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Ceremony honors 228 graduating military physicians, health care professionals
June 12, 2019 — A San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, or SAUSHEC, graduation ceremony was held June 7 at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in downtown San Antonio to honor 228 Army, Air Force, Navy, Public Health and civilian graduates. This year, 205 physicians from 36 graduate medical education programs and 23 graduates from eight graduate allied healthcare education programs walked the stage. ... MORE

Dr. Arthur L. Kellermann, dean of the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, speaks during the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium graduation ceremony at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in downtown San Antonio June 7. The ceremony honored 228 Army, Air Force, Navy, Public Health and civilian medical education and allied health graduates.

Cross-functional team receives national award for BAMC Secretarial Designee program
June 11, 2019 — The Brooke Army Medical Center Secretarial Designee Cost Analysis Team received the 2018 Distinguished Team Award at the local and national level from the American Society of Military Comptrollers. The national award was presented at the ASMC Professional Development Institute in San Antonio May 29... MORE

Members of the Brooke Army Medical Center Secretarial Designee Cost Analysis Team receive the 2018 Distinguished Team Award from the American Society of Military Comptrollers at the ASMC Professional Development Institute May 29 in San Antonio. The SECDES program gives BAMC the ability to treat critically injured patients who would not otherwise be eligible to receive care at a military treatment facility.

Beads of Courage mark milestones during a child’s medical treatment at BAMC
June 6, 2019 — Cancer is a tough row to hoe no matter what age you are. If you’re old enough to understand at least some of the things the nurses and doctors tell you, it helps some. But what if you’re a kid? All you know is that people keep poking and prodding and other stuff that’s so uncomfortable. ... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center Retiree Activity Group volunteer Elvira Morales sorts beads in the neonatal intensive care unit at BAMC May 29. The beads tell the child’s medical story and are symbols of courage that acknowledge milestones they have achieved and procedures they have gone through as part of their medical treatment plan. The Beads of Courage Program is a resilience-based, arts-in-medicine, supportive care program designed to support children and their families coping with serious illness. The beads tell the child’s medical story and are symbols of courage that acknowledge milestones they have achieved and procedures they have gone through as part of their medical treatment plan.

BAMC volunteers earn presidential award for devotion to patients, staff
June 6, 2019 — A select group of Brooke Army Medical Center volunteers received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award May 30 for their thousands of service hours aiding patients and staff. The award is presented to individuals who have contributed 4,000 or more hours of service in their lifetime. ... MORE

Brig. Gen. George Appenzeller, BAMC commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. James Brown present Shirley Adcock with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award May 30 for her more than 12,000 service hours at Brooke Army Medical Center. Adcock has volunteered as a tour guide, a ward listener and, currently, as a greeter for the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center intensive care unit.

Former Center for the Intrepid patient brings barbecue lunch to BAMC
May 24, 2019 — A former Special Forces medic who spent time recovering at the Center for the Intrepid at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston decided to make a stop at Brooke Army Medical Center May 20 to provide a barbecue lunch for patients, staff and family members... MORE

Brig. Gen. George N. Appenzeller, Brooke Army Medical Center commanding general; Command Sgt. Major Thomas Oates, BAMC command sergeant major; and Sgt. Major James Brown, chief clinical sergeant major, serve lunch to BAMC staff, patients and family members during the Operation BBQ Relief event at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 20. Volunteers provided 8,000 meals during the event.

BAMC Day of Remembrance event teaches about Holocaust, honors survivors
May 22, 2019 — Brooke Army Medical Center held a Day of Remembrance observance May 15 to remember those killed during the Holocaust and honor those who survived... MORE

Dr. Steven Rosenblatt, guest speaker, lights a candle to honor the 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust May 15 during the Days of Remembrance observance at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Rosenblatt, the son of a Holocaust survivor, talked about Adolf Hitler's rise to power and his mother's journey as a Holocaust survivor.

Defense Health Agency director discusses healthcare transformation at BAMC town hall
May 21, 2019 — U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, Defense Health Agency director, held a town hall meeting at Brooke Army Medical Center May 14 to answer questions about the military health system transformation and how it will further improve healthcare delivery for warfighters, family members and military retirees... MORE

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, Defense Health Agency director, discusses the DHA transition during a town hall meeting at Brooke Army Medical Center May 14. BAMC will transition under DHA command and authority Oct. 1.

AMEDD Captains Career Course changes helping students become better leaders
May 21, 2019 — Changes in requirements in the Army Medicine Captains Career Course at the Army Medical Department Center & School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are better preparing students to lead in both ground combat operations and operations supporting civil authorities in emergencies... MORE

Army Medical Department Center & School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence students participate in a field training exercise for the Captains Career Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis May 7. Sitting clockwise at the table are Capts. Mike Bird, Maureen Mulholland and Kirby Leininger, who are looking at a map of Houston in a scenario in which a hurricane has made landfall on the city. During the exercise, the students put together a support operations plan for a medical battalion that is supporting civil authorities responding to the hurricane. Students in the Captains Career Course undergo nine weeks of training that includes classroom and hands-on training about the Military Decision Making Process, Army Health Systems Support and Force Health Protection doctrine, unit training management, leadership skills and staff officer functions.

BAMC Virtual Medical Center wins MEDCOM Mercury Award
May 10, 2019 — A team from the Virtual Medical Center at Brooke Army Medical Center and Regional Health Command-Central has been selected as the 2018 U.S. Army Medical Department Mercury Award winner for Health Information Technology Team of the Year. The Mercury Awards recognize Army medical department personnel who have made significant contributions and demonstrated outstanding excellence and achievement in health IT. ... MORE

Zekelia Rembert, virtual health nurse care coordinator, reviews patient photos using the virtual health cart at the Virtual Medical Center at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 10. The team at the Virtual Health Center at Brooke Army Medical Center and Regional Health Command – Central has been selected as the 2018 U.S. Army Medical Department Mercury Award winner for Health Information Technology Team of the Year.

BAMC Auxiliary provides grants to help support patient care
May 10, 2019 — The Brooke Army Medical Center Auxiliary held its annual Welfare Recognition Ceremony May 6 in the auditorium. This year, the welfare committee approved 25 grants totaling $28,000 to help support patient care at BAMC. ... MORE

Cody Ross (center) receives the Commander’s Award for Public Service from Brooke Army Medical Center Commanding General Brig. Gen. George Appenzeller (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Oates (left) during the annual BAMC Auxiliary Welfare Recognition Ceremony May 6. This year, the Auxiliary provided 25 grants totaling $28,000 to help support patient care at BAMC.

BAMC app now available for patients, visitors, staff
April 30, 2019 — Brooke Army Medical Center now has an app available for download on any mobile device. The app, designed by the Defense Health Agency, allows patients, visitor and staff to quickly access information such as pharmacy wait times, facility directory and quick reference information from their cell phone. ... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center is launching a new app for patients, visitors and staff. The app, designed by the Defense Health Agency, allows users to quickly access information such as pharmacy wait times, facility directory, and quick reference information.

Brooke Army Medical Center family ties: a generational affair
April 26, 2019 — Everyone says the military is a tight-knit community, but for one family, the connection to Brooke Army Medical Center and Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is formidable, spanning three generations... MORE

Air Force Capt. (Dr.) Andy Murtha holds baby Claire in front of the old Brooke Army Medical Center building at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston April 6, 2019. Murtha and his daughter share the legacy of being born at BAMC.

Three BAMC Soldiers headed to 2019 DOD Warrior Games
April 3, 2019 — Service sports rivalries are sometimes played out on a national level, particularly in December when the annual Army vs. Navy football game is played. For wounded warriors, that sports rivalry takes place every year at the Department of Defense Warrior Games, hosted this year by U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida, June 21-30... MORE

Spc. Kevin Holyan launches a few practice seated discus throws prior to the field event March 11, during the Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas. The 2019 Army Trials is an adaptive sports competition with more than 100 wounded, ill and injured active-duty Soldiers and veterans competing in 14 different sports for the opportunity to represent Team Army at the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida.

Cancer survivor shares emotional reunion with BAMC ECMO team
April 3, 2019 — A cancer survivor recently had an emotional reunion with some of the members of an elite team of medical providers at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and saw the machine that helped save her life... MORE

Rita Ibanez hugs Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Matthew Read, acting Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation medical director, at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, March 22. Ibanez met with Read and other members of the ECMO team to thank them for the care she received in 2015.

Collaborative medicine saves BAMC sickle cell patient
March 19, 2019 — Imagine being alone at home lying in bed, your loved one hundreds of miles away and you’re experiencing debilitating pain in both legs. You call 911 for help and crawl down a flight of stairs so paramedics don’t have to break down the door. This is exactly what happened to 36-year-old Alexis Piper, who has been battling sickle cell anemia since she was 7 years old. ... MORE

Air Force Master Sgt. Antwan Piper looks at his wife, Alexis, during a video interview about her disease and her recovery at Brooke Army Medical Center. Alexis Piper has had sickle cell anemia since she was 7 years old. She nearly died in 2018 after developing a rare condition called hyperhemolysis. Hyperhemolysis syndrome is a potentially fatal transfusion complication.

BAMC Red Cross volunteer honored for 60-plus years of service
March 12, 2019 — A longtime Brooke Army Medical Center volunteer was honored by the American Red Cross March 7 for more than 60 years of service... MORE

Michael Vela (right), executive director, San Antonio Red Cross Chapter, presents Gretchen Barrett with the Clara Barton Legacy Award for outstanding leadership and volunteerism during a ceremony March 7 at Brooke Army Medical Center. The 92-year-old began volunteering in 1958 in Stuttgart, Germany, and continued her volunteer career in San Antonio in 1969 at the Beach Pavilion on Fort Sam Houston.

Brooke Army Medical Center marks robust year for civilian trauma care
March 12, 2019 — The numbers are telling when it comes to Brooke Army Medical Center’s robust trauma care mission... MORE

Members of Brooke Army Medical Center’s medical staff simulate providing emergency care to an exercise role player during the 2018 San Antonio Mass Casualty Exercise and Evaluation at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 11, 2018. SAMCEE is an annual exercise designed to test the capabilities of hospitals and emergency responders in the San Antonio area.

National Nutrition Month: Diet comparison: benefits, downfalls for optimized performance or weight management
March 4, 2019 — With every new year, it seems there is a new diet trend. With so many diets, it can be challenging to know what is “good for you.” It is important to consider personal goals when choosing a diet. Some people follow a diet for optimized performance, while others may be interested in weight management. Knowing the benefits and downfalls of a diet is key for health. ... MORE

The USDA’s MyPlate is based on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. MyPlate focuses on eating a balanced diet with a variety of foods. MyPlate shows what your plate should look like with a simple visual and encourages whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein variety, and low-fat dairy choices. It also recommends limiting the amount of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. MyPlate has easy-to-follow advice and is meant to be simple and repeatable.

New reusable container option available in BAMC dining areas
February 26, 2019 — The Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Nutritional Medicine at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is implementing a new reusable container option at the dining areas throughout the hospital. Patrons now can choose to use a reusable plastic container when getting food at a dining area within the hospital. The containers can hold anything from classic fare meals to soup, salad or pizza. ... MORE

The Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Nutritional Medicine is implementing a new reusable container option at the dining areas throughout the hospital. Patrons now can choose to use a reusable plastic container when getting food at a dining area within the hospital. The containers can hold anything from classic fare meals to soup, salad or pizza.

Leap of faith: chance meeting brings Soldier to CFI after jump accident
February 22, 2019 — The hand-scribbled note taped to his dog tags simply said, “Request to go to the CFI” with a phone number. The note was written from one amputee to another. Army Staff Sgt. Kayshawn Porterfield was following in his father’s footsteps. He joined the Army with a plan of becoming a lifelong Soldier and his Army career was progressing. He was moving up in rank quickly, had finished the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. ... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kayshawn Porterfield practices picking up objects using a myoelectric prosthesis at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Center for the Intrepid at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston Feb. 21. A myoelectric-controlled prosthesis is an externally powered artificial limb that the user controls with electrical signals generated naturally with his own muscles.