WarDocs - The Military Medicine Podcast

COL Kirby Gross, MD- Insights and Perspectives on the Deployed Trauma System From an Innovative and Humble Leader.

  COL (Dr.) Gross has 10 deployments totaling over 5.5 years 20-year career as a general and trauma (expeditionary) surgeon. He is a true expert in the military deployed trauma system, having been the Joint Trauma Theater Director for Afghanistan and Iraq many times and Director of the Joint Trauma System. This episode is a recreation of an interview with him during a Joint Trauma System weekly call. This episode seeks to chronicle how best to synchronize deployed surgical assets from an expert who devoted much of his life to the military trauma system.  He talks about the importance of the Joint Trauma System and how these weekly teleconferences have led to significant improvements in care and allowed for real-time feedback on the management of combat casualties.  Kirby is truly an innovative leader and mentor for many who humbly shares his insights and perspectives from his career of service.  This is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the JTS. 
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
                                  
Find out more and join Team WarDocs- www.wardocspodcast.com
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
WarDocs documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield that demonstrates dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.
 
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COL Kirby Gross, MD- 48-year-old General Surgeon calls an Army recruiter the day after the 9/11 attacks and becomes an Expert Expeditionary Trauma Surgeon

COL (Dr.) Gross joined the Army at 48 years old while in a thriving general surgery practice to do his part following the 9/11 attacks. 20 years later, he is still on active duty deploying with special forces and conventional units 10 times, totaling over 5.5 years. He received his MD at Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his General Surgery residency at Indiana University Medical Center.  He also completed a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Vanderbilt University. He currently works with the Army Medical Department Military Civilian Trauma Team Training Program at Cooper University Hospital, Camden NJ.
   In this episode, he shares how he sought to become an expert expeditionary surgeon and participated in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars for the past 20 years. He discusses his experience with all phases of the conflict, his primarily clinical military career, and how he seeks to train the next generation of expeditionary surgeons. 
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
                              
Find out more and join Team WarDocs- www.wardocspodcast.com
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield that demonstrates dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.
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Instagram: @wardocspodcast

COL (Dr.) David Doman- Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgeon Supporting Special Operations

    COL (Dr.) David Doman, M.D. is an Adult Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgeon with three combat deployments. In this episode, he discusses his Marine Corps career as an Engineer Officer before medical school and his transition to a medical career. We discuss his training in Orthopedic Surgery at BAMC during a high influx period of combat-wounded soldiers with his memorable cases.  He spent eight years working as an orthopedic surgeon at Ft. Campbell, KY, with two deployments supporting special operations units. After his hip and knee replacement fellowship, he had a third to the Baghdad Role 3 Field Hospital, providing support to those in his Role 2 shoes. We also discuss his tips for being ready for deployments, maintaining surgical skills, and his upcoming transition to private civilian medical practice.
                          
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
Find out more and join Team WarDocs- www.wardocspodcast.com
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
 
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield that demonstrates dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.
 
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Twitter: @wardocspodcast
Facebook: WarDocs Podcast
Instagram: @wardocspodcast

Military Medical Veterans and Volunteers- Making a Difference in Ukraine with the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group (GSMSG)

In this episode, we speak with the founder and President of GSMSG, Aaron Epstein, MD.  The mission of the organization is to provide expert care and education around the globe in austere locations and Dr. Epstein talks about their recent experiences in Ukraine.  GSMSG is made up of many military medical veterans and other volunteers with a variety of experiences, including special operations medics as well as trauma surgery specialists.  Dr. Epstein describes how the team assists the local providers on the ground in Ukraine and how they interact with the Ukrainian Medical Systems.  He provides a behind-the-scenes look at what kind of combat injuries are being sustained in this conflict and describes the challenges, needs, and opportunities for medical care and education in this warzone.  He discusses how for many veterans with unique healthcare skills honed on the battlefields across the globe, this opportunity allows them to continue to serve after leaving the Service. He also provides information on how to get involved in volunteering or supporting GSMSG.
                   
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
 
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield.
 
          Follow Us on social media
Twitter: @wardocspodcast
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Instagram: @wardocspodcast

Major General (Ret) Richard A. Stone, MD- Transformational Leadership Providing Population Health Improvement within the Military Health System and the Veterans Health Administration.

Dr. Stone is a Board-Certified Dermatologist with extensive experience in entrepreneurial businesses, commercial, federal, and uniformed services health care delivery. Dr. Stone retired after 24 years from the US Army at the rank of Major General and served as the Deputy Surgeon General for Support for the US Army Medical Command. He is a combat-experienced Veteran with service in Afghanistan where he commanded the combined joint medical task force from the 44th Medical Command. Following retirement from uniformed service, Dr. Stone has served within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and from 2018 until July 2021, he served as the Executive in Charge and Acting Undersecretary of Health for America’s largest health care system. He currently is a Specialist Executive at Deloitte and his work focuses on health care delivery transformation and transformational strategies for population health improvement.
  In this episode, you will describe the unique challenges and opportunities serving as a Commander of deployed medical units as well as leading a multi-national task force in Afghanistan.  He describes his experience as a clinician and strategic leader within the US Army Reserves and how he provided critical guidance within the Office of the Surgeon General and directed a Healthcare Operations Transition Team for the Defense Health Agency.  Dr. Stone provides a behind-the-scenes look at how he helped lead the VHA through the initial 18 months of the COVID pandemic which provided many challenges and lessons learned.
    Dr. Stone shares many insights and lessons learned over a distinguished career and provides some valuable advice for all listeners. You don't want to miss this episode!
To find out more about Dr. Stone at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and join our mission to preserve military medicine achievements WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
                  
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
 
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
 
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
 
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield.
 
