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A spring break trip to the Kennedy Space Center 20 years ago set University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine alumnus Eiman Jahangir, MD, on a trajectory that eventually launched him into space. 

“I always had two passions,” says Dr. Jahangir, 45, now a professor of medicine and radiology and the director of the sections of general cardiology and cardio-oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “It was medicine and it was space, and I was able to pursue the second passion once I became a doctor.” 

A 2005 graduate, he says the College of Medicine was the launchpad for both. 

On August 29, 2024, Dr. Jahangir was a member of a six-person team of commercial astronauts onboard Blue Origin’s New Shephard rocket for a 12-minute, sub-orbital flight that climbed approximately 70 miles into space before returning to earth. He was selected by MoonDAO, an organization that supports space exploration, from more than 2,200 applicants for the life-changing excursion. 

“I was the 704th person to ever go into space, and still less than 800 people, I think, have ever done it,” he says. “I was actually the first physician on a commercial spaceflight.” 

It was a wild ride, for sure. Here’s how Dr. Jahangir describes it. 

“It was surprisingly smooth going up; the rockets light up, and the whole inside of the capsule reflects the orange flame of the rocket,” he says. “It takes about seven seconds before the thing has enough power and thrust to lift off. So, you’re sitting on top of that rocket, you hear the countdown, it gets down to one and then zero, and then you hear the engine roar, and after seven seconds you just start lifting off into space.” 

“I think maybe it’s a little shaky, but you’re probably so excited that you don’t know it,” he continues. “It didn’t feel particularly shaky coming back down. It definitely sounded loud. You could hear kind of like the whooshing as you’re coming back into the atmosphere. And it felt like an elephant sitting right on my chest. And you’re just saying, ‘OK, let’s hope these parachutes open up.’” 

Dr. Jahangir is equally descriptive when he speaks of UT Health Science Center’s pivotal role in setting the course that led him to space. 

“In 2005, right before I was graduating medical school, my family and I went down to the Kennedy Space Center, and I was looking at the rockets, and it just kind of rekindled that interest and desire,” he says. “I ran back to the hotel room, looked online to see what the requirements were to become an astronaut, and realized I met the requirements because of my training at the University of Tennessee. By getting the medical degree, that was enough to be able to apply.” He waited until 2008, when the first application cycle became available, and applied, making it as far as the finals. 

In total, Dr. Jahangir has applied to NASA five times to become a U.S. astronaut and made it to the finals twice. 

Dr. Jahangir says his training in the College of Medicine equipped him to think independently and keep a level head and steady heart when faced with complex situations — all assets on his Blue Origin trip. 

“When I was in medical school, we did a lot of work at The Med (now Regional One Health). So, you had a lot of experience managing patients and figuring out complex situations, because people would come in who had not had medical care for a long time and they’d come in with just very progressed or complex diseases,” he explains.  

The proximity to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and opportunity to participate in research as a medical student helped guide him toward his specialty in cardio-oncology. 

“One of the biggest things that the University of Tennessee did, that I don’t think happens at all health science centers or medical schools, is it gave a very strong sense of independence in both learning and practicing as a student,” Dr. Jahangir says. “That independence leads to increased confidence. And that leads to, hopefully, becoming a better physician.” 

He says the College of Medicine also provided him with a group of friends who have stayed in touch, even 20 years since graduation. “I think it is very important that you have those people that can support you through good times and bad, tell you that maybe your idea is crazy, but still be there to lift you up,” Dr. Jahangir says. “And I think the University of Tennessee Health Science Center provided that, because it was very collegial environment, and it was a place that we could all learn together, work hard together, and build those connections and community together.” 

One friend from medical school, Joe Mobley, MD, MPH, a urologist and chief of staff at West Tennessee Healthcare – Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee, says he and Dr. Jahangir bonded early in medical school over outside activities that helped them de-stress. 

“Medical school can be challenging in and of itself, and for the most part, each of us was laser focused on the next step ahead: the next exam, the next lab, the next clinical task,” Dr. Mobley explains. “Despite this, Eiman had a variety of alternative interests and did communicate early on his love for space and a desire to be a future astronaut. 

“Beyond his initial space flight, he is using his intelligence, kindness, and charisma to share his passion and path with children and others who have high aspirations,” Dr. Mobley says. “He is the perfect role model for balancing a career, while still chasing your dreams and creating the life that you’ve dreamed of.” 

Back on terra firma in Nashville, Dr. Jahangir’s spaceflight has served as a vehicle for outreach to promote STEM education and careers in medicine. “I just got back from Brazil. We spent a week down there with a not-for-profit and went to hospitals with kids with cancer, and we did art with them. All that art is going to be sent up to space on a Soyuz rocket in November.” 

Dr. Jahangir worked for Blue Origin for six months after the spaceflight as an astronaut trainer and in Mission Control doing capsule communication. In addition to his clinical duties at Vanderbilt, he speaks to students, works with companies on aerospace technologies, and lectures on aerospace medicine. 

“It’s great, because it’s always been one of my goals to excite kids and motivate the next generation.” 

Related

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL) today announced that it has successfully closed the previously disclosed sale of its manufacturing assets located in Lake Providence, LA. This transaction follows Stepan’s most recent divestiture of its plant in the Philippines, representing the Company’s ongoing footprint optimization efforts and focus on core growth opportunities.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Corporate Profile

Stepan Company is a major manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries. Stepan is a leading merchant producer of surfactants, which are the key ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning and disinfection compounds and in agricultural and oilfield solutions. The Company is also a leading supplier of polyurethane polyols used in the expanding thermal insulation market, and CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers) industries.

Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, Stepan utilizes a network of modern production facilities located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. 

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol SCL. For more information about Stepan Company please visit the Company online at www.stepan.com 

More information about Stepan’s sustainability program can be found on the Sustainability page at www.stepan.com 

Certain information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements about Stepan Company’s plans, objectives, strategies, financial performance and outlook, trends, the amount and timing of future cash distributions, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, Stepan Company’s actual financial results, performance, achievements or prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “illustrative” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Stepan Company and its management based on their knowledge and understanding of the business and industry, are inherently uncertain. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and stockholders should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond Stepan Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among other factors, the risks, uncertainties and factors described in Stepan Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) risks and uncertainties related to accidents, unplanned production shutdowns or disruptions in manufacturing facilities; reduced demand due to customer product reformulations or new technologies; our inability to successfully develop or introduce new products; compliance with laws; our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates and successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; global competition; volatility of raw material and energy costs and supply; disruptions in transportation or significant changes in transportation costs; downturns in certain industries and general economic downturns; international business risks, including currency exchange rate fluctuations, legal restrictions and taxes; unfavorable resolution of litigation against us; maintaining and protecting intellectual property rights; our ability to access capital markets; global political, military, security or other instability; costs related to expansion or other capital projects; interruption or breaches of information technology systems; our ability to retain executive management and key personnel; and our debt covenants.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Stepan Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Stepan Company