Cheryl Lowry, MD MPH
Dr. Cheryl Lowry is a retired U.S. Air Force physician and aerospace medicine leader whose 33-year military career was defined by operational excellence, medical innovation, and service to those in high-risk, high-demand environments. Her experience spans clinical medicine, flight surgery, global deployments, special operations, and executive healthcare leadership across the Military Health System.
Dr. Lowry enlisted in the Air Force in law enforcement before earning her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University. Over the course of her career, she served as a family physician, flight surgeon, residency program director, and ultimately Deputy Director overseeing clinical and operational medicine, readiness, and research across 76 military healthcare facilities. She has provided medical care on all seven continents and has led in some of the most complex operational contexts — including post-9/11 response efforts, aeromedical evacuation from Operation Enduring Freedom, stabilization missions in Antarctica, and high-altitude research.
Her most meaningful assignment was commanding a Special Operations medical unit serving 30,000 beneficiaries in a high-operations tempo mission set. There, she witnessed firsthand the cost of “mission first” cultures on physical and mental health — shaping her enduring commitment to restoring resilience, empathy, and human performance in those who serve.
Throughout her career, Dr. Lowry has advanced medical education and operational readiness. She pioneered CPR and first responder training for Air Force law enforcement personnel across Europe, developed aerospace medicine curricula that trained NASA and military flight surgeons, and chaired the Diploma in Diving and Marine Medicine for the Wilderness Medical Society. She has served as a Director on the American Board of Preventive Medicine and continues to contribute to national standards through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. She is also the founder of The Kinetic Group, specializing in aviation medicine and austere operational training.
In recent years, Dr. Lowry has focused on expanding mental health and human performance solutions beyond traditional pharmacologic models. She is currently studying transpersonal psychology and psychedelic-assisted therapies, exploring individualized, multi-modal approaches that enhance neuroplasticity, compassion, empathy, and long-term healing. She believes that even those who feel strong and mission-ready can benefit from experiential, non-pharmacological tools that unlock the “inner healer” within.
As an Advisor to Lumena MindGym, Dr. Lowry brings unparalleled expertise in operational medicine, aerospace physiology, special operations support, and medical education. Her guidance ensures that MindGym’s immersive training environments align with the realities of military, aviation, and high-performance communities — advancing readiness, resilience, and human flourishing where it matters most.