Day 7- Austin 5K Color Vibe - Supports Local Charity "Learn to Be"

Day 7 is the close out event in Austin, Texas which is a 5K Color Vibe Run/Walk that supports a local charity "Learn to Be." There is still time to sign up on Friday or on site on Saturday. Kids are also able to participate. All details are under this link:
http://www.thecolorvibe.com/austin.php

 

Day 6 (Friday 11 OCT 2013) Community Outreach Event

Day 6 is a Community Outreach Event at the Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston, Texas Post Exchange (PX).

 

Day 5 (10 OCT 2013) IPAP /PA Day Salado Creek Park

Day 5 of 2013 PA Week was an IPAP/PA Day at Salado Creek Park 1300-1600 hours. The event included a reading of the proclamation of National PA Week from Mayor Julian Castro. It was followed by the guest speaker, Mr. Bob Cole. The event was catered by Rudy's Barbecue. There were several sporting events that all staff, students and family members were able to participate in.

MORE PICTURES PENDING TO BE POSTED (pending pics from IPAP staff)

DAY 4 (Wednesday 09 OCT 2013) National PA Week Observance Gathering

Day 4 was a National PA Week Observance Gathering at the Wood Auditorium, 2nd Floor of MEDCOM HQ on the corner of Stanley and Worth Roads. Master of Ceremony (MC) was MAJ Amelia M. Duran-Stanton. The video message from LTG Horoho and the Music Slide Show by CPT Joanna Sanford from Fort Hood, Texas were played in the beginning of the observance gathering.

"The Surgeon General, LTG Patricia D. Horoho, extends her heartfelt

congratulations to all military PAs.  Please click on the link below to
view her video message for 2013 National PA Week.
http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USAMEDCOM

2013 National PA Week Music Slide Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS5jC6iAVPQ

There were also several physician assistants who talked about their current roles and provided words of wisdom to the recent IPAP graduates who were there to attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC).

COL Pauline Gross - IPAP
LTC Jeffrey Oliver - MEDCOM HQ, Deputy Physician Assistant Consultant to TSG
MAJ David Broussard - Center for Predeployment Medicine, Deputy Program Director
MAJ Charles Jennings - IPAP Army Phase 2 Coordinator
MAJ Newport - Department of Combat Medic Training
MAJ Amelia Duran-Stanton - MEDCOM IG
CPT Jason Adams - Basic Officer Leaders Course

Thank you to the MEDCOM and SP Corps senior leaders, fellow PAs and the AMEDD Recruiters who attended the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE PICTURES PENDING TO BE POSTED



JBSA Fort Sam Weekly Wednesday Physician Assistant Mentorship/Networking Luncheons

As we celebrate PA week this week, what are we doing in order to sustain the momentum of the excitement throughout the week? What are we doing to improve our profession? Where are the gaps from where we are today and where we need to be? How are we going to get there? How do we make it better for future generations of PAs?

One way that the Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston  physician assistants can answer these important questions is by our newly established weekly PA Mentorship/Networking luncheons from 1100-1200 hours every Wednesday.

We discuss current events that affect our profession and several lines of effort in order to support Army Medicine and the SP Corps. More importantly, we take the time to meet, build camraderie, and establish a network that honors the past, celebrates the present and plans for the future. To borrow JFK's saying of "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" and think about this: "Ask not what the physician assistant profession can do for you, ask what you can do for the physician assistant profession." America Needs PAs... come join us in asking and providing solutions on what we can do for the physician assistant profession... not only during National PA week.

For the month of October, we are focusing on the following: ORB, OERSF, OER, DA Photo, CV. COL Gross mentioned today to support this focus is bringing someone with you when you take your DA Photo and having someone else check your photo before approving it. The group also added that you should also be looking over your ORB for corrections, and completing your OERSF based on your Senior Rater and Rater's OERSF, MAJ Broussard mentioned that reading over the Army Medicine 2020, the SP Corps Balanced Score Card, and knowing your unit's mission and vision are also an integral part of defining what should be on your OERSF.  The senior PAs offered to the junior PAs of looking over these documents for them to offer guidance and ways to improve. MAJ Duran-Stanton also mentioned that the TAPA (Texas Academy of Physician Assistants) offers a deeply discounted military membership as long as you are already a member of your military organization (SAPA for Army). COL Gross also caveated to have SAPA as your organization for the AAPA. These organizations are what drives our policymakers to make decisions that affect us; let your voice known by being involved. TAPA is having a CME opportunity in San Antonio, TX in February 2014. Even for those who are not coming for the CME, it is a good time to network with our civilian counterparts. See you for the remainder of PA week and keep up the momentum for next week's mentorship/networking meeting!

