WarDocs - The Military Medicine Podcast

Doug Soderdahl, Wayne Causey, Kevin Kniery
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Feb 24, 2023 • 53min

MG(R) Barbara R. Holcomb- Nursing in Military Medicine and Providing the Best Possible Care in Austere Environments and at Home

    Barb Holcomb is a retired Army Major General, having served 33 years as a leader in Nursing, Healthcare, Medical Research and Logistics.  She is the CEO of her own consulting company, Barb Holcomb Consulting, LLC., working in areas of medical research strategy, federal health care planning, leadership, and team and organizational development.        In this episode you will learn about the critical roles and responsibilities of Military Medicine nurses.  Barb talks about her many experiences in deployed missions across the globe serving in clinical and command positions.  She describes many essential insights and lessons learned during her Hospital and Regional Medical Commands especially how to lead through significant change.  “The only constant is change.”      MG(R) Holcomb talks about the importance of clinical and bench research in the Military and describes her experience commanding the Medical Research Material Command at Fort Detrick, MD. She also explains the importance of maintaining bedside care skills as healthcare professional advance in rank and strategic responsibilities.  She has mentored and inspired many healthcare professionals and has successfully led at all levels.      MG(R) Holcomb served in command positions at every rank from Captain onward.  She deployed to Iraq during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Kosovo during Operation Joint Guardian, and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.  Her last military assignment was as the 25th Chief, Army Nurse Corps and as Commanding General, Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, in Frederick, Maryland.   She is a 1987 Distinguished Military Graduate of Seattle University Army ROTC, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She earned a master's degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Kansas, a master's level Certification in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University, and a master's in Military Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA.     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
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Feb 15, 2023 • 23min

Major General (Ret) Philip Volpe, DO- Keys to Successful Mentorship- Setting the Ground Rules and Starting a Mentorship Relationship

Dr. Volpe is currently the AMSUS-Society of Federal Health Professionals Board Chairman      On this episode of our Military Medical Mentorship Moments Series, Dr. Volpe focuses on how to set the conditions and ground rules for a successful mentorship relationship.  You will hear him provide insightful answers to the following questions:   How do you define mentorship? What is the difference between Mentorship and Coaching? Coaches set the agenda; Mentees set the agenda. Coaching is performance-focused; Mentoring is development-focused. Coaches are specific; Mentors are holistic. Coaches are direct (active/ordering); Mentors are indirect (passive/advising). Coaches are in control; Mentees are in control. Coaching is uni-directional; Mentoring is bi-directional. Coaching is short term; Mentoring is long term. Coaches are task oriented; Mentors are relationship oriented. How do you determine if mentorship or coaching is appropriate? How do you find a mentor and start a relationship? Is “chemistry” important? What are some important ground rules for the Mentorship relationship? Desired learning outcomes Criteria for measuring success Mutual responsibilities Accountability assurances Protocols for addressing problems Action plan for achieving learning goal Safeguard confidentiality Should a template be followed for a mentoring session (topical)?   Personal Reflections on Mentorship Who was your most influential mentor? Why What was the best advice you got from a mentor? What do you know now that you wish you would have learned much earlier? What characterizes a “good” or “not so good” mentorship relationship from your experience? Provide examples What is some practical advice for someone interested in mentoring or being mentored? What are the next steps to take?   Dr. Philip Volpe retired from the United States Army after 30 years of distinguished service. His final two duty assignments were as the Commanding General of the Army’s Western Regional Medical Command followed by being assigned as the Commanding General at the Army Medical Department Center and School in San Antonio, Texas where he led and managed education, training and doctrine development for Army Medicine. Dr. Volpe shares many insights and mentorship lessons learned over a distinguished career. You don't want to miss this special episode!   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  
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Feb 14, 2023 • 20min

RADM Bruce L. Gillingham, MD- Keys to Developing Successful Mentorship Relationships in Military Medicine during a Career and for Life

