leadership experience, service hours, and a different kind of involvement. All of my closest friends are cadets, and even though I’m not in traditional pre-med extracurriculars, there are still clubs in the Air Force ROTC and unique volunteer opportunities, like raising the flag at football games, so I still feel involved.

What exactly is ROTC, and what is that experience like?

ROTC stands for Reserve Officer Training Corps. At Ohio State, we have Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs, all of which run separately. I’m in Air Force ROTC.

Each week includes physical training, leadership lab (LEAD Lab), and classroom instruction. PT prepares us for our fitness test, which is a mile-and-a-half run, push-ups, and sit-ups. LEAD Lab focuses on marching, drill, and quick thinking under pressure. The classroom component teaches Air Force history, structure, and leadership principles.

Between sophomore and junior year, we attended Field Training in Maxwell, Alabama for 3 weeks. It’s a nationwide evaluation for cadets, similar to a checkpoint to assess whether you’re ready to continue. That’s when I contracted with the Air Force, committing to commission after graduation.

People often assume ROTC completely consumes your life, but it really doesn’t. I lived in normal dorms, had a typical college experience, and chose how involved I wanted to be outside required training. I like to say I live two lives — in the mornings, I’m an Air Force cadet. The rest of the day, I’m a normal college student.

As an underclassman in the GMC (General Military Course), the learning curve was steep. You memorize quotes, warrior knowledge, the entire chain of command from the President down. I struggled at times — especially with drill — but those years were formative.

As an upperclassman in POC (Professional Officer Course), you lead. I’ve served as Flight Commander, Training Support Officer, and currently Deputy Squadron Commander. Leadership in ROTC is incredibly practical because you’re responsible for real people, performance, and standards. It’s intense, but incredibly rewarding.

Choosing a military branch is a major decision. What drew you specifically to the Air Force, and how did that align with your long-term goal of practicing medicine?

There wasn’t one defining moment. My mom once encouraged me to apply to the Air Force Academy in high school, but I wasn’t ready for that commitment. Later, I looked into Air Force ROTC. Now, I’m very happy with my choice. The Air Force values critical thinking and professionalism. On the other hand, the Army and Navy place higher value on physical fitness and strength. All branches maintain high standards, but the Air Force culture emphasizes analytical thinking. As someone pursuing medicine, that alignment mattered to me.

I also knew I didn’t want to be on the front lines. In active conflict situations, the Army deploys first, then the Navy, and the Air Force is usually last. As a physician, I would most likely be stationed on base, caring for service members and their families. My goal is to become an OBGYN, and in the Air Force, I would simply be an OBGYN in a military hospital. The biggest difference from civilian medicine is that the government can deploy me or station me wherever they need me. Civilian doctors have more stability — they can choose where they live, buy a house, and settle down. I won’t have that flexibility at first. I’ll go where I’m sent, and I’ll have to go through additional military trainings. But day‑to‑day, I’ll still be seeing patients and practicing medicine just like any other doctor.

The training pathway is essentially the same. You still complete medical school, internship, and residency, but residency is through a military program. Spots are more limited than in civilian programs, but fewer people apply to military medicine, so it’s still very doable to match. One thing I really appreciate is that if you don’t match into your specialty the first time, the military won’t let you fall through the cracks. You can do a one‑year internal medicine internship through the military and then re‑enter the match the following year. As a civilian, if you don’t match, you might have to do another year of medical school or take a research year. In the military, you’ll still have a job and a path forward, so there's a lot of job security built into the system.

The military also provides immense support for students. For example, I recently earned the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which will fund my medical education if I attend a civilian school. I’ve also interviewed at Uniformed Services University, the military’s medical school in Bethesda, so there’s a lot of flexibility in the pathway I take.

As an Indian American, what has your experience in ROTC been like? What advice would you give to Indian American students considering a less traditional path?

Growing up in Mason, I didn’t know any Indian American students who enlisted or commissioned. A few people from my class enlisted, but none were Indian. I was honestly worried about what my Indian friends would say. There’s a stigma around joining the military in our community, partly because many of our parents didn’t grow up with the same understanding of military service.

But ROTC became my community. I live with six girls who are all in Air Force ROTC. Most of my closest friends at Ohio State are cadets. They share the same dedication and purpose, and I love being surrounded by people like that. It’s really important to have a community who understands you, and this program has provided me with such a strong support system.

To anyone who is hesitant, I would say don’t let stigma stop you. I understand that nobody talks about ROTC or the military in our community. High schools don’t present it as an option, and I didn’t even know about ROTC until I found it online.

My biggest advice is to research. Read about ROTC, the Air Force Academy, Officer Training School — there are so many paths to serve. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But you won’t know unless you learn about it, and it doesn’t hurt to explore.