By Master Sgt. Kimberly Spencer
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

Maj. (Dr.) Stephen Scranton (left) and Capt. (Dr.) Chris Calabria discuss symptoms and treatment of a patient. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kimberly Yearyean-Siers)

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A 59th Medical Wing allergy team won the 15th Annual American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Fellows-in-Training Bowl held Nov. 6 in Philadelphia.

Allergy specialists Maj. (Dr.) Stephen Scranton and Capt. (Dr.) Chris Calabria, with the 759th Medical Operations Squadron at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB, Texas, beat out 21 teams from top allergy fellowship programs across the nation in the academic competition.

"It was an honor to represent the Allergy Program and Wilford Hall in this competition," Calabria said. "Our win is a testament to the great program that our current and prior WHMC staff members have created."

A 59th Medical Wing team has won the competition eight of the last 13 years. The competition is patterned after a television quiz show and has three elimination rounds.

"The competition is fast-paced and dynamic, and the teams competed to answer a variety of serious, and not so serious questions posed by an expert panel," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Michael Tankersley, 759th Allergy and Immunology Flight commander.

Of the 22 teams only four were made up of military members, two from the 59th MDW and two from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"We feel very fortunate to have come away with a win for Wilford Hall," Scranton said. "Our program has been so consistently successful in this competition in years past that Wilford Hall has become known as the perennial team to beat, and the other fellowship programs really 'come gunning' for us. I think that Wilford Hall's history of success in this competition can really be attributed to the outstanding educational environment provided by our staff.

The Wilford Hall team won the championship round by 50 points.

"The blend of didactics, clinical experience and research opportunities allow us to graduate fellows like Dr. Scranton and Dr. Calabria and continue to build upon the program's national reputation of excellence," Tankersley said.

The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States acknowledges the abilities of many outstanding Federal healthcare individuals each year through their awards program.

The awards were presented at the association's annual meeting, Nov. 8, during the annual dinner. Each recipient was presented his or her award personally by the AMSUS executive director and the surgeon general or chief medical director of their respective service.

Air Force members claimed the following awards:

• John D. Chase Award For Physician Executive Excellence
  Recipient: Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Bruce Green, AF deputy surgeon general
  Citation: In deserved recognition of his superior skills as an innovator, and leader and a visionary in military medicine.
  
  
• Richard A. Kern Lecture Award
  Recipient: Retired Lt. Gen. (Dr.) George Peach Taylor, Jr., former AF surgeon general
  Citation: For his lecture: "The Challenges for Federal Medicine".
  
  
• AMSUS Award For Excellence In Clinical Pharmacy Practice
  Recipient: Maj. Barbara J. Hoeben, USAF, BSC
  Citation: In recognition of outstanding leadership and the advancement of clinical pharmacy practice in military medicine.
  
  
• AMSUS History of Military Medicine Essay Award
  Recipient: Lt. Col. Nathan H. Johnson
  Citation: For his article "Colonel (Dr.) Edward Vedder: The Shoulders of a Giant".
  
  
• Walter P. McHugh Award
  Recipient: Lt. Col. David J. Zemkosky
  Citation: In recognition of his outstanding skills and performance in medical logistics and his dedication to fulfilling the mission.
  
  
• Carl A. Schlack Award
  Recipient: Col. (Dr.) William J. Dunn
  Citation: In recognition of his far reaching dental research accomplishments and for his impact as a dental educator.
  
  
• Lewis L. Seaman Enlisted Award for Outstanding Operational Support
  Recipient: Master Sgt. Charles A. Cremeans
  Citation: For his outstanding leadership during numerous diverse real world and contingency operations throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.
  
  
• Col Thomas L. Spruiell Medical Field Training Exercise Planner Award
  Recipient: Col. Debora K. Esque
  Citation: For exceptional sustained contributions to Total Force Exercise Training.
  
  
• Paul F. Truran Jr., Medical Materiel and Logistics Management Award
  Recipient: Col. Cary Collins
  Citation: In recognition of his leadership, initiative and commitment to excellence as a medical logistician.
  

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- An Air Force Medical Service Airman has been chosen to represent the Air Force to compete for the 2006 Government Employee Insurance Company Military Service Awards.

Senior Airman Brandon Hoosier will represent the Air Force in the drug and alcohol abuse prevention category. Hoosier is assigned to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. According to his nomination, Airman Hoosier oversaw and performed physical security surveys and inspections at 52 Protection Level-4 controlled areas. He also wrote crime prevention-related articles for the base paper, developed crime analysis reports and provided oversight of the installation security plan and $7.5 million alarm system.

Hoosier's record will compete against those of other members of the armed forces in his category.