59th Medical Wing

Last updated

59th Medical Wing
59th Medical Wing.png
Emblem of the 59th Medical Wing
Active1941–1942; 1943–1944; 1948–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
TypeWing
RoleMilitary Medical
Size8,000 personnel
Part of Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ JBSA-Lackland, Texas
Engagements
WW II American Campaign (Antisubmarine) Streamer.jpg
World War II (American Theater)
Anti-Submarine Warfare 1941-1945
Decorations
US Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - Stremer.jpg
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (17x) [1]
Commanders
Current
commander
Maj. Gen (Dr.) Thomas W. Harrell

The 59th Medical Wing (MDW) is the U.S. Air Force's largest medical wing and is the Air Force functional medical command for Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA). It comprises seven medical groups across San Antonio. Three are located at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC); the 959th Medical Group is located at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), JBSA-Fort Sam Houston; the 59th Training Group - the wing's newest group, activated on 4 January 2016, is also located at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The 359th and 559th Medical Groups are located at and support the missions of JBSA-Randolph and JBSA-Lackland, respectively. [2]

Contents

The 59th MDW operates with a $271 million budget, and a staff of 8,000 military, civilian, and contract personnel. The 59th MDW is home to the Critical Care Air Transport Team Pilot Unit (CCATT), which has executive management over 118 active-duty, Guard and Reserve teams. The wing also has the Defense Department's largest Blood Donor Center, a Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center, and Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) capability. The ECLS offers the only global transport option in the world, providing partial heart-lung bypass to eligible adults, infants, and children suffering from severe cardiopulmonary failure. The medical wing also has the largest dental facility in the DOD and the only dental group in the Air Force. The 59th Dental Group examines approximately 36,000 basic military trainees and 28,000 technical training students a year. It has the only stereolithography and modeling lab in the Air Force, which produces dimensionally-accurate medical models and craniofacial prostheses. This capability provides rehabilitative support to patients with acquired or congenital defects of the head and neck region. [2]

Healthcare

Wilford Hall Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center.jpg
Wilford Hall

The 59th MDW provides medical care at various facilities in San Antonio. Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center is the Air Force's largest outpatient facility, providing a full range of primary care, specialty care, and outpatient surgery. At SAMMC, the DOD's largest inpatient medical facility, nearly 2,000 59th MDW personnel work with Army medics in areas such as the bone marrow transplant center, the burn unit, and other rare and complex treatment environments. The wing's highly specialized trauma surgeons, along with their Army counterparts, staff the Defense Department's only Joint Level 1 Trauma Center in the United States. [2]

Readiness

CCATTs operate an intensive care unit in an aircraft cabin during flight adding critical care capability to the Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation System. 59 MDW Critical Care Air Transport Teams.jpg
CCATTs operate an intensive care unit in an aircraft cabin during flight adding critical care capability to the Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation System.

Most of the wing's military personnel are assigned to one of several teams, which act as building blocks to form Expeditionary Medical Support hospitals and a number of specialized units, to include Critical Care Air Transport Teams. The wing has the largest medical mobility commitment in the U.S. Air Force and maintains approximately 2,950 mobility positions. At any one time, there are about 200 medics deployed worldwide, executing a joint U.S. mission in support of global operations. Additionally, the 59th Medical Wing oversees deployments for all Air Force medical assets assigned within JBSA. Outreach teams are regularly dispatched all over the globe to respond to emergencies, assist in Department of Defense contingency missions, and reinforce readiness training through real-world civil and humanitarian assistance missions. [2]

Education

The wing's postgraduate medical education function is merged with that of Brooke Army Medical Center under the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC). The two facilities, in close cooperation with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), provide a wide array of training programs ranging from general surgery to emergency medical services administration. At any given time, SAUSHEC has roughly 600 residents enrolled in 37 graduate medical education (GME) programs, of which 60 percent are Air Force. There are an additional 22 programs for our Allied Health members, including: Psychology Internship; Health Psychology Fellow; Dietetic; Pharmacy Clinical; Pastoral Education; General Surgery Physician Assistant (PA); Emergency Medicine PA; Otolaryngology PA and Audiology. [3]

The wing's training group supports military medical service and medical readiness training at the Medical Education and Training Campus on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston for 12,100 students annually, and at two operating locations, one detachment and 17 sites around the world. The 59th Training Group's partnership with METC affords training for the five uniformed services and international students. The group awards 24 Air Force specialty codes and 93,037 Community College of the Air Force credit hours annually while maintaining 14 national accreditations.

Training

Training gives surgeons the skills necessary to treat patients down range. 59 MDW Training.jpg
Training gives surgeons the skills necessary to treat patients down range.

In addition to the GME program, the 59th MDW is the largest of 15 clinical training sites in the Air Force, graduating an average of 500 officer and enlisted students in various dental and allied health programs each year. Additional training includes the Sustainment Training to Advance Readiness Skills (STARS) program, refresher trauma training and courses for specialized surgical and critical care teams. The 59th MDW has the largest DOD dental education mission, providing 85 percent of the Air Force's total dental training capacity. [2]

Research

The 59th Clinical Investigations & Research Support is the largest biomedical research facility in the Air Force. 59th Medical Wing Clinical Research Division.jpg
The 59th Clinical Investigations & Research Support is the largest biomedical research facility in the Air Force.

