Military medical event builds capacity, strengthens partnerships

By Mr. Gino G Mattorano (Regional Health Command Europe)October 12, 2018

Military medical event builds capacity, strengthens partnerships
Brig. Gen. Ronald Stephens, Regional Health Command Europe Command General, gave remarks at the 2018 Regional Health Command Europe Multinational Military Medical Engagement. The MMME is designed to improve partnerships and operate as a platform to p... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Military medical providers from across Europe participated in the 26th annual Multinational Military Medical Engagement Sept. 24-26 in Budapest, Hungary.

Regional Health Command Europe, the Hungarian Defense Forces, and the NATO Center for Excellence in Military Medicine, hosted the training event, which was themed, "Medical lessons learned from Partnership for Peace Nations and NATO interoperability in the modern environment."

Col. Edward Michaud, RHCE's Chief of Clinical Operations, says the MMME is "a training platform for US/NATO and allied providers with a focus on lessons learned and mutual capacity building."

"RHCE designs the MMME in collaboration with our likeminded partners to improve partnerships and operate as a platform to plan medical cooperation and coordinate future capacity building efforts," Michaud said.

Speakers from Ukraine and Georgia shared tactical and operational health lessons learned alongside U.S., German, Polish, and Hungarian speakers.

RHCE Commander, Brig. Gen. Ronald T. Stephens, also spoke at the event and emphasized the importance of joint medical training efforts like the MMME.

"The MMME is our most agile of clinical training platforms for US/NATO and allied providers with a focus on lessons learned and mutual capacity building," Stephens said. "The real value comes not only in sharing information and knowledge but also in networking with military medical professionals from other nations."

Participants included the Surgeon Generals of Hungary, Poland, Georgia, and the Deputy Surgeon for Ukraine.

The MMME also highlighted U.S. Army Europe, U.S. European Command and NATO priorities of effort.

"The United States and NATO are committed to the Defense of Central and Eastern Europe and the increased Defense spending and increased force structure of U.S. and NATO armies demonstrate this," said Stephens, who is also the USAREUR Command Surgeon. "USAREUR continues to improve operational and medical capabilities in central and Eastern Europe supporting the NATO Brigade and Regionally Aligned Forces."

Planning for the 27th MMME is already underway and the event is scheduled for September, 2019, in Kiev, Ukraine.