DOD surgeons general visit Bagram Airfield medics

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- The Department of Defense surgeons general visited the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here Feb. 13.

During their brief visit to Afghanistan's most advanced military medical center, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric B. Schoomaker and Navy Vice Adm. (Dr.) Adam M. Robinson Jr., among others, received a medical capabilities briefing and a tour of the facility, and took time to thank members of the staff for their support to the continuing mission in Afghanistan. 

Dr. Schoomaker and Dr. Robinson took the opportunity to look at ways to help medics operating day-in and day-out in the field to achieve more interoperability and ensure they have the necessary resources to provide the best care possible.

One of the medics who received a special thank you from Dr. Green was Master Sgt. Rachael Colon.

Sergeant Colon, a medical technician at Bagram Airfield, was given two coins -- one from General Green and the other from Chief Master Sgt. Charles Cole, the Air Force Chief of Medical Service Corps, for winning the 2010 Olson Wegner Outstanding Aerospace Medicine Senior NCO of the Year award.

"It is an honor to be recognized in my field," Sergeant Colon said.

In addition, Dr. Green took time to visit Senior Airman Diane Bautista, a 455th Expeditionary Medical Group medic who happened to be a patient in the intensive care unit at the hospital, due to an intense migraine.

"I can't believe he took time out of his schedule to come visit me," Airman Bautista said.

Though the visit from the surgeons general had to be cut short due to weather conditions, the doctors achieved their goal of addressing how military medicine can best contribute while determining best practices, aligning joint and multinational medical services while meeting medical staffing models and manning requirements.