Vasilis Mavratsas trains as a resident physician in UTMB's combined Internal Medicine and Aerospace Medicine program, where he pairs clinical work with a steady commitment to human space exploration and the practical measures that maintain crew health.
Growing up in Cyprus with exposure to both Greek and American cultures, he drew early inspiration from his family's aviation background and from space documentaries his mother shared. Though he first imagined a career in military aviation, a hospital shadowing experience during high school career day redirected him toward medicine.
After studying chemistry at Rice University and earning his MD at UTMB, he chose a residency that allows him to practice primary care and manage complex medical conditions in hospitalized patients while mastering the unique demands of aerospace medicine.
Why Aerospace Medicine
For Vasilis, the environment is a clinical variable physicians must actively consider. Acceleration, ambient pressure, and gravity fundamentally alter human physiology, creating puzzles that keep his curiosity engaged. Training in both internal medicine and aerospace medicine has also deepened his conviction that prevention should sit at the center of care. As he explains, “we live in a world saturated with advertisements for medications,” yet many conditions can be avoided or delayed “with the right lifestyle interventions or timely participation in medical screenings.”
He approaches aerospace medicine with dual goals of making space missions safer through medical expertise and gradually widening access to space exploration. While he plans to submit an astronaut application in a future selection cycle, he emphasizes that his commitment extends beyond personal ambition. Regardless of the outcome, he intends to serve as a physician who bridges the gap between clinical practice and flight operations.
Training in Motion
UTMB's combined program provides Vasilis with remarkably diverse experiences. The program’s proximity to NASA ensures steady exposure to the practice and progress of aerospace medicine, while rotations at commercial companies like Vast in Long Beach offer perspectives on the expanding private sector. Vast was his first experience working in an engineering company where healthcare providers are the minority, and it reshaped how he collaborates. “Learning to speak the language of engineers, and translating medical information into that language, was one of the main skills I was able to hone,” he says.
The master’s curriculum has sharpened his skills in epidemiology and statistics while introducing him to human factors engineering, requirements writing, and probabilistic risk assessment. Borrowed from engineering, that framework helps him estimate the likelihood and consequences of medical events and understand how different mitigation strategies alter risk. He now applies these tools to real-world tradeoffs, such as establishing oxygen parameters that prevent hypoxia while minimizing flammability risks. Through this training, he has learned to communicate effectively with mission planners and designers so that medical considerations shape systems from their earliest stages.
Research With Impact
Research forms an integral part of Vasilis’s training trajectory. Under the guidance of Dr. Cesar Ugarte-Gil, he has examined tuberculosis patterns within correctional health systems, investigating transmission risks in congregate settings and the public health implications for surrounding communities.
For his master’s capstone, he collaborated with fellow resident Brian Rodriguez to develop a practical reference guide for medical examiners and forensic pathologists who may encounter spaceflight-related incidents as commercial activity expands. The project aims to standardize investigative approaches across jurisdictions while supporting professionals who possess deep forensic expertise but limited exposure to aerospace medicine.
Humanist Clinical Practice
While aerospace medicine often emphasizes systems thinking and operations, Vasilis maintains a parallel commitment to everyday patient care in Galveston. He actively seeks opportunities at safety-net clinics like St. Vincent’s House and Grace Clinic, where timely access can alter the trajectory of chronic disease.
Whether conducting medication reconciliation or advising on preventive care, he brings the same meticulous attention to detail that he applies to preflight protocols. His dual training has taught him to manage medical conditions across a wide range of environments and resource levels—from a small kit on a hiking trip to a tertiary care center with extensive specialists and technology. Though the settings differ dramatically, both demand thorough preparation, clear communication, and a proactive approach to prevention.
Looking Ahead
As Vasilis approaches completion of his combined residency, he plans to deepen his internal medicine practice while expanding research that connects public health with operational medicine. Looking to the future, he is energized by the scale and scope of what lies ahead. “The expected growth in the number of people who will visit, live, and work in space—and the resumption of deep space exploration—will shift the focus toward treating medical conditions in space,” he notes. That shift will require increasingly autonomous medical systems that can function despite communication delays or interruptions.
As commercial spaceflight expands, he envisions himself helping design medical systems that improve safety in remote environments and ensuring that space medicine keeps pace with the ambitions of exploration. Equally important, he intends to continue serving the Galveston community that has shaped his training—applying lessons from the clinic, the lab, and the mission design review to protect health on Earth and beyond.