WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- The Military Health System Research Symposium, MHSRS, is an annual event held for military personnel to distribute and discuss scientific knowledge resulting from military-unique research and development. The MHSRS also seeks to provide an avenue for planning and developing future research centered on optimizing care for the Uniformed Services in operational settings.
 
This year, the MHSRS was held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Several researchers from the 711th Human Performance Wing (711 HPW) were recognized for their research and accomplishments. Further details about their commendations are described below.

Dr. Stephen McGuire Receives Outstanding Poster Recognition at MHSRS
Dr. Stephen McGuire of Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL, received Outstanding Poster recognition at the Military Health System Research Symposium, MHSRS, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida this month. Dr. McGuire's poster, titled "Prevalence of [Medical Resonance Imaging] Abnormalities in [U.S. Air Force] U-2 Pilots", was submitted in the Force Health IProtection category. In his work at AFRL, Dr. McGuire offers support and guidance to this complex operational aeromedical issue, as was recognized at MHSRS. Congratulations, Dr. McGuire!

Colonel (Dr.) Joseph Dubose Receives Award for Excellence at MHSRS
Colonel Joseph L. Dubose, Director for the Air Force Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) Physician Training at the University of Maryland Medical Center, received the Award for Excellence at the Military Health System Research Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida this month. The award was bestowed on Col. Dubose for his "dedication and leadership to the $10 million trauma research program in the annual training of Physicians, Nurses, and Medics." As Director for C-STARS, Col. Dubose supervised 25 physicians and oversaw 14,000 trauma resuscitations, recording a 98% warrior survival rate. Col. Dubose was handpicked by the Task Force Medical Commander to train pararescue teams in advanced trauma skills, resulting in 26 saved coalition lives. On home soil, Col. Dubose maintained a 260 patient caseload of trauma and acute care surgery cases in 2011, of which he had a 99% survival rate. In addition to these roles, Col. Dubose is also an author of 12 book chapters, 84 peer reviewed publications, 24 abstracts, and a reviewer of three high-impact trauma journals. He is certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery. Congratulations, Col. Dubose!

Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Cigrang Receives Award for Excellence at MHSRS
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Cigrang, Clinical Health Psychologist and Behavioral Health Flight Commander for 5th Medical Group at Minot Air Force Base received the Award for Excellence at the Military Health System Research Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida this month. Lt. Col. Cigrang received the award for his "superior vision, leadership, hard work, and tenacity to collect data, strengthen military-civilian post-traumatic stress disorder prevention collaborations, present research findings, and create useful tools for warfighters, primary care providers, and family members, thus filling a critical gap in psychological health." In his work as Clinical Health Psychologist and Behavioral Health Flight Commander, Lt. Col. Cigrang conducted the first-ever cohort study to document the psychological and relational impact of the extended combat deployment on 318 Security Force Airman. His DEPLOY research project ("The Individual and Relationship Factors Affecting Psychological Health and Well-Being for Military Personnel and Families") assessed Air Force Security Forces Airmen over a one-year deployment cycle; conclusions from the data collected demonstrated deterioration in function among a significant portion of study participants. These conclusions allowed Lt. Col. Cigrang to focus resources on developing a multi-tiered community capable of handling these sorts of issues, namely helping marriages and families successfully cope with military deployments. In addition, Lt. Col. Cigrang helped craft a set of materials for use at the individual, supervisor, and primary care levels. This work by Lt. Col. Cigrang fills a critical gap in psychological health at a time when the burden of mental health illness continues to increase among veterans. Lt. Col. Cigrang bring great credit upon himself, the 5th Medical Group, the United States Air Force, and the Joint medical research community. Congratulations, Lt. Col. Cigrang!