Category: US Navy

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton welcomed the first baby of 2025 in the Labor and Delivery Department on Jan. 1, 2025.

The parents of Andreas E. Rutherford-Salazar are Lance Cpl. Alondra Salazar, from Simi Valley, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Deandre Rutherford, from Newport News, Va. Salazar is assigned to 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and Rutherford is assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Okinawa, Japan.

Baby Andreas was delivered at 11:00 a.m. by the team of Navy Lt. Kiley C. Brady, Family Medicine Physician, Lt. j.g. Kyra S. Morissette, Mother and Infant Services Nurse, and Christin L. Martin, RN, and weighed 7.2 pounds and measured 21 inches in length.

Navy Capt. Jenny S. Burkett, hospital director, Navy Capt. Michael J. Barry, hospital executive officer, and Master Chief Petty Officer Wayne George, command master chief, visited the proud parents and their baby on Jan. 2, 2025, and presented them with gift baskets on behalf of C.A.R.E.S.

NHCP congratulates the new parents and Baby Andreas and wishes them a Happy and Healthy 2025!

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

In the midst of the vast Pacific Ocean, U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is revolutionizing mental health care for America’s warfighters with a groundbreaking program that’s already transforming lives and enhancing military readiness.

Since starting operations in March 2024 and being officially designated as a clinic on Dec. 10, 2024, the Military Health System’s first Crisis Stabilization Unit, the hospital has successfully treated 246 active-duty service members experiencing mental health emergencies— with only two requiring medical evacuation and four needing mental health admission. These remarkable statistics underscore both the program’s effectiveness and the hospital’s commitment to delivering world-class care to service members on Guam.

“The CSU initiative is dedicated to the psychological readiness of our warfighters who deserve quality care in a timely manner no matter the platform or location,” said Cmdr. Francine Segovia, director for mental health at USNH Guam.

The unit’s success directly supports the hospital’s mission of projecting forward-deployed medical power and delivering high-quality care to strengthen warfighter readiness in the Pacific region.

A New Standard of Care

Before the CSU opened, service members experiencing mental health crises faced limited options: either endure long wait times in a busy emergency room or schedule an outpatient appointment that could take weeks to secure. For those requiring more intensive care, medical evacuation off-island meant spending an average of four weeks away from their unit for treatment and travel and often required a non-medical attendant, resulting in up to eight weeks of total lost operational duties.

The CSU has dramatically changed this scenario by providing an alternative possibility for treatment. Operating as a “one-stop shop” for mental health care, the unit provides comprehensive services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring, referral, and transition services—all within a few hours.

“Given Guam’s location, medical evacuations may take a couple of weeks, and given the operational tempo, units may not be able to afford unplanned losses,” Segovia said. “The need for such a service came at the bequest of line commanders and patients who sought quality care no matter the platform or location.”

This innovative approach is based on evidence-based guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one of the premier experts in the development of crisis care in the nation. The CSU is an alternative to emergency departments and psychiatric hospitalization and provides intensive, short-term stabilization for someone experiencing a behavioral health crisis that cannot wait until a regularly scheduled appointment. The preliminary data indicates improvement in access, reduction in costs, and deflection away from the emergency room and inpatient hospitalization.

Creating a Healing Environment

Understanding that environment plays a crucial role in mental health treatment, the hospital is collaborating with Defense Health Agency facilities experts and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mental health interior designers to create a space optimized for healing and stabilization.

“That’s the first picture we want our mental health patients to experience when they come in for help,” Segovia said, describing plans for the unit’s carefully designed setting that avoids stark clinical aesthetics in favor of a calming, home-like atmosphere with thoughtfully chosen furniture, artwork, and lighting.

Excellence in Team-Based Care

The CSU’s success stems from its multi-disciplinary approach and the dedication of its staff, particularly its Navy Hospital Corpsmen with advanced training as behavioral health technicians. These vital team members have expanded their roles from administrative duties to providing safety assessments, comprehensive evaluations, brief interventions, and triage under clinical supervision.

