Navy Medicine Charms in Maryland's Largest City

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

BALTIMORE (NNS) -- Navy Medicine met with Maryland educators, universities, and prominent medical leaders to discuss shared health care initiatives, and partnerships as part of Baltimore Navy Week, Sept. 9-11.

Rear Adm. Elaine C. Wagner, deputy chief, Wounded, Ill and Injured, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, was the senior medical officer during the visit.

"I have visited many cities during Navy Weeks to showcase our Navy's history and rich heritage, but there's truly something special about the city of Baltimore," said Wagner. "I was sincerely honored and also humbled to represent not only Navy Medicine but the nearly 330,000 active duty Sailors across the entire Navy."

During Wagner's Navy Week outreach, she visited with the renowned orthopedic team of professionals at the Rubin Institute Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. She shared with them about Navy Medicine's commitment to readiness, value and jointness and learned that they are eager to form partnerships in order to deliver the best possible health care to their patients.

"I believe the future success of health care delivery in the U.S. will be dependent upon partnerships. We can no longer afford to operate in discreet silos," said Mark Bittle, director, Rubin Institute Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. "For the benefit of our patients, every opportunity to connect and integrate across the continuum should be explored."

Wagner echoed those same sentiments during her discussion with the Rubin Institute leadership team.

"I am very interested in partnering with civilian organizations," said Wagner. "What our corpsmen and medics have done on the battlefield for more than the last decade has forever changed the way first responders operate. Now, we need to be able to maintain our skills to stay current and proficient. Partnering with like-minded professionals can help us do that."

During a meeting at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Wagner toured the facility and met with leadership and staff to discuss shared initiatives and potential for partnership.

"We were honored that Rear Adm. Wagner chose to spend time at Johns Hopkins during Navy Week, said Melissa A. Teves, senior director, Johns Hopkins U.S. Family Health Plan. "Rear Adm. Wagner and the Johns Hopkins Medicine leaders in attendance identified numerous areas for possible future collaboration between our organizations."

Wagner noted that by working together, the two organizations could achieve much.

"I was fascinated to learn how their medical research is helping to advance and improve lives all over the world," said Wagner. "The things Johns Hopkins has done and is looking to do in the future are amazing. The team at Johns Hopkins could be a great education and research partner."

During a visit to the VA Maryland Health Care System, Wagner met with leadership and discussed their shared dedication to providing quality, compassionate and accessible care to our nations heroes.

"Today's visit is an example of the care that we take to make sure that those who are transitioning from uniform to the civilian sector get the comprehensive care that they need in every way," said Adam Robinson, chief of staff, VA Maryland Health Care System. "Her being here today is just another example of making sure that those who wore the cloth of our nation get the care they deserve."

Robinson, who served as the 36th surgeon general of the Navy and chief of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, was also pleased to see his former colleague entrusted with this responsibility.

"The sacred trust of care doesn't just exist on the military side; it also exists on the VA side," said Robinson. "I've watched [Rear Adm. Wagner] grow from a junior officer to a very accomplished senior health care executive. It's very rewarding to see someone of her talent and abilities doing the work required to make sure that we effectively transition our veterans and take care of them."

Wagner is grateful and honored for the opportunity to serve so many, but feels that it is her responsibility to do so.

"It's an honor and a privilege to care for the world's most deserving patients who often work in austere and dangerous environments," said Wagner. "Those brave men and women are the reason I go to work every day."

Wagner, also a Navy dentist and graduate of Butler and Indiana Universities, also toured the University of Maryland School of Dentistry during Baltimore Navy Week, met with the Center for the Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills team at Baltimore Shock Trauma and received a demonstration from the award-winning all-girl's robotics team of Western High School.

Navy Medicine is a global health care 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.