WarDocs - The Military Medicine Podcast

PART 2 OF 2     For nearly 30 years, VADM(Ret) Bono served with honor and distinction as a highly respected Naval Officer and the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of Vice Admiral. Currently, she is the Chief Health Officer for Viking Cruises, an industry-leading model to establish a C-suite office for restarting the cruise and travel business while maintaining a public health safety profile.     In this episode, Dr. Bono discusses her pathway toward a career in Navy Medicine and her training to become a critical care-trained trauma surgeon.  She talks about her experiences in the first Gulf War and how lessons learned from that conflict shaped her view of the critical role of Military Medicine in supporting war efforts and how she used this experience following the attacks on 9/11 and subsequent military operations in Southwest Asia.   Dr. Bono played a significant role in transforming how Electronic Health Records were utilized and integrated by the VA and DoD and discusses some of the challenges and successes during this work.  She also describes her involvement in the dramatic shift in how the Military Health System was organized in her role as the second director of the Defense Health Agency.  She provides a behind-the-scenes perspective on implementing this new Agency, and it's role in supporting a medically ready force and ensuring a ready medical force.  VADM(Ret) Bono provides valuable leadership and mentorship advice for the next generation of military healthcare professionals.     A board-certified trauma surgeon, Dr. Bono is an inspiration and role model for all surgeons, especially female surgeons nationwide and in the military. Dr. Bono received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, Austin; her Master of Business Administration from Washington State University, Spokane; and her medical degree from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Lubbock. She completed her surgical internship and residency at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. She performed a trauma and critical care fellowship at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine, Norfolk.     Dr. Bono's leadership positions in the DoD include CEO/director, DHA (2015-2019); CEO/director, National Capital Region Medical Directorate (2013-2015); acting commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), National Capital Region (2013); functional champion, MHS GENESIS, the VA and DoD EHR (2014-2015); command surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command (2011-2013); chief of staff, TRICARE, DoD (2008-2010); commanding officer (CEO), Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, FL (2005-2008) and other significant positions. Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine  The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing military medicine career opportunities, experiences, and achievements. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

PART 1 OF 2     For nearly 30 years, VADM(Ret) Bono served with honor and distinction as a highly respected Naval Officer and the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of Vice Admiral. Currently, she is the Chief Health Officer for Viking Cruises, an industry-leading model to establish a C-suite office for restarting the cruise and travel business while maintaining a public health safety profile.     In this episode, Dr. Bono discusses her pathway toward a career in Navy Medicine and her training to become a critical care-trained trauma surgeon.  She talks about her experiences in the first Gulf War and how lessons learned from that conflict shaped her view of the critical role of Military Medicine in supporting war efforts and how she used this experience following the attacks on 9/11 and subsequent military operations in Southwest Asia.   Dr. Bono played a significant role in transforming how Electronic Health Records were utilized and integrated by the VA and DoD and discusses some of the challenges and successes during this work.  She also describes her involvement in the dramatic shift in how the Military Health System was organized in her role as the second director of the Defense Health Agency.  She provides a behind-the-scenes perspective on implementing this new Agency, and it's role in supporting a medically ready force and ensuring a ready medical force.  VADM(Ret) Bono provides valuable leadership and mentorship advice for the next generation of military healthcare professionals.     A board-certified trauma surgeon, Dr. Bono is an inspiration and role model for all surgeons, especially female surgeons nationwide and in the military. Dr. Bono received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, Austin; her Master of Business Administration from Washington State University, Spokane; and her medical degree from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Lubbock. She completed her surgical internship and residency at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. She performed a trauma and critical care fellowship at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine, Norfolk.     Dr. Bono's leadership positions in the DoD include CEO/director, DHA (2015-2019); CEO/director, National Capital Region Medical Directorate (2013-2015); acting commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), National Capital Region (2013); functional champion, MHS GENESIS, the VA and DoD EHR (2014-2015); command surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command (2011-2013); chief of staff, TRICARE, DoD (2008-2010); commanding officer (CEO), Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, FL (2005-2008) and other significant positions. Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine  The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing military medicine career opportunities, experiences, and achievements. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

