WarDocs - The Military Medicine Podcast

COL (R) Robert Adams, MD- Former Navy SEAL Joins Army Medicine- Adventures as the Delta Force Surgeon and Deployments with the 82nd Airborne Division.

  In this episode you will hear Dr. Adams describe his journey as a Naval Academy graduate followed by 12 years in the Navy SEALS which ultimately led him to accept an Army Health Professions Scholarship to attend medical school and join Army Medicine.  He trained in Family Medicine at Madigan Army Medical Center and then was stationed at the Center of the Army Universe- Fort Bragg, NC.
  You will hear stories about what it was like to complete medical training at an older age and then take on medical leadership roles at Fort Bragg.  He talks about being immediately recruited to become the Delta Force surgeon, but waited a couple of years to hone his clinical skills following residency. 
  He tells some awesome and incredible stories from his time with Delta Force as well as deploying with the 82ndAirborne Division to Southwest Asia.  He had the opportunity to arrange a major medical conference, in partnership with USAID, featuring 30+ Physicians from the West to teach local Iraqi doctors to try to bring them closer to the current standards of care.
  Following a 30+ year military career, he went on to establish a very successful civilian Family Medicine where he now works part time.  He is a prolific author and has published 3 books that cover his time in SEAL training, his experiences as a physician and a book of transcribed letters from a relative that were written during the Civil War. 
COL (Dr.) Adams 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!
 
  Find out more about Dr. Adams at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
 
 
You can find Dr. Adams’ books on Amazon and at other book sellers- https://amzn.to/3FC4bdn
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RADM Bruce L. Gillingham MD- Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Undersea Medical Officer and Current Surgeon General of the United States Navy.

  In this episode you will hear about how Dr. Gillingham joined the Navy and trained to become a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.  He recounts some interesting stories from his deployments as a surgeon and describes the genesis of the Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care Center and what it was like to be in charge of the Surgical Shock Trauma Platoon in Iraq. 
   Dr. Gillingham provides some insights about humanitarian and operational medicine from his time aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy.  He also tells some stories about his work with the Vietnam’s People’s Navy as well as his involvement in the Pacific in the aftermath of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster. 
   Dr. Gillingham speaks about his role as Associate Residency Director for the Naval Medical Center San Diego Orthopedics program and discusses the importance of Military Run Graduate Medical Education Programs. 
  RADM provides some lessons learned in his various roles as a strategic Navy Medicine leader and the current challenges and opportunities in his role as Navy Surgeon General. 
RADM(Dr.) Gillingham is a distinguished clinician, educator and leader who provides some valuable insights and advice for all listeners.  You don’t want to miss this episode!
 
  Find out more about Dr. Gillingham at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
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Lieutenant General (Ret). Mark A. Ediger, MD- From Rural Family Medicine Physician to Flight Surgeon to Air Force Surgeon General

     In this episode you will hear Dr. Ediger talk about what led him from an early career as a Rural Family Medicine Doc to join the Air Force to become a Flight Surgeon.  He provides a behind the scenes look at what it is like to train to become a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force and support a fighter aircraft squadron.  He relates his experiences while serving as Command Surgeon for the Air Force Special Operations Command during the attack on 9/11. 
 He deployed to Iraq as Commander of the 363rd Expeditionary Medical Group and shares some of the unique challenges of preparing for and then supporting Forces invading Iraq.  He describes how the Air Force was able to adeptly handle a significant amount of en route medical care from the battlefield all the way back to the United States.   Leveraging lessons learned from his experiences in military aviation, he was able to improve communication and safety within Air Force Medicine modeling processes after high reliable organization principles.
He talks about his experiences as the Air Force Surgeon General planning for major military medical transformation which would be mandated by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act in the midst of evolving requirements for deployment medical support.
    Dr. Ediger 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!
 
  Find out more about Dr. Ediger at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
 
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CSM (Ret.) Rudolfo (Rudy) Delvalle- Combat Ranger Medic to Command Sergeant Major of Walter Reed Army Medical Center: Soldier Medic Leading the Way.

CSM Delvalle is a retired 68W combat medic who conducted a combat jump into Panama, served as First Sergeant in a deployment to Kosovo, and rose to become the Command Sergeant Major of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
   In this episode you will hear CSM Delvalle describe how medics serve throughout the military medical system from operational units to assignments within Military Medical Treatment Facilities.  He provides examples of his experiences in the Ranger Battalion as a heavy weapons platoon medic and the lessons he learned to train medics to be their best. From his combat jump into Panama to training off the back of an aircraft carrier preparing for a combat mission in Haiti, he shares examples of the great opportunities he was given and how medical providers should train for the battlefield.  He also discusses what medics are looking for from their military medical leadership. 
   CSM Delvalle served as sergeant major in Korea and then moved to the beltway to serve as the Command Sergeant major of Walter Reed AMC.  During his time there, he helped care for many wounded soldiers and discusses the challenges and successes of providing the absolute best care to this incredible patient population.  He also discusses the leadership lessons he learned during his career and specifically what he learned and successful changes implemented during his time as the Walter Reed Command Sergeant Major.
    CSM Delvalle talks about the opportunities provided through his military service and how he was influenced by positive mentors and how he then passed this mentorship to those he led.
 
