Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

WRAIR bids farewell to first all-female command team

Image of Two soldiers, wearing masks, passing a flag. Army Col. Deydre Teyhen, outgoing commander of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research passes the command's colors to Army Brig. Gen. Michael Talley, commanding general of the Medical Research and Development Command. (Photo courtesy of WRAIR.)

As August comes to an end, Army Col. (Dr.) Deydre Teyhen and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Natasha Santiago close the book on their time as the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research’s commander and command sergeant major.

Leading the DOD’s largest biomedical research laboratory, they presided over a changing institution that works to ensure relevant, fieldable infectious disease and brain health solutions for the Warfighter during Multi-Domain Operations (MDO); more recently, they also oversaw WRAIR’s participation in the whole-of-government coronavirus response. 

“It’s been a unique honor to serve as the 46th commander of WRAIR—and, with Command Sgt. Maj. Santiago, as the first female command team in the institute’s 127-year history,” said Teyhen.

To ensure Service Members are protected from the deployment-related diseases, nearly half of WRAIR’s 2,700-strong workforce is located overseas throughout Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Republic of Georgia.  During their tour, Teyhen and Santiago traveled extensively to visit WRAIR laboratories—both to ensure a strong command presence for overseas staff and to maintain and expand relationships with joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational partners.

Two soldiers, wearing masks, passing a flag
Army Brig. Gen. Michael Talley, commanding general of the Medical Research and Development Command passes the command's colors to Army Col. Clinton Murray, incoming commander of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.  (Photo courtesy of WRAIR.)

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, WRAIR dove headfirst into efforts to prevent, detect and treat SARS-CoV-2 with 22 research proposals and nearly $75 million dollars in funded projects.

These efforts include developing a coronavirus vaccine currently scheduled to begin Phase 1 clinical trials in the fall; utilizing artificial intelligence to identify new COVID-19 treatments; advancing new diagnostics tests; screening more than 20,000 soldiers for pandemic-related behavioral health concerns and studying the relationship between sleep and the immune system.

Yet, a rapid pivot and ongoing response to COVID-19 is not the only point of pride from the tenure of Teyhen and Santiago; their command emphasis on relevant and aligned research allowed the institute to pivot to an MDO-driven product development mindset.

Three products that were developed or tested by WRAIR received FDA licensure—tafenoquine, to prevent and cure malaria; intravenous artesunate, to cure severe malaria and Ervebo, a vaccine for Ebola’s Zaire strain—bolstering access to fire-and-forget preventives and effective treatments against infectious disease.

A WRAIR-developed “cocktail” of bacteria-specific viruses, or bacteriophages, was used to save the life of a patient with a multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infection. MDR infections of combat wounds are forecasted to be one of the most pressing threats of MDO as casualties are forced to remain in the field longer with antibiotics made increasingly ineffective due to resistance.

Additionally, WRAIR worked in partnership with the Israel Defense Forces todevelop and began implement iCOVER – a six step, peer-to-peer process for the Warfighter to mitigate acute stress reactions in combat.

Developments continued relating to the negative performance impact of sleep loss and strategies to simplify TBI diagnosis and patient stabilization prior to evacuation.

Santiago is heading to Fort Gordon, Georgia to serve as the command sergeant major for Eisenhower Army Medical Center. Army Sgt. Maj. Rodmond Churchill will be arriving this fall as the incoming command sergeant major. On August 28th, Teyhen will change command with Army Col. Clint Murray, formerly the U.S. Forces Korea surgeon; Teyhen will now serve as the director of the Military Health System Governance for the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General in Falls Church, Virginia.

You also may be interested in...

After the ventilator COVID survivor advocates for vaccine

Article Around MHS
9/15/2021
Tim Harris is sedated while on a ventilator

Tim Harris, a mobilization and planning specialist, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, is sedated while on a ventilator at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 27, 2020.

