Commander Sakai is a native of Louisiana and she is one of our fantastic Emergency Medicine physicians at USNMRTC Sigonella. She commissioned in the Navy in 2005 under the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program prior to starting medical school at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA.

“I earned my first my degree in Marine Biology and presented environmental research to the Senate on USVI fisheries and the impact of hotel expansion, which helped me realize that I preferred talking and educating people one-to-one, and speaking to rooms and presenting posters wasn’t going to make me happy. I had volunteered at the local Emergency Department, and the variety and the mental challenge of solving a puzzle on every patient kept me coming back. I decided to turn it into a career, but I also hated to stay in one place (there was a big wide world to explore), so I joined the Navy and never looked back. I did a General Surgery internship, and the Chaplain and I were the only Naval Officers in my first duty assignment with the Marines in Iwakuni, Japan. Being part of the Marines for 3 years to start my career really shaped and prepared me for all my subsequent OCONUS tours. My husband was an Ombudsman and found a great career as a financial educator that allows him to work virtually. My husband and I have lived in mainland Japan, Korea, Okinawa, and Guantanamo Bay, and I have a great love for Navy Medicine and am happy to share my experiences with anyone that is interested!” Dr. Brandi Sakai