The Chief Scientist collaborates with Service, Department of Defense, local, national and international government, academia and industry, research, development, test, evaluation and acquisition organizations. The Chief Scientist oversees and manages organizational needs, while developing solutions for medical care with an emphasis on mission aligned research in several different fields. These solutions enables researchers to exploit new knowledge while developing, evaluating, and integrating technologies to provide patient-centered care in the pre-hospital, in- and -out-patient environment, maintaining and restoring health, and training medical students to address mission challenges. The ST office supports clinical researchers at over 70 sites worldwide.[ clarification needed ] The Wing Chief Scientist is also the official charged with the responsibility for the protection of human research subjects participating in research. Research Directorates under the Chief Scientist include:

[2]

The Chief Scientist's office also works with liaisons in the 59th Medical Wing to include for supporting Graduate Dental Education and Dental research at the Air Force Post-Graduate Dental School and Clinic, and the Dental Research and Consultative Service.

Collaboration

As members of a strong inter-service team, the 59th Medical Wing is also dedicated to building partnerships with community organizations such as the Veterans Affairs Audie Murphy Hospital, University of Texas Health Science Center, Humana Military Healthcare Services, University Health System, and the Mayor's Fitness Council.

Subordinate units

59th Dental Group.jpg
59th Medical Operations Group.jpg
359th Medical Group.jpg
559th Medical Group.jpg
959th Medical Group.jpg
The 59th MDW is the Air Force's largest medical wing.

59th Dental Group

59th Medical Operations Group

59th Medical Support Group

359th Medical Group (former 12th) at JBSA-Randolph

559th Medical Group (former 37th) at JBSA-Lackland

959th Medical Group (former 59th Inpatient Operations Group) at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston

59th Training Group

Clinical Departments

Non-Clinical Departments

History

World War II

59th Fighter Group Army Air Corpsmen take a group photo at Thomasville Army Airfield, Ga. 59th Fighter Group.jpg
59th Fighter Group Army Air Corpsmen take a group photo at Thomasville Army Airfield, Ga.

The 59th Observation Group was established at Newark Airport, New Jersey, in 1941. It moved to Fort Dix Army Air Base, New Jersey, later in the year. Following the US entry into World War II the Group engaged in antisubmarine patrols along the East coast of the United States from December 1941 – October 1943. Initially during 1941–42 the Group operated a wide range of aircraft, including the BC-1A, L-59, O-46, O-47, O-49 Vigilant, and O-52 Owl During 1943 and 1944 the group trained pilots using P-39 Airacobra aircraft and later, in 1944, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk as well. The unit was redesignated the 59th Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943, and again as the 59th Fighter Group on 11 August 1943. The 59th was disbanded on 1 May 1944. On 31 July 1985, the unit was redesignated the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing, but remained inactive. Finally, it was reactivated and consolidated with the Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Hospital on 1 July 1993.

Lackland Air Force Base medical unit

The Mercury Seven in 1960. The Mercury 7 (15258556433).jpg
The Mercury Seven in 1960.

During the Korean War, the 3700th Medical Squadron developed a program to train basic trainees as medical corpsmen to ease shortage of medical personnel. Wilford Hall Medical Center as most people know it today came about during this time. With many Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines returning from the conflict needing medical attention, plans were drawn up to construct a new and larger medical facility which opened in 1957. It was in this first facility, most of which remains today, that the hospital participated in the first of what would become a long list of highlights of medicine, providing medical support to NASA's project Mercury.

From 1983, Wilford Hall offered centralized outpatient care, a clinical investigation facility, the Air Force's largest dispensary system, and the only eye bank and organ transplant centers. The hospital accomplished important research work in neonatal medicine, surgical transplants, orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, immunology, and maxillofacial surgery. Clinical investigations research kept the wing at the forefront of development of high-frequency ventilation and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation; new techniques for the care of premature infants; improved cancer treatments; bone banking and transplantation; laser photocoagulation; and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In December 1989, it provided medical support to casualties returning from operations in Panama. From 4 January to 21 March 1991 Wilford Hall deployed over 900 personnel to RAF Little Rissington, England, to establish a 1500-bed hospital in support of expected casualties from the Gulf War. In 1993 the Medical Center was redesignated the 59th Medical Wing, taking the lineage of the never-active 59th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Closure and realignment

The new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center is a $418 million, 682,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility that will replace the existing building at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. New Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center.jpg
The new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center is a $418 million, 682,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility that will replace the existing building at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

On 15 September 2011, the Wilford Hall Medical Center was officially renamed to the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, becoming the largest outpatient surgical center in the Air Force. Inpatient services are no longer provided at JBSA-Lackland, formerly Lackland Air Force Base, but are centralized at nearby San Antonio Military Medical Center – formerly known as Brooke Army Medical Center, or BAMC, at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Both facilities and all other military treatment facilities in the San Antonio area fall under the San Antonio Military Healthcare System (SAMHS). Construction is underway on a new 680,000 square-foot facility, which will be located adjacent to the existing building. [4]

