Joint Base San Antonio > News

JBSA Air Force clinic first to offer new breakthrough procedure
November 24, 2017 — The 59th Medical Wing's Wilford Hall Eye Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is the first Air Force medical clinic to perform corneal collagen crosslinking in-house, and has already treated 10 patients so far... MORE

Poor eyesight can, and will, pose a potential career ending medical condition to many service members. The 59th Medical Wing’s Wilford Hall Eye Center has a solution for it.

Introducing the new Wilford Hall Eye Center
November 6, 2017 — The Wilford Hall Eye Center, the 59th Medical Wing’s departments of ophthalmology, optometry, and the Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center now aligned under one umbrella for the first time ever, is located within the Department of Defense’s largest outpatient clinic and surgical facility, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, and includes the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Ophthalmology residency program... MORE

(U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Stephan Alvarez)

Israeli Air Force Surgeon General visits 59th Medical Wing
November 1, 2017 — The Israeli Air Force Surgeon General, Col. Yifat Erlich-Shoham, MD, visited the 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Oct. 23-24... MORE

Israeli Air Force Col. (Dr.) Yifat Erlich-Shoham, Surgeon General of the Israeli Air Force, is briefed on the 59th Medical Wing's air evacuation capabilities by Col. (Dr.) Mark Ervin at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis Oct. 24. Erlich-Shoham's visit symbolizes a continued Air Force medical partnership between the United States and Israel.

Highway 90 Gate enhances patient care at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center
November 1, 2017 — Located on West U.S. Highway 90 access road, patients are able to access Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland at the closest possible point to the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC) and the gate is open from 6-9 a.m. for inbound traffic and outbound from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m... MORE

Staff Sgt. Mellissa Taylor, 559th Trainee Health Squadron optometry noncommissioned officer in charge, checks an ID at the Highway 90 gate while performing security forces augmentee duty Oct. 23 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The Highway 90 gate provides easy and convenient access for patients to quickly access care and facilities.

BAMC’s adult ECMO program receives national recognition
October 30, 2017 — Brooke Army Medical Center has received national recognition for its lifesaving heart-lung bypass program. BAMC’s adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, program has received the Award for Excellence in Life Support from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. The recognition designates BAMC as a National ECMO Center of Excellence. ... MORE

Members of the 59th Medical Wing Aeromedical Staging Facility transfer a patient on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation into a C-17 Globemaster III, Jan. 16, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. ECMO is a heart-lung bypass system that circulates blood through an external artificial lung and sends it back into the patient’s bloodstream.

59th Medical Wing first in Defense Department to earn important accreditation
September 18, 2017 — The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, or AAHRPP, an independent, non-profit accrediting body, has welcomed its newest, fully-accredited member – the 59th Medical Wing, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland... MORE

The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, an independent, non-profit accrediting body, has welcomed its newest, fully-accredited member – the 59th Medical Wing, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

‘Big Willie’ hosts soldiers traveling to Harvey relief
September 5, 2017 — The 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is currently hosting roughly 500 Soldiers in the old Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center as they prepare to deploy to areas affected by Hurricane Harvey... MORE

Soldiers walk to their assigned rooms Sept. 2 at the old Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. More than 500 soldiers are awaiting future deployment instructions at the old Wilford Hall in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Texas reserve wing assists in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey
September 2, 2017 — Earlier in the week the "Alamo Wing" got the call they may be called up. The mission was to deliver medical personnel, equipment and supplies to support relief efforts after the devastation that Hurricane Harvey left behind... MORE

59th MDW arrives in Houston
August 31, 2017 — Members from the 59th Medical Wing from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas prepare their equipment to accept patients at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey Aug.30, 2017. The 59th MDW is part of a larger Department of Defense presence in an effort to aid eastern Texas following a record amount of rainfall and flooding... MORE

The Warrior Medics from the 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, muster together at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, concerning the response and relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, August 30, 2017. The 59th MDW is part of a larger Department of Defense presence in an effort to aid eastern Texas following a record amount of rainfall and flooding. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Keifer Bowes)

59th Medical Wing supports Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
August 30, 2017 — A Lockheed C-5 Galaxy takes aim to Houston, Texas Aug. 30, 2017 transporting the 59th Medical Wing’s disaster relief teams. A 70-members from the Air Force’s flagship medical wing were mobilized to provide medical attention to the 6 million residents of the greater Houston area after the city suffered catastrophic flooding due to Hurricane Harvey... MORE

59th Medical Wing members start boarding a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy as the disaster relief team flying into Houston, Texas, August 30. More than 70-members of the Air Force’s flagship medical wing were mobilized to provide medical attention to the 6 million residents of the greater Houston area, after the city suffered catastrophic flooding due to Hurricane Harvey.

