Meet the Alumni: Tom Bundt
Program/year
of graduation: 2000 M.H.A.; 2000 M.B.A.; 2002 Ph.D. (Health Services
Research)
What I’m doing now: I am currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army serving in Baghdad. My current job consists of a few duty positions (this is the new “do more with less” philosophy). I am currently the Chief of Health Policy and Strategy for the Multi-National Forces-Iraq; the Deputy Health Attache for the United States Embassy Iraq and the Chief of Programs and Facilities Management for the health sector foreign aid program. My mission consists of writing health policy for the Coalition Forces as well as the Iraqi Ministry of Health, conducting negotiations and strategic alignment of goals and having management oversight of the Health Sector infrastructure contributions from the United States Government. The position is designed to build a stronger and more independent system allowing for increased access and quality of healthcare for the people of Iraq. It’s gratifying work but I am rotating back stateside this summer and looking forward to a little peace and quiet…and maybe a drink or two.
My favorite UF memory: Being able to go to school (again) and learn from some of best professors and classmates I have ever known. Ah yes, living the life as a Gator, meeting great people, and getting paid a salary to do it — those memories are worth a six year commitment!
Best lesson learned at UF: Paying attention to the sign in the parking lot that states…no parking.
People would be surprised to know: I was raised in Berlin, Germany, a mechanic in high school and a primate researcher in college. This sort of explains why I ended up working for Uncle Sam. That and I love my country and want to do my part to make the world a better (safer) place.
Family: My folks, sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces all live in Washington state and are doing great. My other family consists of a small cat named Sam who elected not to deploy with me and resides with a friend in El Paso, Texas.
In the future I hope to: Retire from the Army, write a book, teach graduate school and buy a boat (not necessarily in this order!) so that I can get back to diving and take my family and friends fishing.