  Find out more about CSM Delvalle at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
 
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Major General (Ret.) Phillip Volpe, D.O.- Lessons learned from operational medicine experience in Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Korea, Southwest Asia and additional undisclosed locations.

   Dr. Volpe, a family medicine physician, has a distinguished career of clinical excellence, leadership and service.
  In this episode you will hear some exciting and engaging stories from multiple deployments across the globe.  Dr. Volpe was involved in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 and then served as Task Force Ranger Surgeon during the Battle of Mogadishu (depicted in the major motion picture- Blackhawk Down).  You will hear about the heroic efforts that were made to save lives and provide critical medical as well as the lessons learned that shaped how the military cares for the injured on the battlefield of the future.
  Dr. Volpe was the Joint Special Operations Task Force Surgeon during the planned invasion of the Haiti in 1994 (Operation Uphold Democracy). Hear about the incredible amount of medical planning and preparation that took place for that mission.
  As a General Officer, Dr. Volpe describes his experience in OEF and OEF as Command Surgeon for the 18thAirborne Corps and talks about his role as Co-Chair of the DoD Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces.
  Dr. Volpe describes his significant roles following retirement such as being a board member of the Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA) and the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Society of Federal Health Professionals (AMSUS). 
  You really don’t want to miss this episode- what an incredible career of service!
  Find out more about Dr. Volpe at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
WarDocs Podcast is a not-for-profit, veteran run organization and our mission is to honor the legacy and preserve the oral history of Military Medicine from the perspective of the Healthcare Heroes that lived it.
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CAPT Christine Sears, M.D.- A Navy Urologist Commanding on the USNS COMFORT and Maintaining Resiliency While Supporting Critical DoD Medical Missions Across the Globe.

   In this episode you will hear Dr. Sears describe how Navy Medical Personnel are able to provide quality medical care while at sea, often with limited resources and direct support.  She provides some examples of challenging cases she faced as a General Medical Officer aboard the USS McKee.  Dr. Sears explains why sub-specialty surgeons such as herself are important in accomplishing the military medical mission across the globe in humanitarian and operational roles.
   CAPT Sears had the unique opportunity to Command the Military Treatment Facility aboard the Navy Hospital Ship- USNS COMFORT.  She provides a behind the scenes look at some of the capabilities of this vessel and how it is used during war and peacetime. 
    Dr. Sears served as the Command Surgeon of the 7th Fleet during the start of the Covid-19 pandemics and talks about some of the unique challenges faced by the Navy balancing public health and operational readiness.  She continued her strategic role managing COVID-19 as SOUTHCOM surgeon.
    Dr. Sears talks about dealing with post-partum depression as well as a very personal impact of suicide within her immediate family and provides some examples of how she maintained resilience during these tough times.
   CAPT Sears currently serves as the Command Surgeon of SOUTHCOM.
    CAPT (Dr.) Sears 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!
  Find out more about Dr. Sears at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
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BG (Dr.) Mary V. Krueger- Leveraging Character, Training and Experience For Mission Success.

Dr. Krueger currently serves as the Commanding General of the Army Atlantic Regional Health Command
   In this episode you will hear about how Dr. Krueger utilized her Public Health education to assist the healthcare mission in Afghanistan in 2003.  She shares some stories from her time at Fort Bragg as the Residency Director for Family Medicine taking care of the 82nd Airborne Division and other Special Operations communities.  She describes how Women’s Health is incredibly important in Military Medicine and the unique challenges experienced in caring for this population.
  In addition to being a stellar clinician, educator and military leader, Dr. Krueger talks about managing tradeoffs to also be success as a wife and mother of 5 children while on Active Duty.
She also addresses what the Army is doing to address recent reports of limited clinical opportunities to maintain a ready medical force at Military Treatment Facilities. 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!
 
  Find out more about Dr. Krueger at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
 
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COL Michael Wirt, M.D., Ph.D: Radiology on the Battlefield, Neuroradiology, and Commanding a Level 1 Trauma Center during the COVID pandemic.

   Dr. Wirt is currently the Chief of the Department of Radiology at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC).  In this episode you will hear about his journey from enlisting in the Army and going through Officer Candidate School to be commissioned as a Chemical Corps Officers.  He explains how this experience prepared him for his distinguished career in Military Medicine.  He explains the role a radiologist serves in deployed environments and provides insights into the future utilization of his specialty on the battlefield and beyond. He describes his role as Brigade Surgeon for the 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and his experiences as the Task Force Strike Surgeon in Afghanistan.  He later served as the Officer in Charge at the United Kingdom’s Bastion Role 3 Hospital in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
  He talks about his time as the first non-surgeon commander of the US Army Institute of Surgical Research and some of the incredible work done by this organization.  He also provides insights from his time in important senior leadership roles such as Command Surgeon and BAMC Commander during the COVID surges and working with civilian hospitals.     
  COL Wirt has had an amazing and diverse experience in Military Medicine and you won’t be disappointed hearing some of the engaging stories from a distinguished career.
  Find out more about Dr. Wirt at wardocspodcast.com/guest-bios and visit our webpage and become part of Team WarDocs at wardocspodcast.com.
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