Jon Bear always wanted to fly a plane.
From the age of eight, his dad, who was a private pilot, would fly him around the skies above their home in Queens, New York. At 10 years old, his favorite movie – “Top Gun” – was released, giving him a preview into the world of naval aviation that he would later make his own.
After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1998, Bear went on to be an aviator for 10 years. Over the course of that time, he served 19 combat missions. His first tour was in Japan, followed by two more tours in Virginia Beach. He accumulated over 1,800 flight hours, while piloting an alphabet soup of aircraft: the F/A-18A Hornet, T-45A Goshawk, T-34B/C Mentor, T-42 Cochise and the Cessna C-152/172.
His time flying planes for the Navy was decorated by awards like the Joint Service Medal, Strike Flight Medal (with a combat “V” recognizing his air support in Operation Iraqi Freedom), Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Yet, when he leaves for work these days from his Coronado home, he’s no longer stepping into a naval uniform. Instead, he puts on a lab coat befitting his second career – as a physician.
The beginning of a new path
When Bear broke his arm playing football in high school and had to meet with an orthopedic surgeon, a seed was planted in his head.
“He was just a really cool guy,” said Bear. “I just found it really fascinating speaking with him. Between that and my dad being a periodontist, I always had medicine in the back of my mind. I love flying, but I knew I didn’t want to do it forever.”
At the ten-year mark in his naval career, he made the decision to switch into Navy medicine.
“I felt fulfilled that I got to accomplish everything that I had wanted to” as a pilot, said Bear. “I went in aircraft carriers, traveled all around the world, flew combat missions. The timing just seemed right to me.”
Bear then went on to graduate medical school from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His plan initially was to be an orthopedic surgeon and anesthesiologist, until he heard of radiation oncology.
A calling to radiation oncology
“I never thought I’d want to be a cancer doctor, but I did some shadowing and it turned out to be the perfect fit for me,” said Bear. “It’s a really rewarding field. The relationships we build with our patients are really unique – it’s really like an extended family. And as a math major, I really like the technical aspects.”
After finishing up a five-year radiation oncology residency, Bear was ready to work as a radiation oncologist at the Navy Medical Center in San Diego, providing care to active duty, dependents and retirees of the Navy.
During his time working for the Navy Medical Center, he wore both the hat of a doctor and a naval officer – serving as a radiology vice chairman and a radiation ecology specialty leader.
“First and foremost, we’re always naval officers and we’re leaders,” said Bear. “I think it forces you to grow as a physician – having that exposure in the Navy in general, but also as a medical officer and stepping up into those leadership positions.”
The conclusion to a 26-year naval career
But, after 26 years, Bear will be retiring his naval officer hat in preparation for his transition to full care as a cancer specialist at Palomar Health. His retirement ceremony from the Navy was May 31.
“It was a little bit more emotional than I thought it would be. I’ve worn the uniform the vast majority of my adult life,” said Bear. “It was mixed emotions because on the one hand, I was excited about the new opportunity, but on the other hand, I do feel a certain bond with the Navy and I want the Navy and Navy medicine to continue to succeed.”
Bear will be taking his knowledge and career lessons with him as he makes his transition to Palomar Health. Right now, he is working to build a new program at Palomar Health centered around prostate brachytherapy – a procedure he found success with at the Navy Medical Center that is used to treat men with aggressive cancer. He said he is one of few doctors in San Diego capable of carrying out the treatment.
“Getting a program like that up and running not only requires skills as a physician, but it also requires leadership skills, communication and coordination,” said Bear. “Those are all skills I feel like I lean on from my time as a naval officer.”
“It’s a stressful situation when you get diagnosed with cancer and for most people it’s probably the most stressful situation they’ve ever had in their life,” said Bear. “Getting to take care of them and either cure them or make them comfortable is the most rewarding part of my job.”