59th Airman named Outstanding Airman of the Year
August 28, 2017 — A 59th Medical Wing Airman's personal commitment, hard work and her dedication to her unit's success, was recognized as she was chosen as one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2017... MORE

Senior Airman Nicole Moore, 59th Medical Wing medical technician, was recognized as one of the Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2017, July 7th, 2017. An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center considered 36 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Headquarters Air Force. The board selected the final 12 Airmen based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements. (U.S. Air Force image by Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez)

59th Training Group welcomes new commander
June 23, 2017 — The 59th Training Group develops, delivers and evaluates medical training for 75 medical treatment facilities and deployment operations worldwide... MORE

Air Force Maj. Gen. Bart O. Iddins (left), 59th Medical Wing commander at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackand, passes the 59th Training Group guidon to incoming commander Col. Karyn E. McKinney (center) as outgoing commander Col. (Dr.) Steven C. Caberto (right) looks on during the unit’s change of command ceremony at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston June 15. The 59th Training Group develops, delivers and evaluates medical training for 75 medical treatment facilities and deployment operations worldwide. The group supports military medical service and medical readiness training at the Medical Education and Training Campus at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston for 12,100 students annually, as well as two operating locations, one detachment and 17 sites around the world.

59th MDW opens new hyperbaric medicine facility on JBSA
June 20, 2017 — Designed from the ground up to provide outstanding patient care, the 59th Medical Wing’s new, state-of-the-art facility near the San Antonio Military Medical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston expands the wing’s capability to provide hyperbaric medicine and wound care... MORE

Col. Michael Richards gives an opening speech during the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Clinic ribbon cutting June 16, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

The new Wilford Hall welcomes its first patient with ribbon cutting
June 12, 2017 — The 59th Medical Wing's new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center officially opened with a ribbon cutting June 7 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The 59th MDW identified Master Sgt. Karrin Hatcher as it's first official patient to be seen in the $418-million, 682,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility... MORE

The 59th Medical Wing's new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center officially opened with a ribbon cutting today, June 7, on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The 59th MDW identified Master Sgt. Karrin Hatcher as it's first official patient to be seen in the $418 million, 682,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. Wilford Hall is the U.S. Air Force's flagship medical facility for outpatient care. The building features four wings, on four floors, housing more than 25 outpatient clinic and clinical services.

Decades of dedication: Wilford Hall volunteers give back to patients and staff
April 21, 2017 — -- In the last five decades, tens of thousands of Airmen have rotated through Wilford Hall taking care of patients and executing the Air Force medical mission. While medical personnel are constantly... MORE

Wilford Hall volunteer Susan Deason helps out in the Wilford Hall Clinic Pharmacy on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 12, 2017. Volunteers in the pharmacy help dispense hundreds of medications for beneficiaries and often work at customer service windows. (This photo was altered for security purposes)

59th Medical Wing hosts annual motorcycle safety event
April 12, 2017 — The 59th Medical Wing hosted its 6th annual All Motorcycle Riders Call April 7 for all Joint Base San Antonio motorcycle riders at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center auditorium... MORE

Col. Kyle Pelkey, 59th Dental Group commander, shares his experiences riding motorcycles during the 6th Annual All Motorcycle Riders call April 7 at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The colonel said wearing the correct personal protective gear saves lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

59th Medical Wing goes to great lengths to bring patient home
March 24, 2017 — On the morning of Feb. 16, 2017, a patient was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to the San Antonio Military Medical Center. He was admitted and tended to by doctors, nurses and technicians just like any other patient. But this patient’s journey to the hospital was unlike any other that day... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeffrey DellaVolpe, 59th Medical Wing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation physician, reviews mission plans prior to take-off on a C-130J Super Hercules at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 13, 2017. DellaVolpe is part of the Defense Department’s only medical evacuation team using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The ECMO capability enables the team to safely transfer critically ill patients with severe heart and lung issues across long distances for care. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla)

March observance emphasizes poison prevention
March 20, 2017 — An estimated 2.2 million calls were made to poison centers across the nation in 2015, according to the National Poison Center, proof that exposure to dangerous or potentially dangerous substances is a common occurrence in the United States... MORE

An estimated 2.2 million calls were made to poison centers across the nation in 2015, according to the National Poison Center, proof that exposure to dangerous or potentially dangerous substances is a common occurrence in the United States. During National Poison Prevention Awareness Month in March, health and safety officials across the country – including those at Joint Base San Antonio – are emphasizing the need for people to handle toxic substances with caution and to ensure young children do not have access to these substances, especially everyday items.

Pathology lab serves MTFs around the globe
March 3, 2017 — MORE

Senior Airman Biak Sang, a 959th Clinical Support Squadron histology technician, preps a block tissue sample for testing at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Jan. 13, 2017. The pathology lab is part of the 959th Medical Group, the third largest medical group in the Air Force Medical Service. The group is fully integrated with Army and civilian personnel at SAMMC, supporting operations at a 425-bed facility and the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the Department of Defense (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla)

AED training kicks in as Airman saves friend’s life
February 27, 2017 — Heart racing, hands shaking, and eyes teary, Senior Master Sgt. Brandy Sharp waited for the small machine to start up. “Start CPR,” the machine announced... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Brandy Sharp poses for a photo in front of the Rambler Fitness Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, with Master Sgt. Ernest Winston and the exact automated external defibrillator she used to save his life. Sharp is the 359th Medical Support Squadron superintendent; Winston is a 359th Medical Group medical technician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)