   RADM Gillingham is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and currently serves as the U.S. Navy Surgeon General.      On this episode of our Military Medical Mentorship Moments Series, RADM Gillingham focuses on how Military Medicine approaches mentorship and discusses how these relationships can be successful as well as pointing out some of the pitfalls to avoid.   You will hear him provide insightful answers to the following questions:   How do you define Mentorship and what is a Mentorship relationship? Does Military Medicine have formal Mentorship programs? How does Military Medicine excel in developing and nurturing successful mentorship relationships? Are there areas where Military Medicine could improve the role Mentorship plays in the culture of the organization? What are some pitfalls to avoid when in a mentorship relationship? What are the characteristics of successful mentorship relationships? Does Military Medicine have any ways to measure how well it succeeds in mentorship?   Personal Reflections on Mentorship Who was your most influential mentor? Why What was the best advice you got from a mentor? What do you know now that you wish you would have learned much earlier? What characterizes a “good” or “not so good” mentorship relationship from your experience? Provide examples What is some practical advice for someone interested in mentoring or being mentored? What are the next steps to take?   RADM(Dr.) Gillingham is a distinguished clinician, educator and leader who provides some valuable insights and advice for all listeners.  You don’t want to miss this episode!   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
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Feb 13, 2023 • 19min

Brigadier General (R) Richard Ursone- Keys to Successful Mentorship- Defining mentorship relationships and explaining why they are critical to mission success

  BG(R) Ursone is a retired Army MSC Officer and former Chief of the Army Medical Service Corps.    On this episode of our Military Medical Mentorship Moments Series, BG(R) Ursone focuses on the importance of developing and cultivating meaningful mentorship relationships.  You will hear him provide insightful answers to the following questions: How do you define mentorship? What is the primary purpose/goal of a Mentorship relationship? What are the benefits of mentorship to the mentee? What are the benefits of mentorship to the mentor? How does an organization benefit when it has a successful mentorship program? Personal Reflections on Mentorship Who was your most influential mentor? Why What was the best advice you got from a mentor? What do you know now that you wish you would have learned much earlier? What characterizes a “good” or “not so good” mentorship relationship from your experience? Provide examples What is some practical advice for someone interested in mentoring or being mentored? What are the next steps to take? As chief of the Medical Service Corps, BG Ursone  unified the most diverse group of specialties in the Army. His commitment to leader development and mentoring of junior officers helped the Corps achieve annual increases in recruiting and retaining officers. His vision and leadership have created opportunities for officers to serve our Nation while also achieving their own professional and personal aspirations.  BG Ursone shares many insights and mentorship lessons learned over a distinguished career. You don't want to miss this special episode! 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
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Feb 10, 2023 • 55min

VADM(Ret) C. Forrest Faison III, MD- 38th Navy Surgeon General- Providing Medical Support to Combat Operations and Humanitarian Missions Across the Globe: Defeating the Tyranny of Distance

  Dr. Faison is a pediatrician, fellowship trained in neurodevelopmental pediatrics, and he served as the 38thSurgeon General of the US Navy.   In this episode, Dr. Faison describes his career pathway to becoming a fellowship-trained pediatrician and explains how pediatricians support the critical missions of military medicine at home stations and deployed locations throughout the world.   VADM (Ret) Faison has significant deployment experience as a US Medical Task Force Commander as well as the Commander of a downrange Combat Hospital.  He shares many important lessons learned supporting combat operations and humanitarian missions such as the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami response.    Dr. Faison has extensive experience with telemedicine and informatics.  He describes some of the DoD's accomplishments in this evolving technology and where it is headed.  Following his Military Medicine career, Dr. Faison continued to make significant contributions in civilian medicine.  He describes his role in assisting the state of Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in public universities and in the Federal Mass Vaccination Center.  Dr. Faison is a strong advocate for Wounded Warrior care, and he talks about innovative ways to support these individuals and their families.  He also shares how he has been able to prepare disadvantaged minority students for healthcare career through a “Pathway to Practice” program.   Dr. Faison is a native of Norfolk, Virginia and Cleveland, Ohio, receiving his bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.  Faison earned his doctorate in medicine and surgery from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.  He completed residency training in pediatrics at Naval Hospital San Diego and fellowship training in neurodevelopmental pediatrics at the University of Washington.    Before he served as Navy Surgeon General, Faison also served as Deputy Surgeon General and, before that, as Commander, Navy Medicine West, where he coordinated the Navy's medical support and relief operations to the Government of Japan during the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami.  As the Navy’s Chief of Healthcare Operations, he also led Navy medical relief efforts during the earthquake in Haiti.  Among other leadership assignments, he has held command in a combat theater as Commanding Officer, U.S. Expeditionary Medical Facility (OIF combat hospital); and Commander, U.S. Medical Task Force, Kuwait.  He is a recognized expert on the use of telemedicine, health IT, and data analytics to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes.                 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
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Feb 3, 2023 • 48min

