DOD Surgeon Generals visit Bagram medics

Department of Defense Surgeon Generals U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr. and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker receive a medical capabilities briefing during their visit to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2011. The surgeon general's tour allowed them the opportunity to look at ways of helping medics operating day-in and day-out in the field to achieve more inoperability and ensure they had the necessary resources to provide the best care possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss)

DOD Surgeon Generals visit Bagram medics

Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green meet members of the 455th Expeditionary Medical Group at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2011. General Green was joined by U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr. and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker during the visit which allowed them the opportunity to look at ways of helping medics operating day-in and day-out in the field to achieve more inoperability and ensure they had the necessary resources to provide the best care possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss)

DOD Surgeon Generals visit Bagram medics

Published Feb. 15, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The Department of Defense Surgeon Generals visited the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, here, Feb. 13, 2011.

During their brief visit to Afghanistan's most advanced military medical center, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr. and Air Force Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green among others received a medical capabilities briefing, a tour of the facility and took time to thank members of the staff for their support to the continuing mission in Afghanistan.

General Schoomaker and Admiral Robinson took the opportunity to look at ways of help medics operating day-in and day-out in the field achieve more inoperability and ensure they had the necessary resources to provide the best care possible.

One of the medics who received a special thank you from the Air Force Surgeon General, General Green was Master Sgt. Rachael Colon.

Sergeant Colon, a medical technician at Bagram Airfield was given two coins, one from General Green and the other from Air Force Chief of Medical Service Corps, Chief Master Sgt. Charles Cole, in recognition of her winning the 2010 Olson Wegner Outstanding Aerospace Medicine Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award.

"It is an honor to be recognized in my field," said the Air Force medical technician.

In addition, the general took time to visit Senior Airman Diane Bautista, a 455th Expeditionary Medical Group medic who happened to be a patient in the intensive care unit at the hospital due to falling ill to an intense migraine.

"I can't believe he took time out of his schedule to come visit me," said the three-year Air Force medic who was getting ready to return to her home unit at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., when she became ill.

Though the surgeon general's visit had to be cut short due to weather conditions the doctors achieved their goal of addressing how military medicine can best contribute while determining best practices, aligning joint and multinational medical services while meeting medical staffing models and manning requirements.