Navy Medicine Leadership Increases Awareness at Dallas Navy Week

By Lisa Johnson, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine Public Affairs

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (NNS) -- Navy Medicine leadership engaged in a unique outreach opportunity as part of Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Navy Week 2014, April 21-24.

Rear Adm. Raquel C. Bono, Defense Health Agency director, National Capital Region Medical Directorate and chief, Navy Medical Corps was the top medical officer during the event.

"Navy weeks are important because they provide opportunities to increase public awareness of naval service, build relationships in cities which might not otherwise see the Navy at work on a regular basis and foster partnerships in areas where we have common interests," said Bono.

Bono met with leadership at academic, scientific, civic, sports, and corporate leaders to discuss shared initiatives in patient care models, traumatic brain injury treatment, and Navy Medicine's capabilities

During a visit with the Southern Methodist University (SMU) training staff, Bono and the SMU staff discussed several shared interests, including patient care and injury recovery times.

"What an amazing honor it was for me and our sports medicine staff to have the opportunity to meet and participate in discussions with [Bono]," said Mike Morton, SMU director of Sports Medicine. "One aspect that really stuck with me, was the description provided by [Bono] on the intense rehab and work that our injured Soldiers go through to recover and especially those that overcome challenges associated with amputations."

Bono also shared Navy Medicine initiatives in patient care models, traumatic brain injury treatment and PTSD treatment with the director, leadership and staff at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

"Meeting with Rear Adm. Bono was a win-win," said Jeff Milligan, director, VA North Texas Health Care System. "We exchanged knowledge and best practices to provide the best care for military service men and women and our veterans as they transition from military to civilian life. As approximately 25,000 troops return home to north Texas by the war's end, we must be prepared to address their physical/mental/emotional needs. Collaborating with our partners helps ensure all aspects of their health challenges have been reviewed and that VA programs and services are in place to provide the care they have earned and deserve."

At the Dallas Fire Rescue department, Bono discussed battlefield medicine, mass casualty care and global humanitarian efforts.

"Our mission is very similar-to save lives and to limit the impacts of illness and catastrophic injury on the patients that we all serve," said Norman Seals, assistant chief Dallas Fire Rescue. "While our scope of practice and the conditions in which we perform our mission are vastly different there are many commonalities. I think that any dialogue between practitioners of medical care is important as lessons can always be learned from those conversations."

During Bono's presentations at University of North Texas Health Science Center and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Bono highlighted Navy Medicine's vast capabilities in expeditionary care, garrison care, research and development and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. She also discussed how Navy Medicine is a big part of her life.

"Being a part of Navy Medicine has been one of the most rewarding experiences, next to being a parent," said Bono. "It has given me tremendous satisfaction."

Bono's visit to Dallas also included an opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the beginning of a Frisco Rough Riders baseball game and a tour of the new Parkland Hospital.

Navy Medicine is a global healthcare network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.