Army Medicine Europe Provides Additional COVID Vaccinations for Immune Compromised

Article Around MHS
9/13/2021
Franz Dietrich, a German local national assigned to Training Support Activity Europe, receives a COVID-19 vaccination at the 7th Army Training Command's (7ATC) Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, May 4, 2021. The U.S. Army Health Clinics at Grafenwoehr and Vilseck conducted a "One Community" COVID-19 vaccine drive May 3-7 to provide thousands of appointments to the 7ATC community of Soldiers, spouses, Department of the Army civilians, veterans and local nationals employed by the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Markus Rauchenberger)

Army medical treatment facilities in Europe are now offering an additional dose of COVID vaccine for immune compromised beneficiaries.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: How Health Care Workers are Coping

Article
9/13/2021
a nurse helping a COVID-19 patient

For health care providers, experiencing the pandemic inside a hospital has brought

Increased COVID Restrictions on the Pentagon Reservation

Article
9/8/2021
Military personnel wearing a face mask

Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and positive test cases in the National Capital Region, the Pentagon Reservation will move to Health Protection Condition Bravo Plus (Bravo+)

Digital health innovation emerges during COVID-19 pandemic

Article
8/31/2021
The Defense Health Agency’s Connected Health Branch was there to support, advise and deliver new health innovations throughout the pandemic. (Graphic courtesy of DHA Connected Health)

The DHA's Connected Health Branch was there to support, advise, and deliver new health innovations throughout the pandemic.

As Fitness Tests Resume, Troops Seek Post-COVID Exercise Routines

Article
8/31/2021
Military personnel physically training

Keeping fit during pandemic proves hard for some.

COVID-19 Booster Shots

Infographic
8/27/2021
If you have an immune system that is moderately to severely compromised, the CDC recommends you may receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). This would be at least 4 weeks after your second dose.

If you have an immune system that is moderately to severely compromised, the CDC recommends you may receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). This would be at least 4 weeks after your second dose.

Secretary of Defense Mandates COVID-19 Vaccinations for Service Members

Article
8/26/2021
An Army medic administers the COVID-19 vaccine to another soldier.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III yesterday issued a memorandum directing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for service members.

DOD Intends to Mandate Pfizer Vaccine, Pentagon Official Says

Article
8/25/2021
Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby holds a press briefing, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Kirby said the health of DOD's military and civilian employees, families and communities is a top priority.

Maintaining Mission Readiness During a Pandemic

Article
8/24/2021
Gen. Place presents at HIMSS in Las Vegas.

DHA Director Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Ronald Place discussed the national security implications of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Reform, COVID-19 Have Been Catalysts for Change in Military Medicine

Article
8/16/2021
Dr. Terry Adirim speaking to an audience at a conference

Healthcare is about taking care of people, so no amount of change or innovation is ever sufficient if modernization does not lead to helping patients, says acting ASDHA at HIMSS21 in Las Vegas.

Don't Hesitate: Vaccinate Today for School

Article
8/13/2021
A boy gets the COVID-19 vaccine

Back to School Means Vaccine Time

Services Will Make Call on Religious Exemptions to COVID-19 Vaccines

Article
8/13/2021
Two medical people prepare syringes with doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

"There is a religious exemption possibility for any mandatory vaccine, and there's a process that we go through to counsel the individual both from a medical and from a command perspective about using a religious exemption," Kirby said.

DOD's Whole of Government Approach to COVID is Working, Says Adirim

Article
8/13/2021
Dr. Terry Adirim, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, right, speaks during a panel discussion.

Dr. Terry Adirim, said she has been impressed by the DOD’s COVID-19 response since taking over as ASDHA, and that adaptation and innovation have played key parts in that response.

Austin Seeks Presidential Approval for Mandatory Troop Vaccinations by Mid-September

Article
8/10/2021
Sailors receive COVID-19 vaccinations

The COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for service members by mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a message to the force released yesterday.

Page 6 of 23 , showing items 76 - 90
First < ... 6 7 8 9 10  ... > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: August 15, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery