DVIDS – News – Military Health System Recognizes Military and Civilian Healthcare Providers as Outstanding Healthcare Providers

The annual Military Health System Excellence Awards recognized leaders across MHS during a ceremony at the 2024 Annual Meeting of AMSUS, a federal health professional society, held Feb. 15 in National Harbor, Maryland.

Dr. Lester Martinez Lopez, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, told the award recipients that they represent a bright future for MHS.

“No challenge is too small when we work together with the energy and dedication that you all represent,” Martinez said. “Nothing can stand in front of us.”

At the ceremony, U.S. Army Major General Anthony McQueen and other military health leaders joined Martinez to present the award. Vice Surgeon General of the Army, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Command. Rear Admiral Dennis Hinton, USPHS Deputy Surgeon General. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Miller, Air Force Surgeon General. John Cho, Executive Director and CEO of AMSUS.

Individual professional awards were presented in four categories. The awards highlighted outstanding achievements in a variety of themes, including leadership, innovation, and other elements of military medicine.

2023 Award for Advancement of Women Physicians in Military Medicine

The award recognized female physicians for their contributions to military medicine and for mentoring and inspiring young women working in medicine and science.

junior winner
• U.S. Air Force Maj. Anne Marie Kennedy, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
• U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeanne A. Crick, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas Brooke Army Medical Center
• Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. Ayeetin M. Azah, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
• U.S. Civil Service Lieutenant Colonel.Miriam C. DiNatale, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland

senior winner
• U.S. Air Force Col. Wendy E. Waltman, 59th Medical Wing, Texas
• U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kristinia B. Lemayor, 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Fort Liberty, North Carolina
• U.S. Navy Capt. Julian M. Althoff, Naval Medical Readiness Training Command, Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor, Wash.
• U.S. Public Health Service Officer Capt. Tanzinia Singh, Alexandra T. Augusta Medical Center, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

2023 Military Nursing Leadership Excellence Award

Military and civilian registered nurses were recognized for excellence at the tactical and operational levels. They demonstrate exemplary leadership and skill, demonstrating exceptional compassion and dedication to patients, colleagues, and the nursing profession, while demonstrating notable clinical or administrative accomplishments that enhance the image and practice of nursing at MHS. brought about.

junior winner
• U.S. Air Force Capt. Nicholas S. Palzer, 88 Medical Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
• U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Christopher R. Jones, 2nd Medical Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Intermediate winner
• U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joanna M. Cooley, 20th Medical Group, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
• Rebecca A. Dindinger, U.S. Army Maj., Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
• U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander.Sarah M. Chilson, Naval Medical Readiness Training Command Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida

senior winner
• U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Desiree D. Pointer, 49th Medical Group, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
• U.S. Army Lt. Col. Christopher H. Stuckey, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany;
• U.S. Navy Capt. Acrucia A. Baldassano, Guam Naval Medical Readiness Training Command, Tutuhan, Guam
• Commander, U.S. Public Health Service. Rosson C. Smith, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC

2023 Civilian Nursing Leadership Excellence Award

senior winner
• U.S. Air Force: Rachel A. Perkins Garner, 56th Medical Group, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
• U.S. Army: Joan M. Rattle King, U.S. Army Medical Command, Joint Base San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
• U.S. Navy: Gene A. Sarver, Naval Medical Readiness Training Command, Rota, Spain.

2023 Allied Health Leadership Excellence Award

This award recognizes military allied medical professionals who serve in the field at the tactical and operational levels. They demonstrated exemplary leadership along with excellent clinical or non-clinical skills.

junior non-provider
• U.S. Air Force Col. Cedric S. Walters, Joint Base San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
• U.S. Navy Lieutenant Julia D. VanDrak, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia.

senior non-provider
• Jessica S. Pabon, U.S. Air Force Maj., 10th Medical Support Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado.

senior provider
• U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander. Kyleigh B. Hupfl, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA

2023 Department of Defense Medical Reliability Advancement Award

Teams from various services were recognized in four categories.

Continuous process improvement
• U.S. Army Surgical Institute, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
• Medical Group 673, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
• Oak Harbor Naval Health Clinic, Oak Harbor, Washington;

culture of safety
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
• San Antonio Stand Alone Market, San Antonio, Texas
• Rota Naval Hospital, Rota, Spain

leadership commitment
• Guantanamo Bay Naval Hospital (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba)
• Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

patient centered
• Medical Group 673, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
• 377 Medical Group Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
• 45 Medical Group Patrick Air Force Base, Florida
• Rota Naval Hospital, Rota, Spain

Mr. Martinez concluded the ceremony by thanking the recipients for their achievements.

“Thank you for your dedication to our business and to our service members, families, and retirees. We are inspired to continue moving forward with great people like you.”