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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)

Taking care of patients one tooth at a time
February 9, 2017 — The JBSA-Randolph dental clinic provides full-service general dentistry to include restorative dentistry, preventive dentistry, endodontics, prosthodontics and limited oral surgery as well as periodontics, to active duty personnel. MORE

Staff Sgt. Tyre Jones, 359th Medical Group dental technician, a patient’s teeth at the Randolph Dental Clinic on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Jan. 10. The Randolph Dental Clinic provides annual exams and cleanings for over 12,000 patients every year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

IED response exercise boosts med wing’s readiness
February 8, 2017 — Warrior medics from the 59th Medical Wing tested their ability to provide aid to the wounded during a mass casualty exercise Jan. 25 at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland parade grounds... MORE

Airmen assess and prepare to triage a simulated patient prior to transport on an awaiting ambulance bus during an improved explosive device emergency response exercise Jan. 25, 2017, on Joint Base San Antonio, Texas-Lackland. The exercise tested the 59th Medical Wing’s clinical and field response teams’ readiness in advent of an on-base mass casualty incident. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michael Ellis)

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
February 6, 2017 — This February marks the American Dental Association’s 36th annual National Children’s Dental Health Month... MORE

From left, Staff Sgt. Soohwa Ono, Senior Airman Vanessa Rivas, and Capt. Daniel Chartrand promote pediatric oral hygiene Feb. 2 at the Kelly Child Development Center. Throughout February, the 59th Dental Group is holding outreach events at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Elementary School and child development centers. Ono and Rivas are 59th DG dental technicians; Chartrand is a 59th DG dentist. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

Process improvement expert to 59th MDW: ‘You’re leading the way’
January 21, 2017 — An internationally known expert in the field of clinical quality improvement was impressed with the 59th Medical Wing’s work toward becoming a high reliability organization during a Jan. 11 visit to the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center... MORE

Dr. Brent James, an internationally known expert in the field of clinical quality improvement, reviews a handout during a Jan. 11 briefing in the Gateway Academy at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. James learned about the 59th Medical Wing’s work toward continuous process improvement and becoming a high reliability organization. He is the executive director of the Institute for Health Care Delivery Research and vice president, Medical Research and Continuing Medical Education at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

BMETs keep medical mission moving
January 18, 2017 — Biomedical equipment technicians ensure medical equipment is serviceable, safe and properly configured to meet the 59th Medical Wing’s mission of developing warrior medics through patient-centered health care... MORE

Senior Airman Donnell Johnson, 59th Medical Logistics and Readiness Squadron biomedical equipment technician, uses a multimeter to check voltage on a circuit board during a service call Nov. 17 at the U.S. Air Force Post Graduate Dental School on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. A biomedical equipment technician ensures medical equipment is serviceable, safe and properly configured to meet the wartime and peacetime missions of the Air Force Medical Service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)

Wing pioneers innovative diabetes education program
January 17, 2017 — A 59th Medical Wing education initiative aims to ensure all Department of Defense patients with diabetes can learn how to manage their disease and lower their risk for complications... MORE

Dr. Tom Sauerwein, director of the 59th Medical Wing’s Diabetes Center of Excellence, teaches patients to self-manage diabetes during a classroom session at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The DCOE is a premier Air Force Medical Service specialty clinic dedicated to providing standardized diabetes care to beneficiaries across the military health care system. The clinical component provides diabetes management, diabetes education, and diabetes prevention programs through referral care to more than 50,000 TRICARE beneficiaries. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)

Women’s health clinic open to all women
January 13, 2017 — Upon entering the Women’s Health Clinic waiting room at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center and seeing expectant mothers and their spouses, it is easy to think of the clinic strictly as the... MORE

Expectant mothers receiving care at the 59th Medical Wing’s Women’s Health Clinic attend a Mom Strong session at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Dec. 1, 2016. Considered one of the wing’s specialty care clinics, the clinic offers a wide-range of obstetrical and gynecological services and is open to all women regardless of pregnancy status or age. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla)

Airmen taking care of Airmen at 59th Medical Wing’s medical transition unit
January 13, 2017 — The halls of the Airman Medical Transition Unit are quiet, peaceful; but beneath the calm exterior is a motivated team working tirelessly to care for the Air Force’s greatest asset, its people... MORE

Video: Refractive surgery center boosts readiness
January 5, 2017 — The Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center optimizes the readiness of the warfighter and is the only facility in the United States Air Force teaching refractive surgery to residents and fellows... MORE

Diabetics: Don’t heat the feet
December 21, 2016 — Winter is here and South Texas is enjoying the season while trying to stay warm. But in spite of wool socks and heavier shoes, feet might get cold and people could be tempted to warm them. Everybody, especially people with diabetes, must take caution to prevent burns... MORE

Diabetes in the United States (Courtesy CDC)

Training at a glance: Orthotics program
December 20, 2016 — The Air Force's only orthotics training program is conducted at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Established in the 1970s, the program is... MORE

Staff Sgt. Devin Rudd, (left) a student in the orthotics program, and Lawrence New, (right) a 59th Medical Wing orthotist and orthotics instructor, use plaster to create a mold for a body jacket orthoses at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Aug. 24, 2016. Staff Sgt. Kenneth Rivera, (center), is also a student in the orthotics program and served as the patient for the lesson. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla)

Women’s health clinic open to all women
December 19, 2016 — Upon entering the Women’s Health Clinic waiting room at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center and seeing expectant mothers and their spouses, it is easy to think of the clinic strictly as the... MORE

59th MDG Women’s Health Clinic open to all JBSA women
December 19, 2016 — Upon entering the Women’s Health Clinic waiting room at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center and seeing expectant mothers and their spouses, it is easy to think of the clinic strictly as the... MORE