Lineage

59th Tactical Fighter Wing [5]

Activated on 1 September 1941
Inactivated on 18 October 1942
Redesignated as 59th Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943
Redesignated as 59th Fighter Group on 11 August 1943
Disestablished on 1 May 1944

59th Medical Wing [5]

Organized on 26 August 1948
Redesignated 3700th Station Medical Squadron on 1 November 1948
Redesignated 3700th Medical Group on 27 June 1950
Redesignated 3700th USAF Hospital on 16 October 1953
Redesignated USAF Hospital, Lackland on 1 July 1958
Redesignated Wilford Hall USAF Hospital on 2 March 1963
Redesignated Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center on 1 July 1969

Assignments

Components

Stations

Aircraft

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lackland Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near San Antonio, Texas, part of Air Education and Training Command

Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and an enclave of the city of San Antonio. It is the only site for USAF and United States Space Force enlisted Basic Military Training (BMT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixteenth Air Force</span> US Air Force information warfare organization

The Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) (16 AF) is a United States Air Force (USAF) organization responsible for information warfare, which encompasses intelligence gathering and analysis, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber warfare and electronic warfare operations. Its headquarters is at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Education and Training Command</span> Major command of the United States Air Force responsible for military training and education

The Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">99th Air Base Wing</span> Military unit

The 99th Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command (ACC) and its ACC subordinate organization, the United States Air Force Warfare Center. It is based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and also serves as the host wing at Nellis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Wing</span> Military unit

The 15th Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force at Hickam AFB, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. The wing reports to 11th Air Force, Headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">37th Training Wing</span> Military unit

The 37th Training Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the 2nd Air Force and the Air Education and Training Command. As the host unit to Lackland Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, the 37th TRW is the predominant unit on the installation and is the largest training wing in the USAF. Known as the "Gateway to the Air Force", the 37th Training Wing's replaced the Lackland Training Center as the single basic military training for the USAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd Wing</span> Military unit

The 53rd Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing reports to the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, which in turn reports to Headquarters Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">77th Aeronautical Systems Wing</span> Military unit

The 77th Aeronautical Systems Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">311th Human Systems Wing</span> Military unit

The 311th Human Systems Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was stationed at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center</span> Military medical facility at Lackland AFB, TX, USA

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, formerly known as Wilford Hall Medical Center, is a U.S. Air Force medical treatment facility located on the grounds of San Antonio's Lackland Air Force Base. Operated by the 59th Medical Wing, Wilford Hall is the Defense Department's largest outpatient ambulatory surgical center, providing the full spectrum of primary care, specialty care, and outpatient surgery. The medical facility is named after former Air Force physician, Maj. Gen. Wilford F. Hall, a visionary pioneer whose contributions were instrumental in the development of aeromedical evacuation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123rd Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 359th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Force fighter unit that was active during World War II. Following organization and training in the United States, the group deployed to the European Theater of Operations, operating from RAF East Wretham. The fighter group flew 346 combat missions over continental Europe and claimed 373 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and strafing attacks; probable destruction of 23; and damage to 185. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions. The group flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, then returned to the United States for inactivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">104th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 104th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Fightin' O's, is a unit of the Maryland Air National Guard 175th Wing stationed at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Maryland. The 104th is equipped with the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">126th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 126th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard stationed at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. The 126th is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">59th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 59th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated in Panama in 1941 during the expansion of the United States Army Air Corps before World War II. Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor the squadron participated in antisubmarine patrols in the Caribbean Sea and adjoining waters. When the United States Navy assumed this mission in 1943, the squadron moved to the United States and was disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">567th Cyberspace Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 567th Cyberspace Operations Group is a United States Air Force organization at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, assigned to the 67th Cyberspace Wing. It was activated in June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">502d Air Base Wing</span> Military unit

The 502d Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit that provides installation support for Joint Base San Antonio. The 502d activated on 1 August 2009. The wing's three Mission Support Groups perform the installation support mission at each major installation in the San Antonio area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Base San Antonio</span> US military joint service installation near San Antonio, Texas, United States

Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) is a United States military facility located in San Antonio, Texas, US. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 502d Air Base Wing, Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The wing's three Mission Support Groups perform the installation support mission at the three bases that form JBSA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 32d Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force (USAF). It is assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to activate or inactivate at any time. It was last active as the 32d Air And Space Operations Center in December 2006 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">408th Armament Systems Group</span> Military unit

The 408th Armament Systems Group is an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) unit. Its last assignment was with Air Force Materiel Command's 308th Armament Systems Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeannine M. Ryder</span> American Air Force brigadier general

Jeannine M. Ryder is a U.S. Air Force major general; commander of the Air Force Medical Agency, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia; and chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps.

References

  1. "59 Medical Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs, 2014
  3. 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs..., 2014
  4. 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
  5. 1 2 Air Force Historical Research Agency. "59 Medical Wing (AETC), published June 21, 2017" . Retrieved 23 January 2021.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency