Military Health System Conference Charts Course for Readiness, Innovation and Future Care

Leaders, educators, and experts convened to tackle critical issues in military medicine, charting paths for global health engagement, force readiness, and advancements in women's health research.

The Surgeon General's Roundtable at the MHS Conference (Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU)
The Surgeon General's Roundtable at the MHS Conference (Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU)

May 12, 2025 by USU External Affairs

The Military Health System (MHS) Conference recently convened, centering discussions on bolstering readiness, fostering innovation, and preparing for future healthcare challenges. The Uniformed Services University (USU) played a significant role, notably hosting the event's Education and Training Track and leading numerous vital sessions.

Setting the Stage: Collaboration and Readiness Emphasized

Day two of the conference opened with a dynamic Surgeons General’s Roundtable, highlighting the essential nature of collaboration among military medical leaders to confront global threats and harness technological advancements. Moderated by Dr. David Smith, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and acting director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), the wide-ranging discussion delved into operational medicine, force health protection partnerships, and the modernization of human medical capabilities.  

Leaders from across the services shared distinct perspectives on readiness and ongoing transformation. Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Mary Izaguirre stressed the imperative of prioritizing service member and family health through robust readiness initiatives and partnerships. Air Force Lt. Gen. (Dr.) John DeGoes outlined the evolving mission of Air Force medicine, underscoring the need for greater agility and seamlessly integrated medical capabilities. 

Representing the Navy, Rear Adm. (Dr.) Darin K. Via focused on readiness achieved through strategic medical capability distribution, civilian partnerships, advancements in prolonged field care, and agile response mechanisms. Rear Adm. (Dr.) Pamela Miller reinforced Navy medicine's critical function in ensuring Marine Corps operational readiness, particularly in the complex management of prolonged casualty care. 

Army Maj. Gen.( Dr.) John H. Hou detailed the unique challenges facing the National Guard, emphasizing trauma training and collaborative solutions, while Air Force Brig. Gen. (Dr.) John R. Andrus highlighted the strength of the total joint force and the significant value derived from civilian partnerships in overcoming training constraints.

The roundtable concluded with clear action items: integrating medical capabilities with the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept, exploring methods to extend trauma care durations, redesigning medical support structures for the Marine Corps, and expanding crucial trauma training opportunities throughout the MHS.

USU Graduate School of Nursing Dean Dr. Carol Romano moderated a panel of senior Nurse Corps leaders, who addressed similar challenges within their ranks, focusing on recruitment, retention, readiness, and targeted leadership development.
USU Graduate School of Nursing Dean Dr. Carol Romano moderated a panel of senior Nurse
Corps leaders, who addressed similar challenges within their ranks, focusing on recruitment,
retention, readiness, and targeted leadership development. (Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU)

Developing the Force: Nurturing Skill, Adaptability, and Leadership

Several panels addressed the critical need for developing skilled and adaptable leaders across the MHS. Senior Medical Corps officers discussed improving physician recruitment, training, retention and research to bolster force generation and readiness. Key topics included enhancing USU curricula (moderated by USU School of Medicine Dean Dr. Eric Elster), formalizing professional development, incorporating leadership training into the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), mentorship and addressing HPSP recruitment challenges. Panelists agreed that job satisfaction and sufficient support staff are paramount for retaining valuable medical personnel.

Medical Service Corps leaders, led by USU College of Allied Health Sciences Dean Dr. James Nash, explored strategies for preparing officers to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven environment. Their discussions centered on effective talent management, cultivating digital proficiency, ensuring interoperability between systems, harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), and bridging existing IT and informatics gaps. Attracting and retaining top talent through modern digital media engagement and prioritizing job satisfaction emerged as recurring themes.

USU Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) Dean Dr. Carol Romano moderated a panel of senior Nurse Corps leaders, who addressed similar challenges within their ranks, focusing on recruitment, retention, readiness, and targeted leadership development. Key strategies highlighted included improving outreach efforts, clearly defining leadership programs, expanding accessible online learning opportunities, and demonstrably valuing personnel through consistent engagement and mentorship. Army Brig. Gen. James Burk emphasized the necessity of transparent communication with staff, particularly during periods of transition.

Furthermore, a packed session, moderated by retired Navy Command Master Chief Tyrone Willis, USU recruitment officer, featured senior enlisted medical leaders illuminating the diverse educational and career pathways available within each service, offering valuable insights for enlisted personnel.