“This has in turn honed their knowledge, skills, and abilities which will help our patients get the care they need when they most need it and prepare the respective BHT’s with the clinical skills they will need when deployed,” Segovia said.

Future Growth

As USNH Guam looks ahead, the facility is exploring opportunities to expand the CSU’s services. Currently serving active-duty personnel during normal business hours, future plans could include the 23-Hour Crisis Stabilization Unit model which would provide 23-hour crisis respite and observation services and extending care to dependents.

“The success of our Crisis Stabilization Unit demonstrates what’s possible when we reimagine how we deliver mental health care,” said Capt. Joel Schofer, director, USNH Guam. “As we look to the future, we remain focused on finding new ways to enhance the readiness and resilience of our warfighters through responsive mental health support.”

This innovative approach to mental health care delivery continues to evolve as the hospital looks for ways to better serve its beneficiaries. Mental health care plays a vital role in maintaining military readiness throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

“Mental health is physical health. Mental health emergencies should be taken just as seriously as any other medical emergency,” Segovia said.

Through innovative programs like the CSU, USNH Guam continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care that supports both individual servicemember well-being and overall military readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.

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U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is a 282,000 square foot military treatment facility (MTF) that supports the joint forces and strengthens the island by projecting forward-deployed medical power, delivering high-quality care, and forging strategic partnerships. The MTF and its staff of nearly 700 offers a broad range of primary and specialty medical services in support of more than 27,000 beneficiaries.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

During this holiday season, a number of Naval Hospital Bremerton staff members reminisced on years past, whether forward deployed, pulling a clinical rotation for another, or doing their duty best to put service before self for those in need.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Rose Ann Lumoljo, NHB Primary Care leading petty officer, was stationed on the amphibious dock landing ship, USS Ashland (LSD 48), forward deployed to Japan from May 2021 to June 2023.

“It was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life,” exclaimed Lumoljo. “It was an unaccompanied tour and my first time being away from my family, especially my son.”

“Reflecting on the holidays I missed, I remember the heartache of knowing my 5-year-old son celebrated two seasons of holidays without me,” continued Lumoljo. “While it was difficult to be apart, I take pride in serving my country and honoring the commitment I made when I chose this path. This sacrifice has reinforced my resilience and deepened my appreciation for both my family and the mission I serve.”

For Amy Salzsieder, occupational health registered nurse and retired Navy [Reserve] Nurse Corps commander, her two deployments downrange in 2009 and then back again in 2014 at the NATO Role III Multinational Medical Unit, Kandahar, Afghanistan, both invoked memories.
In 2009 there were over 30 NATO and coalition countries supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Salzsieder noted how memorable it was witnessing all the different countries coming together to remember the holidays with traditions from their home country.

“You could walk around the base and see all the different decorations from different countries. The Lt. Dan band [Gary Sinise] was there putting on a concert around Christmas time,” recollected Salzsieder, also adding an evocative memory from that holiday time. Yet all was far from just tinsel and ornaments.

“We had a local Afghanistan child, a girl, about nine years old that we cared for four months trying to save her one good leg. Which we did. The other had to be amputated,” somberly shared Salzsieder. “We all pooled our money to get her an artificial leg so she could be sent back to her village. With the type of clothes women wear she could conceal her artificial leg and not be killed by the Taliban. At that time if the locals accepted help from us, they were usually [targeted and] killed by the local Taliban to discourage the locals coming to us.”

During her second tenure in 2014, Salzsieder was department head for the post anesthesia care unit, ICU and patient movement evacuation which by then was under U.S. Navy command. When asked if she was on call for Christmas eve or day, she replied, “It’s deployment. You work every day.”

As the premier trauma and casualty receiving center in Afghanistan, the Role III was constantly busy with an influx of patients. Salzsieder remembers a young U.S. Air Force radioman with a foot injury.

