Articles

Nov. 1, 2023

Annual Multiple Myeloma Lecture Sheds Light on Ongoing Battle Against Cancer

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — Director of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma and associate director for the Multiple Myeloma Clinical Research Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Clifton Mo was the guest speaker during the John P. Murtha Cancer Center’s (MCC) annual Multiple Myeloma Lecture at Walter Reed on Oct. 27. The MCC is the Department of Defense’s only Cancer Center of Excellence. The annual lecture is named for Michael Sheehan, the former assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict during the Obama administration, and coordinator for counterterrorism during the Clinton administration. He was also a distinguished chair at West Point and a terrorist analyst for NBC News.

Oct. 31, 2023

Walter Reed’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Dresses Babies for First Halloween

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — Inside Walter Reed’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), newborn babies bedecked in festive costumes smiled for their parents and nurses, clamoring for lunch and a Halloween treat. Today’s “Trick or Treat” extravaganza, organized by the NICU’s “Sunshine Committee” celebrates milestones for all to enjoy.

Oct. 31, 2023

Walter Reed hosts Healthcare Ethics Symposium – What are you going to do?

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — Joseph Procaccino, Jr. and other speakers at the Healthcare Ethics Symposium discussed a variety of ethical issues, including healthcare ethics consultations, moral injury, military medical ethics and dilemmas in contemporary armed conflict, and lessons learned regarding ethics at Uniformed Services University (USU), the former National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) over the past four decades. Speakers also presented case scenarios involving ethical issues and challenges for participants to consider and discuss, including one involving the trials of labor [and delivery] focused on embracing informed consent and patient autonomy.

Oct. 26, 2023

Walter Reed Champions Women's Health Care Options Using Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy Surgery

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — When you meet Dr. Candice Jones-Cox, the Women's Health Services director at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, you will learn that she's a fierce patient advocate and a meticulous surgeon, passionately learning cutting-edge techniques to adapt to an ever-changing medical landscape. She's an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN), highly adept at performing complex women's surgeries – especially hysterectomies.

Oct. 25, 2023

The Volunteers of Walter Reed: Sullivan Offers Healing Through Yoga Instruction

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — Connie Sullivan sits cross-legged in a rehab unit at Walter Reed as she peers out with an expression of calm and alertness at the members of her yoga class. She guides the class through a series of instructions that are more like suggestions, often introducing the poses with “Maybe try to…,” demonstrating her training in trauma-sensitive yoga. Sullivan is also a licensed physical therapist, so she can attend to a class member who needs to make a physical adjustment. The atmosphere feels tranquil and respectful. While yoga may be at odds with certain aspects of military life, it is endorsed on the Walter Reed website as a form of “mind-body medicine,” meaning that a well mind is central to the health of the body. Sullivan contributes to the mental and physical wellness of her students through her years of expertise and extensive training.

Oct. 24, 2023

Navy Doctor, Pennsauken, New Jersey Native Recognized by Patient for “Amazing care and support”

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Monique Gourdine-Shaw, a board-certified podiatric surgeon in the Department of orthopedics and podiatry, has been recognized for her exceptional leadership and commitment to patient care. In a letter from a grateful patient, Gourdine-Shaw was praised for her commitment to optimizing health, safety, and readiness on September 27, 2023. In the letter, the patient expressed gratitude for the "amazing care and support over the past several months.”

Oct. 23, 2023

Champions of Health: The Unseen Protectors of Safety – Celebrating International Infection Prevention Week at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — As International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) drew to a close on October 21, 2023, we continue to celebrate the unsung heroes who play a pivotal role in safeguarding our health. Established in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan, IIPW serves as a reminder of the importance of infection prevention in saving lives and healthcare dollars. In the heart of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), a dedicated team of Infection Preventionists (IPs) led by Karen Cromwell, Chief of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) at WRNMMC, stand as guardians of health. Their tireless efforts ensure a clean and safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

Oct. 20, 2023

Airman answers the nursing ‘call’

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — While there are only few Airmen at Walter Reed in comparison to the number of Sailors and Soldiers at “the President’s Hospital,” the Air Force’s contributions to patient care and accomplishing the many missions at the flagship of military health care, cannot be denied. Such is the case with Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Erin Barger. The senior enlisted leader (SEL) in the Directorate of Nursing Services, Barger is a native of Dexter Missouri and has served in uniform for 23 years.

Oct. 19, 2023

Walter Reed Social Worker Restores Resilience One Patient at a Time

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — In Robert Frost’s immortal poem “The Road Not Taken,” he writes of a trail in the woods diverging into two remarkably different paths – implicitly encouraging readers to choose the road less traveled and live a life that both defies and exceeds expectations.

Oct. 18, 2023

Walter Reed Partners with Uniformed Services University to Treat Long Haul Covid

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — Three years after COVID-19 claimed more than 1 million lives in the United States, thousands continue to live with the debilitating effects of Long-Haul Covid (LHC), a complex constellation of symptoms that can last for months or years, potentially affecting every major organ system.