Retired Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, director of the Murtha Cancer Center, led a session exploring the definition and practical implementation of Centers of Excellence (CoEs), focusing on optimizing clinical care, driving process improvement, and advancing critical research. (Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU)
Retired Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, director of the Murtha Cancer Center, led a session
exploring the definition and practical implementation of Centers of Excellence (CoEs), focusing
on optimizing clinical care, driving process improvement, and advancing critical research.
(Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU)

Innovating Care and Operations: From Global Engagement to AI

Innovation proved a central thread throughout the conference, touching upon global engagement, pioneering research, specialized care delivery, and system-wide operational improvements.

A session dedicated to Global Health Engagement (GHE) featured Army Col. (Dr.) Elizabeth Erickson, director of USU’s Center for Global Health Engagement (CGHE). Erickson discussed updated GHE terminology and outlined the strategic importance of both GHE and the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program (SPP) in fostering collaboration with international allies. She stressed the need to align GHE activities directly with overarching strategic priorities. Col. Charla Geist described the SPP as a vital "key tool for building enduring relationships." Examples like the impactful Pacific Partnership mission and the Rush University Advanced Trauma Training Program served as powerful illustrations of effective GHE and successful military-civilian partnerships in action.

The conference also held discussions on women’s health research. Panelists, including Dr. Lynette Hamlin, professor and associate dean of USU's GSN, and Dr. Jill Brown, associate professor at USU, shared compelling research findings and unveiled a publicly accessible database designed to maximize the impact and reach of women's health research.

Retired Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, director of the Murtha Cancer Center, led a session exploring the definition and practical implementation of Centers of Excellence (CoEs), focusing on optimizing clinical care, driving process improvement, and advancing critical research. USU's Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, represented by its chair and professor, retired Army Col. (Dr.) James Mancuso, presented innovative educational products developed to directly support DoD force generation needs.

Another forward-looking session focused on the SAFEGUARD initiative, which utilizes machine learning and AI to predict behavioral health risks among service members. Panelists included experts such as Army Col. (Dr.) Vincent Capaldi and Dr. Joseph Geraci. Finally, in a session hosted and moderated by Dr. Drew Fallis, executive dean of the USU Postgraduate Dental College, Service Dental Corps chiefs discussed the integral role of dentistry in supporting overall DoD health and readiness.

USU President Dr. Jonathan Woodson emphasized the necessity of adapting the MHS workforce to a landscape constantly being reshaped by demographic shifts, rapid technological advancements, and emerging models of care, stressing the unique readiness requirements inherent to the military context. (Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU)
USU President Dr. Jonathan Woodson emphasized the necessity of adapting the MHS workforce
to a landscape constantly being reshaped by demographic shifts, rapid technological advancements,
and emerging models of care, stressing the unique readiness requirements inherent to the military
context. (Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU)

System-Wide Assessment and Future Directions

High-level discussions grappled with the overarching MHS structure, the effectiveness of current training paradigms, and the evolving needs of the future military medical workforce. A key presentation detailed the Section 724 study, a comprehensive USU-led assessment evaluating MHS education and training programs specifically through the lens of operational readiness. Presenters included Dr. Glendon Diehl, USU's vice president for External Affairs, and Mr. Allen Middleton, senior advisor to the USU President. Mandated by Congress, this study aims to create a dynamic digital dashboard enabling data-driven insights and fostering collaborative improvement across the MHS. "If you don’t train the force the right way, you won’t be able to execute the mission,” Middleton stated pointedly. Diehl elaborated, "If you're not filling to the requirement, then you should understand what your risk and your gap is."

USU President Dr. Jonathan Woodson emphasized the necessity of adapting the MHS workforce to a landscape constantly being reshaped by demographic shifts, rapid technological advancements, and emerging models of care, stressing the unique readiness requirements inherent to the military context. Dr. Jeffrey Freeman, director of USU's National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), guided a discussion on Medical Operations Coordination Centers (MOCCs), exploring ways to enhance national preparedness for health crises. Freeman observed, "We cannot afford to have a bunch of people standing around…and our healthcare systems are exactly the same." Dr. Petrice Longenecker, USU's human protections director, offered crucial guidance on navigating the complex web of MHS research regulations, while another USU-led session featuring Dr. Christine Bader addressed emerging medical ethical challenges posed by modern warfare.

Collectively, these diverse sessions provided a vital platform for leaders and experts to collaboratively dissect the challenges and seize the opportunities facing military medicine today. Across the board, conversations consistently converged on enhancing readiness, driving meaningful innovation, developing the next generation of leaders, and ensuring the MHS remains prepared and resilient to meet evolving global and domestic health demands.