Finding purpose again: Quinn Thompson’s journey from military service to radiology
For Quinn Thompson, the path to a career in health care wasn’t a straight line. It began with a call to serve his country, took him across three combat deployments and, years later, led him to Penn State Health.
At just 17, Thompson joined the U.S. Navy and became part of the Seabees, the Navy’s construction battalion known for building bases and infrastructure in some of the world’s most challenging environments. “I liked working with my hands, so it seemed like the right fit,” he recalled. “I didn’t realize at the time how much the experience would shape who I became.”
Before beginning his career in health care, Quinn Thompson served eight years in the U.S. Navy as part of the Naval Construction Force.
Over eight years of service, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Thompson found fulfillment in the teamwork and camaraderie that define military life. “The adrenaline, the teamwork, the sense of being part of something bigger than yourself – it’s something you never forget,” he said.
When his service ended in 2014, Thompson returned home to central Pennsylvania and began a new chapter. He earned degrees in business and supply chain management and built a stable career in government and transportation. Yet something was missing. “I’d sit at a desk all day and think, ‘This can’t be it,’” he admitted. “I missed feeling like what I did mattered.”
A conversation with his mother-in-law helped him find a new direction. She encouraged him to explore careers in health care, and after shadowing professionals at Penn State Health, Thompson discovered radiology. “It felt like the perfect balance,” he said. “You interact with patients, you help them find answers, but it’s also technical and hands-on. It gave me that same sense of purpose I had in the Navy.”
Today, Thompson works as a radiology aide at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, assisting with MRI and imaging procedures while pursuing his Radiologic Technologist certification through HACC. His clinical rotations take place within Penn State Health, and once he completes the program in 2027, he hopes to specialize in MRI.
He credits his success to the supportive culture he’s found within the organization. “Everyone here, from the techs to the leadership, wants you to succeed,” he said. “They treat students and aides like colleagues. You feel like part of the team from day one.”
Now part of the imaging team at Penn State Health, Quinn Thompson draws on his Navy background and commitment to service as he assists with radiology procedures and continues his education to become a certified radiologic technologist.
For Thompson, that sense of belonging feels familiar. “Penn State Health reminds me a lot of the military,” he said. “Everyone has a role, and we all work together for something greater – helping patients.”
As a husband, father and veteran pursuing a second career, Thompson hopes his journey inspires others, especially fellow service members transitioning to civilian life, to consider health care. “If you’re looking for purpose after the military, this field will give it to you,” he said. “You’re serving people again, just in a different way.”
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