“He had to come to the hospital to have his wound washed out. He came almost every day in December and was like part of the ICU family. He was from Montana and his mom sent us all sorts of Christmas goodies. We all called his mom on Christmas to let her know he was well taken care of, and we all wanted her Christmas cookie recipes,” recollected Salzsieder.

Timothy D. Stewart, NHB command evaluator and Medical Inspector General hotline coordinator provided perspective on a member of his extended Navy Medicine family.

“I have known Steve Jackson since 2003 and came to realize that every holiday Steve had duty. He’s single and he gave back when he was active duty like no other,” shared Stewart, a retired senior chief hospital corpsman. “When I asked Steve why, he said, “what am I going to do, stay home with the cat?” As far as I can remember, Steve stood duty every Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Since he has been civil service and no duty for him to stand, he has come to my house. With some arm twisting. But we have accepted him as family.”

America Morgan stood the watch at home when her spouse, recently promoted Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Eric Morgan, would be on occasion haze gray underway over the holidays. Family and friends would extend invites to her and their children. They also did their best – and then some – to stay in touch with their deployer.

“We would always make care packages to send. It was fun for us. It was a way to stay connected,” America said.

Retired Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Terry Lerma found himself on duty Christmas Eve 1984 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.

“I was the duty x-ray tech and worked in the Urgent Care Clinic when not performing x-ray exams. The entire base had shut down except for the commissary and galley for holiday stand down. That day, we had 60 patients come into the UCC. However, only six were admitted and treated. The other 54 were families that came to the clinic to bring cakes, pies, cookies, and more. By 8 p.m., two full exam gurneys were piled high with all the delicacies,” said Lerma.

At 10 p.m. when the night crew came on, Lerma and others adjourned into the x-ray duty room to enjoy the dropped-off desserts and exchange stories about Christmas.

“While it could have been a sad moment, one corpsman then declared, “The perfect Christmas normally is about being home with your family. But someone has to stand the watch today so others can be with their families. If we can’t be with our families, let’s surround ourselves with each other and be our family today. Merry Christmas everyone!” Her Christmas Eve comment has stuck in my memory to this day,” said retired Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Terry Lerma.

The annual tree lighting ceremony at NHB over the years has symbolically sent a beacon of light to those staff members deployed over the holidays that they are not forgotten.

The same holds true this season for those doctors, nurses, hospital corpsmen and support staff forward deployed far from home. They are recognized and remembered.

“Just sharing is remembering,” echoed Lumoljo.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune welcomed the first baby of 2025 for Onslow County, North Carolina. Stella Ray Esther Basham was born at 1:20 a.m. on January 1, 2025.

Baby Stella weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured at 18.7 inches in length. She is the daughter of Hospital Corpsman Second Class Elisabeth Basham, a native of Olathe, Kansas, and Hospital Corpsman Third Class Timothy Basham, a native of California, Maryland. Stella’s parents are both U.S. Navy Sailors at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune (NMCCL). Stella is the second child for the couple whose first daughter who was also born at NMCCL.

The couple said Stella’s name drew inspiration from the stars with her middle name – Esther –also meaning “star.” Stella’s father said her original due date was later in January, but her early arrival is a “Hannukah surprise.”

The family thanks the teams with Labor and Delivery and the Mother Baby Unit for caring for both Stella and her mother. NMCCL congratulates the Basham Family on Stella’s birth and wishes them a safe and happy 2025!

NMCCL has provided more than 80 years of dedicated, passionate care for warfighters and beneficiaries at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Ashlyn Sanders finds her work aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point meaningful because of the impact she and her team have on base and local communities.

Sanders, the clinic’s Sailor of the Year for 2024, serves as the Leading Petty Officer of the Preventative Medicine Department.

Sailor of the Year honors recognize mid-career Sailors who exhibit a high level of proficiency in their skills and leadership while continuing to prepare themselves for leadership at higher levels of their rank and grade.

