260306-N-FB730-1036 CAMP LEJEUNE. (March 6, 2026) The Interservice Physicians Assistants Program (IPAP) graduates swear the Naval officers oath during the IPAP graduation at Marston Pavilion on March 6, 2026. Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune serves as a Phase II site for Navy Medicine’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program. The program has graduated and commissioned more than 35 Navy officers since the program’s establishment in 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist second class Justin Woods)

March 6, 2026

Service members complete physician assistant course, commission as Navy officers

CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina — Military medicine’s newest physician assistants received their diplomas and commissioned as officers during a ceremony on March 6, 2026, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Alex Morales, an orthopedic physician assistant at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, speaks with a patient during an appointment in the Orthopedic Clinic. Providers emphasize communication and teamwork to support patient care for Soldiers, family members, and retirees.

March 6, 2026

Teamwork, communication drive strong patient feedback in CRDAMC Orthopedic Clinic

FORT HOOD, Texas — The Orthopedic Clinic at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center provides Soldiers, family members, and retirees with high-quality care focused on communication, compassion, and teamwork. Providers like Alex Morales, an orthopedic physician assistant, work closely with clinic staff to prepare for procedures, ensure patients understand their treatment, and deliver care that helps patients recover and gain mobility.

Dentist and Dental Assistant dressed in protective gear performs a procedure on a patient.

March 6, 2026

Behind the smiles: Dental assistants support Soldier readiness at Fort Polk

FORT POLK, La. — Dental assistants play a critical role in keeping Soldiers healthy, deployable and ready to support the mission. From preparing treatment areas to assisting during procedures and maintaining infection control standards, these professionals help ensure dental teams can deliver timely care that supports Soldier readiness across the installation.

Man wearing scrubs stands in front of MRI machine.

March 5, 2026

How TRICARE can help you screen for cancer

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Did you know that it’s possible to detect some types of cancer before you show any signs or symptoms? Getting preventive screening tests makes this possible. TRICARE covers cancer screenings based on your age, sex, and certain risk factors. Learn about which tests may be recommended for you.

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Jazmin Yaudes, center, performs an exam on “Rooster” during a training session at the MCAS Cherry Point Veterinarian Clinic, Feb. 26, 2026. Yaudes and her fellow Corpsmen partnered with Army veterinarians to learn Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care for Military Working Dogs.

March 5, 2026

We Keep the Four-Pawed Warfighter in the Fight: Cherry Point Sailors Train with Army Veterinary Specialists

MCAS Cherry Point — Sailors serving aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point received training from Army veterinary specialists to administer first aid to four-pawed warfighters in late February, 2026.

March 4, 2026

National Military Audiology and Speech Pathology Center’s partnership, research lead to winning hearing loss prevention award

BETHESDA, Md. — Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s National Military Audiology and Speech Pathology Center partnered with Defense Centers for Public Health – Aberdeen (DCPH-A) to advance hearing conservation and conduct hearing health research. Their successful partnership and research that linked service members’ hearing health to medical readiness earned the team the 2026 Safe-in-Sound Award for Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention.

CRDAMC PAO

March 4, 2026

Improving you during National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month. As a military community, taking simple, sustainable steps toward better health through improved nutrition directly impacts medical readiness, resilience and long-term wellness.

The next generation of medical providers gets a firsthand look at military healthcare at Irwin Army Community Hospital. Second-year Kansas State University physician assistant students (from left) Maggie Nation, John Lunn, and Matthew Ruether (sitting) started clinical rotations at Fort Riley, Kansas, Feb. 23, 2026, where they are learning how to apply "readiness-focused medicine" to support the warfighter.

March 3, 2026

How IACH is Shaping Future Providers

FORT RILEY, Kansas — IACH is expanding its clinical education mission by hosting physician assistant students from Kansas State University for the first time, exposing them to a "mission-focused" approach to medicine that prioritizes Soldier readiness.

Dental patient wearing a pink bib opens her mouth as a dentist examines. The dentist's assistant stands behind the patient.

March 3, 2026

Understanding the TRICARE Dental Program: Network vs. non-network dentists

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Do you get dental care through the TRICARE Dental Program? If so, you should know the difference between network and non-network dentists and how they affect your costs. Knowing how the TDP works can help you get care more easily while managing out-of-pocket costs.

A man uses gloves to hold a tray of dental and orthodontic devices.

March 2, 2026

Walter Reed uses 3D MAC imaging to improve precision care

BETHESDA, Md. — Inside a quiet lab at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, engineers and clinicians are reshaping how surgeons prepare for some of the hospital’s most complex procedures by working one layer at a time.

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