Veterans Day has always been an important occasion for us at CTVS for a trio of reasons.

First of all, a few of our original practice founders were veterans.  Secondly, a number of our present patients are also veterans and finally, three of our current surgeons have had long and distinguished careers in the military before joining us at CTVS. They include:

Dr. Apple served four years in the United States Navy as a staff surgeon at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. During his time with the Navy, he was deployed twice to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Dr. Conner attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and dedicated more than twenty-five plus years to the U.S. Army having ultimately achieved the rank of Colonel. He completed his residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, served with the 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army, and oversaw the integration of the U.S. Army and Air Force Cardiothoracic Surgery programs at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. In addition, Dr. Conner was deployed three times as a thoracic surgeon with the 28th Combat Support Hospital in the Middle East.

Dr. McNeil dedicated twenty years of service to the U.S. Air Force having started his military career as a recipient of the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship while attending medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Following his residency, which he completed while on active duty, he returned to Texas and practiced at the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), eventually serving as Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. McNeil deployed twice to the 332nd Air Force Theatre Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Cluster for his outstanding achievements.

Veterans Day is celebrated each year on November 11th to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Please join us at CTVS in humbly thanking all of our nation’s veterans for their dedicated service.

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