Category: US Navy

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

SIGONELLA, Italy – Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Kirk Ashley Young from Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) EURAFCENT was announced as the Navy Medicine Research and Development (NMR&D) 2024 Sailor of the Year (SOY), in October.

Young, the command’s leading petty officer was selected amongst the eight NMR&D commands.

“This is a big accomplishment for the command,” said Young. “It is very rewarding and motivating that all our hard work is recognized by our leaders.”

“NAMRU EURAFCENT is one of the best commands I have ever worked at. Military and civilians, they are the most dedicated, hardworking, and most approachable people. I am very grateful for my command for giving me the opportunity to learn, to fail, and to be better,” he added.

Young, who is stationed at NAMRU EURAFCENT’s Sigonella, Italy-based headquarters is a biomedical equipment technician and a command equipment manager. He is responsible for managing medical equipment and ensuring operational readiness at NAMRU EURAFCENT and its remote lab sites, which support missions across 22 countries in Africa Command (AFRICOM), Central Command (CENTCOM), and European Command (EUCOM) areas of responsibility.

“This is a fantastic recognition of both his character and competence, as well as the achievements that he has been able to accomplish as part of this team,” said Capt. Virginia Blackman, commanding officer, NAMRU EURAFCENT.

“Thanks not only to HM1 [Young] for his consistent excellence in performance, but also to Chief [Gene] Nuevo for mentoring and guiding him, to Ms. Marian Mikhail for her partnership and collaboration on equipment maintenance and management, to Lt. Cmdr. [Robert] Hontz for facilitating his participation in the board from Ghana, and to all who have helped him achieve,” added Blackman.

As part of other recognitions, Young was also named Sailor of the Quarter (2nd Quarter) in 2021 while stationed at U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Guam, formerly known as the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam.

The “Sailor of the Year” is a time-honored tradition introduced by Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet in 1972. This annual competition is held to recognize the superior performance of individual Sailors, who excel in personifying the ideals of the Navy Core Values.

NAMRU EURAFCENT conducts infectious disease research and surveillance to study, monitor and detect emerging and re-emerging disease threats of military and public health importance, and to develop mitigation strategies against these threats in partnership with host nations and international and U.S. agencies in U.S. AFRICOM, CENTCOM, and EUCOM areas of responsibility with staff located in Italy, Ghana and in Egypt.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Nov. 21, 2024) The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) has recognized Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) as one of 77 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals that have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2023. As a participant in ACS NSQIP, NMCP is required to track the outcomes of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures and collect data that assesses patient safety and can be used to direct improvement in the quality of surgical care.

“We commend all ACS NSQIP-participating hospitals because they have committed to using high-quality data to improve the surgical care of their patients. NMCP has gone a step further — not only do they use the data effectively, but they also have the results to prove they are achieving optimal patient outcomes,” said Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS, Director of the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care.

The ACS NSQIP recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving a meritorious composite score in either an “All Cases” category or a category which includes higher risk cases (“High Risk”). Risk-adjusted data from the July 2024 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report, which presents data from the 2023 calendar year, were used to determine which hospitals demonstrated meritorious outcomes. NMCP has been recognized on both the “All Cases” and “High Risk” Meritorious lists.

Each composite score was determined through a different weighted formula combining eight outcomes. The outcome performances related to patient management were in the following eight clinical areas: mortality, unplanned intubation, ventilator > 48 hours, renal failure, cardiac incidents (cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction); respiratory (pneumonia); SSI (surgical site infections-superficial and deep incisional and organ-space SSIs); or urinary tract infection.

The 77 hospitals achieved the distinction based on an outstanding composite quality score. Risk-adjusted data from the July 2024 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report, which presents data from the 2023 calendar year, were used to determine which hospitals demonstrated meritorious outcomes. 60 hospitals were recognized on the “All Cases” list and 60 hospitals were recognized on the “High Risk” list; the 60 hospitals represent approximately ten percent of the 609 ACS NSQIP eligible hospitals. 43 hospitals are recognized on both the “All Cases” and “High Risk” lists, 17 other hospitals are on just the “All Cases” list, and 17 other hospitals are on the “High Risk” list only, totaling 77 hospitals being recognized as Meritorious.

