The 2022 Military Health System Research Symposium highlighted and honored innovative researchers dedicated to help the warfighter on and off the battlefield.    

Seileen Mullen, the acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, bestowed awards to winning individuals and teams. Their research spans diverse topics, such as combat casualty care, hearing loss and protection, operational medicine, and stress and adjustment disorders. Their findings will assist the warfighter in remaining mission ready.

To learn more about MHSRS, the research, and additional areas of interest, visit the MHSRS webpage.

Individual Distinguished Service Award Winners

Two researchers in the military medical community received individual awards for their work in studying warfighter health.

• Mullen posthumously awarded Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Dario Rodriquez, Jr., for his research work, “Increasing Effectiveness of En Route Combat Casualty Care.” His wife, Christine, and son, Steve, accepted the award. Throughout his career, Rodriquez was supporting the warfighter, demonstrating outstanding leadership and providing groundbreaking research. He was a driving force behind potential lifesaving interventions for combat casualties. The award recognizes the impact of his work on warfighter health, as his legacy continues.
• Frederick Brozoski was recognized for his work in investigating warfighter injuries and risks due to combat helmet back face deformation, blast events, and aviation and ground vehicle mishaps. He has dedicated his career to research and the implementation of test methods.

Team Awards in Outstanding Research Accomplishment

Mullen honored four teams with awards for their work, which provide insights into many areas warfighters are confronted with on the battlefield and at home. Their research continues to promote progress in the military medical community.

• Dr. Jeremy Federman and his team at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, Connecticut, were awarded for research into treatment strategies to protect the hearing of our warfighters. Their work hopes to reduce tinnitus and hearing loss among service members.
• Dr. Henry James and his team, from San Antonio, Tx., were honored for their research in the “Noise Outcomes in Service Members Epidemiology” study, jointly funded by the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The study aims to enable DOD to access, sustain, and advance hearing health, maintaining a ready force.
• Dr. Alan Peterson and his team were recognized for their research, through the STRONG STAR Consortium, or the South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience. Their research is in stress, adjustment disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, suicide, chronic pain, substance abuse, sleep disorders, tinnitus, and violence and aggression in service members. Publishing more than 50 scientific manuscripts, they continue to advance and share their results.
• Saumil Shah and his Rapid Opioid Countermeasure System team were honored for their research into reducing the opioid threat to our warfighters, keeping them mission-ready and reducing operational risks. This research benefits the military health community immensely and has a significant impact on service members and unit health.