Undersecretary visits Wilford Hall Medical Center

  • Published
  • By Linda Frost
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton visited Wilford Hall Medical Center here Sept. 3 to learn about the Air Force's premier health care, medical education, research and readiness wing.

Ms. Conaton met with Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, the 59th MDW commander, and other senior leaders to hear about the wing's mission, capabilities and the future of Air Force medicine in San Antonio.

Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, the commander of Air Education and Training Command, was the senior leader escort for the visit.

During her visit here, Ms. Conaton received an overview of the wing's mission and the progress of medical joint basing in San Antonio.

As Air Force and Army officials in San Antonio comply with the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, some 59th MDW inpatient functions are now operational at Brooke Army Medical Center, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

All remaining wing inpatient functions will relocate to BAMC by Sept. 15, 2011, to create the jointly staffed and jointly led San Antonio Military Medical Center. Wilford Hall will convert to a large, jointly staffed and jointly led ambulatory surgical center.

Ms. Conaton viewed the future site of the ambulatory surgical center from the rooftop of Wilford Hall's nine-story building. The first phase of construction is expected to begin in early 2011.

Ms. Conaton also learned about the rapid joint en route care system for moving casualties from the battlefield to the U.S., and toured the medical simulation center where state-of-the-art equipment is used to create realistic training scenarios.

Before departing, Ms. Conaton met with wounded Soldiers and Airmen.