health.mil

Sandra Lea Abrams  |  health.mil

February 09, 2012

The recently held 2012 Military Health System Conference drew some 3500 attendees for three days
Dr. Charles L. Rice, president of Uniformed Services University of the Health Services presents the USU Excellence in Teaching Award to Col. J.J. DeGoes who accepted on behalf of the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nev., during the 2012 Military Health System Conference at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Jan 31, 2012. Pictured left to right: Dr. Charles L. Rice, Col. J.J. DeGoes and Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for Health Affairs. of  workshops and keynote sessions related to the theme, “healthcare to health,” which conveys a comprehensive approach to wellness.   The packed agenda included a number of ceremonies held to recognize outstanding members of the military medical community for achievements in the areas of patient safety, innovation and leadership.  Here is a roundup of award recipients and accomplishments.

The third annual Building Stronger Female Physicians Leaders Awards ceremony held on Thursday, Feb. 2, saluted six distinguished female physicians who have made contributions to the practice of military medicine and who have served as role models for other female physicians.

Army Col. Anne L. Naclerio, the chief surgeon with the Army National Guard Bureau, in Arlington, Va. and the senior MHS winner accepted her award with gratitude. 

“There are so many great women in the AMEDD (Army Medical Department), the Army, the DoD, doing such fantastic things, I am, frankly, very humbled by the fact I was selected. [I am] very honored and very grateful to all the stronger women who have mentored me over the years and who I have learned from,” Naclerio said.

Other recipients included: Army junior winner, Lt. Col (Dr.) Susan Fondy; Air Force junior winner: Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kathryn G. Hughes; U.S. Public Health Services junior winner Cmdr.  (Dr.) Mary Dott;  Coast Guard junior winner Cmdr. (Dr.) Dana L. Thomas.  Navy junior winner Cmdr. (Dr.) Calliope Allen was not able to attend due to her current deployment to Afghanistan.

Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of Health Affairs, was part of a prestigious receiving line thanking each winner. He was joined on stage by Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. (Dr.) Matthew L. Nathan, Army Maj. Gen. David Rubenstein, commanding general, Army Medical Dept. Center and School; Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen.  (Dr.) Charles L.  Green; Rear Adm. (Dr.) Maura Dollymore, chief medical officer, Coast Guard; and Rear Adm. (Dr.) Boris D. Lushniak, deputy surgeon general of U.S. Public Health Service.

At an earlier ceremony held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Department of Defense’s Patient Safety Awards were presented to recognize three facilities for outstanding records that promote a culture of safety by engaging, educating and equipping patient-care teams to ensure safe practices.

In the category of Identification and Mitigation of Risks and Hazards there were two winners. Florida-based Naval Hospital Pensacola won for an in-patient facility. The award was particularly meaningful to the hospital as it was the second time it had been recognized.

“Our second consecutive MHS Patient Safety Award is affirmation we as a team always keep the focus on our patients and pledge to ensure their safety,” Navy Cmdr. Jennifer Vedral-Baron said. She and Sheila Jones, the infection control manager at the hospital, accepted the award from senior MHS leadership during the ceremony.

Ambulatory center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, 15th Medical Group, Hickam AFB, Hawaii was also recognized.  Air Force Col. Robie V. Hughes, commander, 15th Medical Group and Sharon Takiguchi, represented the facility on stage.

Bassett Army Community Hospital, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska was selected in the category of Teamwork Training and Skill Building for an in-patient facility. Vivian Smith, office in charge of the hospital’s emergency department and Army Col. (Dr.) George N. Appenzeller, commander, U.S. Medical Dept. Activity in Alaska, accepted on behalf of the hospital.

For The Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Military Medicine Award, Woodson, a former recipient of the award, explained the significance of the annual honor. It is given to a physician who best exemplifies the qualities of a caring and compassionate doctor. The Uniformed Services Hospital of the Health Services announced a few days before the conference this year’s winner was Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Mary Beth Durbin, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif.  Durbin was unable to attend. Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green accepted on her behalf. 

The USUHS also gave out its Excellence in Teaching Awards.  Dr. Charles L. Rice, president of the school recognized the Naval Medical Center San Diego, Calif., and the Mike O’Callaghan Federal Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. Each hospital received a crystal apple trophy and a $5,000 check.

MHS presented four Healthcare Innovations Program awards on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The HIP awards encourage new ideas, methods or devices that enhance the readiness of the armed forces and to support the sharing of best practices across all services.

Each innovation awards category represents an area of the MHS Quadruple Aim.   The HIP award recipients were: Julie Gandara-Miller, a clinical pharmacist for the Army, Experience of Care; Navy Cmdr. Sayjal Patel, Per Capita Cost; Air Force Lt. Col. Evan Meeks for Population Health and Air Force Maj. Troy McGill for Readiness.   Innovation was a key theme throughout the 2012 MHS conference. 

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