Chapter news

Military Medicine, Jul 2003

A cook-out picnic setting ushered in the final meeting of the 2002-2003 National Capitol Region Chapter, Tuesday evening on May 20, 2003. Honored attendees included MG Kenneth Farmer, Deputy Surgeon General of the Army, BG (Ret) Michael Kussman, RADM (Ret) Robert Laning, RADM (Ret) Frederic Sanford, Executive Director of AMSUS and our host VADM (Ret) James Zimble, President of USUHS.

Following leisurely dining with friends and guests, the meeting was called to order by Chapter President CAPT Caviness, USPHS, who welcomed our guest speaker for the evening, Colonel Clifford Cloonan, MC, USA, Interim Chairman, Military and Emergency Medicine at Edward Hebert School of Medicine, the military medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.

COL Cloonan took the podium next, instantly engaging a crowd of 55 attentive guests. He gave credit to special guests in the audience, mentors and experts cited throughout the discussion to come. His presentation, "Combat Medicine in Iraq: Back to the Future-Old lessons Relearned and Applied," drew a record number of guests.

COL Cloonan enlightened all with some critical lessons that were learned, forgotten, and need to be remembered in combat medicine. Opening the discussion with a history of "modern innovations" in treating combat causalities, COL Cloonan presented the history of combat casualty medical "innovations" highlighting 1) the origins of the whole crystalloids versus colloids debate and how it applies to the current fluid recommendation, 2) today's tourniquet guidelines compared with those promulgated by the Surgical Consultant in World War II and 3) how today's modular medical units resemble those in the Spanish Civil War.

This fast paced, well-referenced presentation clearly presented a scientific basis for consideration of the current field medical casualty devices and guidelines in use. Comments following COL Cloonan's talk were exemplified by this post meeting observation, "I have always been skeptical of the scientific basis of the conventional wisdom. Both the content and the approach were first rate."

The September 2003 meeting begins a new chapter year and a call for nominations to the executive positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Self-nominations are welcome. With only four speaker meetings a year, these are not heavy lifting positions and look good in your OPF for promotion consideration. USPHS held two of the four executive positions in 2002-2003. So USPHS members, please consider stepping forward and representing your service. The NCR Chapter is a great coming together of healthcare professionals of the uniformed services in the D.C region and a great networking opportunity. Join us.

The Western and Pacific Chapter (WEPAC) is planning a one day conference in San Diego, California this fall. Members will be sent an announcement as soon as event details are finalized. Anyone interested in participating can send an email to LTC Bev Hougton, Chapter secretary, at camelady2@mminternet.com to get more information on the meeting. The chapter is also looking for assistance on planning future events. Please send LTC Houghton a message if you're interested in helping out. WEPAC will hold its annual business meeting and election of officers at the AMSUS annual meeting in San Antonio.