Col (Ret) Todd E. Rasmussen, MD: Advances and Innovations in Vascular Surgery During Wartime (Part 2 of interview)

     Dr. Rasmussen is a retired Air Force Medical Corps officer, Professor of Surgery, and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota.  He described his personal experiences and Military Medicine career in the previous episode (Part 1 of the interview). This episode focuses on the advances in vascular surgery and military surgery driven by the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, you will hear about what happens when a casualty enters the surgical medical system and the goals and priorities of care after the point of injury. You will also hear about amazing advancements in treating injured blood vessels from a surgical standpoint and what lies ahead in combat casualty care while gaining an understanding of limb revascularization and the options surgeons face when dealing with critically injured combat casualties.  Dr. Rasmussen reviews some of the highlights of vascular surgery advances and innovations from World War I to present-day conflicts. Dr. Rasmussen spent nearly three decades in the military, with his initial vascular surgery career beginning in the National Capitol Region at Andrews AFB in 2001.  He received his medical degree from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and trained in General Surgery at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center. He returned to the Mayo Clinic for fellowship training in vascular surgery. He spent 20 years as a vascular surgeon, with his career spanning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  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
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Jan 27, 2023 • 48min

Col (Ret) Todd E. Rasmussen, MD: Vascular Surgeon Leveraging Combat Deployment Experience to Improve Care on the Battlefield and Beyond

     Dr. Rasmussen is a retired Air Force Medical Corps officer and is currently a Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota.     In this episode, you will hear about how Military Vascular Surgeons are trained and about their role in providing expert care on the battlefield.  Col Rasmussen had the opportunity to deploy multiple times across the globe and shares how Military Medicine prepares and provides care from the tip of the spear through the evacuation chain to medical centers in the United States.  Dr. Rasmussen explains how the work of he and his colleagues at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research and with the DoD Combat Casualty Care Research Program used data-driven research to improve how coalition forces care for wounded service members.  He also is an incredibly talented Vascular Surgeon, and he shares some insights and lessons he’s learned from memorable cases over his distinguished career.    Dr. Rasmussen received his medical degree from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and trained in General Surgery at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center. He returned to the Mayo Clinic for fellowship training in vascular surgery. He has deployed multiple times to combat zones and has held numerous leadership positions in Military Medicine before retiring and returning to the Mayo Clinic as a Senior Associate Consultant in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.          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
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Jan 20, 2023 • 52min

SSG(R) Adam Bardwell: Special Operations Medical Sergeant: Maintaining a Readiness Mindset

   Adam currently serves as the Security Operations Supervisor at Global Rescue    In this episode, you will hear about the assessment and selection process for Special Forces medics and about the training that these medics receive and how this is put to the test in real-world situations such as deployments to the CENTCOM AOR as well as Africa.  Adam talks about preparing for prolonged field care scenarios and other interesting training opportunities for Special Forces Medics.  He points out many lessons learned from his experiences providing point of care treatment for combat casualties and how important it is to be able to maintain laser focus on the mission and have a shared mental model with the entire team. He also describes some challenges associated with transitioning from working with elite teams in the military to the civilian sector.   Adam served as a Special Forces Senior Medical Sergeant with the 3rd Special Forces Group Airbourne at Fort Bragg. In this role he was involved in maritime operations, unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense and special reconnaissance missions in support of CENTCOM and AFRICOM.   He has a passion for readiness and resilience training and has worked tirelessly to assist units with prioritizing medical cross-training and making it “fun”.                            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
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Jan 13, 2023 • 1h 1min

