4th Quarter 2007

   
 

Home

 

Foreword

 

Regional
Security  ::

Strength Through Friendship in COBRA GOLD 2007

India-Japan-U.S. Forces Train at Sea in MALABAR/TRILATEX 2007

Enhancing the Australia-U.S. Military Alliance in TALISMAN SABER 2007

Perspectives  ::

PACOM: Moving the Throttle Forward in the Pacific

Humanitarian
Assistance  ::

Indonesian and U.S. Armies Promote Regional Stability in GARUDA SHIELD 2007

Special Interest  ::

Bridging Borders Through Military Medicine

Happenings  ::

Happenings

 

 1

Bridging Borders Through Military Medicine
 Story and Photos by Lt. Col. James Bolton, USA

Lt. Col. James Bolton, USA, is the Operations Officer, U.S. Army, Pacific, Command Surgeon’s Office.

"Bridging Borders through Military Medicine” was the theme of a military medical conference held in Manila 16-20 April 2007. This 17th annual conference, co-hosted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Army, Pacific (USARPAC), drew 320 health-care professionals from 21 Asia-Pacific countries.”

Co-host Maj. Gen. Carla G. Hawley- Bowland, USARPAC Command Surgeon and Commander, Tripler Army Medical Center, told conferees, “This year’s theme provides us the opportunity to discuss essential issues for the military healthcare community in the Asia-Pacific region. Recent disaster-relief efforts in the Pacific demonstrate the reality that our military healthcare challenges and responsibilities reach globally and require mutual planning. When we add the demands of the Global War on Terrorism, the need for our medical contribution becomes crystal clear.”

The conference is part of a continuing series of exchanges that promote cooperation among military medical professionals in the Asia Pacific region. It supports professional development of military medical forces of all participating countries. The conference focus is on military medical issues in health services, clinical research, education, and prevention.

The goal of the April conference was to provide an organized, open platform for participants to discuss and develop their military healthcare programs, including military response to humanitarian and combat support operations.

With the Pacific region’s experience on emerging diseases, the conference serves as an exchange of information. For example, some countries have experienced similar public health problems with corresponding solutions that can be offered to other nations.

Before the conference, its planners determined that military physicians and other healthcare providers needed the latest information about infectious diseases, operational medicine, and medical topics in the Asia-Pacific region. The learning objectives for the  conference included identifying and discussing medical topics affecting the region’s military forces and understanding the military medical organizations in the region.

Topics
Conference speakers represented the following countries and international organizations: Australia, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, United States, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and International SOS. Conference topics included Combat Trauma, Pandemic Influenza, HIV/AIDS, other infectious diseases, and Humanitarian Aid to Victims of Disasters and Conflict. These and other military medical issues were also discussed in plenary and breakout sessions. Copies of the briefings are available at: http://www.apmmc.org/ agenda.html.

Conclusion
The Military Medicine Conference functions as a unique forum for military medical professionals of the Asia-Pacific region to confer on vital regional health issues. The conference’s reputation has grown in stature over the years. Today, it is widely accepted as a key venue for military health professionals to exchange views, experiences, and present standards of practice in military medicine.

The 17th annual meeting introduced new strategies on various aspects of military medicine in providing lifelong comprehensive care to military personnel and their family members.

With the region’s experience in new and emerging diseases in recent decades, the Military Medicine Conference provides leaders of military health professionals an opportunity to relate their experiences concerning their respective national public health issues. The conference also helps health practitioners improve their personal, professional, and organizational networks and knowledge of resources available to efficiently conduct coalition operations.

The Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps and USARPAC are scheduled to cohost the 18th annual medical conference in Singapore in 2008.

 

 

E-mail: apdforum@apan-info.net

 

 

The 17th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference co-hosted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. Army, Pacific (USARPAC), was attended by 320 military and civilian healthcare professionals from 21 countries. The conference is part of a series of exchanges that promote cooperation for military medical professionals in the Asia-Pacific region. Above, traditional Philippine dancers open the April 2007 conference in Manila, Philippines.
 
Col. John Wong, Singapore Armed Forces Chief of Medical Corps, speaks during the conference.
With help from an AFP representative, co-host Maj. Gen. Carla G. Hawley-Bowland (center), USARPAC Command Surgeon, commemorates the 17th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference by adding a ribbon to the conference flag as Col. Wong looks on. Singapore is scheduled to co-host the 2008 conference.