USU Nursing Faculty to Receive Award for Development of Expeditionary Resuscitation Surgical Team

Thre men pose for a photo in front of a plane. USU faculty members Dr. Kenneth Wofford (left), Dr. Matthew Welder (center), and Dr. Matthew D’Angelo (right) were instrumental in the development of the ERST course. Welder and D’Angelo recently received the Army Surgeon General’s quarterly and annual Wolf Pack Awards for their contributions to the development of the ERST training and teams. Wofford contributed to the program’s curriculum. (Courtesy photo)

By Sharon Holland

Two faculty members of the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences have been selected for the Army’s quarterly and annual Wolf Pack Awards. 

An "injured" dummy lays on a gurny while military medical students practice field medicine
Students take care of multiple “casualties” during the Army’s ERST
course. USU faculty members Dr. Matthew Welder and Dr. Matthew
D’Angelo were presented the Army’s Wolf Pack Award for their role
in the development of the ERST concept and training. (Courtesy
photo)
Dr. Matthew D’Angelo, associate professor and assistant program director for the nurse anesthesia program, and Dr. Matthew Welder, assistant professor in the nurse anesthesia program, are among a team of former special operations forces and Joint Special Operations Command healthcare providers selected for the award for their significant contributions to the development and deployment of the U.S. Army’s Expeditionary Resuscitation Surgical Team (ERST). ERST is a highly mobile, inter-professional eight-member medical team that can perform damage control resuscitation and surgery in support of operational forces in far-forward and austere locations.

Welder, along with tactical combat medical care colleagues, came up with the initial concept for the team. D’Angelo contributed his curriculum design expertise for the ERST training program, and both faculty members serve as anesthesia subject matter experts. More than eight teams have deployed to date in Africa and other operational settings. 

The Army surgeon general and chief of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Civilian Corps created the quarterly Wolf Pack Award to recognize exceptional teamwork by an integrated group of military and civilian team members focused on excellence in support of Army Medicine. The award, sponsored by the AMEDD Civilian Corps, is intended to recognize and celebrate successes of teams throughout Army Medicine. Quarterly winners are automatically considered for the "Wolf Pack of the Year” award, presented annually at the MEDCOM Training Symposium or other appropriate forum.

a dummy lays on a gurny wrapped in a thermal blanket, hands hold an IV bag above it
Students participating in the Army’s ERST course resuscitate and prepare to transport a “patient” during a prolonged field care scenario. (Courtesy photo)

“The University and the Graduate School of Nursing are proud to have such faculty committed to our shared mission of readiness and our dedication to continued partnership with the Military Health System. These types of training initiatives help to save lives,” said Dr. Carol Romano, dean of USU’s Graduate School of Nursing. “Dr. Welder and Dr. D'Angelo epitomize the expertise that CRNAs bring to the fight and the value of collaborative team efforts.”