Between Medicine and the Sky

TouroCOM Montana Student Colby Spongberg Pursued a Lifelong Dream of Becoming a Pilot

June 10, 2026

Medical student Colby Spongberg pilots a small airplane in flight, wearing a headset and monitoring the aircraft\'s instruments.

TouroCOM Montana student Colby Spongberg pilots a training aircraft after earning his private pilot's license, a lifelong goal inspired by a family tradition of aviation. Flying provides a break from the demands of medical school and helps him maintain balance while pursuing a career in medicine.

On a calm evening over Great Falls, medical student Colby Spongberg found something he didn’t realize he was missing: space to think beyond medicine. “I didn’t realize how much medicine had become 100 percent of my entire existence,” he said. “When I’m in the airplane, it’s a complete reset.”

Between boards, rotations, and a growing interest in plastic and reconstructive surgery, Colby earned his private pilot’s license—a goal rooted in family and shaped by balance, focus, and perspective.

A family story in flight

Flying runs deep in his family. One grandfather flew in World War II, another learned later in life, and his father, uncle, and brother are all pilots. “I grew up around airplanes and always wanted my license,” he says. “Medical school finally gave me the structure and motivation to make it happen.”

As part of TouroCOM Montana’s inaugural class, Colby also embraced the chance to shape a unique path. Flying quickly became more than a goal—it became a mental reset. “It gave me space to breathe.”

Four days, one big leap

Between Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1—two major licensing exams that medical students must pass before advancing in their clinical training, he made an unconventional choice. “I did all of ground school in four days,” he said.

From there, he flew regularly out of Great Falls International Airport, building hours on trips to Cut Bank and Shelby. “I’d finish by three, head to the airport, and fly for the afternoon. It was exactly what I needed.” He ultimately logged about 43 flight hours to earn his license. “Still expensive,” he adds with a laugh, “but worth every penny.”

For Colby, aviation and medicine align closely. “The mindset is so similar—preparation, checklists, clear thinking, and go/no-go decisions.” Preflight planning mirrors pre-op work, and both require humility. “If I’m not ready to fly, I don’t. In surgery, if you need help, you call for it. That keeps people safe.”

Big skies, bigger purpose

Colby is drawn to plastic and reconstructive surgery, especially its impact on function and quality of life. In Montana, where distances are vast, access matters. “Not everyone can drive hours for care that could change their daily life.” He’s met physicians who fly to different hospitals, and he can imagine ways aviation might help bring care closer to rural communities, especially evaluations and minor procedures. “I don’t know exactly what it will look like yet, but flying opens doors.”