Educating & Developing
The MHS Human Capital Office is responsible for promoting education and training needed to develop civilian and military personnel across the Military Health System (MHS). We have furthered legislation to help the Services, created joint opportunities and created rewards and recognition for those who have proven themselves as outstanding leaders and mentors.
Current initiatives and accomplishments:
Female Physicians Awards Highlight Military Career Opportunities
Sandra Lea Abrams | health.mil
February 21, 2012
In the halls of the Pentagon and throughout the armed forces, there are signs that women are gaining 
The winners of the third annual " Building Stronger Female Physician Leaders in the MHS" award during the 2012 MHS Conference. The conference was held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Feb. 2, 2012. The doctors pictured left to right: Public Health Service Cmdr. Mary Dott , Air Force Lt. Col. Kathryn Hughes, Army Col. Anne L. Naclerio, Coast Guard Cmdr. Dana L. Thomas, Army Lt. Col Susan Fondy. Awardee not pictured: Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Calliope Allen. DoD photo by Johnny Bivera. momentum on the leadership front.
Witness the recent elevation of Army Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho – the first nurse and first woman to be named Army surgeon general. At the third annual “Building Stronger Female Physicians Awards” ceremony held in conjunction with the 2012 Military Health System Conference, six women doctors received special honors. The awards program is about more than being a good military doctor; selection is also predicated on what one has done specifically as a leader to help other women.
Army Col. (Dr.) Anne Naclerio, chief surgeon for the Army National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va., the senior winner of the award, said she believes leadership is best shown through action.
“I think a lot of leadership and mentorship is not what you say, but what you do. I have found that I have grown in leadership and mentorship through example.” Naclerio was tapped by Horoho to establish a women’s health task force to review how the military is supporting female service members and is the lead author of a soon to be published white paper titled, “Concerns of Service Women Currently Serving in the Afghanistan Theater of Operations.”
Read Full Article
No Limits for Women Doctors in the Military
Sandra Lea Abrams | Health.mil
February 16, 2011
The 2011 MHS Conference "Building Stronger Female Physician Leaders" winners and honorable mentions. (Front from left to right) Army Col. Kelly Murray; Navy Cmdr. Meena Vythilingham. (Back from left to right) Air Force Lt. Col. Leslie Knight; Navy Cmdr. Ashley Schroeder and Coast Guard Cmdr. Erica Schwartz, in National Harbor, Maryland, Thursday, Jan.27, 2011. (MHS photo by Mike Olliver) In June, 2008, Senator Hillary Clinton conceded the Democratic Party presidential nomination to then-Senator Barack Obama saying that although her run for the highest office in the land may have ended there were now “18 million cracks” in the glass ceiling for women.
The glass ceiling for military women physicians however, had crumbled long ago. During the recent 2011 Military Health System Conference held near Washington, D.C. six military doctors were honored for their accomplishments and mentoring.
For these women, their vast experiences and long list of accomplishments with the military and in their own communities dispel the notion that high aims and goals are not within their grasp because of their sex. As some of them see it, the military is focused on the mission, using the best person to get the job done, regardless of gender. They have a sense of purpose while embracing military protocols that brings personal and professional fulfillment.
Read full article
Building Stronger Female Physician Leaders in the MHS Award:
Strong leaders inspire and mentor others, male and female, young and old. They set an example by excelling in their careers and accomplishing many great things. The MHS seeks to honor and recognize female leaders in military medicine. 2011 marks the second annual "Building Stronger Female Physician Leaders in the MHS" award. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding female physician for this award, please More than 70 submissions were received. Each submission told the story of a strong and inspiring woman who currently works and serves in military medicine.
Nominate a Female Physician:
To nominate an outstanding female leader, complete the nomination form. Nominees should be those female physicians who have made significant contributions to the practice of medicine and/or who have served as exemplary role models for other female physicians. The award will once again be given at the MHS Conference in January. The deadline for award submission to Chief Human Capital Office is 30 Oct 2010, but please submit nominations well before this time so they can be vetted through their service chain before they are forwarded to the award POC. The Services will set their own internal suspense but awards will not be accepted after midnight, 30 Oct 10. The winners will be announced at the MHS Conference in January 2011. There will be two main categories of award winners: one junior (03-05) winner from each service and one overall MHS-wide senior (06) winner. Please use strict adherence to the nomination form. Failure to follow the form may result in a lower score for your nominee.
