Operational Emergency Medicine Clerkship: A Transformative Experience for USU Medical Students
The Operational Emergency Medicine Clerkship at Kirtland Air Force Base provides Uniformed Services University medical students with hands-on experience in flight and operational medicine, preparing them for mission-critical roles in the Air Force.
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2nd Lt. Edmonson rides the Skedco as a simulated patient during a high angle rescue exercise. (Photo courtesy of 2nd Lt. Lauren Edmonson) |
January 14, 2025 by Capt. (Dr.) Thomas Powell, Operational Emergency Medicine, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
The Uniformed Services University (USU) is dedicated to preparing its students to become not only skilled physicians but also exemplary military medical officers who serve as role models to their peers. To strengthen the connection between exceptional medical education and operational excellence, the U.S. Air Force has established the Operational Graduate Medical Education (OGME) program. This initiative aligns physicians with the operational community before completing residency, producing graduates who serve directly with some of the Air Force’s most dynamic units as Flight Surgeons, Special Operations Forces Medical Elements, and Special Operations Forces medical directors.
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2nd Lt. Edmonson at one of the training sites for the Pararescue graduation exercise. (Photo courtesy of 2nd Lt. Edmonson) |
Then-Air Force 2nd Lt. Lauren Edmonson, a medical student in USU’s class of 2024, had the opportunity to become the first USU student to complete this rotation under the guidance of USU graduate, Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Powell, an emergency physician assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base. During her time at Kirtland, Edmonson participated in a range of activities designed to broaden her understanding of operational medicine. She flew two different aircraft simulators, received an incentive flight on an Air Force UH-1N helicopter through the breathtaking canyonlands of western New Mexico, and learned high-angle rescue techniques from Air Force pararescuemen (PJs). She also had the rare opportunity to observe the graduation exercise for the Air Force’s pararescue school house. Additionally, Edmonson shadowed physicians in local Albuquerque emergency departments, gaining valuable insight into the off-duty roles of Air Force flight surgeons.
Reflecting on her experience, Edmonson remarked, "The OEM experience at Kirtland Air Force Base opened my mind to the vast opportunities flight medicine has to offer. I loved seeing how OEM combines outstanding emergency medicine with the ability to fill a mission critical position in both flight and operational units to ensure mission readiness and mission success."
Between her time at the flight medicine clinic, being hoisted by a UH-1N, participating as a patient during pararescue training, and observing daily operations on the flight line, Edmonson gained a profound appreciation for the complexities of the Air Force’s mission. She also developed a deeper understanding of the dual role military physicians play as both clinicians and trusted medical advisors to high-performing teams.
Edmonson began her residency in Operational Emergency Medicine at The Ohio State University in the summer following graduation from USU. She credits her clerkship at Kirtland Air Force Base as a transformative experience that prepared her to transition from clinical medicine to the dynamic demands of flight and operational medicine. “My experience at Kirtland was the perfect primer to help me excel in my transition from clinical medicine to flight and operational medicine,” she said.
For medical students interested in exploring operational medicine, the OEM Clerkship at Kirtland Air Force Base offers an unparalleled opportunity. Students are encouraged to learn more about this experience through their faculty advisors or program coordinators.
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