Nov

22

Wilford Hall Medical Center

Filed Under AFMS News, AFMS Units | 1 Comment

The largest Air Force medical facility, Wilford Hall Medical Center (aka “WHMC”), celebrated 50 years of service recently. The official name is the 59th Medical Wing, but everybody calls it Wilford Hall. And who was Wilford Hall, you might wonder? Most people don’t know that WHMC is actually named after a real person, Major General Wilford Hall, an Army (and then AF) physician from the 1920s through the late 1950s who also served as a MAJCOM surgeon.

I’ve spent lots of time at WHMC - as a visitor, a patient, an expectant father, and a staff member. When my father needed surgery for prostate cancer several years ago, his brother (a wealthy East Coaster) urged him to have the surgery done at a famous New York hospital by a renowned surgeon, and offered to pay all of the expenses; my father flatly refused and put his trust in the staff at WHMC. Of course, everything went smoothly, the cancer was completely removed, and my father has had no recurrence of cancer. It was a lesson for my uncle, who for years had believed that military medicine was somehow inferior to civilian healthcare.

And, like so many young Airmen, I had my wisdom teeth removed at WHMC. And in the early 90s, my daughter was born at WHMC - Dr Stanton Bailey did the delivery - and despite 17 hours of labor and a last-minute emergency C-section, everything turned out great, and we were treated with the utmost kindness and professionalism.

And a few years ago I was assigned to WHMC for one year as part of an educational (AFIT) assignment. I learned alot about the challenges involved in running a huge hospital, and came to appreciate even more the amazing people who serve there. Besides the medical care that happens in the building, it really is like a small town, with a small store, dry cleaners, coffee bar, restaurant (chow hall), post office, newspaper, and other “amenities” that enable the medics to get the job done.

An amazing place. There’s plenty of news about the history of WHMC at the AF News “Heritage To Horizons” page.

Nov

18

IDMT Spotlight

Filed Under AFMS People | 1 Comment

I’ve written about IDMTs before, and here’s another example of an IDMT in action - in a war zone.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joy Flumerfelt, a squadron medical element/independent medical technician, deployed here from the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., is currently working with the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

Although her main concern is the care of deployed servicemembers, she also provides medical support to local communities. Since arriving here a little more than a month ago, she has treated nearly 100 villagers.

“We (independent medical technicians) function as providers, so we can practice medicine to a greater degree than medics can,” Flumerfelt said.

Kudos to TSgt Flumerfelt - and all of her IDMT brothers and sisters.
Read the whole thing over at the Muncie Free Press.

Nov

17

Aerovac Medics

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I just learned that there is an Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame, but I also just learned that, for the first time, a select group of Air Force medics have been inducted into it. The honorees:

- Retired Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Paul K. Carlton Jr.
- Retired Col. Regina Aune
- Retired Col. Bud Traynor
- Retired Col. Bob Brannon,
- Col. (Dr.) Jay Johanniggman (AFRC)
- Capt. Reba Tobiason (nee Whittle, posthumously)
- Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Christa (AFRC)
- Retired Master Sgt. Mark McElroy.

Read all about it here.

Nov

14

New Medical Chiefs!

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Congratulations to the following Air Force Medics on their selection for promotion to the highest enlisted rank: Chief Master Sergeant!

NAME AFSC

ALEX TAD E 4D0X0
ASHLEY DAVID W 4P0X0
BALMER JOHN M 4N0X0
BOOTH MARK E 4B0X0
BOOTHE TINA L 4C0X0
BUSBY JOHN F II 4M0X0
FIERRO JUAN B 4N0X0
FORREST ROBERT L I 4A1X0
JAMES MAURICE A 4P0X0
JAYNE LISA G E 4N0X0
KAHAPEA JEFFREY F 4A0X0
KIRKLAND TIMOTHY D 4N0X0
LINK JOANN 4N0X0
LLOYD DAVID A 4A0X0
MERRITT MICHAEL W 4V0X0
OLSON SHERRI A 4E0X0
PEURA BETH A 4N0X0
PHELPS DAN E JR 4A2X0
POWELL STEPHANIE J 4T0X0
RICHARDSON LASONJA 4Y0X0
ROBINSON RAMSEY L 4P0X0
RODRIGUEZ LOUIS A 4A0X0
SCHEUER PATRICK J 4J0X0
SCHRECENGOST JOHN 4A0X0
SCOTT CYNTHIA Y 4A1X0
SCOTT STEPHANIE E 4R0X0
SINGLETON LEWIS E 4A0X0
SKIPPER STANLEY P 4Y0X0
SOBEL MICHELLE L 4Y0X0
SUTTON LEWIS H III 4N0X0
TROTTIER THOMAS R 4Y0X0
WOOLFORD MELODIA D 4N0X0