Command structure changes at Illesheim Health Clinic

By Mr. Douglas Demaio (Army Medicine)July 3, 2012

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ILLESHEIM, Germany -- A Relinquishment of Command and Assumption of Responsibility ceremony placed command of the Illesheim Health Clinic under Katterbach's clinic commander here Thursday.

Maj. Vincent Myers relinquished command of the clinic and Maj. Roger Ball assumed responsibility for the clinic at the ceremony presided over by Col. Robert Goodman, Bavaria Medical Department Activity commander.

"Col. Goodman. Thank you for entrusting to me your most treasured assets, the staff of the Illesheim Health clinic," Ball said during his ceremonial speech. "I will give everything I have to provide them the leadership and support that Maj. Vince Myers has provided this clinic.

Lt. Col. Raymond Gundry, Katterbach's clinic commander, assumed command of the clinic, but operations of the clinic have been entrusted to Ball.

"The community of Illesheim… can expect and should demand the outstanding dedication the clinic has provided you under Vince's mantle and you can trust we will continue to strive to provide you… excellence in health care," Ball said.

Illesheim's clinic has successfully implemented a new model of care known as Patient Centered Medical Home and Soldier Centered Medical Home, Myers said. The clinic has championed several best practices for the U.S. Army Medical Command.

"The quality of the staff that cares for this community makes me choke up when I think about it," Myers told the troops of the clinic while they were in formation. "Over the past two years, I have been honored to not just lead, but learn from you. Your daily dedication and actions are the reason we have been successful during a yearlong… renovation and various other challenges. You have accomplished this while balancing many missions and paving the way with many MEDCOM firsts developed here at little old Illesheim. You never complained, rarely needed reminded, and did not just achieve the standard, you made a new standard, known to us as the Illesheim standard.

"It is with a heavy heart that I depart for William Beaumont Army medical center in Fort Bliss, Texas," Myers said.

Myers was previously the chief nurse at the Bamberg Health Clinic before taking command of the health clinic in Illesheim.

Ball assumes responsibility for the clinic after his previous assignment as the senior physician assistant for the 557th Area Support Medical Company in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Ball's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Superior Unit Award, three Army Good Conduct Awards, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, three Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Awards, four Overseas Service Awards, the Combat Medical Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Army Flight Surgeon Wings, the Air Assault Badge, and the Drill Sergeant Badge.

Ball is married and has two children.