Pa Is Army Flight Surgeon Of The Year

[deleted6669]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Being responsible for others’ health and well being is a challenging task, but ensuring the United States President and his family members remain healthy adds even more pressure to an already stressful and demanding job. Nonetheless, for one 3rd Battalion 25th Aviation Regiment 25th Combat Aviation Brigade air medical physician assistant (PA) at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, this prior experience gave him an advantage for winning a prestigious aviation award.
“For three years, I was the PA at the White house for the president, vice president and their families,” said Capt. Larry Long, air medical PA with Headquarter Headquarters Company, 3-25 AVN and Chicago native. “The work tempo was always crazy or I was working in the clinic where it was always busy.”
Awarded by the Society of United States Army Flight Surgeons, Long was named the Spurgeon Neel Flight Surgeon of the Year based on the number of patients seen, air medical summaries and the amount of flight physicals given; but more remarkable is the award marks the third consecutive year for the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.
“For any PA in a brigade to win is great,” the Chicago native enthusiastically said. “But for the 25th CAB to receive it three years in a row is exceptional.”

 

[primadonna22274]

Now THAT is cool. Thanks for sharing E....
🙂

 

[SF Doc]

I'm an APA-C as well....we just got it like that!!!

 

[hawkpilot]

SF Doc-

Do you recieve ACIP?

 

[cel083]

Being responsible for others’ health and well being is a challenging task, but ensuring the United States President and his family members remain healthy adds even more pressure to an already stressful and demanding job. Nonetheless, for one 3rd Battalion 25th Aviation Regiment 25th Combat Aviation Brigade air medical physician assistant (PA) at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, this prior experience gave him an advantage for winning a prestigious aviation award.
“For three years, I was the PA at the White house for the president, vice president and their families,” said Capt. Larry Long, air medical PA with Headquarter Headquarters Company, 3-25 AVN and Chicago native. “The work tempo was always crazy or I was working in the clinic where it was always busy.”
Awarded by the Society of United States Army Flight Surgeons, Long was named the Spurgeon Neel Flight Surgeon of the Year based on the number of patients seen, air medical summaries and the amount of flight physicals given; but more remarkable is the award marks the third consecutive year for the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.
“For any PA in a brigade to win is great,” the Chicago native enthusiastically said. “But for the 25th CAB to receive it three years in a row is exceptional.”

Congratulations, then, to Capt. Long.👍

 

[MacGyver]

Can someone explain to me again how you can be a "flight surgeon" and yet not be a regular surgeon? How exactly does that work?

Yes, yes I know its a historical artifact. But the people who thought this up in the 1800s or whenever are just as stupid today as the people who use it. Back in teh 1800s surgeons and physicians were two totally different animals, and absolutely separate from each other. It made zero sense to call all military docs as "surgeons" in the 1800s and it makes zero sense today to do the same.

I can see this conversation going down:


"Hey nice to meet you, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a flight surgeon"

"Oh a surgeon huh?"

"No I'm not a surgeon, I'm a FLIGHT SURGEON"

"What? So you're not a surgeon but you're a flight surgeon? Do you operate on people?"

"No"

"So you are a surgeon but you dont operate?"

"Nope, I'm a FLIGHT surgeon who does not operate"

"OK, so whatever it is you do I take it you work on planes and stuff"

"No not really, I'm in the air sometimes but 90% of my time I'm ground-based"

"So let me get this straight. You're not a surgeon, you dont work on flights, but your title is FLIGHT SURGEON? WTF?"


The real question is why didnt the military in the 1800s call these guys "one eyed, one horned flying purple people eaters?" That title makes just as much sense as calling them "flight surgeons" but it actually sounds a lot cooler.

 

[LizUMD]

Pardon my ignorance, but I was confused by the topic too. I guess "flight surgeons" aren't really surgeons but a term for P.A.'s? I mean, I get the historical association of the term "surgeon" with general physicians (the U.S. Surgeon General isn't necessarily a surgeon either, but he/she is a physician). I have heard of military flight surgeons before, but I always assumed that it was a physician position.

Oh well, learn something new every day...

 

[deleted6669]

to add to the confusion are the ranks of brigade and battalion surgeon, also nonsurgeons who may be physicians or pa's.