Click here to learn more about the process of nominating a female leader for this award.
2010 Award winners
From Left to Right:
Ms. Ellen Embrey, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)
Junior Air Force Award: Lt. Col. Lidia S. Ilcus
Junior Navy Award: CDR Elizabeth M. Hofmeister
Junior Army Award: LTC Jennifer C. Thompson
Senior MHS Leader Award: Navy CAPT Marlene DeMaio
Medical Strategic Leadership Program:
The Human Capital Office promotes and facilitates tri-service opportunities, including a unique leadership training opportunity offered by the Army Medical Department (AMEDD). This leadership opportunity is offered to accomplished international and U.S. senior level medical officers (0-5 and above), GS 14, 15 and SES levels. Our office worked with AMEDD to open spots in the program to a select number of civilian leaders. Prior to this effort, the program was only offered to military personnel. Program highlights include:
Training support is focused on strategic-level military medical leadership health issues. It emphasizes working within coalitions and alliances to combat terrorism and provide networking for military professionals. Students, who are handpicked by their countries, have included surgeons general from Afghanistan, Iraq, Moldova, Czech Republic, Philippines, Canada, Mongolia, Romania and Nepal, as well as a number of deputy surgeons general. Domestic applicants are accepted as well.
Major areas of study during the three-week program are the United Nations, U.S. combatant commands, strategic leadership, international law, military medical readiness, host nation/coalition partner support, health resources allocation and management, non-governmental organizations, Washington-based think-tanks, counter-terrorism, homeland security, military-media relations and medical observer training.
Participants will be briefed by the United Nations and the joint staff at the Pentagon, by congressional leadership, the State Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Surgeon General and several premier think tanks.
A request for nomination for the MSLP should go through the officer's corps proponency branch office. Information on the program can be obtained from Mr. Ken Knight at ken.knight@amedd.army.mil
| 
| Navy Best Practice:Sending Nurses to Graduate School. Nursing subspecialties with the greatest need for talent are identified; nurses who are interested in these subspecialties may apply to have their graduate school paid for under the “Duty Under Instruction” (DUINS) program. Among other requirements, nurses who apply must have a bachelor’s degree and two+ years of active duty service. The Navy pays their tuition and provides the field experience & internship needed. For more information, click here. |
|
| Army Best Practice: Training Social Workers. The Army has partnered with Fayetteville State University to offer a military specific accelerated master’s of social work program. This program is completed in 9 or 14 months (depending on the applicants initial educational background and academic phase), followed by a 24 months clinical internship. Students finish the program with all the credentials (clinical experience and independent practitioner license) to work in the field. For more information, click here. |
|
| Army Best Practice:Training Catalogue. Training/educational courses for Army civilians were centralized into one system and catalogued. The vision is to make this a joint system so it’s not just for the Army. For more information, click here. |
|
| Army Best Practice:Senior Fellows Program. The Army Senior Fellows Program prepares GS 14-15 civilian employees for leadership positions by doing three things: 1) assessing the person and preparing a development plan that may include education at a Senior Service College or a similar experience at a civilian institution such as Harvard, MIT or Tufts, 2) providing them with one or more executive leadership assignments to broaden their skills and experiences - (assignments require reporting directly to an SES or GO) 3) providing mentorship with an SES Corp leader. For more information, click here. |
| Training Links & Resources |
| Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS): Provides uniformed services members with graduate education in science and health care. Programs are related directly to force health protection, tropical diseases, disaster medicine, military and public health medical readiness and adaptation to extreme environments. |
| Medical Education & Training Campus: This Tri-Service campus located at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, trains enlisted personnel in over 30 different medical professions. |
| Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute: Provides military health care leaders with executive management and professional administrative skills through educational programs, products and services. |
| Army Management Staff College Civilian Education System: A progressive and sequential leader development program that provides enhanced leader development and education opportunities for Army civilians throughout their careers. Seats are sometimes available to the other services. |
| MHS Learn: Includes an extensive library of medically-related online training courses. Learners can obtain free health related training online, in a virtual setting. Designed for DoD employees. |
| Army Civilian Lifelong Learning: Provides civilians with options to personalize education and training for self development and career enhancement. Includes a variety of classes and can be easily accessed by Army employees. Non-Army employees must be sponsored by an Army employee to enter the site (a very easy process). |