Skip to main content

Military Health System

Air Force Veteran Honored Posthumously at Medical Research Symposium

Image of Steven Rodriquez (left), and wife, Christine Rodriquez (center), accept a posthumous award for Dario Rodriguez from Seileen Mullen, the acting Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. . Steven Rodriquez (left), and wife, Christine Rodriquez (center), accept a posthumous award for Dario Rodriguez from Seileen Mullen, the acting Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Health Readiness Support Division

Dario Rodriquez, Jr. dedicated his career to developing technologies to care for injured service members and training first responders to use those same technologies. The impact of his contributions to military health and medicine are enduring. Rodriquez, who retired from the U.S. Air Force as a chief master sergeant, demonstrated a lifelong commitment to advancing care for warfighters through his research into lifesaving interventions for combat casualties, his work on clinical trials, and his commitment to training. Last August, he was posthumously recognized with a Distinguished Service Award during the 2022 Military Health System Research Symposium. Rodriquez lost a long battle with cancer in March 2022.

"The late Mr. Dario Rodriquez understood the complexities and difficulties in the military medical continuum that require change and flexibility. He dedicated his life to ensure better warfighter care during military air evacuation," said U.S. Army Col. Jennifer Stowe, a science program administrator at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, who presented the award for his work to increase the effectiveness of en route combat casualty care.

The Distinguished Service Award is a lifetime achievement award and recognizes contributions that have advanced the professional growth of MHS research and demonstrates outstanding leadership in the pursuit of excellence for country and service.

Dedicating A Life to Research

Rodriquez started his career with the U.S. Air Force as a respiratory therapist, moving up to be a career field manager for respiratory care practitioners. Throughout his career, he dedicated his work to developing and providing training for those caring for wounded warfighters.

As en route care product area lead at the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing, Rodriquez focused on the advancement of warfighter medical care, representing the 711HPW on various committees and working groups including the Committee on En Route Combat Casualty Care.

Rodriquez spearheaded training for the Critical Care Air Transport Team, an in-flight, intensive care team that cares for injured service members as they are transported from the point of injury to next higher level of care.

While at the Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, he led the advancement and performance of several research initiatives in en route care, aeromedical evacuation, and CCAT research.

After spending 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, Rodriquez continued training and aiding in military medicine research at the University of Cincinnati as the research director of the En route Care Center.

Colleagues shared how devoted he was to his work, noting "his integrity and his desire to provide the best care, and he wouldn't accept anything less than that," said Richard Branson, a professor in the department of surgery for the University of Cincinnati.

Throughout his time in the research field, he continued to expand his knowledge while sharing and mentoring countless others. "He was proud of those he worked with, wanting to ensure that they were getting the best training, advice, and career growth," said James Lehman, the medical research program manager for the University of Cincinnati.

Rodriquez's career was also defined by his work on clinical protocols and numerous training programs. For example, he led a clinical trial for a closed-loop control for mechanical ventilation, briefing high-ranking officials about potential lifesaving interventions for combat casualties.

Many of his research efforts have aided the Department of Defense with knowledge, technology, and solutions while opening doors to future research ventures. His philosophy regarding medical research was "no knowledge left unturned, and no technology left unchallenged," Lehman shared. He was a lifelong learner while also sharing his vast knowledge with students and mentees.

His expertise was sought after by government and DOD agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

"The research he did has already impacted how patients are cared for, eliminating things that were not helpful or potentially dangerous. [He] focused on people doing evidence-based medicine to improve outcomes and working diligently to move the military toward systems that would automatically help care for patients when there were not enough caregivers available," Branson stated.

A Family Man with a Lasting Legacy

Each person who shared memories of Rodriquez remembered the passion he held for his family and friends.

His wife, Christina Rodriquez, described his humbleness. "He would come home and say, 'I got an award today,' and the funny thing was, I never knew he was up for anything. He was just like that, humble and passionate about his job."

He had an infectious sense of humor, and he always found a way to lighten the mood, even when he was undergoing cancer treatments. He maintained a bright, positive outlook.

"It did not matter what happened at work. When he was home, he was home," shared his son, Steven Rodriquez. "He wanted to know about our day. He was the sort of person that could motivate you without effort."  Christina and Steven accepted the posthumous award on behalf of Rodriquez at MHSRS on Sept. 12.

