The U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD), Office of Medical History recently hosted its second conference highlighting the rich medical history of U.S. Army hospitals and their activities during World War II.
This biannual gathering held last month at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, brought Army medical professionals and medical historians to the AMEDD Museum for a rare opportunity to share medical knowledge and view featured displays of World War II artifacts and WWII medical artwork which included more than 20 presentations on British, Japanese, and American units and operations.
Military historian and author, Retired Col. Robert Dalessandro provided opening remarks and spoke to the timeliness of the conference and its value and historical significance to military medical history. Dalessandro is executive director and chief of military history, U.S. Army Center of Military History, D.C.
Although situated in a historical context, attendees presented poster sessions on subjects still relevant to today's medical practitioners. Subjects and papers discussed included topics such as anesthesia, medical and military professionalism, and maintaining morale and mental health during prolonged operations. Medical knowledge was shared by discussions and demonstrations on the history of several U.S. Army hospitals and their actions during the war.
"This is one of the most significant events on military medical history that I've attended, said conference attendee, Col. Jerome Buller, director of communications, U.S. Medical Command. "As a physician, I can appreciate the immediate utility and future context of medical advancements. I've had the opportunity to look over more than a century of medical innovations and the specific impact it made on the culture and life of the American Soldier, and our nation as a whole. I'm looking forward to future conferences."
The presentations also featured time-specific discussions such as the effects of nuclear weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Medical ethics, vascular surgery, training of combat medics, and POW dentists were also featured elements of presentations. Some lectures were videotaped and will be posted on YouTube so AMEDD personnel can use them for professional development. A poster session and banquet rounded out the schedule of events for the two-day gathering. The history conference series will continue in 2016, focusing on Vietnam as part of the Department of Defense's Vietnam War Commemoration.
The Office of Medical History is part of the Office of The Surgeon General/Army Medical Command (OTSG/MEDCOM) History Program. Our mission is to support the men and women of the U.S. Army Medical Department and Army Medical Command through the assembly and publication of reference materials, original works, previously unpublished works, reprints, special studies, web publications, AMEDD newspaper/professional publications, and a print series. The program includes the administration of a field history program as well as an oral history program for the conduct of regular interviews with key OTSG/MEDCOM active and retired personnel and provides coverage of current operations and issues with participants and decision makers.
The conference series on medical history is supported by the AMEDD Center of History and Heritage (ACHH). The first gathering, "World War I Medical History," took place February 23-25, 2012. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the AMEDD Museum Foundation worked together to organize the successful event, with facilities and program support from the ACHH.
Learn more about the Office of Medical History at http://history.amedd.army.mil
Related Links:
U.S. Army Medical Department Museum
Army Medical Command Official Website
AMEDD Office of Medical History
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