US Army
Major Bryan Gamble, MD, FACS
Army surgeons continue to support operational requirements globally in addition to supporting the MTFs and the invaluable military-civilian partnerships. The recently announced elimination of the automatic 3-year year/month available to move window for permanent change of station moves should go some way toward improving stability and quality of life even beyond what our consultant group already accomplishes.
Army Graduate Medical Education continues to develop its partnerships with the civilian sector as it simultaneously adapts to evolving training paradigms. This work notably includes the pending addition of an integrated plastic surgery residency position at Yale University. We look forward to continuing to support the ESS’s outreach, mentorship, and other efforts.
US Navy
Commander Diego Vicente, MD, FACS
The Navy continues to support multiple billets at military hospitals around the world in addition to our steady operational tempo. We are expanding trauma military-civilian partnerships with an additional trauma team at Cook County in Chicago, Illinois, and the proof-of-concept trauma partnership with Penn Medicine in Philadelphia was renewed and formalized this summer with a plan to send an additional surgical team in 2025.
Furthermore, surgical oncology partnerships with Johns Hopkins and Scripps have also been developed. Naval Hospital Portsmouth, one of three full-time in-service general surgery residency programs, became the first Navy medicine-led, state-designated Level II trauma center.
The Navy recognizes the increased need to train and retain surgeons with an additional general surgery training spot at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Furthermore, Navy applicants (medical students, incumbent interns without a continuous contract, general medical officers and staff who desire a second residency) can apply to one of the six Defense Health Agency (DHA) partnerships with civilian general surgery residency programs. Two of the six spots will be awarded to Navy applicants, whereas last year only one of five spots was available. The six DHA general surgery partnerships for Army, Navy, and Air Force applicants include:
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Temple University in Philadelphia
- Boston University / Boston Medical Center
- Penn State University
- The University of Chicago
- Indiana University
The USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) completed Pacific Partnership 2023 with an Excelsior member as a mission planner. New research partnerships are evolving with the Naval Health Research Center.
US Air Force
Colonel Brain J. Gavitt, MD, MPH, FACS
The Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) is undergoing a complete transformation at every level. The Air Force Medical Command (AFMED) was established on October 1, 2023, giving the Air Force Surgeon General command authority over our service’s medical forces.
The realignment of medical forces from the line of the Air Force to AFMED is an ongoing process and is occurring in parallel with the Defense Health Agency restructuring efforts. At the same time, the Air Force is restructuring the way we present forces with a renewed focus on air hub operations and aeromedical evacuation.
USAF surgeons continue to support the multiple Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Teams and small surgical team deployments around the globe while leaning into global health engagement mission to build capability, capacity, and relationships with allies and partners around the world.
Reserve/National Guard
Colonel Jamison Nielsen, DO, FACS
The Reserve Component and National Guard represent the majority of those in military service and, thus, critical readiness assets. Through a dual role in the civilian and military sectors, they have unique perspectives and needs. The ESS provides a means to share lessons learned, insight on both sides of military-civilian partnerships, and a spectrum of solutions for achieving readiness. Reserve/National Guard surgeons face different challenges such as accessing military readiness opportunities and the specialty-specific community, largely due to being geographically dispersed. The ESS is positioned to provide a voice and resource for Reserve surgeons. Specifically, the ESS provides community, networking, insight from the Reserve consultants, and a forum for engaging leadership.
Resident/Fellow
Major Elise (Hill) Fannon, MD
We have decreased membership costs for resident members to enhance accessibility and encourage more individuals to join. We also want to encourage greater participation from residents on various committees.
Additionally, we encourage you to prepare and submit your research for next year's Region 13 Resident Paper Competition. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work.
Lastly, I urge all resident and fellow members to actively connect with our vibrant military surgical community. Engaging with your peers and mentors will significantly enhance your professional development and contribute to the collective strength and innovation of our field.
