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SAUSHEC ceremony honors 258 medical graduates

  • Published
  • By Richard Boggs
  • SAUSHEC Manager
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Dr. Kenneth Torrington, dean of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, honored 258 physicians and allied health care providers during the annual SAUSHEC awards and graduation ceremony June 4 in the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio auditorium.

SAUSHEC is the sponsoring organization responsible for all military graduate medical education in San Antonio with two major training sites at Wilford Hall and Brooke Army Medical Centers and a close partnership with UTHSCSA.

The ceremony, which marked the culmination of years of postgraduate training for Air Force, Army, and civilian practitioners, was attended by more than 800 people.

Retired Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Frank Ledford, Jr., former surgeon general of the Army, gave the keynote address. He described the work of four junior military physicians whose work has advanced military and civilian medicine -- Maj. Carl R. Darnall, chlorination of drinking water; Maj. Walter Reed, fight against yellow fever; Maj. Jonathan Letterman, mobile field hospitals; and Maj. Benjamin Champ Lyons, mass production of penicillin. He then challenged members of the graduating class to contribute to future advances in medicine.

During the awards portion of the ceremony, Commanders' Awards were presented to nine residents and six fellows for excellence in research. Nine professionals were also honored. Capt. Justin P. Bandino and Capt. Gary L. Legault were presented the Maj. John H. Gillespie Intern Award. The Maj. David S. Berry Resident Awards went to Capt. Tatjana P. Calvano and Capt. Steven J. Hudak. The newly created fellowship award was presented to Maj. Abel Guerra. Ms. Jeri Garrison was named the outstanding program coordinator, while Maj. Janelle L. Robertson and Maj. Kaustubh G. Joshi were selected outstanding faculty physicians. Finally, the Col. John D. Roscelli Award was presented to Col. James L. Furgerson, the outstanding program director.

During the graduation portion of the ceremony, 203 graduates from 36 graduate medical education programs and 55 graduates from 11 allied health care programs received certificates from 59th Medical Wing Commander Maj. Gen. Thomas W. Travis, BAMC Commander Brig. Gen. Joseph Caravalho, Jr., and Dr. Robert Nolan, assistant dean for GME at UTHSCSA.

"The 258 newly graduated SAUSHEC alumni continue the legacy begun in San Antonio in the 1940's," said Dr. Torrington. "SAUSHEC graduates account for a significant number of active duty Army and Air Force medical and allied health care professionals today."

Using gifts from the Wilford Hall and Brooke Army Medical Center Auxiliaries and from the Wilford Hall Volunteers, a reception to honor award winners, graduates, and their family members was hosted by SAUSHEC immediately following the program.