McConnell's 22nd MDG picks up 21 AMC-level awards

Published Jan. 13, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The mission at McConnell is supported by various groups, and through their efforts to support McConnell, the 22nd Medical Group recently won 21 Air Mobility Command-level awards for 2010.

The awards are given annually to outstanding teams and individuals who stand out in their specialty. McConnell's medical group received five team and 16 individual awards, one of which was the Best Small Base Health Promotion Program Award.

"I couldn't be more proud to be associated with this medical group," said Col. Alan Reid, 22nd Medical Group commander. "The credit for all these wins really goes to the squadron commanders and their superintendents. We have an incredibly young but enthusiastic staff."

Another team award is the Outstanding Medical Logistics Small Activity Account of the Year. The medical groups staff continue to strive for the Air Force core values, said Colonel Reid.

"We believe in integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do," said Colonel Reid. "Those values are what we are about, and we believe in compassionate care. We focus on two areas: providing excellent care and ensuring medically ready Airman."

Since 2008, McConnell's Individual Medical Readiness has stayed above the 80 percent IMR standard set by the Air Force. McConnell's IMR has also been number one in AMC for the past year. IMR is affected by fixable medical discrepancies such as immunizations, dental care, preventive health assessments and medical equipment.

"IMR is important because it is really the percentage of people on base who are medically ready to deploy," said Capt. Jill Roser, 22nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health Flight commander.

Along with getting the Team Aerospace Award, the medical group nabbed the Outstanding Category II Behavioral Health Team Award.

"We are honored to receive this award from AMC," said Lt. Col. Andrew Cruz, 22nd Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight commander. "We want to thank leadership for supporting us as we do our mission throughout the world."

The mental health flight provided pre and post deployment briefs along with supporting other Air Force bases with extra manning. Also supporting Team McConnell, was the immunization clinic, which has led the way in AMC the past three years for active duty vaccines and flu vaccine currency.

"I am very proud of the work done in the allergy and immunization clinic over the past five years," said Staff Sgt. Dallas Swalla, 22nd Medical Operations Squadron allergy and immunizations NCOIC. "The immunizations provided contribute to the overall mission of the group by ensuring that all workers are tracked and vaccinated, regardless of military or civilian status, to protect our patients and ourselves from diseases."

The 22nd MDG sees and treats patients year round, supporting Team McConnell, but they also hold themselves to a high standard in the support they give.

"Within our flight and throughout the group, we have a definite dedication to our customers and completing the mission," said Master Sgt. Kristy Earls, 22nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health flight NCOIC.

According to the last team winner, the Small Dental Clinic of the Year, and many of the group's Airmen, the 22nd MDG will continue to strive for that higher standard in 2011, and continue to support the Team McConnell mission.

The following is a list of the individual awards.

Civilian Nurse of the Year:
Tonya Gillespie 22nd Medical Support Squadron

USAF Civilian Pharmacy Technician of the Year Award:
Dwain Hedgepeth, 22nd MDSS

USAF Colonel Cleveland L. Parker NCO Award:
Staff Sgt. Bethany Sterling, 22nd AMDS

USAF Colonel Cleveland L. Parker SNCO Award:
Master Sgt. Kristy Earls, 22nd AMDS

USAF Public Health Airman of the Year Award:
Airman 1st Class Lauren Hemphill, 22nd AMDS

USAF Outstanding Company Grade Social Worker of the Year Award:
Capt. Erika King, 22nd MDOS

Health Benefits Advisor of the Year:
Diana Diaz, 22nd MDSS

Outstanding Medical Material Airman of the Year:
Senior Airman Tina Girdano, 22nd MDSS

Outstanding Medical Logistics CGO Officer of the Year:
1st Lt. Anson Lloyd, 22nd MDSS

Brigadier General Peter C. Bellisario Young Health Care Administrator of the Year Award:
Capt. Daniel Coleman, 22nd MDSS

Outstanding Health Plan Management NCO of the Year Award:
Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Clouse, 22nd MDSS

Outstanding Health Plan Management Airman of the Year Award:
Senior Airman Ashley Baker, 22nd MDSS

Chief Master Sergeant Lewis W. Dunlap Outstanding Airman Award:
Senior Airman Kevin Yeates, 22nd MDOS

Chief Master Sergeant Lewis W. Dunlap Outstanding SNCO Award:
Master Sgt. Elzina Simmons, 22nd MDOS

Outstanding Enlisted Health Services Management Airman of the Year:
Senior Airman Theresa Scherquist, 22nd MDSS

Outstanding Enlisted Health Services Management NCO of the Year:
Staff Sgt. Monique Roberts, 22nd MDSS