“Sailor of the Year was not just about my accomplishments, but also the accomplishments of my team,” said Sanders, a native of Anchorage, Alaska. “Without them, I would not have been able to accomplish half of what I did and they encourage me every day to be better.”

Sanders leads a team of Sailors responsible for monitoring the health safety of service members and civilians who live and work aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Her team’s duties aboard the base range from measuring the mosquito population aboard base to conducting food safety inspections at vendor establishments.

“What I enjoy most about working here [at the clinic] are the people I work with. There are so many motivated junior and senior Sailors who I learn from and, in turn, hopefully they are learning something from me,” said Sanders.

Sanders prepared for the Sailor of the Year Board by helping junior Sailors prepare for theirs. She held mock boards, querying them on a variety of topics including naval history, current events, policies and regulations. In conducting those mentoring sessions, Sanders reinforced her own knowledge.

“Surround yourself with likeminded Sailors who have achieved or want to achieve the same things as you,” she advises those junior to her. “Do the right things for the right reasons, always. The accolades and recognition will come when we do the things that are meaningful and right.”

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Sailors and Civilians serving aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point bid a fond Fair Winds and Following Seas to a staff member whose combined service to the U.S. Navy totals over three decades.

The retirement of Mr. Joseph Farland was celebrated Friday, December 13 aboard the clinic with facility staff and representatives from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s Fire, EMS and Police Departments.

“Enjoy what you do and be kind to others,” said the Falmouth, Massachusetts native about the career advice he gives to others.

Farland served 26 years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, four of them aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point before retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. He then served as the clinic’s Emergency Manager, Anti-Terrorism Officer and Force Protection Officer for ten years afterwards.

At the clinic, he trained staff to be prepared for a variety of emergency situations and equipped them with tools to deal with the uncertainty the future may hold for them in their personal and professional lives.

“It was fun. I enjoyed my daily interactions with my co-workers,” he said about serving in the U.S. Navy for so long. “I am one,” was his reply to why he continued working with Sailors.

In retirement, Farland plans to travel with his wife of over four decades and be actively involved in his eight grandchildren’s lives.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

After 41 years of federal service, Beverly Hendricks, a systems accountant with Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, is retiring on Dec. 27, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, resilience, and mentorship.

Hendricks began her federal service career through a summer work program in high school, encouraged by her mother. What started as a temporary opportunity turned into a lifelong calling. “My mom always said government jobs provided security,” Hendricks said. “She was so proud when my brother and I got those jobs, and it gave me a sense of stability early on.”

Her first job was at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where she prepared lesson plans and set up classrooms for training programs. Hendricks credits early mentors Alfreada McCray, the lead secretary in her office, and Clarence Gary, whom she fondly called her ’office dad,’ for helping her grow. “Ms. McCray taught me how to use computers and navigate the changes in technology, and Mr. Gary was a protector who gave me wisdom and confidence,” Hendricks said.

One of her proudest moments came in 1988 when she secured a permanent federal position. “That was such a big deal,” she stated. “It meant benefits, earning leave, and, most importantly, providing health insurance for my seven-month-old son. My mother was so proud of me that day.”

Over the years, Hendricks weathered several Reduction in Force waves, but credits friends and former supervisors for helping her stay in federal service. “You never know who’s watching you,” she said. “I’ve learned that people see your drive and willingness to get the job done. Those who watched me helped secure my career during tough times, and I’ll always be grateful.”

Hendricks’ career highlights include her role in transitioning the financial systems at Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, which earned her team the Undersecretary of the Navy Financial Management Award for fiscal year 2022. “That was a challenging but rewarding project,” she said. “It’s incredible to see what you can accomplish with the right team.”
Known for her humor and helpfulness, Hendricks hopes her colleagues remember her as someone who always cared. “I tried to share knowledge, make people smile, and support anyone who needed help,” she said. “Mistakes happen, but it’s about learning and moving forward without being a strain on your coworkers.”

