Source: United States Navy (Medical)

For anyone seeking Cmdr. Teri Ryals, Naval Hospital Bremerton OB/GYN clinic department head and certified nurse midwife on a Friday morning, there’s only one place to look.

Ryals oversees NHB’s OB/GYN clinic in providing Walk-In Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic every Friday, from 8 a.m. until noon, for those 21 and older.

With January designated as Cervical Health Awareness Month, Ryals readily advocates the importance for women to routinely schedule their cervical cancer screening, also known as a pap smear or pap test.

“Cervical cancer can be preventable through routine screening. If detected early, it is very manageable,” said Ryals, explaining that cervical cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells which cervical cancer screening, also referred to as a pap smear/pap test, is crucial in the identification process of cancer of the cervix.

“There are also certain types of the human papillomavirus infections that have been linked to cancer,” continued Ryals. “Although there are over 100 types of HPV, there are two types, 16 and 18 which have been linked to about 70 percent of cancers and precancerous cervical lesions.”

According to compiled statistics, there are approximately 11,500 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. as cervical cancer each year, resulting in nearly 4,000 deaths.

Ryals attests that all those new cases and especially the fatalities can be averted with vaccination and appropriate screening. Which makes the start of the new year as an ideal opportunity for women to be more attentive to their health.

“Screening is dependent on age, results and risk factors,” said Ryals, citing American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology guidelines which advocates screening can begin at age 21.

“Screening is [recommended] every three years for ages 21 to 29. For ages 30 to 65, screening is every five years. Patients who have abnormal screening results will require more frequent surveillance and possible treatment,” Ryals said.

Only women can get cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirms that all women are at risk for getting the disease, which occurs most often in women over age 30.

Cervical cancer is also the fourth most common type of cancer in women worldwide, following the top three of breast, colorectal and lung cancers.

Yet because it takes time to develop, it is also highly preventable.

‘Obtaining a routine pap smear is the best way to combat one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer. Please make sure you participate in routine screening and consult with your primary care provider or gynecology provider for follow up treatment as indicated,” said Ryals.

In addition to regular cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination is an important way to help protect against the HPV infections that most commonly cause cancer. HPV vaccination is recommended for persons from age nine to 45. The HPV vaccination is still beneficial even if someone has already been exposed to HPV or had an abnormal pap smear in the past.

The walk-in service is for any eligible patient – active duty, retiree, dependent – with patients seen on a first-come, first-served basis. For those who prefer a scheduled appointment, it is advised to request a referral from their physician/primary care manager or simply speaking to an OB/GYN clinic nurse to help coordinate a suitable date and time.

The entire screening visit takes approximately 30 minutes. Patients are recommended to wear comfortable attire. A gown can be provided by the clinic, if needed. It is also advocated to avoid douching, intercourse, vaginal medications, creams and jellies for two days prior to the screening procedure. For those in their menstrual cycle, it is best to postpone the procedure to prevent inadequate – or uncertain – results.

For active duty personnel, along with activated reservists, it is advisable to ensure their pap test screening is up to date before deploying. This includes factoring in the time needed for walk-in availability or scheduling an appointment followed by obtaining the results.

NHB’S OB/GYN clinic also offers other screenings available, including those for sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. Patients should consult with their provider to coordinate, as well as discuss if the HPV vaccine – a three shot series – is needed.

Along with the Walk-In Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic on Friday, although closed for federal holidays and on days of limited activity, there are two more readily offered clinics.

The nurse-run, self-collected vaginal discharge clinic for eligible patients 18 to 65 is held Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Walk-In Contraceptive Clinic for eligible patients 13 and older is available on Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Services offered include contraception counseling on the range of birth control options available; Prescription – for pills, patch, ring – which can be placed at the time requested for Pharmacy pickup (or retail pharmacy if so chosen); Same-day insertion of IUDs and Nexplanon (if pregnancy is ruled out); Emergency Contraception pill options; Depo-Provera Injections can be provided without requiring a pharmacy visit; Vasectomy preoperative referrals; and Prophylactics.

Services for the walk-in clinics is on a first-come, first-served basis and available to all eligible beneficiaries – active duty, retirees, family member – requesting the services. Wait times and appointment availability may vary due to clinic volume. For more information on NHB’s OB/GYN support and services, please call 360-475-4995.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

On January 10, the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, in support of Pacific Partnership 24-1.

The arrival of USNS Mercy to Chuuk marks the final stop of Pacific Partnership 24-1, the largest multinational humanitarian and disaster relief mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

Mercy’s arrival to Chuuk marks the seventh time Pacific Partnership has worked side-by-side with the Federated States of Micronesia, with an earlier stop in Pohnpei in December 2023.

