March 15, 2024

59th MDW DEIA Committee Marks One-Year Milestone in Inclusion Efforts

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Lackland, Texas — Amidst the changing tides of social consciousness and policy directives, Col. Aquilla Highsmith-Tyler stands at the forefront of the 59th Medical Wing’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. With unwavering dedication, she leads a charge to transform the military landscape into one that values every individual's unique identity and experiences. Inspired by President Joe Biden's Executive Order 14035, Highsmith-Tyler and her team aim to cultivate a workplace where mutual respect and understanding reign supreme. Through education and awareness initiatives, they seek to dismantle barriers that hinder inclusivity and diversity within the organization, believing that embracing differences will only strengthen their mission capabilities and elevate patient care standards.

Sept. 13, 2023

Mission of compassion: surgeons restore sight and forge connections in Panama

Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega, Santiago de Veraguas, Panama — Panamax Alpha 2023, an annual ophthalmology Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE), is aimed to enhance the surgical skills and operational readiness of team members by immersing them in a range of prevalent chronic eye conditions in the region. In July 2023, 32 TriService military members traveled to the Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega where the team conducted rapid preliminary screenings for 300 patients within just three days, followed by a remarkable total of 291 surgeries over the subsequent eight days, leaving an impact through nearly 750 clinic appointments.