ArMA Member Spotlight: Bradley Butler, MD
We are honored to introduce this month's ArMA Member Spotlight, Bradley Butler, MD! Dr. Butler is an emergency physician at Phoenix Veterans Affairs Medical Center. We have been honored to have Dr. Butler as a member since his medical school days at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson!
In his interview for our Member Spotlight, Dr. Butler shares stories about his service in the Navy Reserves — including his role as Specialty Leader for Emergency Medicine for Navy Reserve Medicine — and how he approaches caring for his patients. ArMA extends our thanks to Dr. Butler for his service to not only Arizona's patients and veterans but for his service to our entire country.
Learn all about Dr. Butler's journey with medicine below!
What inspires you?
I think the better question is “Who” inspires me? For that question, I have many answers. Both of my parents inspired me to succeed in elementary and high school as well as serving as my inspiration to attend the University of Arizona, our family school (our kids were 4th generation Wildcats). My parents also inspired me to pursue my two career choices- medicine (my father’s side of the family) and education (my mother’s side of the family). I was torn during my college years and a student teaching honors biology at Tucson High School confirmed that teaching was not for me, and I went to medical school instead and have never looked back!
My sister-in-law Kelli Butler inspires me to be politically active. As someone who served 3 terms in our state legislature as my state rep, she constantly serves as a model as someone who dedicates their time and money in service to our community and state.
My wife of 33 years inspires me and reminds me of the importance of family and always keeping close and hosting and attending family gatherings.
I have many friends and colleagues who are University of Arizona Wildcats who inspire me to always remember my alma mater and are examples to me of the critical importance of philanthropy and always “giving back” to those who need your help.
Finally, I have several military colleagues who serve as inspiration to me and remind me of the importance of selfless service to our great country which has given so much to all of us in America!
What has been the biggest change in your career?
Certainly, when I was finally able to pursue and achieve my goal of joining the military at age 40; it took me 2 wars and 20 years to finally get my childhood asthma waived, enabling me to achieve my goal of serving in our military. Since joining the Navy Reserves in 2009, I have deployed four times — more than most of my active-duty friends.
What success in your career are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my successes in the Navy Reserves, including being promoted to 06, serving as the Specialty Leader for Emergency Medicine for Navy Reserve Medicine, and soon serving for the next two years as the Deputy Corps Chief for all 650 Navy Reserve physicians in Washington, D.C., starting this January.
What would the title of your autobiography be? What would the last chapter be
about?
“Moderation is for wimps.” I have always lived life to the fullest, sometimes to my physical, mental, and/or financial detriment. The last chapter... TBD!
How has a book changed your perspective on life?
All of Stephen King’s books have changed my life in the fact that they made me a voracious reader by age 11. This skill/passion has been very beneficial as it has encouraged me to read so many diverse books throughout my life.
What's a project you're working on right now? Why is it meaningful to you?
I am working on funding a scholarship program modeled after the Flinn Scholarship, geared towards outstanding senior students at the UofA to encourage them to pursue graduate degrees at Arizona instead of going out of state. The goal is to have them spend 2-4 more years at the UofA to give them a more deeply rooted sense of connection to the UofA and the state of Arizona.
What would you be up to if you weren't pursuing medicine right now?
I would be a high school counselor in the Peoria Unified School District.
What would you like to be remembered about you?
That I passionately gave back to my alma mater, my community, my state, and my country.
What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?
Maybe consider a little moderation in your life 😊
What do you like best about living in Arizona?
Easy question- FAMILY!
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I am not entirely as intense as I seem to be.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
A lot of working out interspaced with a movie at a Harkins theater with some occasional work thrown in.
How would you describe your approach to patient care?
Always treating my patients like I would treat my own family (or, usually better, as most of my family members have had stitches performed on them on the bathroom floor in our house, often without anesthesia…)
How do you unwind after a stressful day?
A nice relaxing and delicious dinner with family.
How do you define success?
Finding a job that is so interesting and meaningful that you never consider it “going to work.”
What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?
Too many of our colleagues either don’t know or don’t care that they are all benefiting from what organized medicine does for us and our patients. It is our responsibility to support (with our time, talents, and resources) the organizations that support us and our patients!
