May 26, 2009 Ultrasound course supervisor ends 32-year federal career Carolyn Teal was honored for 32 years of federal service at an April 23 retirement ceremony at Keesler Medical Center. Mrs. Teal ended her career as supervisor of the 81st Medical Operations Squadron diagnostic imaging flight ultrasound Phase II course. A native of Mobile, Ala., she entered civil
May 15, 2009 Wounded warrior receives surprise promotion Staff Sgt. Daniel Acosta woke May 7 thinking he was a senior airman. He was surprised to discover that he was promoted to staff sergeant without his knowledge. Lt. Col. Michael Glass, 59th Medical Support Squadron commander, advised Sergeant Acosta that Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, deputy chief of staff
May 15, 2009 Wilford Hall's emergency department much more than that At first glance, Wilford Hall Medical Center's emergency department appears to be just another level-1 trauma center, treating patients from not only Lackland Air Force Base but from San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Yet, much more is going on there than people realize. "The emergency
May 15, 2009 Prescription drugs can end your career A technical sergeant in my squadron took a single pill from his son's prescription bottle in May 2007, and that pill started him down the road toward a court-martial and discharge from the Air Force. The drug was a low-level amphetamine used to correct attention deficit disorder. Both the sergeant
May 15, 2009 Public health maintains high standards, healthy force Airmen in the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group constantly monitor the health of all individuals and check to see if illnesses of base personnel are isolated incidents or part of a trend at this air base in Southwest Asia. "Our main role is the prevention and control of communicable diseases," said
May 15, 2009 Sheppard nurse recieves Bronze Star Lt. Col. Susan Bassett, 882nd Training Group chief nurse, received the fourth highest combat award in the U.S. Armed Force May 5, following a 365-day deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. As a member of the 205th Afghan Regional Security Integration Command, her mission was to train and mentor nurses
May 15, 2009 First-term Airmen broaden skills in Dominican Republic Airmen on a Medical Readiness Training Exercise in Arenso, Dominican Republic, are stepping out of their traditional home-station roles and enhancing their existing skill sets by training in medical competencies they do not have the opportunity to experience back home. The Airmen face tough, sweaty,
May 15, 2009 United Fight: Combat Medics Provide Aid, Support to PRT Mission Air Force medical technicians deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom have been thrown into a situation completely outside of their comfort zone and into the forefront of war. In their new role as combat medics, these Airmen must set aside their clinical care mindset and learn how to
May 15, 2009 Testimony details Pentagon, VA plans for wounded warriors The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are working together to address the needs of wounded warriors, defense officials told the House Armed Services Committee April 29. Gail H. McGinn, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, charted what she called the "lines of
May 15, 2009 Medic selected for Air Force Institute of Technology Master Sgt. Carissa Parker, 22nd Medical Readiness Flight NCOIC, is one of nine enlisted Air Force members selected for the USAF Enlisted-to-AFIT program. She will be attending the Graduate School of Engineering and Management at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
April 30, 2009 Flu Watchboard offers DOD-related info on flu outbreak With just a few clicks of the mouse, servicemembers, civilians and families interested in learning more about the H1N1 Flu outbreak, otherwise known as swine flu, can access a variety of resources on the Web. Department of Defense officials created and maintain a Pandemic Influenza Watchboard,
April 29, 2009 Screening program prompts fast swine flu identification The Defense Department's worldwide influenza monitoring program and decisive action by the medical staff at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, are being credited with helping to identify two cases of swine flu early to help prevent a potential spread. Two 16-year-old boys, both military family members
April 29, 2009 Compassion earns Misawa captain Bronze Star Stories are often told of servicemembers whose heroism distinguishes them above the rest, but there are some whose sacrifice leaves prospects of hope in places where there once was none. Capt. Timothy Harrelson, 35th Medical Operations Squadron family practice physician assistant, recently received
April 29, 2009 Flight nurse provides care in the air While troops on the ground are risking their lives fighting terrorism, Capt. Susan McCormick feels it's her mission to provide the best emergency care to wounded troops so they can return to the fight or return to their families back home. "I couldn't picture myself doing anything but this, giving
April 29, 2009 Safety specialist wins AETC award Mr. Michael Griffith, occupational safety specialist at Wilford Hall Medical Center, recently won the Air Education and Training Command "Well Done Award." The award recognizes an individual who makes a significant contribution that affects the overall mishap prevention activities of flight, ground,
April 29, 2009 Keesler neonatal ICU reclassified as a special care nursery Keesler Medical Center reclassified its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to a Special Care Nursery April 1. According to Lt. Col. Jeannine Ryder, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron deputy commander, loss of the NICU is the result of a decrease in admissions and patient population. A Special Care Nursery
April 29, 2009 Wright-Patterson Medical Center takes its Health News Briefing on the Road The Wright-Patterson Medical Center has launched a Health News Road Show, purposed to introduce various groups to the benefits and programs afforded them through the health care programs here.The undertaking establishes a two-way flow of information and is intended to build and maintain a strong
April 29, 2009 Wilford Hall doctor performs first robot-assisted surgery in the Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kyle Weld performed the first robot-assisted surgery in the Air Force at Wilford Hall Medical Center, April 10. The surgery was a laparoscopic prostatectomy, or the surgical removal of prostate cancer. "The procedure went great," said Dr. Weld, director of endourology at Wilford Hall.
April 29, 2009 Wilford Hall team trains with Chilean air force medics An 11-man team of Air Force medics from the 59th Medical Wing participated in a Medical Readiness Training Exercise, or MEDRETE, with 31 Chilean air force medics in March 2009. "This was clearly different from a routine 'humanitarian mission' as surgical subspecialty care was provided to a
April 29, 2009 AFMS history: The AFMS badges and medical service seal The AFMS seal and all Air Force medical badges have a central design -- a single snake coiled around a staff. This was the ancient Greek symbol for the healing arts, known as the snake and staff of Aesculapius, a mythological Greek physician who inspired a popular medical cult in ancient times. For