March 16, 2009 Thule aids in life-saving ice rescue The remote ice cap in Greenland is a bad place to have a serious accident, especially with a winter storm bearing down, without transportation and almost 250 miles away from accessable land, let alone an emergency room. When a National Science Foundation employee fell off a snow ramp at the
March 16, 2009 A healthy dose of 'flight' medicine You may not know them, in fact, you might not even recognize their faces, but they are an integral part of the 341st Missile Wing's mission and wear a variety of hats to take care of the people who operate, maintain, support and secure the weapon system at Malmstrom. Whether they are jumping out of
March 16, 2009 HAWC oversees centralized PT testing The Pacific Air Forces is taking a new approach to physical training. All PT testing will be centralized through some form as stated in a recent newsletter from Gen. Carrol Chandler, the PACAF commander; Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command; and Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat
March 16, 2009 Keesler surgical residents return to Navy hospital Keesler Medical Center surgical residency program has returned to the arena of joint military service with Navy medicine in Northwest Florida with the first of four six-week rotations completed at Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., in February. The return of the surgical residency rotation to the
March 3, 2009 AFMS history: The father of the Air Force Medical Service In June 1949 the first staff elements of a new Air Force Medical Service began to assemble in northwest Washington, D.C., at an office complex known as McLean Gardens near Rock Creek Park. On July, 1 of that year Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Malcolm C. Grow assumed duties as the first Air Force Surgeon General.
March 2, 2009 Wilford Hall team transports critically ill infant A team from Wilford Hall Medical Center rushed to Temple, Texas, Feb. 9 to save the life of a critically ill baby. An 8-month-old little girl was suffering from respiratory failure at Scott and White Hospital in Temple. Despite the efforts of the medical team there, she was near death and her
March 2, 2009 Team Travis celebrates six new citizens Five Air Force members and an Air Force spouse, stationed at Travis, recited the Oath of Allegiance and became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the Travis Air Museum Feb. 6. The ceremony was unique for Travis, as it was the first-ever naturalization ceremony to take place on base.
March 2, 2009 Botox treatment provides relief for bladder problems If your lifestyle is hampered too often by embarrassing moments when nature calls, the Wilford Hall Medical Center's Incontinence Clinic offers hope. Urinary incontinence is a common problem for many; but, for some people, it can disrupt their lives. Medical reports indicate those who suffer from
March 2, 2009 Deploying physicians to use acupuncture At the acupuncture clinic here, Col. (Dr.) Richard Niemtzow and Col. (Dr.) Stephen Burns run the service's first full time acupuncture clinic. For them, acupuncture treatments are a full-time job. The Air Force surgeon general announced recently that a pilot program to train a cadre of active duty
March 2, 2009 Officials announce field-grade medical officer promotions Air Force officials here have selected 84 lieutenant colonels, 164 majors, and 326 captains in the medical and dental corps for promotion. The boards considered 531 lieutenant colonels, 568 majors and 335 captains for promotion. The results of the boards were announced Feb. 19. Selection statistics
March 2, 2009 Chairman cites need for more 'dwell time' between deployments The nation's top military officer expressed concern here about servicemembers and their families "toughing it out" with frequent deployments and little time together between those deployments. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked about the stresses of war and a
March 2, 2009 Suicide prevention hotline saves veterans' lives Help is only a phone call away for military veterans considering suicide. Nearly 100,000 veterans, family members or friends of veterans have reached out for help by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. The hotline was launched July 2007. The VA
Feb. 18, 2009 2008 Air Force Medical Service awards announced The Air Force surgeon general's medical force development directorate has announced the winners of the 2008 Air Force Medical Service award competition. The Air Force Recognition Ribbon is authorized for individual award winners only, according to Air Force Medical Service officials. They recommend
Feb. 18, 2009 Enlisted medic team cares for burned Afghan toddler In the remote mountains of the Deychopan district of Zabul, medical emergencies become more devastating. Air Force Staff Sgt. Warren Williamson and Army Spec. David Morris realized this first hand when the two enlisted medics led their first debridement on a baby girl. The small girl was carried to
Feb. 18, 2009 Medical Airmen do 'whatever it takes' for mission success "Trauma to ER, Trauma to ER," the overhead speaker calls. Within minutes the surgeon of the day, respiratory therapist, anesthesiologist, radiologist, and emergency room staff assembly are awaiting the arrival of the patient at the Air Force Theater Hospital here. Moments later the patient arrives
Feb. 18, 2009 Vandenberg med group completes four-day excercise The 30th Medical Group conducted a Medical Emergency Response Capability Assessment and Training exercise Jan. 29 at the base clinic and Cocheo Park here. The four-day exercise involved nearly the entire clinic staff and was conducted in three phases, including classroom and hands-on training. The
Feb. 18, 2009 Wilford Hall vocalist chosen for 2009 Tops in Blue team Thirty-one Airmen were recently chosen for the world-renowned Tops in Blue team for 2009. For 10 days, 80 Air Force singers, dancers, musicians and comedians competed for the Tops in Blue slots during January's Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Staff Sgt. Naomi
Feb. 18, 2009 Tricare officials launch beneficiary bulletin podcast As part of a continuing effort to keep beneficiaries informed, Tricare officials have added a news podcast to the Tricare Web site. The Tricare Beneficiary Bulletin brings listeners the latest news about their benefits every week in a quick, easy-to-digest format. The debut podcast contains updates
Feb. 18, 2009 Medical team hikes into mountains to care for children During a two-week exercise in early February, a team of 16 medical doctors, nurse practitioners, dietitians and medical students conducted pediatric nutrition evaluations for families without the means or access to regular medical care in the remote mountains near Marcala, Honduras. The team
Feb. 18, 2009 KC-135 crew airlifts wounded from Afghanistan A few Airmen from the 931st Air Refueling Group spent their Super Bowl weekend resting from a 12-day aeromedical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. Eight reservists from the 931st manned a specially equipped KC-135 Stratotanker that made four back-to-back trips to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to