At the invitation of host nations, Pacific Partnership’s mission partners conduct tailored humanitarian civil action preparedness activities in areas such as engineering, disaster response, public health, and host nation outreach events.

The U.S. Pacific Partnership Band, comprised of musicians from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band and the Royal Australian Navy, will perform in a variety of community engagements.

“The Pacific Partnership’s visit to Pohnpei last month reached FSM citizens through health and community service outreach—from eye and dental care to subject matter expert training to medical procedures,” said U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Johnson, ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. “Seeing people of all ages enjoy the talented musicians of the Pacific Fleet Band was a great highlight of the visit. We look forward to this second phase of the mission in Chuuk, where the Mercy can provide an even greater range of medical assistance.”

In addition to activities aboard the hospital ship, Pacific Partnership medical providers will work shoulder-to-shoulder with providers at Chuuk State Hospital, ensuring that information exchanges result in more sustainable medical practices once USNS Mercy leaves Chuuk.

This year’s mission will also feature nearly 1,300 personnel from allies and partner nations including Australia, Chile, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and New Zealand.

Born out of the devastation brought by the December 2004 tsunami that swept through parts of South and Southeast Asia, Pacific Partnership began as a military-led humanitarian response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters. Building on the success and goodwill of this operation, the United States helped spearhead the inaugural Pacific Partnership mission in 2006.

Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

For more information about Pacific Partnership visit www.facebook.com/pacificpartnership, www.instagram.com/pacific_partnership/ or https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/PacificPartnership. Pacific Partnership public affairs can be reached via email at cherylcollins.pp24@gmail.com.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

The basketball court at Naval Medical Center San Diego’s (NMCSD) gym was converted to a test center as more than 130 first class petty officers were administered the FY 2024 Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Advancement Exam, 18 Jan.

Off to the side as you entered the court is a table packed with cell phones while their rightful owners are taking the exam. You could hear the phones’ murmurs placed to their lowest setting permitted for some, while others depleted their battery as they vibrated.

Perhaps it was fellow Shipmates, spouses, parents, and others trying to get an update from their examinees.

One of those phones belongs to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Genaro Falaminiano, NMCDS Directorate for Clinical Support Services leading petty officer and a native of Olongapo, Philippines. Falaminiano is also NMCSD’s 2023 Sailor of the Year.

It is a long way for Falaminiano who vividly remembers what once was Naval Base Subic Bay and the impression that the Navy’s presence made upon him.

“I had a unique opportunity to visit [Naval Base ] Subic Bay as a young boy and I knew I wanted nothing more than to someday join the U.S. Navy,” said Falaminiano. “However, when Subic Bay closed, largely due in part to the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, my dream of joining the Navy seemed to dissipate little by little.”

The Falaminiano’s eventually immigrated to the San Diego, Calif., where they faced new challenges.

“You’re talking to someone who was an Uber-like driver in the Philippines when I was college, except my vehicle was a motorized tricycle — similar to a Tuk Tuk,” explains Falaminiano. “As my parents, brother, and I arrived in the U.S. in 2008, we arrived during the recession of that era. The economy was not in our favor.”

Notwithstanding, Falaminiano knows a thing or two about adversity.

December 2023 marks 14 years of active duty service in the Navy for Falaminiano — with five of those years finding himself eligible to take the CPO Advancement Exam — and, being board eligible at every try. However, the Navy has not been ready for Falaminiano.

“The contrast of the life I was living prior to joining the Navy to now being a first class petty officer is worlds apart for me,” describes Falaminiano. “There is nothing more that I want than to become a Chief Petty Officer; however, if it’s not time for me again, that’s fine. Life has prepared me for whatever may be in my future, and it’s a future that I will eagerly embrace whether I’m selected [for CPO] or not.”

Falaminiano’s optimism in no wonder, considering his exposure to vast range of life experiences and his propensity to persevere.

“For us getting to serve our nation is already the prize that we should all be grateful for. I will never lose sight of what the United States and its Navy has done for me and my family,” expresses Falaminiano. “It would be an honor to get to continue serving as a Chief.”

The next time the personal effects of some of today’s examinees will commingle on a table will be when their freshly minted CPO covers are laid out in preparation of their CPO pinning by their loved ones.

NMCSD continuously seeks professional civilian talent, not just limited to health care providers and administrative support. For anyone seeking a federal job, visit USAJobs at usajobs.gov – the Federal Government’s official employment site.

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 6,000 active-duty military personnel, civilians and contractors in southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

As Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day, one Corpsman has long been honoring Dr. King and abiding by his vision of strengthening the values of the communities we serve for the betterment of all people.

“With a family legacy of military service dating to the time of my grandparents, it was instilled in me from an early age the importance of service to our community,” said Hospital Corpsman First Class Jameka Jackson, NMCSD Critical Care Nursing leading petty officer and NMCSD Diversity Committee chairman. “Carrying this legacy as a military member has been a natural progression for me, and one that is fundamentally an honor to fulfill as it bestows upon you with nothing but personal and professional satisfaction.”

Jackson, a Bossier City, La. native, recalls her earliest community involvement with Barksdale Air Force Base as part of her high school’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) program.

“As I grew up I always wanted to serve in the military and my high school — Parkway High School [Bossier City] — offered an opportunity I couldn’t resist through their AFROTC program. My involvement in ROTC reinforced my calling to service for our communities, military, and nation,” expressed Jackson.

Communities and our Nation aside, the military has presented an entirely unique dynamic where Jackson’s ability to remain committed to the spirit of service has been perpetually challenged.

“It’s a matter of perspective and for me being Black I have always perceived it as a strength that I offer the Navy,” explains Jackson. “In the military you quickly learn that the vast majority of your fellow service members have had their fair share of challenges, which transcends all races and ethnicities. But collectively we are here for a reason — and that reason is to bring out the very best which makes us who we are and to impart our values, grit, and dedication in service to our Navy.”

This year’s MLK Day theme is: “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!”

“Elevating awareness — and acceptance — of this important day for all of us is priceless, but your call-to-action is one that I genuinely hope ushers in an appreciation for the conviction that all people are created equal, regardless of color, gender, or creed,” says Jackson. “Sometimes taking a moment to acknowledge to yourself that you are not alone, that your struggles are no less trivial than what many of us face, is empowering to get you through another day.”

For Jackson, her sights are set on a future that entails greater responsibilities and advancement in her career.

“There’s nothing I desire more than to commission as an MSC (Medical Service Corps) healthcare administrator. To have such opportunity available to me is one that I owe to leaders such as Dr. King, who worked so hard to cultivate and foster a culture of inclusivity that our military has so admirably adopted,” says Jackson. “When that day comes, I look forward to even greater service that I want to offer in such capacity, not only as a Black woman, Black officer within the MSC Corps, but as an American who cherishes our nation and its way of life.”

The observance of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. was established by Public Law 98-144. This national day of service is celebrated on the third Monday in January.

NMCSD continuously seeks professional civilian talent, not just limited to health care providers and administrative support. For anyone seeking a federal job, visit USAJobs at usajobs.gov – the Federal Government’s official employment site.

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 6,000 active-duty military personnel, civilians and contractors in southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) welcomed representatives from J&J Worldwide Services, a facilities services government contractor, for an OR (operating room) construction project groundbreaking ceremony, Jan. 18.

J&J coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama office under the direction of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) on a Repair/Renewal Surgical & Pediatric Intensive Care Modernization or OR construction project at a cost of $210 million, according to Michael Waro, NMCP Base Operations Medical Installations (BOMI) department head and Director of Engineering.

“The project was awarded as a design build,” said Waro. “They took the final plans that we developed years ago and modified them, met with the staff here, and put a lot of energy in with their design team to create something that will be very useful for medical center down the road.”

Before anyone used a sledgehammer on one of the walls to be removed in the renovation area, Travis Hawver, J&J senior project manager, spoke to the group.

“Welcome to the wall-breaking ceremony to signify the beginning of active construction of this project that has been in the works for years, and we appreciate you coming to be a part of this,” said Hawver to the various NMCP department representatives who will directly benefit from the new construction.

Hawver added that the project will renovate approximately 110 thousand square feet, creating an entirely new surgical department including 19 operating rooms, with administration, preoperative, and postoperative spaces being built out first. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2029.

Additionally, the work package repairs and renovates the Anesthesiology Department, Perioperative Surgical Services, and provides a new Central Procedures Unit (CPU), while also relocating and modernizing the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), collocating it with the adult ICUs.

First up with a sledgehammer to officially start the renovation was Capt. Brian L. Feldman, NMCP director/Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Portsmouth (NMRTC) commander, and he was followed by the various NMCP staff members in attendance.

Ultimately, this project represents DHA’s commitment to a modernized, integrated, and resilient health delivery system that provides exceptional care to the nation’s most deserving beneficiaries. The renovations are replacing building systems that were commissioned in 1999 and have exceeded their useful economic lifecycle, modernizing layouts to accommodate the latest advancements in surgical equipment, and introducing technology that enhances the care environment and enables more efficient systems.

NMCP is a nationally acclaimed, state-of-the-art military treatment facility, and its Branch and TRICARE Prime Health Clinics in the Tidewater area provide medical care for warfighters, veterans, and their families. Additionally, the medical center is a premier readiness and training platform that provides superior medical training for military medical service members at the United States’ oldest, continuously operating military hospital. NMCP supports pioneering research and teaching programs to prepare new doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and hospital corpsmen for combat operations and public health crises.