Veterans Day holds deep meaning for Dr. Vincent Barnhart.

When he speaks about his family’s long tradition of military service—from the American Revolution to Korea and World War II—his voice catches.

“It links me to my heritage and to the long gray line of people who put everything on the line for freedom,” he says, pausing as emotion wells up.

That sense of service has guided Barnhart throughout his life—from 22 years in the Army, including a tour in Iraq, to his current role as a WellSpan primary care physician. Barnhart has been with WellSpan since 2017. He carried more than memories from his military career; he brought adaptability, resilience and an unwavering commitment to others.

Today, those qualities define his approach to patient care and leadership at WellSpan.

Barnhart’s military career was anything but static.

“I had opportunities to practice clinical medicine, serve in leadership roles and manage administrative responsibilities,” he recalls. “The one constant in the military was change. Either you or your boss was going to change every 18 months. That flexibility prepared me for the evolving world of healthcare.”

That adaptability was on full display on Oct. 8, when he learned of a shootout involving Pennsylvania State Troopers near his workplace at WellSpan Greencastle Health Center. Two troopers were wounded on an Interstate 81 exit ramp. Barnhart crossed Route 11 and helped assess their injuries.

He downplays his role, instead praising the troopers’ training and equipment. “They had already applied tourniquets and were packing wounds and applying pressure dressings. One trooper even applied his own tourniquet. That’s good training,” Barnhart says.

He recognized the military’s influence in their response: chest seals, pressure dressings and one-handed tourniquets—tools and techniques refined during combat deployments. “Trauma medicine took huge leaps forward because of military experience, and those lessons are saving lives today.”

At WellSpan, Barnhart sees parallels between military values and healthcare’s mission. “Selfless service, loyalty, duty, respect, personal courage, honor, integrity—those Army values still guide me,” he says. “Healthcare needs people willing to put others first. That’s what the military teaches.”

His advice to veterans considering healthcare? “Service is my motivator. If you want to make a difference, this is where you’re needed. The military prepares you for the rigor and the change.”

Barnhart’s story is a reminder of why veterans enrich our workplace culture and the care we provide. Their unique skills and perspectives help us live our values—delivering personalized, compassionate care and strengthening the communities we serve.