Captain defends doctoral dissertation

Published Oct. 23, 2013
By Steve Pivnick
81st Medical Group

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- "This achievement is the end of my beginning to many great and exciting opportunities."
That is how Capt., now officially Dr., Iesiah Harris regards her recent achievement of earning a doctor of philosophy degree in health-care administration from Capella University.

After six years in the PhD program, Harris, nurse manager for the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron General Surgery Clinic, officially became Doctor Harris at 11:22 a.m. Sept. 17 after defending her doctoral dissertation. She will attend the August 2014 graduation in Minneapolis after her return from deployment. She began her quest in May 2007.

She had earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from the Nursing University of Memphis in 2001 and a master's degree in adult health clinical nurse specialist (gerontologic focus) from Wright State University, Fairborn, Ohio, in 2006.

After enlisting in the Air Force in August 1992, Harris spent seven years as an information manager before attending nursing school. She was commissioned a second lieutenant in March 2002.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native has been at Keesler Air Force Base since August 2010, coming here following an assignment as a nurse manager at Pope AFB, N.C.

A major-select (she anticipates "pinning on" in March 2014), the new doctor said, "I am honored to accomplish such a monumental achievement. I thank God for my blessing and I am very appreciative for the wonderful individuals in my life that provided support during this endeavor. I would like to be an inspiration to many and remind others, 'Nothing or no one should ever deter you from achieving your goals.'"