USPHS
By Lt. Cmdr. Linda Simpson,
Indian Health Conference Held
The Indian Health Service Audiology Conference was held August 18-20, 1997 at Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana. We had a number of great presentations. Pat Clees from Phoenix Area reported on their experience using ABR and OAE for newborn hearing screening. Arlene Stedler Brown from Marion Downs National Center for Infant Hearing in Boulder, CO gave a presentation on Audiologic Rehabilitation of Hearing Impaired Infants. Steve Achley from the University of Northern Colorado spoke on embryology, Syndromes & Hearing. There were 20 in attendance, 4 of which are in the commissioned corps of the Indian Health Service.
The Alaska Native Medical Center moved in to their new facility on 6/1/97. We would like to welcome LT Larry Otwell from Dothan, Alabama to our staff. We are enjoying his southern accent here in the far north.
As many of you know, Maj. Jim Johnson retired from the Air Force at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Since he left on November 1, Elmendorf has been short staffed. Alaska Native Medical Center has entered into an operating agreement with the 3rd Medical Center and the Veterans Administraton to provide audiology services at the air force base to support their ENT physicians. ANMC is also providing pre and postoperative evaluations at the native hospital for Elmendorfs pediatric population. The operating agreement was developed under the auspices of the Alaska Federal Health Care Partnership. The Veterans Administration Audiology Department is seeing active duty patients atthe VA facility. The duration of the operating agreement is November 1, l997 to October 31, l998. We plan to continue sharing services between the three facilities during this time period to see how it goes. LTC Cari Sherris will be arriving at Elmendorf AFB on December 15. The Audiology Department at ANMC plans to help LTC Sherris brush up on clinical skills at our hospital, while the audiologists at ANMC learn more about Hearing Conservation Programs. We are very excited about this agreement and hope that we can use it to help provide services when one of the audiologists is on leave or tdy also. To go further with this, we may be able to provide special diagnostic services at one facility or another and send our patients to the facility where the evaluation is available. Were looking forward to this cooperative effort.
USN
By LCDR Anne Shields,
Promotions
Congratulations to CDR Kathy Hartmann. The promotion was official September 1–thanks CDR Hartmann for all your hard work at the BUMED Level for the Audiology community!
Congratulations to CDR (Sel) Bob Rogers. Another well deserved selection!
Congratulations to LCDR Kelly Paul on her December 1 promotion. Kelly has done an outstanding job as attested to by her selection as 1997 NAS Audiologist of the Year!
Congratulations to LT (Sel) Joel Bealer. Good job!
Redesignation
Congratulations to LCDR (Sel) Kelly Paul. This is a big step in the career Navy path.
Welcome
Please belatedly welcome Ricki Gemmel to the Military Audiology community. Ms. Gemmel is a staff audiologist at NMC Portsmouth (VA).
Please also belatedly welcome Cindy Zehner to the Military Audiology community. Ms. Zehner is a staff audiologist at National NMC (Bethesda MD).
Farewell
Lori Howe, Naval Hospital Great Lakes departed in June.
Susan Reiners, NH Millington departed in July to Knoxville with the closure of NH Millington.
Awards
Congratulations to LCDR Anne Shields, CDR Kathleen Hartmann, and LCDR Keith Wolgemuth for a meritorious unit commendation (January 1994-January 1996) for exemplary contributions at NMC San Diego.
Reserve news
Please contact CDR Hartmann if you have any assignments for a Reserve audiologists.
Marriages
LCDR Keith Wolgemuth (NMC San Diego) and Monica exchanged vows in August. Best Wishes!
Congratulations
Mr. Steve Lewis (NMC Portsmouth) received the Distinguished Civilian Award. This award is equivalent to the Navy Commendation Medal and was awarded to Steve for all his contributions to the Naval Shipyard and the Navy Medical community in terms of cost savings of hearing compensation claims. This award is extremely prestigious and rarely awarded. The fact that it was awarded to Steve at a time other than retirement indicates the respect and admiration the Shipyard and the Medical Center has for him.
USAF
By LtCol (sel) Theresa Schulz,
Moves
LtCol John Allen will leave the Consult Service at Brooks AFB, TX to take Command of the Air Force Element at Andrews AFB in late February.
LtCol Cari Sherris has left Hill AFB, UT for Elmendorf AFB, AK.
Maj Linda Ruckreigel has returned from her doctoral program to Hill AFB, UT.
Capt Denise West left her position at Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, AL to take over at Scott AFB, IL.
Capt Jill Juvan moved from Scott AFB, IL to fill the position at McClellan AFB, CA.
New personnel
Welcome to 1Lt Virginia Hays a new staff audiologist at Wilford Hall. She comes to us from Wyoming where she as in the Air National Guard for 10 years before going back to school for her audiology degree at the University of Wyoming.
Other news
Capt Denise West has announced her engagement. The wedding is planned for Fall 1998. Congratulations!
Capt Mickra King had a bouncing baby boy, Jared Alexander King on 9 November, weighing in at a healthy 7 lbs.