Joint Base San Antonio > News

USAISR Soldiers on front line of national efforts to combat COVID-19
August 13, 2020 — At the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, or USAISR, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, laboratory specialists enjoy a more unique role away from direct patient care. At the USAISR, these Soldiers work in tandem with researchers and scientists to develop innovative ways to improve the care provided to wounded warfighters on the battlefield... MORE

Sgt. Stephen Freed from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research inspects a batch of COVID-19 convalescent plasma ready to be shipped from the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

USAISR welcomes new commander
July 23, 2020 — In a time-honored Army custom, Col. (Dr.) Jerome L. Buller relinquished command of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, or USAISR, to Col. (Dr.) Mark E. Stackle during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston July 21... MORE

Inaugural trauma readiness training receives rave reviews
July 8, 2020 — The new Strategic Trauma Readiness Center of San Antonio, or STaRC, completed its first trauma readiness training for the 555th Forward Surgical Team June 6... MORE

Members of the 555th Forward Surgical Team operate on a simulated trauma patient

New BAMC trauma training program prepares surgical team for deployment
May 25, 2020 — Brooke Army Medical Center is conducting the first of its kind pre-deployment trauma readiness training exercise for the 555th Forward Surgical Team from May 18 to June 6. ... MORE

New combat medics tackle burn team duty
May 20, 2020 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is the leader in burn treatment both on and off the battlefield for the Department of Defense. For the service members and civilians of this leading-edge treatment division, it means long hours, razor-thin margins of error, and life-saving decisiveness is a daily business, pandemic or not... MORE

Pvt. Sage Deemer, a combat medic specialist temporarily assigned to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center applies bandages and gauze to a burn patient.

USAISR on frontlines of COVID-19 fight
May 7, 2020 — With all the ongoing changes, the staff at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, or USAISR, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston has also made modifications in how it conducts day-to-day business while maintaining its overall research mission of “optimizing combat casualty care” and, further, providing the best quality care to patients at the only U.S. Department of Defense Burn Center... MORE

Capt. Farley Raquel and Sgt. Rebecca Hummer do a system check on ventilators in the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research “Victory” Intensive Care Unit at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Burn survivor, San Antonio firefighter on the road to recovery thanks to USAISR
March 10, 2020 — For nearly three years, San Antonio firefighter Brad Phipps has had to deal with both the physical and emotional scars from a fire that left him with burn injuries and in which one of his colleagues perished... MORE

USAISR conducts study at Fort Carson
February 28, 2020 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, based at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, conducted a study Feb. 11 with combat medics with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson, Colorado... MORE

USAISR program training local first responders on advanced burn care
November 29, 2019 — Paramedics and emergency medical technicians with the San Antonio Fire Department are being trained on the basics of advanced burn care through a new program and partnership with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

The Burn Strong program is a partnership between the San Antonio Fire Department and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center in which paramedics and EMTs learn the basics of advanced burn and trauma life support care.

Army physician has a life-changing experience with London air ambulance
November 7, 2019 — An Army physician at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston broadened his knowledge of trauma medicine during a six-month stint as a member of a world renowned air ambulance service in London... MORE

Maj. Ryan Newberry, U.S. Army Medical Corps emergency and pre-hospital physician assigned to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, on the way to responding to a call involving a trauma patient as a flight physician for London’s Air Ambulance. Newberry served for six months in 2018 for London’s Air Ambulance, which is regarded as one of the top helicopter emergency medical services in the world, as part of a military exchange program between Great Britain and the U.S.

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Soldiers conduct Army Warrior Training
November 1, 2019 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston conducted Army Warrior Training at Salado Creek Training site at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 23-24... MORE

Sgt. Guillermo Lopez applies a combat application tourniquet as Spc. Kiontai Lawson looks out of enemy combatants. The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston conducted Army Warrior Training at Salado Creek Training site at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 23-24.

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston researchers author paper on military dental emergencies
October 23, 2019 — Researchers at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have authored a research paper analyzing data of dental emergencies and traumatic facial and head injuries among servicemembers that could be utilized in improving troop outcomes and mission preparedness... MORE

(From left) Dr. John Simecek, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio director of craniofacial health and restorative medicine; Dr. Sylvain Cardin, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio chief science director; and Col. Tim Mitchener, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research public health dentist and oral maxillofacial injury epidemiologist, collaborated on a six-page research paper published in the July/August issue of Military Medicine. Their research paper reviewed and analyzed data from 30 previous studies, both published and unpublished, covering reported dental emergencies and oral- and cranio-maxillofacial injuries of U.S. military personnel serving in combat environments, who were deployed, serving in stabilization operations and training exercises and those in garrison.

Stop the Bleed program provides training to area schools
October 3, 2019 — Medical personnel from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are providing training to area school districts that must comply with a new state law that require that teachers, staff members and students be trained in the treatment of injuries in the event of an emergency... MORE

Dr. John Kragh, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Department of Damage Control Resuscitation orthopedic surgeon and researcher, demonstrates the proper technique for packing a bleeding wound. Kragh is one of several Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston trauma physicians, nurses and medics who are going to area schools to provide training to school personnel, including teachers and nurses, on the basics of treating a bleeding injury. A new state law that went into effect this year requires that school personnel and students be trained and prepared in the basics of treating an injury in the event of an emergency.

USAISR researcher, woman with rare medical condition, forge 20-year friendship
September 6, 2019 — For nearly 20 years, a woman with a rare medical condition and a researcher at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have shared an email correspondence that has helped in her fight against the disease... MORE

Dr. Victor Convertino (right), U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Senior Scientist for Combat Casualty Care Director, Battlefield Health & Trauma Center for Human Integrative Physiology at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, meets with Sarah Berkheimer in College Station, Texas, last spring, the day after she received her master’s degree from Texas A&M University. For nearly 20 years, Berkheimer and Convertino have maintained a friendship and email correspondence on research Convertino has conducted on treatments for orthostatic intolerance, a rare medical condition that Berkheimer has. The results of their longtime email correspondence have led to Berkheimer being able to utilize devices and treatments that have improved her quality of life and well-being in living with orthostatic intolerance.

Former USAISR research fellow takes unique path to becoming a critical care physician
August 2, 2019 — The path Natalie Koons, a former research fellow at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has followed in studying to become a critical care physician is a unique one... MORE

Natalie Koons exercises on a cycle ergometer at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Koons, who recently completed a research fellowship at USAISR, is going to medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine, where she is working towards her doctorate in osteopathic medicine.

Houston Astros pitchers visit U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center
January 25, 2019 — Houston Astros pitchers Dean Deetz and Rogelio Armenteros stopped by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston to visit with burn patients, sign autographs and tour the facility Jan. 24... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Peters (left) describes the mission and capabilities of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Burn Flight Team to Houston Astros pitchers Dean Deetz, Rogelio Armenteros and Astros broadcaster Alex Trevino during their visit to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 24.

USAISR hosts interagency meeting on delivery of blood products
January 18, 2019 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston hosted a biannual meeting of the Federal Inter-Agency Task Force for Trauma and Emergency Preparedness Nov. 8-9, 2018, which focused specifically on delivery of blood products at the point of injury, where their use is most life-saving... MORE

The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston hosted a biannual meeting of the Federal Inter-Agency Task Force for Trauma and Emergency Preparedness Nov. 8-9, 2018, which focused specifically on delivery of blood products at the point of injury, where their use is most life-saving.

Two USAISR nurses among Top 25 of South Central Texas
December 4, 2018 — Two nurses from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston were named among the best 25 nurses of South Central Texas... MORE

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center nurses Tanya Luckado and Michael Mueller were selected as Honorees for the Inaugural Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas sponsored by the South Central Texas Organization of Nurse Executives.

Soldiers credits Basic Life Support course in saving nephew’s life
December 4, 2018 — Have you ever wondered if it’s worth your time or beneficial to take a Basic Life Support course? Ask Spc. Josue Garcia-Marcano and you will get a resounding “definitely” without hesitation... MORE

USAISR pilot program provides training on burn care to deploying servicemembers
October 18, 2018 — A pilot program at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is providing hands-on clinical training to deploying service members on the care and treatment of one of the most complex patient populations in the military – those with burn and traumatic injuries... MORE

Maj. Allison Ferro, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center chief of clinical education (left) and Patricia Colston, USAISR Burn Center nurse educator (right) prepare a patient mannequin used for training in the Clinical Pre-Deployment Training Pilot Program. The pilot program gives groups and teams of medical service members who are preparing for deployment the opportunity to train at the USAISR Burn Center, which is the sole facility within the Department of Defense that cares and treats burn patients who are active-duty and injured in combat, military dependents and non-military civilian emergencies.