Dr. Romano is the Dean of the Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. In this episode, Dr. Romano talks about the following: Her personal pathway to pursuing nursing Her experiences at the NIH for 40 years Developing one of the first computerized medical information systems The USPHS mission, role and structure Federal, Local, and State Medical cooperation in disaster responses Lessons learned from the Hurricane Katrina medical response The importance of quality crisis communication skills The USU Graduate School of Nursing programs How USU prepares a Ready Medical Force and how it is unique from civilian institutions Why individuals should consider careers in nursing and particularly in the military and/or federal system Dr. Romano has mentored and inspired many healthcare professionals and has successfully led at all levels. You will hear her inspiring story in this interview.       She received a diploma in nursing (1971) from the Geisinger Medical Center School of Nursing in Pennsylvania.  She earned her BS (1977), MS (1985) and PhD (1993) degrees in nursing from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She also completed the Interagency Institute for Federal Executives at George Washington University (1993), the Harvard University Senior Managers in Government Program at the Kennedy School of Government (1997), and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Nurse Executive Leadership Program (2015). She is board certified in nursing informatics and as an advanced nurse executive.  Dr. Romano is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Medical Informatics. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at www.wardocspodcast.com Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine. Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

  Dr. Welder is a board-certified anesthesia with extensive Dive and Maritime medicine training and experience, including Dive Master, Platinum 1000 diver, and enriched Air nitrox. He was the pioneer of the USU Dive Medicine and Water Rescue program.  He has conducted over 1800 dives in his lifetime.   In this short, clinically focused episode, we discuss the Drowning Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) published by the Joint Trauma System and his real-world experience preparing for and providing dive medical care. We discuss the common issues around drowning, unique aspects of drowning care prehospital and during hospitalization, and other maritime conditions not covered by the CPG.   Dr. Welder is an operation medicine expert and developed the operational readiness programs of study for Dive Medicine, Military Mountain Medicine Course, Cold Weather Medicine, and Avalanche 1 at the Uniformed Services University in 2016. He is a certified Divemaster and a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. He received the Diploma in Mountain Medicine and Dive and Marine Medicine diploma and was inducted into the prestigious Explorers Club in 2018. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guests at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. Foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation. Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps (affectionately called "Doc"—an earned title of respect, trust, and confidence) who are dedicated to the medical care of our fellow comrades-in-arms (both on and off the battlefield), our Wounded Warriors and our military Families.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

  Dr. Richard stone is a Dermatologist and retired Army Major General who served as the Deputy Surgeon General of the US Army.  He currently is a Specialist Executive at Deloitte since November 2021. Previously he served as the Executive in Charge, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), with authority to perform the functions and duties of the Under Secretary for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.   In this episode, Dr. Stone describes the enormous challenges faced by the VHA during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.  He discusses the principles of leadership, often gained during his experience in Military Medicine, that informed his decisions and actions during these turbulent times.  Dr. Stone cataloged his insights and lessons in a memoir entitled “Save Every Life You Can- A Reflection on Leadership and Saving Lives During the COVID-19 Pandemic, " widely available online and in bookstores.   We talk about what led him to write a book and why it is an important work that will help improve healthcare delivery in the future when we face the next pandemic crisis. Dr. Stone outlines specific steps to improve our future response and provides some excellent leadership advice on leading in challenging times, helping the team succeed despite many hurdles and roadblocks, and dealing with an uncertain future. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guests at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Dr. Stone’s Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2ObCxHp   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. Foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation. Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps (affectionately called "Doc"—an earned title of respect, trust, and confidence) who are dedicated to the medical care of our fellow comrades-in-arms (both on and off the battlefield), our Wounded Warriors and our military Families.            Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

