AMSUS Member Wins Prestigious AMA Foundation Pride in Profession Award

Military Medicine, Spring 2006

AMSUS member COL John M. Uhorchak, MC, USA Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and Clinical instructor in the US Army's Joint and Soft Tissue Trauma Fellowship Program at West Point, New York has been awarded the prestigious American Medical Association Pride in Profession award.

This award, a part of the American Medical Association Excellence in Medicine Award program, is presented to physician members of the AMA who through their actions have met and fulfilled the following demanding criteria:

*Promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health;

*Embody the values of the medical profession through leadership, service, excellence, integrity and ethical behavior;

*Enrich patients, colleagues and the community through dedicated medical practice;

*Advance public health through volunteerism or public service;

*Offer better access to quality health care for an underserved population;

*Practice medicine in areas of challenge or crisis;

*Serve in remarkable and innovative ways through a specific act or a lifetime of service.

COL Uhorchak's professional achievements as a military physician are of the highest order. In addition to his duties as Chief of Surgery, active clinical instructor in sports medicine, and physician for the USMA athletic teams, he has been awarded the Order of Military Medical Merit based on his actions during service in Somalia. He has been awarded the Surgeon General's "A" proficiency designator, and most recently, as the team leader, has been awarded the American Orthopedics Society for Sports Medicine O'Donoghue Award for best clinic research in 2002.

COL Uhorchak is a well known and respected member of the US Army Special Forces medical team, where in this capacity he has not only provided expert field medical care as a deployed physician, but has also actively engaged in training special forces medical personnel to perform in the same austere special forces operational environment. COL Uhorchak was nominated for this award by AMSUS member BG Eric Schoomaker, Chief of Medical Corps Affairs, based on his outstanding service to the nation.

Reference:

Army Medical Corps Website, "Army Orthopedist honored with presentation of the AMA Foundation Pride in Profession Award,"