A Message from the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

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Colleagues,

What an exciting first two weeks it’s been! I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Military Health System leaders across the gamut: MTF directors to the SG’s, DHA to the Joint Staff. I’ve heard from folks doing the frontline work right at the bedside. I’ve seen many of the great things you’re doing at the deckplate — saving lives at the bleeding edge of the most complex, global healthcare system in the world. It’s been inspirational. 

This is an action-oriented administration. The Secretary is bringing that energy and laser focus to our warfighting mission and I submit that the MHS is absolutely a weapon system enabler.

We enhance the lethality of our fighting force by being a force multiplier. We enable and empower the warfighter to take risk with the confidence that should they be injured, they will receive prompt and effective medical care — anytime, anywhere. 

Ours is a no fail mission.

To ensure we remain mission capable, we must seek to continuously restore, stabilize, fortify, and sustain our medical capabilities.

In the operational realm, this means ensuring the readiness of programs such as the Joint Trauma System and the Armed Services Blood Program; critically evaluating and updating policies and procedures matrixing the Services, the DHA, and the Combatant Commands. Within our MTFs, thousands of healthcare professionals execute on our healthcare delivery mission. The entire team who takes care of patients across the arc of life, from a person’s first breath to their last, is vital to reaffirming the ties that bind us as a military family, while supporting the crucial readiness dyad: Skills Sustainment and Force Generation.

In the coming weeks and months, I’ll be traveling to CONUS and OCONUS sites across the MHS. I wish I could meet each and every one of you. I look forward to seeing your spaces — where patients are healed, and the art of healing is conveyed. I’m eager to hear your thoughts and ideas. Be candid!

Thank you, and may God guide your sacred work.

Respectfully,

Stephen Ferrara, M.D.

Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

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