Category: US Navy

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Leaders from Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) held an executive planning conference at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar Officer’s Club, October 29 and 30. The purpose of the conference was to collaborate on strategies to accomplish NMCSD’s joint mission with Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) San Diego and synchronize these lines of effort (LOE) in support of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Surgeon General (SG) and Defense Health Agency (DHA) objectives.

While NMCSD is a DHA military treatment facility (MTF) providing health care services, NMRTC San Diego maintains command and control of all Navy personnel assigned to the MTF and focuses on expeditionary medicine. These organizations operate in parallel, sharing the same physical location and leadership—the NMCSD director is also the NMRTC commanding officer.

The team’s effort focused on opportunities, actions, challenges, and mitigations to achieve a collective plan for success on matters such as the Integrated Referral Management and Appointing Center (IRMAC) expansion, patient experience and satisfaction, virtual health, critical staffing deficits and improving hiring timelines.

There are two overarching command priorities which are staffing and patient volume, explained Capt. Elizabeth Adriano, NMCSD director and NMRTC San Diego commander.

“We need to make sure that we’re all on the same page, playing with the same sheet of music, moving toward the same goals,” said Adriano. “And in order to get there, we may have to have some hard conversations.”

The foundation for the conference, laid out by Adriano during her opening statements, is to build upon what has been accomplished during the last year, discuss support expectations and leverage prior challenges to improve mission and lines of effort. She added that the CNO’s priorities and Culture of Excellence (COE 2.0) will be their guiding principles.

“Those are all super important moving forward. Those are the philosophies, the ways of life, the ways of communicating, the ways of supporting our people that are going to underpin what we do,” said Adriano.

Capt. Marcy Morlock, NMCSD and NMRTC San Diego executive officer, emphasized how the two-day meeting supports a unified strategy that incorporates objectives from the CNO, SG and DHA.

“When you look at the CNO’s principles, the SG’s priorities and DHA priorities, there are a lot of commonalities, which leaves plenty of opportunities for integration and collaboration because we are all part of the same DoD mission,” Morlock said.

Morlock also shared her optimism with the group, pointing out that, “What we’ve done in 16 months speaks volumes to the dedication and commitment of the San Diego team. We are a large medical center and being able to accomplish all that we have in such a short period of time is nothing short of amazing. We need to make sure we don’t lose sight of this.”

Senior enlisted leader Command Master Chief Adolfo Gonzalez conducted an overview of the CNO’s guidance, the COE 2.0 approach and the “Get Real, Get Better” (GRGB) leadership standards as a guiding principle for the conference. According to My Navy HR, COE 2.0 “focuses on building Great People, Great Leaders, and Great Teams, with the knowledge that this is the best way to prepare for victory in combat, innovate and solve hard problems, and prevent human behaviors.”

On the second day of the conference, leaders from Naval Hospital and NMRTC Camp Pendleton joined the San Diego team to discuss mutual interests, including joint initiatives for a patient transfer center, pharmacy, and virtual medical center. With both MTFs being just over 40 miles apart, these collaborations seek to leverage resources and expertise that can be shared in support of their joint mission of delivering health care excellence and building readiness.

Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, Naval Medical Forces Pacific commander and Defense Health Network Pacific Rim director with oversight of the MTF and NMRTC, talked about the importance of this meeting and shared his thoughts about the future of military medicine in Southern California.

“Your two military treatment facilities serve as powerful engines of growth for our Network,” said Valdes. “The proximity of your facilities is a strategic advantage that we’re fortunate to have. This is about bringing our capabilities together, fostering cooperation, and strengthening mutual support. As we continue to mature our Network and our NMRTCs move out on expeditionary medicine, I’m very optimistic about our ability to deliver both superior health care and enhanced readiness.”

As the conference concluded, Adriano told the San Diego and Camp Pendleton teams that they were going to develop best practices and push them out to the other DHA Networks so “we can all work smarter, not harder.”

She added, “We are the tip of the spear; a medically ready force responsible for the exceptional, patient-centered care that we deliver in our military treatment facilities and that we provide to our warfighters when we deploy, anytime, anywhere, always.”

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!

(U.S. Navy story by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James R. Mitchell)

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Naval Medical Leader and Professional Development Command (NMLPDC) undertook its triennial Medical Inspector General (MEDIG) evaluation from Oct. 7-10. This comprehensive assessment involved six inspectors who meticulously evaluated the command’s effectiveness, efficiency, climate, and program compliance, all aimed at ensuring the optimal functionality of its programs.

At the forefront of this initiative was Cmdr. Angela Healy, program director of Continuing Medical Education, who served as the Inspection Coordinator and assisted by Lt. Cmdr. Alaina Downey, Department Head of sterile processing. Healy and Downey’s roles were pivotal as they acted as liaisons between NMLPDC and MEDIG, managing the logistics and administrative details necessary for the inspectors’ arrival.

“The Medical Inspector General conducts professional and technical organizational assessments of BUMED commands to assure programmatic compliance and a healthy command climate,” explained Healy. She noted that one of the most significant challenges in preparing for the MEDIG’s visit was coordinating logistics—rooms, schedules, and document submissions—among over 50 personnel.

Preparation for the inspection began months in advance, involving self-assessment checklists and mock inspections. Program managers received valuable feedback from the command, Naval Medical Forces Development Command, and Healy to identify areas needing improvement.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ashly Turi, assigned to NMLPDC’s Leader Development Directorate, oversees the command’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program and one of the many programs inspected.

“Years ago, I was stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego where I experienced my first MEDIG inspection. That first inspection was nowhere near as nerve-racking as this one. SAPR holds a special place in my heart, and I just wanted to ensure I did everything I could to make sure we had a smooth-running program. The MEDIG mock inspection helped pinpoint areas of improvement.”

The evaluation yielded positive results, with 19 program managers recognized for exemplary performance out of 43 assessed programs, 34 of which were found fully compliant.

Chief Hospital Corpsman Kenyetta DeJohn, who manages the command’s diversity, equity, and inclusion program, emphasized the importance of the evaluation process. “I think the process overall is needed to ensure standards are maintained. I think the fact that we received the program input requirements prior to the inspection is a great way to assist program managers especially for those who are new to the MEDIG process.”

Following the on-site assessment, the command will receive an official report in approximately one month, providing a detailed breakdown of each program and any areas that require correction.

“Even though our inspection didn’t result in zero findings, I’m immensely proud of every member of our team, and the results will strengthen our program management and sustain our programs’ positive impact on the command,” said Capt. Katharine Shobe, commanding officer of NMLPDC. “In addition, we greatly appreciate the MEDIG’s new policy of publishing their inspection calendar for the entire fiscal year, which will facilitate continual readiness of a command. “

The MEDIG evaluation not only enhances mission effectiveness of commands but aligns closely with the Navy’s initiatives of “Get Real, Get Better”, and is a concept fully embedded within the culture at NMLPDC. These principles emphasize self-assessment, self-correction, and continuous learning, contributing to great people, great leaders, and great teams.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

For those wondering where Waldo was, he could be found in various getup iterations in Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Laboratory, October 31,2024.

Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians was sighted in Ophthalmology. Barbie was assisting patients with the Exceptional Family Member Program. The Minions were guiding patients through their rehabilitation efforts in Physical Therapy.

Halloween allowed staff at NHB to partake in the seasonal fun, within reason and with limitations.

“Costumes were welcomed. Our infection control warriors, safety, and legal crew have helped us lay down a few rules of engagement so we can keep things safe, spirited, and professional,” explained Capt. Karla Lepore, NHB director and Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command Bremerton commanding officer.

The following guidance called for no full-face masks.

“We want to see those smiling faces,” said Lepore.

Costumes had to be hand hygiene and hand-wash friendly. The costumes were all treat and no trick with nothing scary, messy, or inappropriate and insensitive for a family-centric military treatment facility. Those with official duties were excluded from being able to wear apparel in lieu of their normal unform or clinical garb. Costumes could not limit staff to perform their duty.

Yet everyone was afforded the time to enjoy a bratwurst, chili cookoff, dessert contest, haunted trunk or treat and the command’s annual Socktoberfest sock contribution by collecting adult and children footwear to donate to a local charity cause.

Although the weather wasn’t as accommodating as the previous year, staff and family members weren’t scared to attend the event.

