Sept. 20, 2023

Flight nurse devoted to helping others overcomes adversity

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Within the walls of the Gateway Club at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, decades-worth of timeless military memorabilia are displayed as a witness to the courage and dedication of countless service members. It is a place where people come together to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of our service members. On August 30, 2023, family, friends, and colleagues gathered to commemorate the retirement of Lt. Col. (ret.) Dana Duerr. Prior to becoming a patient with the Airman Medical Transition Unit (AMTU), she served as the Senior Program Manager of the Nurse Corps Education and Training Program at the Air Force Medical Readiness Agency. Duerr, accompanied by a Wounded Warriors volunteer, sat in her wheelchair, donned in her service dress uniform, and connected to a breathing device during the ceremony. In the front row sat her family, among them was her 24-year-old daughter, Mikaela, elegantly dressed in a white blouse adorned with blue flowers, green dress pants, and golden butterfly earrings that complimented her golden hair. For both Duerr and Mikaela, this ceremony was bittersweet; marking the culmination of 29 years of service filled with long days, late nights, and numerous sacrifices. However, amidst all the changes and challenges, one constant remained — their support for each other. As Duerr expressed her gratitude to her daughter, Mikaela smiled gently, tears slowly traced down her cheek.

Sept. 20, 2023

Army Strong: A Prostate Cancer Survivor’s Remarkable Road to Recovery

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — When former U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Jacob L. Ashton retired after an honorable 20-year career, surviving tours in Iraq, Bosnia, and Somalia, he thought that he had overcome his most life-threatening challenge – unaware that his life would be altered by the unexpected detection of prostate cancer.

Sept. 20, 2023

TRICARE Q&A: Getting Care With Active Duty Dental Program

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Most active duty service members (ADSMs) get dental care at military dental clinics, also known as military dental treatment facilities (DTFs). However, some care can’t be completed at a DTF. In these cases, you get care from civilian dentists through the Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP).

Sept. 19, 2023

“CSION” develops leaders in military medical research

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The ability of military clinicians to conduct medical research is often limited by competing demands

Sept. 18, 2023

Recognize signs of mental health struggles and “Create a ripple effect of Change”

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – With the theme ‘You Are a Light in somebody’s life’ for Suicide Prevention Month, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center professionals committed to being that light to helping those in need and offering different ways to protect themselves and others not only this month but throughout the year during a proclamation ceremony Sept. 15 (in the hospital atrium) here.

Sept. 15, 2023

One-year anniversary of Urology ‘first’ at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — One year ago on an early September morning, a team performed the first endoscopic stone removal

Sept. 14, 2023

Soldier Helps Save Life of Suicide-Attempt Victim

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — August 8 began like most days for Army Staff Sgt. Ta’ Quesha S. Abson as she headed to work to fulfill her military duties. But as fate would have it, the day was far from usual for her. It would be the day that her actions helped save a life.

Sept. 14, 2023

Q&A: TRICARE For Life and Your Family

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Learn how your family’s TRICARE coverage works when one family member becomes eligible for Medicare and TRICARE For Life.

Sept. 14, 2023

Open house highlights behavioral, mental health resources at Fort Johnson

FORT JOHNSON, La. — One life lost to suicide is too many. To illustrate this critical point, Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital hosted a community-wide Suicide Prevention Month open house from 8 – 10 a.m. on Sept. 13 at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Johnson, Louisiana.

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.