COL Yeager is currently the Deputy Chief for the Department of Rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.   In this episode, he discusses his 36-year Army career, which began as a helicopter repairer in the 101stAirborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY, and then progressed to commissioning as an Aviation Officer flying Chinooks.   He then describes his occupational therapy pathway and transition to the Army Specialist Corps and explains the additional training required for OTs in Military Medicine.   Art describes the role of the OT on the battlefield and recounts his experiences from his previous deployments.  Among the jobs he performed downrange, he served as Chief, Restoration & Reconditioning in the 528th Combat Stress Detachment, Mosul, Iraq, and the 254th Combat Stress Detachment, Kandahar, Afghanistan.   COL Yeager has experience leading at many levels, has been a Physical Performance Service Line Chief, and has worked in the Office of the Surgeon General.  Over the years, Art has received numerous patents for apparatuses that assist those with amputations or other disabilities with activities of daily living.  He talks about his most popular invention, the Yeager Knife.  He also describes his work establishing the first Military Occupational Therapy Telehealth program in Europe. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guests at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. Foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation. Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps (affectionately called "Doc"—an earned title of respect, trust, and confidence) who are dedicated to the medical care of our fellow comrades-in-arms (both on and off the battlefield), our Wounded Warriors and our military Families.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

   Dr. Welder is a board-certified anesthesia provider (CRNA) internationally recognized as an innovative leader in operational readiness. He serves as the Special Assistant to the USUHS President for Operational Medicine.   In this episode, he discusses his pathway to becoming a certified nurse anesthetist, a remarkable story of determination.  He followed this with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in the surges of combat operations. He discusses how he applied that experience to training student nurse anesthetists preparing to deliver anesthetic medicine into austere military environments.  He also discusses his expertise in diving and dive medicine. LTC(R) Welder developed the operational readiness programs of study for Dive Medicine, Military Mountain Medicine Course, Cold Weather Medicine, and Avalanche 1 at the Uniformed Services University in 2016. He is a certified Divemaster and a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. He received the Diploma in Mountain Medicine and Dive and Marine Medicine diploma and was inducted into the prestigious Explorers Club in 2018.    During his military career, he served as the lead subject matter expert in developing and training the Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical Team – Africa for Army and Navy medicine. He focuses his operational training on clinical, operational, physical, and emotional readiness platforms. In his last position, he served as the 1st Director of the Surgical Services Service Line, Office of the Surgeon General. He now furthers others' education in operational medicine at the Uniformed Services University, where he continues his passion for improving military medicine. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guests at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. Foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.  Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps (affectionately called "Doc"—an earned title of respect, trust, and confidence) who are dedicated to the medical care of our fellow comrades-in-arms (both on and off the battlefield), our Wounded Warriors and our military Families.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

Benji Hall- Veteran Fox News War Correspondent Injured in Ukraine and enters the US Military Medical System for Surgical Care and Rehabilitation In this episode, we interview veteran war correspondent Benji Hall, a British journalist who has worked with Fox News since 2013 and was promoted to State Department correspondent in 2021. He outlines ways in which media teams attempt to capture the truth in the chaos of war and how they prepare and enter war zones. Benji discusses his movement forward to the front lines of the Russian invasion of Ukraine along the outskirts of Kyiv.  After investigating a story in front of the front lines, his vehicle was struck by multiple explosives on his return to the Ukrainian secured areas. He extricated himself from the vehicle and crawled to safety, where he was treated by Ukrainian forces and evacuated to a local hospital.  Hear about his amazing evacuation story from Ukraine, his entry into the US military medical system, and his rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center and the Center for the Intrepid.  His optimism and passion are contagious, and you will surely hear about this unique experience of a civilian combat-injured reporter treated in the military medical system. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guests at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. Foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation. Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps (affectionately called "Doc"—an earned title of respect, trust, and confidence) who are dedicated to the medical care of our fellow comrades-in-arms (both on and off the battlefield), our Wounded Warriors and our military Families.         Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