 

[core0]

Pardon my ignorance, but I was confused by the topic too. I guess "flight surgeons" aren't really surgeons but a term for P.A.'s? I mean, I get the historical association of the term "surgeon" with general physicians (the U.S. Surgeon General isn't necessarily a surgeon either, but he/she is a physician). I have heard of military flight surgeons before, but I always assumed that it was a physician position.

Oh well, learn something new every day...

Flight surgeon refers to the time when all army physicians were referred to as surgeons. This was mostly because there was no need for medical care on the battlefield. The term surgeon has come to mean more things as other providers have entered the ranks. A battalion surgeon is the senior medical officer in the particular unit. A PA (or MD) as a flight surgeon usually functions at the company level. They are the primary care provider for the company and also advise the company commander on medical matters. When I was in (before PAs were commissioned officers) it was unusual, but not unheard of for PAs to be Battalion surgeons. At that time a battalion support platoon usually consisted of On BN surgeon (usually a GMO) One PA as assistant BN surgeon, One MSC officer and about 30 medics. If there was no GMO then the PA took over as BN surgeon. The position is a title not a reflection of whether the person is a physician (or even a surgeon).

David Carpenter, PA-C

With commissioned PAs and the current tempo of operations in Iraq I am sure that this has changed. I would defer to current active duty members.

 

[FlyingFish]

Wow, McGyver. You appear to have some anger issues you might want to work out before beginning your rotations. You will be working with PAs - some of whom may be Flight Surgeons - and if you improve your attitude, you might learn something from them.

Flight Surgeons do indeed fly. In the Army, they are no longer pilots because of training cost issues. In the Navy and Airforce, they are required to perform a set number of hours per month piloting the aircraft. In the Army they must fly as crew. Regardless of what service they are in, they fly with their aircrews, and they face the same risks. Surface-to-air missiles don't distinguish between medical and aviation personnel.

Flight surgeons, since before the invention of military Medevac and in-flight care, have attended to the unique health requirements of aviators and astronauts. Until flight surgeons began investigating the physiology of flight, it was a mystery why pilots died above 12,000 feet, went unconscious during certain maneuvers, and crashed planes and helicopters in apparently normal conditions, among a myriad of other situations unique to flight. With the advent of Medevac, Flight Surgeons took on the role of training and supervising the Flight Medics (enlisted soldiers, comparable to paramedics) who actually deliver care in the air. Since the average flight from battle front to field hospital is less than 20 minutes, it makes more sense to have 1 flight surgeon supervise a group of flight medics and then receive patients than have a group of flight surgeons in the air delivering basic life support.

As for the comments about Flight Surgeons being "Just PAs," Aeromedical PAs are given the title Flight Surgeon out of respect - we sit in the same classes, take the same courses and exams, and have the same responsibilities as the MDs. It is hard-earned respect of Army Physicians and military patients that has resulted in PAs being given that title.

Peter Fish, Flight Surgeon, APA
Captain, US Army
Medical Student

 

[deleted6669]

check the date of macgyver's post.
he was banned around a yr ago for a hx of persistent similar abusive posts....🙂

 

[ArkansasRanger]

check the date of macgyver's post.
he was banned around a yr ago for a hx of persistent similar abusive posts....🙂

Is it common for PAs to become wing wearing, occasionally flying, flight surgeons? The basic role of a flight surgeon, and GMO for that matter, actually seems better suited for PAs. But there I go running my mouth again without being a clinician.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Is it common for PAs to become wing wearing, occasionally flying, flight surgeons? The basic role of a flight surgeon, and GMO for that matter, actually seems better suited for PAs. But there I go running my mouth again without being a clinician.

Not that this is a life goal or anything, but it'd be really cool to know the answer to this. Anyone?

 

[deleted6669]

Not that this is a life goal or anything, but it'd be really cool to know the answer to this. Anyone?

I know several so it can't be that uncommon among career military pa's. most are capt or above. I know one who is a lt. col very well.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I know several so it can't be that uncommon among career military pa's. most are capt or above. I know one who is a lt. col very well.

Were you a military medical...guy?

 

[deleted6669]

Were you a military medical...guy?

nope, civilian medic....I just work with lots of military types....