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The U.S. Surgeon General and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention have teamed up on a national strategy to guide suicide prevention efforts in the United States over the next ten years.

Instructors and staff of the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) received an extraordinary opportunity when three military surgeons general made joint all-hands appearances during a visit to METC at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on May 30. 

Lt. Gen. Charles Green, surgeon general of the Air Force; Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, surgeon general of the Navy and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; and Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, surgeon general and commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Command and their senior enlisted leaders addressed the METC audience and answered questions.

“The six of us are here for a couple of reasons. The first is to say ‘thank you’,” Nathan told the METC audience during the all-hands call.  He added, “We want to support integrated training, iron out wrinkles and smooth out seams. You represent the future and set the culture for integration.”

The purpose of the visit was to ensure that METC continues on the path to joint success, and to ask what they can do to help maintain efforts to integrate training among the services.

In addition to the all-hands calls, the surgeons general held discussions with senior leaders from METC and the Army, Navy and Air Force component commands that support METC. They also toured METC’s Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program and Department of Combat Medic Training where they observed students engaged in the classroom, laboratory simulation and a live training exercise.

With less than two weeks to go before the 2012 Military Health System conference kicks off, the countdown clock is ticking. Today's preview highlights a few of the speakers and special guests.

Navy Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan stepped into the role of 37th Navy Surgeon General in a ceremony at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center-Bethesda, Nov. 18.  Doing so, he assumed the role of top uniformed medical professional for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the chief of Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

Nathan addressed the military medical community in a blog on Navy Medicine Live Nov. 29, thanking the community for their service, leadership and accomplishments to date.

“Though numerous challenges abound, I sleep better at night given the leadership team I inherited,” Nathan said.

He went on to address the issues of combat casualty care, support for the war fighter, readiness, value, health care informatics, joint operations and global engagements.  Nathan also wrote about a continuing strategic vision to maintain the equities and capabilities of Navy medicine.

“I am encouraged by the opportunities and the shaping that will occur as we find our equilibrium with the evolving tactical and strategic imperatives,” Nathan said in conclusion.  “I am grateful we are shipmates and I look forward to rolling up our sleeves together and doing what we do best, providing ‘World-Class Care… Anytime, Anywhere!’”

To read the entire blog visit Navy Medicine Live. 

Today, the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps celebrates its 113th birthday.