LTG(R) James Peake, MD- US Army Surgeon General on 9/11: From Infantry Platoon Leader in Vietnam to Strategic Leadership in Military Medicine and at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

   Dr. Peake served as the 40th Army Surgeon General and as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.    In this episode, you will hear about General Peake's early career deployed as an Infantry Platoon Leader in Vietnam, where he was injured in combat and was medically evacuated to a theater hospital. He describes his pathway in Military Medicine, beginning as a general surgeon and completing further training as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon.  He discusses his leadership pathway from commanding medical assets in Korea to Ft. Bragg to Madigan Army Medical Center.  He then helped shape the training of military medical providers as the Commanding General of the AMEDD Center and School (now U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence) and ultimately the Surgeon General on 9/11. You will hear some insightful lessons learned during the response to 9/11 and leading Army medicine into the initial entries into Iraq and Afghanistan.  Following Military retirement, Dr. Peake was appointed as the Secretary of the VA in the George W. Bush administration.  He speaks about some of the challenges and successes during his tenure at the VA and describes how the Department of Defense collaborates and coordinates with the Department of Veterans Affairs.   Dr. Peake is a United States Military Academy Graduate and received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College.  He is Board Certified in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery and has deployed to combat zones as an infantry officer and as a medical corps officer. He is currently the Senior Vice President of CGI Federal.       General Peake has had an enormous impact on how the military prepares for and provides excellent care on the battlefield and at home. He talks about his insights and lessons learned both in Military Medicine and at the helm of the Department of Veterans Affairs.                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
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Jan 6, 2023 • 1h 5min

CAPT(R) Eric Elster MD: USUHS Dean and Experienced Navy Transplant Surgeon Optimizing Combat Casualty Care Knowledge and Skills and Preparing the Next Generation of Medical Professionals.

    Dr. Eric Elster is the Dean of the School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.    In this episode, you will hear about Dr. Elster’s Journey to becoming a combat-tested General Surgeon who later specialized by completing a transplant surgery fellowship.  Dr. Elster has deployed multiple times to combat zones and he shares some stories from his experiences caring for severely injured service members and other patients often in austere locations or at Sea, far from comprehensive medical support assets.  He describes some important lessons he’s learned that are extremely valuable to the next generation of healthcare professionals.      CAPT(R) Elster covers the importance of translational research in answering important questions about diagnostic and therapies for traumatic injuries and describes his innovative approach to how Military Medicine can quantify and measure battlefield readiness and how to improve it.  Dr. Elster also talks about the critical role USUHS plays as America’s Medical School and some of the exciting initiatives and opportunities he is developing as Dean.    CAPT(R)  Eric Elster, MD received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of South Florida in Tampa as a recipient of the U.S. Navy’s Health Professional Scholarship Program. Upon graduation, he completed a general surgery residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Elster served as ship’s surgeon aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning from the Persian Gulf, he completed a solid organ transplantation fellowship at the National Institutes of Health; and then directed a translational research program at the Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, MD, with a focus on developing improved diagnostics and therapies for serious traumatic injuries, transplantation, and advanced operative imaging.      Before his retirement from active service, Dr. Elster was last deployed as a surgeon and Director of Surgical Services at the NATO Role 3 Military Medical Unit in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons; and a member of the Society of University Surgeons, the Excelsior Surgical Society, and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. Dr. Elster has published over 150 scientific manuscripts in leading journals including JAMA, Annals of Surgery, American Journal of Transplantation, and Science Translational Medicine, and has received numerous research grants spanning all aspects of surgery.                                 Find out more and join Team WarDocs at www.wardocspodcast.com Honoring Military Medicine’s Past to Improve Healthcare’s Future 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

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