Through Airmen's Eyes: Keesler medic wins research award

  • Published
  • By Steve Pivnick
  • 81st Medical Group Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNS) --  (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)

Growing up in a small town outside Birmingham, Ala., a 1990 graduate from Hewitt-Trussville High School did not know that his life would be forever changed when he was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Lt. Col. John Childs, director of musculoskeletal research with the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Research & Development Award. Childs' nomination noted he currently manages a research portfolio that includes $21 million in grant funding, 19 projects and nine research staff members. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts in leading scientific journals throughout his career and 19 manuscripts over the previous year.

In the Air Force for just over 18 years, Childs thanks the Air Force for giving him a broad world view, meeting his wife and allowing him to further his education as he was selected to go to PT school at the U.S. Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

"My proudest moment was probably the day I graduated from USAFA in 1994," Childs said. "Graduation for me was the culmination of four years of hard work in an extremely austere environment away from home. Quite simply, I grew up there in many respects. I was blessed to be at an institution where many of the values my parents had taught me so well in my early years were further reinforced and enhanced. Although 'only' a beginning, it was a solid foundation, without which I would not be where I am today."

"The most unique aspect of my job," said Childs. "Is the chance to travel around the country and interact with some of the smartest scientists on the planet ... I can only hope that I have returned to them even a tenth of the knowledge and experience that has been given to me."

Childs recently returned from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan, where he served as the human protections administrator on the Joint Combat Casualty Research Team. His recognition is also based off the results he provided from his deployment.

According to Childs nomination, he provided invaluable continuity between three Joint Combat Casualty Research Team rotations through his in-depth knowledge of 70 research protocols and 40 performance improvement determination requests during his six-month tour, significantly expanding combat casualty research and revolutionizing warfighter care. He expertly directed and mentored investigators in protocol development and assumed personal responsibility for research regulatory compliance, conducting 10 audits at five forward operating bases in Afghanistan.

"I am hopeful that the results of the many research studies I have been fortunate to lead or participate in are readily translated into improving the delivery of health care for our service members, their families, and retirees," Childs said.

"Health care in the U.S. and within the Military Health System is at a critical juncture where ongoing cost increases are simply unsustainable. Ironically, it's in difficult times like these where innovations from research have the most opportunity to be realized and incorporated into clinical practice and processes of care. I can only hope that history will show that the Air Force's investment into my training generated a positive rate of return to the Air Force mission many times over the original investment.

"It's indeed an honor," said Childs, about his award. "Because in some ways it's the culmination of my entire Air Force career."

The award will be presented at the annual dinner and awards banquet during the AMSUS 118th annual continuing education meeting Nov. 14 in Phoenix.