You also may be interested in...

Month of the Military Child 2021 Infographic

Publication
3/30/2021

This infographic from the Military Kids Connect program supports Month of the Military Child 2021 and promotes the theme Celebrating the Mighty.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps

Month of the Military Child Toolkit 2021

Publication
3/30/2021

This toolkit from the Connected Health Branch's Military Kids Connect program supports the celebration of Month of the Military Child 2021.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps

Patient Safety Awareness Week 2021 Highlights Role of Technology

Article
3/12/2021
A graphic with the words "Patient Safety Awareness Week 2021 March 14-20

Patient Safety Awareness Week brings awareness to health care safety and promotes patient safety practices.

Recommended Content:

Patient Safety | Health Care Technology | Patient Safety Awards Program | Patient Safety Awareness Week | RRC Awards - Previous Winners | Brain Injury Awareness | Patient Safety Awareness Week

Health Technologies for Patients

Publication
3/8/2021

This chart from the Connected Health Branch gives health care providers an easy reference to identify digital health tools to support MHS beneficiaries.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps | Telehealth Program

Health Technologies for Service Members and Families

Publication
3/8/2021

This guide from the Connected Health Branch provides a brief overview to service members and military families on the digital health tools available to support them.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps | Telehealth Program

Guide to Digital Health Technology

Publication
3/8/2021

This guide from the Connected Health Branch provides a brief overview of digital health technology available from the Military Health System.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps | Telehealth Program

Prescription for Connected Health Interactive

Publication
3/8/2021

This interactive prescription sheet from the Connected Health Branch enables providers to recommend MHS digital health technology to their patients.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps | Telehealth Program

NMCSD launches MHS GENESIS

Article
3/2/2021
Military personnel wearing face mask standing in front of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego cutting a red ribbon

Naval Medical Center San Diego deploys MHS GENESIS over the weekend.

Recommended Content:

MHS GENESIS: The Electronic Health Record | Health Care Technology | MHS GENESIS Pre-Deployment Awareness

Key Themes in Digital Ethics

Fact Sheet
2/16/2021

This fact sheet provides an overview of key themes in ethics related to the use of digital health in clinical practice.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps

Mobile Health Device Privacy and Security

Fact Sheet
2/16/2021

Tips and techniques for maintaining privacy and security of health information stored on mobile devices.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Mobile Apps

DHA IT helps beneficiaries, providers and workforce through pandemic

Article
2/12/2021
Several military personnel, wearing masks, filling out paperwork. One woman is giving the thumbs up sign

DHA IT Teams Deliver Innovative Solutions During Pandemic.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology | Coronavirus & the MHS Response

Innovative mobile technologies impact DOD health surveillance

Article
2/2/2021
Medical personnel using a syringe to inject a fluid into a test tube

Early detection of infectious diseases in the field to protect the troops.

Recommended Content:

Coronavirus & the MHS Response | Research & Innovation | Health Care Technology

Solution Delivery Division

Fact Sheet
1/21/2021

The mission of Solution Delivery Division (SDD) is enhancing Health Service Delivery through exceptional Information and Technology.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Technology

Partnerships, COVID-19 are catalysts for enterprise virtual health

Article
1/14/2021
Image of Mr. Adler with text: "Partnerships, COVID-19 are catalysts for enterprise virtual health."

Jamie Adler, the lead for the DHA’s Virtual Health Clinical Integration Office, discusses the future of virtual health (VH).

Recommended Content:

Coronavirus & the MHS Response | Health Care Technology | Coronavirus and the COVID-19 Vaccine

MHS operational innovations continue in battle against COVID-19

Article
1/5/2021
Two medical personnel, wearing full PPE, in an operating room

MHS innovations in 2020 include a new registry for real-time COVID-19 data and a system to free up hospital beds and protect patients from the disease.

Recommended Content:

Coronavirus & the MHS Response | Research & Innovation | | Health Care Technology | Coronavirus and the COVID-19 Vaccine
<< < 1 2 3 4 5  ... > >> 
Showing results 61 - 75 Page 5 of 16
Refine your search
Last Updated: November 29, 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