The Military Health System Honor Society, established in 2008 by Dr. S. Ward Casscells, former assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, recognizes the contributions of those who go above beyond in their daily lives and careers to improving the health of U.S. service members.

This year’s MHS Honor Society inductees have devoted their time, leadership and talents to furthering the mission of the Military Health System. The following inductees were recognized at a ceremony held on April 28 in Arlington, Va.:

Ms. Patricia Bradshaw, Dr. David Chu, Mr. Michael Dominguez, Mr. Robert Earl, Mr. Gordon England, Dr. Stephen Jones and Baroness Emma Nicholson were previously inducted into the MHS Honor Society.

There is always so much going on throughout the Military Health System--from changes and updates to TRICARE benefits, to breaking health care news, to events and conferences, to new medical training and education opportunities, and recently published medical research. It can often be difficult to keep track of it all!

We asked, and you delivered. While we regularly hear from our readers in comments and discussions, last month we asked you to show us something great in the Military Health System.

In March, health.mil put out a call for your videos about military health care, which were submitted via TroopTube and YouTube. We are now happy to host both of the winning videos on here health.mil, each displaying the spirit and quality of military medicine.

• MC4 Product Management Office (under the command of Lt. Col. William Geesey) at Ft. Detrick, Md., with Master Sgt. Wynton E. Hodges of Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

• 882 Training Group at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas (under the command of Col. Nancy Dezell).

In MC4’s submission, Army Master Sgt. Wynton Hodges, a combat medic, talks about how his own health care benefitted from the use of in-theater electronic medical records after he sustained an injury. Watch the video.

Our other winner (and only musical submission), features Sheppard Air Force Base medics marching to cadence, “The Jodie Call.” Watch the video.

Ellen P. Embrey, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, appeared before the Senate Armed Forces Committee on Wednesday, April 29, to update the committee on the Military Health System’s organization and operations.  

• Deployment of 95,000 military medical personnel to support U.S. war fighers in the theaters of operations, including the development of a new theater trauma registry and electronic health record

• New research and treatments to address traumatic injuries and wounded warrior rehabilitation and recovery, including establishment of the new Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

• U.S. military health stabilization and reconstruction responses to catastrophic natural disasters at home and abroad

• Establishment of Africa Combatant Command (AFRICOM) to help build public health infrastructure, provide humanitarian assistance and manage pervasive disease

Embrey closed her testimony with the following statement:

“The Military Health System is the largest, most dynamically complex health care organization in the world. Each individual component – Health Affairs, TRICARE Management Activity, the Military Departments’ Surgeons General…the Joint Staff Surgeon, and the Combatant Command Surgeons – deserves great credit for what we have accomplished collectively in this ever changing environment. Together we have significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the Military Health System, under extraordinary circumstances, and with your help and support, we will remain committed to better serving the needs of America’s military men and women and their families.”

Read the full testimony.

As program manager for the Defense Health Information Management System (DHIMS), I would like to thank you for your continued interest and support in our efforts toward building the premier global electronic health record, AHLTA, and the Theater Medical Information Program (TMIP) family of systems.