JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
More than 130 scientists, researchers, clinicians and staff from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, a subordinate unit of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, were among 2,700-plus attendees at the 2017 Military Health System Research Symposium in Kissimmee, Fla., Aug. 27-30.
The four-day conference is the Department of Defense’s premier scientific meeting, which provides a venue for presenting new scientific knowledge resulting from military-unique research and development that focuses specifically on the unique medical needs of the warfighter.
The scientific meeting, sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, brings together military, academia and industry leaders and researchers to share and discuss research topics related to healthcare initiatives under the topics of combat casualty care, military operational medicine, clinical and rehabilitative medicine and military infectious diseases to maximize research synergy for the DOD.
USAISR staff members presented 118 posters, 34 plenary presentations and were moderators and co-moderators of 10 sessions during the conference.
“I am extremely proud of our staff’s work every day at the institute and the opportunity to showcase it at this symposium,” said Col. (Dr.) Shawn Nessen, USAISR commander. “We had almost 10 percent of the posters presented and presented in just about every break out session. We did awesome and that’s why we are well known throughout the world and the Department of Defense as the Army’s premiere combat casualty care institute and our staff proves it every day.”
During the last day of the conference, USAISR staff members were among the attendees recognized for their outstanding achievements by Dr. Terry M. Rauch, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) Health Readiness Policy and Oversight. Lauren Cornell was awarded the top honor in the Young Investigator competition.
“This award represents the hard work that we all put in and the commitment of this institute to resolving issues that Soldiers face,” Cornell said. “I am incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to highlight the work of the ocular trauma task Area at such a significant event.”
Three ISR task areas were also recognized for their posters and presented third place and two honorable mentions in the two-day poster session competition.
“I don’t think there has been a symposium where members of our staff have not been recognized for their superior work,” said Dr. Anthony Pusateri, USAISR director of research. “We are among the leaders in combat casualty research, and it’s because of the exceptional staff and support that we have at our institute.”