          Follow Us on social media
Twitter: @wardocspodcast
Facebook: WarDocs Podcast
Instagram: @wardocspodcast

CSM (Ret) Althea Green, Ph.D.- Army Medicine’s Most Senior Combat Medic Now Shapes Military Medicine through the Enlisted to Medical Degree Program

     CSM (Ret) Dr. Althea Green's military background includes duties within operational as well as fixed facility health care organizations, with leadership responsibilities at every level from tactical to strategic. She was the first woman and first person of color to be competitively selected as the Army's Medical Command (MEDCOM) Soldier of the Year. She culminated her Army career as the 16th Command Sergeant Major of the MEDCOM/Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Army Surgeon General and Commander MEDCOM. As the Army's top enlisted medic, she was the chief advisor and subject matter expert for the training, development, and utilization of the enlisted medical force.
      In this episode, Dr. Green discusses her entry into the Army from a small Caribbean country to becoming a combat medic and Ear, Nose, and Throat Technician. As she ascended in the ranks of army medicine for the next 35 years, she served units deployed to Europe as the Command Sergeant Major for Walter Reed and ultimately the Command Sergeant Major for Army Medicine. She now oversees the Enlisted to Medical Degree program, where enlisted soldiers of all military occupations can work through a program that enables them to enter medical school and become physicians of any specialty. She also describes the drastic difference in the combat medic from her entry as a 91B to what we now know as the highly trained 68W combat medic.
      She shares many insights and lessons learned over a distinguished career and provides some valuable advice for all listeners. You don't want to miss this episode!
To find out more about Dr. Green at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and join our mission to preserve military medicine achievements WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
                      
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield that demonstrates dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.
          Follow Us on social media
Twitter: @wardocspodcast
Facebook: WarDocs Podcast
Instagram: @wardocspodcast

Major General (R) Elder Granger, MD- Leading a Multi-National Battlefield Health System in Iraq and Executing a $20+ Billion Worldwide Defense Health Program

   Dr. Granger is a board-certified hematologist/oncologist and served as the Program Executive Officer of the TRICARE Management Activity, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.   He also led the largest U.S. and multi-national battlefield health system in our recent history while serving as Commander, Task Force 44th Medical Command, and Command Surgeon for the Multinational Corps Iraq.  He has led at every level of the Army Medical Department and deployed multiple times. 
  He is currently the President and CEO of THE 5Ps, a health care, education, and leadership consulting organization.
   In this episode, you will hear some remarkable stories from Dr. Granger’s vast experience coordinating medical support for an entire theatre of war and how he facilitated the introduction of an electronic health record and other new medical technology on the battlefield.  He also describes behind-the-scenes decisions associated with executing a 20+ billion-dollar budget for the Defense Health Plan.  Dr. Granger then relates how his military medical experiences prepared him for successful roles in civilian healthcare and consultation.
  Dr. Granger shares many insights and lessons learned over a distinguished career and provides some valuable advice for all listeners. You don't want to miss this episode!
                                        
To find out more about Dr. Granger at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and join our mission to preserve military medicine achievements WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
 
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
 
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
 
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
 
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield that demonstrates dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.
 
          Follow Us on social media
Twitter: @wardocspodcast
Facebook: WarDocs Podcast
Instagram: @wardocspodcast

CAPT(Ret) Peter Rhee, MD, MPH- Navy Trauma Surgeon Leading Innovation in Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Training, and Unit Design

  Dr. Rhee is Board Certified in General Surgery and surgical critical care and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  He served in the Navy for 26 years in many important roles in the operational and training environments.
  In the episode, he describes what it’s like to be a physician on a nuclear aircraft carrier and perform surgeries while underway at sea.  He also relates his experiences helping design small forward surgical units that he would later deploy with to Southwest Asia.  He talks about lessons learned on the battlefield caring for casualties which led him to be involved in setting up the Navy Trauma Training Center in Los Angeles which sustains skills and prepares teams for downrange requirements. 
  Dr. Rhee recalls his experience with Mass Casualty incidents of more than 200 patients and provides a behind-the-scenes look into the challenges encountered by medical providers when needs overwhelm resources and how tough decisions have to be made.   CAPT Rhee explains how the lessons he learned during his training and during operational assignments led him to be a founding member on the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Committee 
  Following retirement, Dr. Rhee help prepare the trauma system to deal with a significant MASCAL situation in Tucson, AZ in 2014 during a mass shooting event at a political event.
   He shares many insights and lessons learned over a distinguished career and provides some valuable advice for all listeners. You don't want to miss this episode!
To find out more about Dr. Rhee at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and join our mission to preserve military medicine achievements WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
                             
The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.
 
Listen to the What We are For Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
 
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. 
 
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Doc" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield that demonstrates dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.
 
          Follow Us on social media
Twitter: @wardocspodcast
Facebook: WarDocs Podcast
Instagram: @wardocspodcast