“I thought it was better than our command picnic,” exclaimed Tim Stewart, who participated in the chili cookoff.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

BATAM, Indonesia – Growing up, David Doyle loved watching movies about the military and popular superheroes. In his mind, joining the service would be the closest thing to living a life like those of his favorite movie characters, “Maybe without the powers or abilities but a hero nonetheless.” Growing up around veterans and a heavy military influence in his family impacted his decision to ultimately walk into a recruiter’s office, with the aspiration to become what he envisioned as a child. The occupation he was assigned was not one he envisioned, but it led him down a path to where he is today as 1st Medical Battalion’s Sailor of the Year, while performing a vital medical role for Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia.

As the Preventive Medicine Technician and Leading Petty Officer for the medical team of MRF-SEA, U.S. Navy Hospitalman 2nd Class David Doyle plays a vital dual role in maintaining the force’s health and ensuring operational readiness. In the PMT capacity, Doyle works at the forefront of health protection, carefully monitoring, assessing, and mitigating risks from disease, injury, and environmental threats. He provides crucial insights to preemptively safeguard against potential hazards. On the other hand, as the LPO of MRF-SEA’s medical section, Doyle directly leads the unit’s corpsmen and assists the section’s Chief Petty Officer and medical officers in achieving mission success. He ensures tasks are accomplished with accuracy and promptness, while also prioritizing the well-being and growth of each sailor. Doyle exemplifies both commitment to duty and caring leadership.

“I believe that every day is a learning opportunity and if I learn something new and do something to make someone else’s life easier, then I consider it a successful day,” said Doyle.

For Doyle, being selected as “Sailor of the Year” isn’t just about personal achievement. To him, it’s a recognition that goes beyond individual accomplishments – it’s a tribute to the Navy’s core values of leadership, integrity, and dedication.

“Sailor of the Year, by definition, is meant to recognize one person who represents the best of the unit and the Navy,” Doyle explains. “But it’s also about building camaraderie and boosting morale within the service.”

This honor, the corpsman believes, is a symbol of the Navy’s commitment to excellence and dedication to duty, reminding everyone to pursue their personal best and uplift those around them.

“My goals while attached to MRF-SEA are to continue to learn and grow,” Doyle shared. “I am always looking for ways to become the best version of myself that I can.”

This drive extends to both professional and personal realms; professionally, he is eager to explore the medical practices across the different countries he will visit during MRF-SEA’s deployment to Southeast Asia, learning new medical treatment techniques and refining his leadership skills along the way. On a personal level, Doyle looks forward to experiences different customs and cultures from the local people he will encounter throughout the deployment and hopes to build bridges of understanding and respect with everyone he meets. Doyle’s journey is one of continuous improvement, fueled by a desire to grow not just as a corpsman and leader, but as compassionate individual.

“My experiences have shaped the sailor that I am today, and I’m always trying to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves,” said Doyle.

The sailor credits not only his experiences but also his choices in shaping the person he has become, viewing each moment as an opportunity for growth. With a philosophy rooted in resilience, he believes in facing challenges head-on.

“If something bad happens to you, it is easy to accept the situation and become a victim of your own circumstances,” Doyle said. “It is much more difficult to look at a bad situation, accept it, learn from it, and change your circumstances.”

Central to Doyle’s personal growth are the people and relationships he continues to prioritize in his life. “The people, or lack thereof, that I have chosen to surround myself with have significantly influenced who I am today,” he explains, echoing the words of entrepreneur Dan Peña, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” For this sailor, resilience, growth, and the company he keeps serve as the compass points that guide him forward.

In his journey to becoming a leader, Doyle is not just thinking about the next step, he’s laying the foundation for a long-term vision of positive change. “My short-term goals for my career are to go to my next command, continue to learn to become a more effective leader, and help make the command better than when I checked in,” he shares, demonstrating a commitment to both personal growth and the betterment of those around him. While he continues to serve, he’s also working toward a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, combining his passion for service with a dedication to personal growth. His ultimate ambition is to commission as an officer, a role he believes will allow him to increase the positive impact he can have and the institution and his fellow Sailors and Marines.

Looking ahead, his vision is crystal clear: to lead with purpose, foster growth in those around him, and leave an enduring impact on the U.S. Navy. By merging his career in service with his dedication to education and mentorship, the Sailor of the Year for 1st Medical Battalion is committed to not only advancing himself but also paving a way for others to follow.