ASDHA
A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues:
Today, we will pause our busy work lives to celebrate the 248th birthday of our nation’s independence. The Fourth of July is the quintessential American holiday with its parades, cookouts, fireworks, and time with family and friends. While these are all things that make this day memorable each year, it’s also important to remember what we celebrate.
When the Declaration of Independence was written, it was by no means certain that this brash new country with its ideals of equality and freedom would succeed in overthrowing the rule of the King. It would take individual and collective courage, perseverance in the face of hardship and unwavering faith – qualities that to this day embody the people who serve in our Armed Forces and in the Military Health System.
We have undertaken some bold moves ourselves this year and I know that our success can be traced back to those qualities we share with the visionaries of 1776. Our country was founded on ideals that endure these 248 years later. The legacy of courage, love of country, and sustained commitment to those ideals can be seen in every city, town, and rural community across the U.S. and are lived each day throughout the MHS.
On this Independence Day, I am grateful for each of you and the work you do to honor the legacy of our founders. Thank you to those of you who will be on duty tomorrow while the rest of the country celebrates.
Happy Fourth of July! Stay safe this weekend and enjoy this wonderful country.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Memorial Day Weekend Message from ASDHA
Colleagues,
As many in our country prepare to welcome summer this weekend, those of us privileged to work in the
Military Health System know that Memorial Day is much more than an extra day off. We take this time to
remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service so that we might remain a free
people. As Secretary Austin said last year at this time, “we hold in our hearts all those who fell to defend
the country that they loved.” Please take a few moments this weekend to reflect on the gratitude we
owe these fallen heroes.
In recent years we have come to more fully recognize that taking care of our people means treating
mental health with the same vigor and attention as physical health. May is Mental Health Awareness
month and I’d like to call attention to the many initiatives within the Department of Defense to advance
mental health care.
We offer a variety of behavioral health (BH) support services and resources. BH services are offered
through military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and the private sector care network. Available
services include primary care BH, specialty BH, and alcohol and substance use programs as well as
inpatient hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Services available outside the MTFs include
Military and Family Life Counseling, Military OneSource, Family Advocacy Program, and inTransition, to
name a few.
The Targeted Care model helps the DoD provide mental health support for service members’ specific
needs, whether it is an individual appointment, group therapy or non-clinical support. It coordinates all
installation resources resulting in increased access to care, reduced wait times for mental health
appointments, increased readiness, and getting the right care at the right time through earlier
intervention. Results from the Targeted Care pilot validated increased BH access to care for those with
higher clinical needs and efficient use of other medical and non-medical helping resources. Beyond the
pilot sites, which are now in sustainment, there are eight additional early adopters and the Defense
Health Agency is currently working toward MHS enterprise adoption.
I am proud of these efforts, while acknowledging that we must always press forward to do more to meet
the mental health needs of our beneficiaries. I thank all of you who are involved in mental health care
for your commitment to this important priority.
I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues:
As this month draws to a close, I wanted to acknowledge the fast pace at which we are all working and start by thanking you for keeping up with the ever-changing and wide-ranging issues we face. I don’t ever want to get so caught up in the pace that I neglect to recognize the effort made every day and the accomplishments that effort yields.
We welcomed more than 2,100 of you to Portland earlier this month for the first MHS Conference in more than a dozen years. All of the feedback so far matches my own view that it was a resounding success – bringing us together to share knowledge, learn, and strengthen the relationships that are such a vital factor in our success. I’m grateful to Hon. Vazarani for kicking off the week, and for the MHS leaders who provided their perspectives in eleven plenary sessions and 64 break-outs. I came away with a better understanding of our opportunities and challenges and with renewed energy and enthusiasm about our ability to meet them. Plenary session recordings and all presentation materials will soon be posted at the conference website. I hope you’ll be happy to know that planning is already underway for next year’s conference.
Spring in Washington D.C. means posture season on the Hill, and we are deep in preparations for our annual presentations to Congress. We have worked hard to develop strong working relationships with Members and staff and look forward to productive discussions with them.
I began this week at an event with Veterans Affairs, announcing an expansion of services at the Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, NY. Our growing partnership with the VA helps us maintain clinical readiness by increasing access to care for beneficiaries of both agencies – it’s a win for everyone.
Again, thank you for everything you do every day to advance our mission, and as always, stay safe!
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues,
This month marks my first full year as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs – and what a year it’s been! With your help, we’ve achieved a great deal in the past twelve months and I want to pause to thank all of you for your support and the effort you make every day to respond to emerging issues while doing the hard work of strategic thinking and long-range planning we need.
I wanted to get a first-hand understanding of our MHS operations around the world and the only way I know how to do that is with in-person visits and candid conversations with our people at all levels. I’ve been privileged to visit a variety of MHS operations from military treatment facilities and labs to academic partners. Without exception, I benefited from honest discussions and blunt feedback, and I thank you for that. Also without exception, I’ve come away from each site visit with a stronger sense of pride in the caliber of the people in the MHS.
Next month, we’ll gather at the MHS Conference, the first one in more than a decade. I look forward to interacting with many of you, and to laying out the road ahead to fulfilling our new MHS Strategy, starting with stabilization, as outlined in the memo from the Deputy Secretary of Defense. I hope you’ve taken the time to read both documents, and come prepared with questions, comments, and insights.
Finally, I’d like to take this chance to welcome our newest leader, Rear Admiral (ret.) Susan M. Orsega, our new Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight. Ms. Orsega comes to us from the Department of Health and Human Services, where she served as principal adviser to the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Surgeon General on all U.S. Public Health Service policies and activities. She’s been a leader in public health for more than thirty years and her strong interagency relationships and professional expertise will help us tremendously as we move forward. Please join me in making her welcome!
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
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