(From left) Valerie Roldan, Regina Barlow, Constance Smith, and Col. (Dr.) John Allis pose for a group photo outside David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base, California, Dec. 2, 2025. Roldan and Barlow are registered nurses and surgical clinical reviewers. Smith serves as the Lead Surgical Clinical Nurse Reviewer for the Air Force and represents the Air Force on the DoD DHA NSQIP Steering Panel. Allis is an orthopedic surgeon assigned to the 60th Medical Group.

Dec. 4, 2025

David Grant USAF Medical Center enhances surgical quality through NSQIP participation

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — David Grant USAF Medical Center (DGMC) has utilized the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) for over a decade to strengthen surgical readiness and patient safety. The program provides hospitals with risk-adjusted data, enabling teams to understand patient outcomes before, during, and after surgery.

DHA logo. Text reads: "We are proud to be a grade A facility. Fall 2025: Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade: A."

Dec. 3, 2025

18 military hospitals receive Leapfrog's highest Hospital Safety Grade

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — The Defense Health Agency announced 18 military hospitals received an "A" rating in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assessment for fall 2025. These high grades reflect DHA’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement in providing high-quality care to its patients. 

Robert Torres III, a Certified Surgical Technologist in Keller Army Community Hospital’s Department of Surgery, was selected as a 2025 Fellow of the Association of Surgical Technologists.

Dec. 3, 2025

KACH surgical technologist receives FAST designation

KELLER ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, N.Y. — CONGRATULATIONS to Robert Torres III, a Certified Surgical Technologist in Keller Army Community Hospital’s (KACH) Department of Surgery, who was selected as a 2025 Fellow of the Association of Surgical Technologists – a designation recognizing surgical technologists who demonstrate unwavering commitment to the profession, upholding the highest professional, ethical, and moral standards while actively advancing the field to improve surgical patient care.

A clinical trial participant demonstrates different functions of a “neural-enabled” prosthetic arm at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Oct. 22. Walter Reed is taking part in a clinical trial for a next-generation device designed to restore the sensation of touch through advanced nerve stimulation technology. (DOW photo by Ann Brandstadter)

Dec. 3, 2025

Walter Reed Clinical Trial Participant Restores Sense of Touch from Neural-Enabled Prosthetic Hand

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — A Soldier at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is taking part in a clinical trial to test a “neural-enabled” prosthetic arm, a next-generation device designed to restore the sensation of touch through advanced nerve stimulation technology

Uniformed service member stands over simulated patient on table.

Dec. 3, 2025

DHN Central MTFs recognized for commitment to patient safety

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Defense Health Agency announced Nov. 13 that three military treatment facilities from Defense Health Network Central earned Leapfrog's Top Hospital recognition for fall 2025. Bassett Army Community Hospital earned honors for a second year in a row, along with new honors for Osan Air Base's 51st Medical Group and Yokota Air Base's 374th Medical Group.

TRICARE Open Season 2025 Ends Soon! Nov. 10-Dec. 9; Calendar on a phone screen

Dec. 2, 2025

TRICARE Open Season ends Dec. 9: Last chance to change your health plan for 2026

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — TRICARE Open Season ends Tuesday, Dec. 9. Now is the time to review your TRICARE coverage for 2026.

Mammography along with monthly self-breast exams and annual breast exams by a health-care provider can help detect breast cancer at an early stage improving survivorship.

Dec. 2, 2025

Summit at Walter Reed highlights latest in breast cancer research, treatment

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — Bringing together leaders in military medicine, research, and patient care, the John P. Murtha Cancer Center (MCC) at Walter Reed recently hosted its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Summit at the Uniformed Services University (USU). The event focused on new discoveries and compassionate care shaping the future of breast cancer research and treatment across the Military Health System (MHS).

Uniformed service member pins Air Medal on another uniformed service member.

Dec. 1, 2025

First Air Medal awarded by 20 AF goes to Malmstrom Airman for medical heroism

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. — U.S. Air Force Maj. Collin Urbanowicz, 341st Medical Group aeromedical physician assistant, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, receives the 20th Air Force’s first-ever Air Medal, Nov. 20, 2025. The Air Medal recognizes meritorious achievement or heroism during aerial flight, acknowledging performance beyond standard expectations.

This Walter's Way branded graphic was created for social media on December 1, 2025, to help communicate a new way of accessing care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center focused on maintaining a medically ready force and a ready medical force. (DOD graphic by Catherine Myrick)

Dec. 1, 2025

Walter’s Way: Proactive Booking to Improve Specialty Care

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is making it easier for patients to schedule specialty care appointments with a new system called proactive booking. This new method is a more efficient and simplified process designed to get patients seen faster.

This Walter's Way branded graphic was created for social media on November 17, 2025, to help communicate a new way of accessing care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center focused on maintaining a medically ready force and a ready medical force. (DOD graphic by Catherine Myrick)

Nov. 25, 2025

Walter’s Way: It All Starts With ‘8901’

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is transforming the way patients access care with the launch of Walter’s Way, a unified system designed to simplify and enhance every step of the patient experience

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