AXP:  " I started studying for the entry level Ham radio license.  Have yet to take the exam."

As you already know full well, AXP, that Technician level exam is a walk in the park.  Those folks, like ProsserP who have been "Hams" for many, many years generally opine that the FCC Exams have been dumbed down to the point of being rediculous.  I think they have a valid point.  It is much, much easier now than in years past to obtain the license, even the General Class license.  I first looked at the Novice Class license back in the 1950's and started studying for it.  It was positively more involved and detailed at that time vs the requirements today for the Technician license.

It is one thing to have the license and quite another to have the knowledge to put together and operate successfully an amateur station and fully utilize at least a significant variety of all the different modes of transmission open to those licensed individuals.  Just my opinion, but the license is the easy part.  

Anyhow, with your in depth training as a medical researcher, the only thing separating you from any of your goals in amateur radio is just the time involved.  Have fun with it.