As she prepares for retirement, Hendricks is looking forward to a new chapter filled with personal pursuits. She plans to take karate classes to stay strong, explore new certifications, and spend more time with her family. “It’s time for me,” she explained. “I want to walk when I want, read as long as I want, and continue learning so I can pass on knowledge to others.”

Reflecting on her 41 years of service, Hendricks offered advice to the next generation of federal employees. “Give your best, share what you know, and never shy away from tasks outside your job description,” she said. “The years fly by, so make them count.”

Hendricks said her federal service fulfilled her mother’s dream of security for her family and gave her children a solid foundation. “This career has been a blessing,” she finished with a smile. “It’s provided for my family, taught my children the value of hard work, and surrounded me with incredible people I’ll never forget.”

As she embarks on her next journey, Hendricks will leave a legacy of dedication, as well as a reputation for kindness that will be deeply missed by her colleagues.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

AT SEA – With a persistent smile on his face and eyes that gleam like freshly brewed coffee, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Kwasi Kusi brings 18 years of experience, wisdom and resilience to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). His presence, adorned with combat ribbons and a wealth of knowledge, stands out among his shipmates. Many are surprised to learn that Kusi has been in the Navy longer than some of them have been adults.

But Kusi’s journey to Carl Vinson is far more remarkable than his tenure. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, Kusi was one of the lucky 50,000 recipients of the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. With over 10 million annual applicants, the odds of winning are slim, averaging between 1.25% and 1.75%. Yet, this small chance set the foundation for Kusi’s American dream.

After winning the Green Card Lottery as a teenager, Kusi moved to Hawthorne, California, with hopes of becoming a doctor, inspired by his paternal family’s tradition of pursuing careers in medical care. But he quickly realized the road ahead would not be easy.

“Imagine finishing high school and finding out, ‘Hey, you won the DV lottery,’” said Kusi. “The next thing you know, you’re packing up your life and heading to a new country to start over.”

Supported by uncles in the pharmaceutical field, Kusi studied while working long hours to make ends meet. Seeing the toll it was taking on him, his friends suggested he consider the military as a path to education, healthcare and stability.

“So that’s what started it,” said Kusi. “The military could provide free education, housing and a pathway to citizenship. It seemed like the perfect solution.”

Yet for Kusi, joining the Navy was about more than just financial security.

“There was a part of me that wanted to give back to the country that gave me this opportunity,” said Kusi. “I wanted to feel like I’d earned my place as an American citizen.”

This sense of service and gratitude became the driving force behind Kusi’s decision to enlist.

“When I say I’m an American citizen, I can proudly say I’ve served my country,” said Kusi. “No one can dispute that.”

Kusi’s Navy career has been a story of growth and achievement. After eight years of service, he began pursuing higher education. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in 2015 and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Studies in 2017 from Thomas Edison State University, before earning a Master of Health Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2020. Along the way, he also received certifications in biomedical equipment maintenance and network security.

“The military paid for everything,” said Kusi. “Every single thing.”

But of all his accomplishments, Kusi considers his family his greatest achievement. He and his wife built their life near Virginia, where he was stationed for much of his career, raising a daughter, 16, and a son, 14.

“To me, my children are my biggest success,” said Kusi. “They’re kind, talented and full of potential.”

As Kusi transitions to life aboard Carl Vinson in San Diego, his children are eager to embrace city life, while his wife plans to set up their home during his deployment. His children, already pursuing artistic passions, reflect the family’s drive for success.

Even Kusi’s extended family has been inspired by his journey.

“My nephews and nieces dress up like soldiers,” said Kusi. “They want to be just like me.”

For Kusi, the Navy has been a means to achieve his dreams, but he is quick to remind others that success starts with the individual.

“The military is hard — it’s not easy,” said Kusi. “But if you’re respectful, look out for others and take care of yourself, you can thrive. It all starts with you.”

As Kusi continues his service, his story is a testament to resilience, gratitude and the pursuit of the American dream.