SAMHS leaders address significance of military medicine in San Antonio Published Jan. 24, 2013 By SSgt. Corey Hook 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Senior leaders from the San Antonio Military Health System showcased the multifaceted evolution of military medicine in the region while engaging with local, regional, and national contractors attending the Military Medical Contracting Industry Summit in San Antonio Jan. 15-17. The event focused on the strategic importance of military medicine in San Antonio, and its impact on the development and growth of health care in the community. Air Force Maj. Gen. Byron C. Hepburn, director of the SAMHS, and Army Maj. Gen. Ted Wong, deputy director of the SAMHS, who briefed the audience during the summit, stressed the positive relationship between quality military health care and the medical contracting community. SAMHS officials said this was the first time San Antonio has had the opportunity to bring all local major military medical units together in this type of forum to explain the diverse military medical missions, and to highlight the complexity of SAMHS contracting requirements. "The summit allows contractors and potential contractors to understand the evolving missions and requirements within SAMHS as well as our other military medical organizations throughout Joint Base San Antonio, " said Army Col. Mary Garr, SAMHS chief operating officer. "It also allows contractors to better understand intricacies within contracting offices throughout Joint Base San Antonio, today." The event reflects the strong collaboration between the nation's military and the city's business community. Military medicine contributes almost $3 billion annually to the local community, according to the 2011 San Antonio Health & Bioscience Economic Impact Statement. "The San Antonio Military Health Care System mission cannot execute without the support of our contractors," said Hepburn, who also commands the Air Force's 59th Medical Wing at JBSA-Lackland. "The contractors are proud professionals, many with prior military experience around the nation. They are valued members of our team with expertise that we leverage for research, education and training, and our day to day mission," said Hepburn. "They are key players for the SAMHS mission across the spectrum of our operations," he added. "Our patient population and the focus of what we are doing is changing, but we are going to ensure we continue to provide quality medical services to as many beneficiaries as we can, while sustaining the readiness and life-saving skills of all of our medical providers in peacetime and when deployed," said Wong, who is also the Brooke Army Medical Center commander. "We would not be effective as an organization without the support of our civilian community partners," he said.