HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg thanked members of the 66th Medical Squadron for their COVID-19 response and continued work to provide high-quality care, during a visit here May 11.
Hogg, accompanied by Chief Master Sgt. Dawn Kolczynski, Chief of the Medical Enlisted Force, toured the Hanscom clinic and met with Medical Squadron personnel.
“This past year has been a challenge for all of us across the Air Force Medical Service,” said Hogg, a native of Maine. “It’s also shown the world what our Air Force medics bring to the fight and how valuable those skills are.”
Over the past year, Hanscom medics adapted to the pandemic environment by offering outdoor COVID-19 testing and pharmacy service, as well as advancing telehealth capabilities.
The clinic also implemented the Defense Health Agency Appointing Portal for scheduling vaccination appointments, and Medical Squadron Airmen have deployed in support of the national vaccination response in Detroit.
Hogg lauded the staff for their support of beneficiaries and geographically separated units across the New England region.
During their visit, Hogg and Kolczynski coined four top performers for going above and beyond in their duties: Capt. Matthew Rakowitz, 66 MDS nursing manager; Capt. Scott Coberly, 66 MDS pharmacist; Staff Sgt. Jude Baidoo, 66 MDS Warrior Operational Medicine technician; and Staff Sgt. Keivonne Jackson, 66 MDS noncommissioned officer in charge of TRICARE operations and patient administration.
Hogg and Kolczynski spoke with Airmen about training and development opportunities, and answered questions about AFMS.
“It’s not often you get to meet with [Air Force Medical Service] senior leaders, so it was a great opportunity for all of us to get their perspective and insight to what we’re doing here,” said Tech. Sgt. Kristina Kenyon, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 66 MDS Dental Lab.
Col. Mark Oordt, 66 MDS commander, echoed Hogg’s sentiment in recognizing how the medical staff here flexed to ensure the health, safety, and readiness of the Hanscom community.
“I’m very proud of the work our team does day in and day out and I hope it’s made clear to them how important their work is to our mission,” said Oordt. “Innovation is a culture here at Hanscom, and COVID was an opportunity to demonstrate how adaptable our medics are.”