 

Day 3 (Tuesday 08 OCT 2013) National PA Week Breakfast - Rocco Dining Facility

For Day 3 of 2013 National PA Week, CPT Richard Levada coordinated a breakfast gathering at the Rocco Dining Facility in JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He provided a pamphlet of CW2 Louis Rocco's biography and Medal of Honor citation. He and CPT Donald Merrill also set up Community Health displays at the Rocco and Slagle Dining Facilities.

During the event, COL Pauline Gross, the Army Service Chief at the Interservice Physician Assistant Program and one of the best living historian we have of Army PA history that is still on active duty, discussed CW2 Rocco and also historic background on the support received by the physician assistant community to get approval for the profession to be commissioned in the Army. There was also plenty of opportunity to get one-on-one time with fellow physician assistants to network in a relaxed atmosphere.

 

Here is the information provided on CW2 Louis Rocco:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CW2 Louis R. Rocco

(19 November 1938 - 31 October 2002)

 

 

Quick Facts

• Joined the Army in 1955
• Served as a medic
• Graduated from the first Army Physician Assistant class in 1973
• Retired from active duty in 1978
• Returned to active duty in 1991-1992 and served recruiting medical personnel
• Dedicated his life promoting Veterans Against Drugs and other Veteran’s causes
• Buried in San Antonio National Cemetery

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor                                                                       
Bronze Star Medal                                                       
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Combat Medical Badge

Parachutist Badge

Rank and organization: Warrant Officer (then Sergeant First Class), U.S. Army, Advisory Team 162, U.S. Military Assistance Command

Place and date: Northeast of Katum, Republic of Vietnam, 24 May 1970

Entered service at: Los Angeles, CA

Born: 19 November 1938, Albuquerque, NM

Citation: WO Rocco distinguished himself when he volunteered to accompany a medical evacuation team on an urgent mission to evacuate 8 critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam personnel. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it became the target for intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, WO Rocco identified and placed accurate suppressive fire on the enemy positions as the aircraft descended toward the landing zone. Sustaining major damage from the enemy fire, the aircraft was forced to crash land, causing WO Rocco to sustain a fractured wrist and hip and a severely bruised back. Ignoring his injuries, he extracted the survivors from the burning wreckage, sustaining burns to his own body. Despite intense enemy fire, WO Rocco carried each unconscious man across approximately 20 meters of exposed terrain to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam perimeter. On each trip, his severely burned hands and broken wrist caused excruciating pain, but the lives of the unconscious crash survivors were more important than his personal discomfort, and he continued his rescue efforts. Once inside the friendly position, WO Rocco helped administer first aid to his wounded comrades until his wounds and burns caused him to collapse and lose consciousness. His bravery under fire and intense devotion to duty were directly responsible for saving 3 of his fellow soldiers from certain death. His unparalleled bravery in the face of enemy fire, his complete disregard for his own pain and injuries, and his performance were far above and beyond the call of duty and were in keeping with the highest traditions of self-sacrifice and courage of the military service.

References:
CW2 Rocco Medal of Honor Citation
http://history.amedd.army.mil/MOH/roccol.html

Oral History Interview with CW2 Louis R. Rocco
http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/moh/bios/roccoInt.html

Day 2 (Monday 07 OCT 2013) Joint Base San Antonio PA Week - AMEDD Recruiting Event

For Day 2 of National PA Week, MAJ Jaime Davila coordinated with CPT Jeremy Mello and SFC John Guilmette from the San Antonio recruiting office to set up an information table at the Department of Combat Medic Training area in JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas. They were all available to answer questions from very eager students on the opportunities available to them in Army Medicine.

MORE PICTURES PENDING TO BE POSTED...

Day 1 (Sunday 06 OCT 2013) Joint Base San Antonio "America Needs PAs" 2013 - Kick Off Event, Stonewerks

2013 PA Week - America Needs PAs

       Held every year from Oct. 6-12, National PA Week is a celebration of the PA profession. PAs across the country use National PA Week to increase awareness of both the PA profession and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

       Military Physician Assistants will be celebrating as well. Join them in promoting a healthy lifestyle and show your support why “America Needs PAs."
 

2013 PA Week Music Slide Show- by CPT Joanna Sanford, Fort Hood, Texas
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS5jC6iAVPQ&feature=youtu.be

DAY 1, Kick Off Event, Stonewerks No Host Social

Mini reunion with old friends from previous duty stations and making new connections as we celebrate the best profession-- physician assistant. Happy PA week! Thank you to MAJ Felipe Galvan for organizing our Kick Off Event at Stonewerks.