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Wilford Hall doctor wins General Paul W. Myers Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicole Roberts
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Lt. Col. (Dr.) William "Bo" Hannah, Internal Medicine Program director at Wilford Hall Medical Center, has won the 2009 Paul W. Meyers Award for his extraordinary work at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina and in the 59th Medical Operations Squadron here.

The Paul W. Myers Medical Award was established in 1982 by the Air Force Association in honor of former Air Force Surgeon General Paul W. Myers. The award is presented to the Air Force Medical Corps officer who has made the most significant contribution to the continued good health of the men and women of the Air Force. Nominations are solicited by the Office of the Surgeon General and the top three are submitted to the Air Force Association.

Doctor Hannah was singularly responsible for the quick accreditation of Keesler's internal medicine residency training program as a new program in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which caused massive damage to the Keesler Air Force Base and Medical Center, and required the voluntary withdrawal of accreditation, requested by the residency review committee.

Doctor Hannah accomplished the accreditation despite the limited medicine ward, intensive care, and emergency room capability. He also worked the reassignment of all internal medicine residents on board at the time of the hurricane, ensuring their continued training at accredited programs. He improved access and was responsible for the return of outpatients to 85 percent of the pre-Katrina level while devoting many of his on- and off-duty hours to working residency accreditation issues.

At Wilford Hall Medical Center, Doctor Hannah is a functional manager for medical readiness skills for internists in the 59th Medical Operations Group. He used lessons learned during his Middle East deployment to promote the effective performance of colleagues on arrival for duty in a combat zone.

He served as the Air Force Medical Operations Agency expert and reviewer for medical quality of care determinations and served as the key provider in litigation of cases chosen by the Air Force Surgeon General's office for refutation of allegations.

Doctor Hannah was presented the award by the Air Force Association at the annual Air and Space Conference on Sept. 14 in Washington, D.C.

"I am very humbled to have received this award," said Doctor Hannah. "It was very unexpected and I am so grateful to have been recognized."