Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston –
A former U.S. Army surgeon general had high praise for the
nearly 250 medical and allied health graduates being honored at the San Antonio
Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, or SAUSHEC, awards and
graduation ceremony June 10 in downtown San Antonio.
SAUSHEC is the organization responsible for military
graduate medical and allied health education in San Antonio. It comprises
training sites at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical
Center and maintains a close partnership with the University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio. The consortium was created to promote teaching,
patient care, research and military readiness.
“I extend to you my sincere and deepest thanks to all of our
graduates for your service and commitment to defend the nation and
congratulations on your accomplishments,” retired Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker told
a packed audience at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.
Schoomaker was the 42nd Army surgeon general and served from
2007-2012.
“I cannot help but be excited for you as you become leaders
in the finest and most highly respected system of health and healthcare system
in America and the world, he said.”
The ceremony marked the culmination of years of postgraduate
training for Air Force, Army, Navy and civilian practitioners. This year, along
with Schoomaker, Dr. Woodson “Scott” Jones, dean SAUSHEC; Col. Jeffrey Johnson,
BAMC commander; and Air Force Col. Rachel Lefebvre, 59th Medical Wing vice
commander, were on hand to present certificates to the 246 graduates, who were
made up of 196 physicians and 50 graduate allied health professionals.
The former surgeon general lauded the education programs
that foster excellence in military medicine.
“I am absolutely convinced that we would not still be
defending the nation through repeated deployments while advancing care for
casualties from the point of injury or illness on an austere battlefield or
humanitarian crisis to our medical centers and community hospitals back home
were it not for our robust graduate health and allied health education
programs,” Schoomaker said. “These programs attract the very best young
doctors, nurses, dentists, administrators, chaplains and they retain our best
mid-career faculty.”
The 41-year Army officer also praised the “remarkable degree
of cooperation and coordination of care across the continuum of care from
active duty into veteran status.”
“You begin the next phase of your military medical careers
in a military health system so far beyond what I experienced when I came into
this elite team that I am amazed and humbled,” he said. “Above all else in the
years ahead, know that you are caring for a remarkable military family who at
their core shares your values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service,
honor, integrity and personal courage.”
During the awards ceremony, Air Force Lt. Col. Erik Weitzel,
otolaryngology, was named the recipient of the Gold Headed Cane. This award
recognizes excellence in patient care, teaching, clinical research and operational
medicine.
The following individuals also were honored with research
and merit awards:
• Animal/Basic Science Research: Air Force Maj. Adam Willis,
neurology
• Fellow Clinical Research: Maj. Aaron R. Farmer, infectious
disease
• Resident Primary Care Research: Air Force Capt. Antonia
Helbling, emergency medicine
• Resident Surgical Research: Maj. Katherine M. Bedigrew,
orthopaedics
• Performance Improvement Project: Air Force Capt. John C.
Hunninghake, internal medicine
• Maj. John Gillespie Award (Outstanding Intern): Air Force
Capt. Andrew T. Patterson, transitional year;
• Maj. David S. Berry Award (Outstanding Resident): Air
Force Maj. Brit J. Long, emergency medicine
• Col. Donald M. Null Award (Outstanding Fellow): Maj. Ian
M. Ward, rheumatology
• Graduate Allied Health Education Award (Outstanding
Educator): Dr. Gail Deyle, manual physical therapy
• Lt. Gen. P.K. Carlton Award (Outstanding Faculty): Air
Force Maj. Benjamin D. Morrow, nephrology
• Outstanding Program Coordinator Award: Nancy Montgomery,
neurology; and
• Col. John D. Roscelli Award (Outstanding Program
Director): Dr. Jay Higgs, rheumatology.