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OU Alum Uses Psychiatry In His Work With NASA
By: Tom Hodson
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Dr. Ronald Moomaw, an alumnus of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, talked with WOUB about his illustrious career in medicine and his current work as the Psychiatrist/Flight Surgeon for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Moomaw was in the first graduating class of the Heritage College over three decades ago and has had a long career in both the public and private sector.
He believes that his medical training at Ohio University helped him in his career because he learned to treat the whole person and not just the disease that may be presented by the patient. He also credits the Heritage College for instilling in him a passion for preventative medicine.
He also credits his education for giving him the desire to always try something new in medicine and to stay professionally fresh.
Moomaw, since 2009, is certainly practicing in an exciting field. He provides behavioral health support for International Space Station astronauts, crew members and their families. He provides stress resilience training for astronauts before, during and after space flights. He also works in the selection process of new astronauts.
A major part of his research is the impact of zero gravity on brain functions. Moomaw also is investigating the impacts of long communication delays between the astronauts and the earth in extended space travel – such as to Mars.
Moomaw was back in Athens for the annual Convocation of the Heritage College of Medicine. This year the College welcomes a record number of 190 students in its entering cohort.
If you would like to listen to an extended conversation with Dr. Moomaw about his work, click here.
For a complete listing of the lastest episodes of Conversations From Studio B, go here.