June 30, 2009 Airmen in Europe test threat responses Airmen from six U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases competed in the 2009 USAFE Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Challenge June 22 through 26 here. The full-spectrum threat response strike teams were tested in six scenarios based on real-world hazardous material events in a rodeo-style
June 30, 2009 First in DoD, prescription ATM eases patients' wait time The 61st Medical Group recently introduced a prescription dispensing machine during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the base exchange, June 13. The ScriptCenter Express Prescription Refill and Pickup Center is the first of its kind in Los Angeles County, the Air Force, and the Department of Defense.
June 29, 2009 Greatest long-term achievements of the AF Medical Service 1.) Adaptation of aerospace crew to space flighta.) Development of space pressure suits, helmets and other life support equipment(1950s and 1960s) b.) Parabolic weightlessness flights that NASA adopted for its astronaut weightlessness training program (1955 - early 1960s) c.) Space cabin
June 29, 2009 Important dates in the history of the AF Medical Service July 1949 and early 1950 -- Newly authorized Air Force medics assume all responsibility for patient treatment on Air Force bases. On Sept. 7, 1949, two months after the creation of the Air Force Medical Service, Louis Johnson, Secretary of Defense, directed that aeromedical evacuation (AE) be the
June 29, 2009 AF Medical Service celebrates 60 years Air Force Medical Service officials commemorated 60 years of service here June 25. Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush hosted the event at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk to honor the medical service's contributions over the last 60 years and to highlight the way ahead.
June 12, 2009 Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Hepburn to become AF deputy surgeon general Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Byron C. Hepburn will become the next deputy surgeon general of the Air Force, senior service officials announced June 11. General Hepburn currently serves as the commander of the Air Force Medical Support Agency in the office of the AF Surgeon General at Bolling AFB. He will
June 12, 2009 SAUSHEC ceremony honors 293 medical graduates Dr. Kenneth Torrington, dean of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, honored 293 physicians and allied health care providers during the annual SAUSHEC awards and graduation ceremony June 5 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. SAUSHEC is the
June 12, 2009 Flying medics provide theater-wide care Squinting away the mid-morning glare, Staff Sgt. Danny Au and his fellow crewmembers emerge from the cargo hold of a C-130 Hercules. They are tired after flying and working 14 hours in the back of the aircraft. Sergeant Au, who like many of his teammates are deployed from Pope AFB, N.C., and the two
June 12, 2009 Streamlined disability evaluation system introduced at Elmendorf Wounded, ill and injured Airmen entering into the Disability Evaluation System here are now enrolled in a new pilot evaluation process. This new joint Department of Defense-Veterans Affairs effort is designed to streamline and expedite disability recovery and processing to create improved treatment,
June 12, 2009 AF dermatologist uses laser to treat wounded warrior scars Maj. (Dr.) Chad Hivnor, chief of pediatric dermatology at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, is using a new fractional laser to treat battle scars on troops injured in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. "The laser softens the texture of the scars," said
June 12, 2009 Blood center is lifeline for servicemembers Every year, thousands of units of blood and plasma are donated and sent into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to save the lives of servicemembers and civilians who sustain life threatening injuries. Thanks to the hard work of the four members of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group
June 12, 2009 Manas hosts symposium for medical partners A gathering of medical minds met here recently for a coalition medical symposium sponsored by the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group. Guests attending the symposium included personnel from the Spanish coalition medical staff, U.S. Embassy medical unit, Peace Corps medical staff and the Bishkek
June 12, 2009 Combat Stress: A combat essential for today's warfighter Have you ever gone through a challenging or painful situation and later felt stronger from the experience? In other words, the stress of the situation pushed you to react and adapt. You overcame fears or other emotions so, when put in similar situations, you could handle them more effectively or
June 12, 2009 Suicide prevention: A leadership challenge for all Every time a life is lost in Pacific Air Forces I am alerted. All are tragic in different ways, but among the most troubling is when it involves a suicide. During the course of my 35 years on active duty, I've learned that we cannot prevent every suicide attempt. More importantly, I've learned that
June 12, 2009 Telling your story is important When I was deployed to Iraq my mother said, "We have Air Force people in Iraq? What does the Air Force do there?" My mother is probably like a lot of other people out there. She's educated, watches the usual news networks every day and reads the newspapers. How can they not know about the most
June 12, 2009 CAFTT Airmen improve public health program, DFAC for Iraqi Air Force With the opening of a new Iraqi dining facility, featuring menu selections like kebabs, samoon-a flat bread-and baklava, the ability to prepare food safely is paramount. The Iraqi air force opened a new DFAC, with its greatly expanded food service capability, and served its first meal May 5, thanks
June 1, 2009 Wilford Hall team transports critically ill infants across the Pacific A team from Wilford Hall Medical Center rushed to Okinawa, Japan, May 24 to save the lives of two critically ill babies. The infants - one nine months old and the other twenty days old - were moved from Kadena Air Base, Japan, to San Antonio, Texas, May 26 aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. Both are
May 26, 2009 Senate confirms Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Green to be the AF's 20th surgeon general The Senate has confirmed Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Charles Bruce Green to become the Air Force's 20th surgeon general. General Green is currently the Air Force's deputy surgeon general, a position he has held since August 2006. He will replace Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush, who is retiring. General Green
May 26, 2009 AFMC senior leader reflects on suicide close to home With a phone call on the night of Jan. 29, the "You Matter" suicide campaign at Robins suddenly became more personal to Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer. The commander of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center suspected something was wrong when the phone rang at 9 p.m. because most people who would be calling her
May 26, 2009 Apheresis broadens impact of blood donations Rose Weatherly plays a major role in providing life-saving blood products to patients at Keesler Medical Center and, literally, around the world. Ms. Weatherly, a registered nurse, is the apheresis supervisor with the 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron's pathology and clinical laboratory