Doctor receives Canadian award

  • Published
  • By Linda Frost
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  A member of the 59th Medical Wing has been awarded the Canadian Meritorious Service Medal for his life-saving contributions to Canadians and coalition soldiers while deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Col. (Dr.) Thomas Seay, the 59th Radiology Squadron commander, was assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan as the senior medical mentor of an embedded training team while deployed.

The doctor's primary job was to mentor to Afghan medics and physicians as they opened a new Afghan National Army Regional Hospital. However, while waiting for the hospital to open and the Afghan medics to arrive, Dr. Seay began volunteering as a radiologist at the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit.

The Canadians welcomed Dr. Seay's volunteer services with open arms. Prior to his offer to assist they were required to transmit X-rays back to Canada for interpretation.

Once Dr. Seay began his primary duties assisting in the setup the Afghan hospital, he continued to read X-rays for the Canadians at night.

The doctor also volunteered to do routine ultrasounds since the Canadians did not have an ultrasound technician.

"With what little the Canadians sometimes had, they seemed to be able to do anything to save a life,'' Dr. Seay said. "The care they would provide to the Afghan civilians, particularly the children, was first rate, bringing 21st century care to a country several hundred years behind."

Dr. Seay also helped in times of mass casualty incidents, assisting in the operating room and helping with trauma bay ultrasounds.

"The Canadian medics and staff were all dedicated, fine professionals, and I would serve with that crew anytime, anywhere," Dr. Seay said. "They always had a 'can do' spirit. I never heard a complaint. Every Canadian I met was like an old friend."

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