FORT BRAGG, N.C. - When you think about all of the jobs at Womack Army Medical Center most of them are the ones directly related to healthcare, like doctors, nurses and medics. If you expand your brain to think beyond those who directly administer medical care, you might think of the administrative staff, housekeeping, logistics and nutrition care. You're probably not likely to consider the person who thinks about and plans for the unthinkable -- the emergency manager.
Col. (Ret.) Marsha Lunt has been the emergency manager at Womack Army Medical Center for 15 years. During that time, she has overseen 30 mass casualty exercises that helped prepare the hospital for a variety of hazards and disasters from an active shooter to a chemical spill. She's also handled countless real-world events from assisting with an Ebola quarantine area to adverse weather conditions including a tornado; hurricanes; flooding; and, perhaps the most frightening weather of all here at Fort Bragg, snow.
Lunt's professional life has been dedicated to helping service members and their Families. She spent 30 years in the Army as medical service officer before hanging up her uniform and coming to work for the Army once again as a civilian at WAMC. She said that becoming an emergency manager was a natural fit for her.
"I've always have an enormous amount of respect for the people who want to take care of people," said Lunt. "From the first responders to medical professionals, I love emergency management because it's a profession that's allowed me to work with quality caring people."
She said that one of the most rewarding things about the job was the opportunity to train leaders and the fact that every day presented unique challenges.
"That's the greatest thing about emergency management, every day is different," she said. "Every situation presents a different problem, so it's a very demanding job, but it's extremely rewarding."
Lunt said that when the challenges got tough, especially when planning the numerous moving, and potentially hazardous, pieces that made up the mass casualty exercises, it was a Bible verse that helped her get through.
"My inspiration comes from Matthew 19:26," said Lunt. "'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' I do believe that all things are possible."
While her time on Fort Bragg is coming to a close, Lunt said that she doesn't believe that this is the end for her and that she looks forward to the next chapter.
"I'm an emergency manager for life," she said. "I will continue to contribute to the profession."
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