The newest batch of healthcare professionals, 121 in total, have graduated from Tripler's Graduate Health Education program on Friday, June 13, 2014 during a commencement ceremony at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC).
The graduating class, which includes 107 Army officers, one Air Force officer and 13 civilians, completed the premiere program which contributes about 16% of the Army's licensed physicians annually.
This year's commencement marks 65 years of excellence and accredited graduate medical education at TAMC which has been training physicians and other health professionals since 1949.
Several graduates will go on to operations assignments in Korea, Germany, Egypt, Alaska, the Mainland, and Hawaii along with others progressing to additional residency or fellowship training.
Brig. Gen. Dennis Doyle, Commanding General of Tripler Army Medical Center and the Pacific Regional Medical Command provided opening remarks during the ceremony.
"I am so proud of the personal and professional achievements of this group of men and women have accomplished. After many months of long hours and dedicated research and probably several thousand cups of coffee, today represents a new step forward for you as you join the best and most powerful system for health in the world," said Doyle.
"The value each of you has added to our TAMC ohana during your tenure is immeasurable. In terms of healthcare production, you have carried a respectful amount of weight in delivering patient care. The hours you've worked helped us improve patient care quality, ensure patient safety and maintain the access to care that our beneficiaries both expect and deserve," he said.
Former TAMC Commander, Maj. Gen. Carla Hawley-Bowland, M.D., U.S. Army Retired, and the first female Medical Corps General Officer in the history of the United States Army and the first and only female Chief of the U.S. Army Medical Corps was the keynote speaker during the event.
"You should all be very proud of your accomplishments. So celebrate, for you are the future of Army Medicine," said Hawley-Bowland. "As you launch into the specialty of your choice, whether going on as an intern going on to further study or really stepping out on your own, develop a passion for your chosen profession. In other words, fall in love with your field. Then you will have no problem developing a habit of life-long learning and you will stay up to date. Keep learning, and practice every day with honor and joy," she said.
TAMC Director of Medical Education, Col. Holly Olson say's Tripler's Graduate Health Education program is highly sought after. "Our geographic location here in Hawaii makes for an incredible educational setting. Our students see diseases here that they wouldn't see elsewhere and in an educational setting this allows us to produce top-notch and well-rounded providers."
Olson also says TAMC graduates also boast some of the top scores in the nation for board certification and in-training examinations as well as having won awards at both the state and national level for medical research.
Tripler is a major teaching center that sponsors 13 physician training programs with over 220 resident positions in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Diagnostic Radiology, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Transitional Year and Urology.
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