ACS NSQIP is the preeminent nationally validated quality improvement program that measures and enhances the care of surgical patients. This program measures the actual surgical results 30 days postoperatively as well as risk adjusts patient characteristics to compensate for differences among patient populations and acuity levels. The goal of ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity (infection or illness related to a surgical procedure) and surgical mortality (death related to a surgical procedure) and to provide a firm foundation for surgeons to apply what is known as the “best scientific evidence” to the practice of surgery. Furthermore, when adverse effects from surgical procedures are reduced and/or eliminated, a reduction in healthcare costs follows. ACS NSQIP is a major program of the ACS and is currently used in over 850 adult or pediatric hospitals. Hospitals participating in ACS NSQIP are designated as ACS Surgical Quality Partners. To find ACS Surgical Quality Partner hospitals, please visit www.powerofquality.com.

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About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has approximately 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. “FACS” designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. For more information, visit www.facs.org.#

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Walling, Assistant Department Head for Pastoral Care Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), has earned National Board Certification from the National Association of VA Chaplains, a significant professional achievement in the field of spiritual care, Dec. 2.

The certification recognizes Walling’s expertise and dedication to providing comprehensive spiritual support to service members, veterans, and their families. As a board-certified chaplain, Walling joins an elite group of professionals who meet rigorous standards in pastoral care, ethics, and leadership.

“Chaplain Walling’s achievement underscores the critical role of spiritual care in the holistic well-being of our military community,” said Capt. Elizabeth Adriano, Director of NMCSD. “His commitment to serving others is a testament to the compassion and resilience that defines our team.”

Reflecting on the certification, Walling emphasized the importance of the role chaplains play in military healthcare.

“It’s an honor to serve the men and women who wear our Nation’s cloth,” Walling said. “Earning this certification reaffirms my commitment to providing compassionate care and spiritual guidance to those navigating life’s challenges.”

Walling, a native from Houston, Texas, worked as a church pastor for 19 years before commissioning later in life as a Navy chaplain. Grateful for the opportunity to provide spiritual support to the sea services, he has served and deployed with USS Somerset (LPD 25) and with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.

Walling’s certification enhances NMCSD’s ability to address the spiritual needs of its diverse patient population and staff, further aligning with the center’s mission to deliver world-class care to those who serve, their families, and veterans.

The mission of NMCSD is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services, and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 5,000 active-duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in southern California to provide patients with world-class care. Anchored in Excellence, Committed to Health!

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

A Corpsman serving aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point is about to take the biggest step of his career and become a Navy officer.

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Peyton Cummings will leave the clinic to attend Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, in early 2025.

“Being a Naval Officer has always been a dream of mine and OCS offers me the opportunity to obtain this goal while continuing my active-duty status,” said Cummins. “It is important to have a goal especially in the military since it is easy to fall into the monotony of day-to-day operations, having a goal will keep you constantly working towards the next level of your career.”

The Raleigh, North Carolina native currently serves as the Leading Petty Officer for Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point’s Directorate of Public Health Services. His daily duties and responsibilities include oversight of the facility’s Immunizations, Preventative Medicine, Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Medicine departments.

“Cherry Point offers a rare opportunity for junior Sailors to fill leadership positions typically held by more senior Petty Officers,” he said.
Navy Officer Candidate School is a thirteen-week course designed to prepare Sailors for service as Naval Officers. Coursework includes academic and physical training designed to instill qualities essential to a Sailor’s success as an officer.

“To prepare for the selection process I made sure to take leadership opportunities when presented. Also, I made myself comfortable with public speaking through PI [process improvement] presentations which helped me tremendously with the officer interviews,” said Cummins.

After graduating from OCS, Cummins wants to start his career as a Surface Warfare Officer but remains open to all opportunities available to him.

“My biggest piece of advice for sailors wanting to go to OCS is to start the application early. It is a lengthy document that requires a large investment of time and networking,” said Cummins.