YONGSAN, SEOUL, KOREA -- The Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital/121st Combat Support Hospital commander, Col. Erica Clarkson, presided over the 125th cycle graduation of the Integrated Service of Republic of Korea Military Health Care Personnel Program Jan. 11 at the BAACH Chapel.
Opening remarks by 65th Medical Brigade Commander, Col. Wendy Harter, highlighted the interoperability, professionalism and cultural understanding of the ROK/U.S. medical alliance.
"As we sustain our future and continue to provide health care professionals in organizations and medical units, providing health service support, medical mission command and force health protection to our forces in Korea, it is programs such as this that keep our medical alliance strong and ready," Harter said. "The eight of you have a bright future ahead. Remember, you are forever a 'Pacific Medic,' a member of the 65th Medical Brigade team."
The ISRMHCPP was established in 1955 to facilitate wartime coordination between the U.S. and ROK military health care support system in the event of hostilities.
ROK army officers work with their U.S. counterparts for six months, sharing expertise and increasing cultural understanding while gaining an appreciation of the U.S. military and its' health care system. More than 500 students, including veterinarians, physicians, dentists, nurses and medical corps officers have graduated from this mutually beneficial program and gone on to serve distinguished careers in both the military and civilian sectors in the Republic of Korea.
Clarkson's remarks echoed the continued success of the program. "For over 60 plus years this program has stood as a testament to the talents of our Soldiers, both Korean and American, and serves as a sterling symbol of the vigorous ROK/U.S. alliance. We are proud to associate with them and will always recognize them as colleagues and friends. Their charge upon reassignment back to the ROK forces is to share the lessons learned with their colleagues in the ROK Armed Forces Medical System."
The 125th cycle graduation ceremony graduates were: Maj. Jung Ri Kim who served with the bio-surveillance portal; Capt. Sang Ha Park who served with in operations; Capt. Joon Su Jang who served with the U.S. Army Medical Material Center- Korea; Capt. Ji Young Kim who served with the post anesthesia care unit and clinical education division; Capt. Hyun Ji Lee who served with the Women and Infant Care unit and Tricare office; Capt. Ji Hye Jeong who served with the occupational health and clinical education division; Capt. Gun Hee Lee who served with the patient centered medical home and quality management and preventive medicine; and Capt. Cho Rong Jin who served with the multi care unit and progressive care unit and occupational health.
"Their work and service makes us all better health care providers and better Soldiers as we learned as much from them as they learned from us and I thank them for their contribution to our success," said Clarkson.
Col. Seong-Gyun Hong, Chief of Staff of the ROK Armed Forces Medical Command, was the honored guest speaker who spoke highly of the graduates.
"This class has proven to be more successful than any other, as attributed by their service in a variety of fields throughout the 65th Medical Brigade, resulting in increased contributions toward a stronger armed forces medical command," said Hong.
Social Sharing