  Col (ret) Carmack is a fellowship-trained Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon who served in the Air Force.  He has deployment experience and has trained healthcare professionals at Military-Civilian Partnerships at Level 1 Trauma Centers.  He is currently the Physician Director of the Northern Light Orthopedic Service Line in Bangor, Maine.     In this episode, Dr. Carmack discusses his path into orthopedic surgery and how serving as a GMO impacted his career. He also discusses his role in two civilian-military partnerships, how it better prepared him and his team to manage combat casualties, and the importance of maintaining these mil-civ medical relationships to maintain readiness.     Dr. Carmack also discusses his experience in a deployed theatre and his most memorable cases from that time. We ask him for tips for non-orthopedic providers in caring for patients with orthopedic injuries.  He tells us what he thinks are some of the biggest advancements in trauma orthopedic care over the past twenty years. Finally, we discuss his decision to join the Air Force Reserves, what that experience was like, and how he earned an MBA supported by the Reserves.     Col Carmack is a graduate of UC Berkeley for his undergraduate studies, followed by Columbia University for his Medical Degree, where he joined the Air Force through the HPSP program. He subsequently did a General Surgery Internship at Wilford Hall Medical Center. After his internship, he served a tour as a General Medical Officer, serving as the Chief of Flight Medicine at Kelly Air Force Base. This was followed by an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center. He then completed an Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship at Wayne State University. While on active duty, he served in unique roles as an Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston and as part of the C-STARS program at Shock Trauma in Baltimore, Maryland. He deployed to Iraq and Qatar and served at Landstuhl Medical Center. He left Active Duty after 13 years and joined the Air Force Reserves from which he retired in 2014. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guests at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. Foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation. Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps (affectionately called "Doc"—an earned title of respect, trust, and confidence) who are dedicated to the medical care of our fellow comrades-in-arms (both on and off the battlefield), our Wounded Warriors and our military Families.         Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

   In this episode, you will hear about how Col. Don Taylor began his Air Force career as an architect and then progressed into a career in hospital administration. On 9/11, he worked for General Carlton in an office overlooking the Pentagon, and he describes watching the attack on the Pentagon. As a military healthcare administrator, he explains how he interacted as an advocate for the delivery of healthcare and balanced the need for resource utilization and delivering high-quality healthcare. Hear about the insights into hospital administration and the Tricare contract standards and development of standardization in healthcare and development of a healthcare plan and his briefings from the Pentagon to Congress in the Tricare for Life Program. He explains the role of the Medical Service Officer in supporting the various missions of Military Medicine and his leadership positions from Air Force hospital to combat theater trauma hospital.  He shares his insights and lessons learned as a Hospital Commander in the United States and Commander of a large, deployed Air Force Theatre Combat Hospital and medical evacuation hub located in Iraq.  He also describes how he prioritized patient needs and helped promote primary care patient teams and the development of the Primary Care Medical Home.  He details how he as a nonphysician, led physicians and helped synergize their efforts for optimal healthcare delivery. You will hear him describe how he navigated difficult circumstances with physicians and the situations that arose in the war zone, such as how to deliver care best when there are blood shortages. He also discusses how he handled these difficult situations and helped build rapport with those healthcare teammates. He also describes the training he encountered that most closely reflected combat casualty care.  As an advocate for physical, mental, and spiritual renewal, he describes the importance of personal care.  Interestingly, he explains how he had a high-profile casualty and managed the flow of communication to ensure respect for the casualty’s privacy and family.  He describes how he positively engaged with the media to respect patient confidentiality and ensure family members received information before the media broadcast.  We also discussed how he thinks the military should focus on clinical training to optimize platforms for providing ready providers for casualty care. Hear about the challenges in military healthcare and recapturing patients due to the fierce competition in the healthcare industry.  He discusses the integration of the healthcare models and his thoughts on the balance between active duty and reserves healthcare providers and the limitations of pulling from the private sector for military care.  He is an expert in these areas as he received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington, TX. He earned his Master of Healthcare Administration from the Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA.  Don had a distinguished career in the Air Force and served as a primary advisor and consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General immediately before and following the attacks on 9/11.  He served as Commander of the Air Force Hospital at Luke AFB and was a pioneer in developing the concept of the primary care medical home.  He also was the first non-physician to Command a deployed Air Force Theater (Trauma) Hospital (Balad AB, Iraq). His final military assignment was at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB, TX, where he served as the Vice Wing Commander.   Following his distinguished military career, Col (Ret) Taylor has worked in the VA system and held several roles providing executive coaching, teaching, speaking, and consulting services to healthcare organizations.  He also led academic positions as an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer at the University of Texas in Dallas.  For those interested in healthcare leadership, he discusses his teaching and leadership programs and those available to senior physicians in and out of the military healthcare system.   Find out more and join Team WarDocs at www.wardocspodcast.com   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine   The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. Foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.   Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm   WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you.   WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are dedicated to the medical care of our fellow comrades in arms ---affectionately called "Doc"—an earned title of respect, trust and confidence, both on and off the battlefield; our Wounded Warriors; and our military Families.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast