HEALING WITH EQUINE THERAPY

HEALING WITH EQUINE THERAPY

DECEMBER 2015

BAMC FOCUSDECEMBER 2015

COL Evan Renz Commander

CSM Albert Crews Command Sergeant Major

Dewey MitchellChief, Communications

Division

Lori NewmanEditor

BAMC Focus is an authorized publication for members of Brooke Army Medical Center and Southern Regional Medical Command,

published under the authority of AR 360-1. Contents are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, Depart-ment of Defense, Department of the Army, or

Brooke Army Medical Center.

BAMC Focus is published monthly by the Communications Division, 3551 Roger Brooke

Drive, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.

Questions, comments or submissions for BAMC Focus should be directed to the editor at 210-916-5166 or by email to

[email protected].

Deadline for submission is six business days before the first of the month. We reserve the right to edit submissions selected for

publication.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE ...

Health, wellness facility marks grand opening on Fort Sam

Milley visits service members at CFI

Army nurse-athlete conquers cancer, readies for elite marathon

Injured cyclist spoke in wheel of recovery for transitioning Soldiers

Leadership visits patients, serves meals on Thanksgiving

SAMMC Decon Team among best in SW Texas

Soldiers take the reins of their recovery

Westover, Moreno and Schertz clinics offering extended hours

4 New Center for Wellness

5 Army Chief of Staff Visits

6 Not Slowing Down for Cancer

7 Warriors Caring for Warriors

10 Thanksgiving at SAMMC

11 Decon Rodeo

8 Adaptive Reconditioning

12 Extended Clinic Hours

See photos from other events happening throughout BAMC

14 Other Happenings

DEC 2015 3

Evan M. Renz, M.D.Colonel, MCCommanding

BROOKE ARMYMEDICAL CENTER

COMMANDING OFFICER COL Evan M. Renz POC: Ms. Carolyn Putnam (210)916-4100

COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR CSM Albert Crews POC: SGT Thomas Salazar III (210)916-5061

OURCOMMITMENT

Team,

The holiday season is upon us and is a time of celebration for many cultures. I encourage all Brooke Army Medical Center staff to pause from your busy lives and spend some quality time with family and friends. As you prepare to observe and celebrate this holiday season, please keep yourself, your family, and your friends safe.

Whether spending time at home or traveling, prepare for all scenarios. Hazards can be found all around and in everything we do. Whether it’s food preparation, decorating, traveling, the changing weather, skiing or other sports, I encourage each of you to conduct a risk assessment to identify associated vulnerabilities and possible mitigating factors for all of your holiday activities.

Prior to traveling, check the weather; conduct a vehicle inspection; and most importantly, let someone know your plans. If traveling outside the local area, Soldiers must complete the TRiPS assessment found on the Army Safety Center web site (https://safety.army.mil). Whether you are enjoying the holidays at home or traveling out of town, do not drink and drive; stay the night where you are, utilize a designated driver, or call a taxi.

As you plan for the holidays, don’t stress, give yourself plenty of time, and get to your destination safely. While shopping; prevent injuries and accidents by carrying packages that are not too heavy and do not obstruct your sight. Avoid residential fires during the winter months; never leave fireplaces, stoves, or candles unattended. Accidents may happen, but there are steps you can take to enjoy the holidays without the associated risks.

Supervisors will conduct a safety brief with all of their personnel prior to the holiday season. Topics should include vehicle and pedestrian safety, no drinking and driving, seasonal safety precautions, and outdoor activity conditions. Information can be found on the safety web page located on the BAMC Intranet Portal. The BAMC Safety Office is also available for information and assistance.

CSM Crews and I wish every service member, civilian employee, and family member a joyous and safe holiday season. Peace on Earth . . .

EVAN M. RENZ, M.D.Colonel, MCCommanding

DEC 2015For more information visit us on the web:

www.bamc.amedd.army.milwww.facebook.com/BrookeArmyMedicalCenter

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1st Lt. Samantha Gerbine, BAMC nutrition, hands Corey Fehr a banana berry smoothie to spotlight the importance of healthy eating. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Capt. Joel Osterhout (right) explains the consequences of smoking on healthy lungs to Lt. Dominique Gamble and Capt. Axel Wolff during the grand opening of the Army Public Health Nursing facility, Nov. 20. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Health, wellness facility marks grand opening on Fort SamBy Elaine SanchezBAMC Public Affairs

A new Brooke Army Medical Center fa-cility aimed at promoting health and well-ness opened for business on main post Nov. 20.

Army Public Health Nursing staff marked the grand opening of their facility with a health fair to showcase their pro-grams and services for military, family members and civil service employees.

The new facility will offer a wide range of support, from tobacco cessation and nutrition to stress management and health assessments, explained Army Lt. Col. Lisa Lute, Brooke Army Medical Center’s chief of Army Public Health Nursing. The staff also is available to teach customized health classes, such as Performance Triad train-ing, to any size group or organization.

Public Health previously was located solely in San Antonio Military Medical Center, but aimed to expand its reach be-yond the patient population. “We wanted to establish a visible presence that’s accessi-ble to commands, military individuals and

families,” said Lute. “Our focus is preven-tion. We want to reach people before pre-ventable health issues arise and before they

need to walk through the hospital doors.” Lute encourages people to submit their

health and wellness requests, even if the resources aren’t readily accessible on site.

“It’s our job to link people to needed health services,” Lute said. “If we’re un-able to provide the resources here, we will collaborate and coordinate with communi-ties and commands to obtain the assets we need.”

To further promote health, an Army Wellness Center is scheduled to open early next year. The Army Wellness Center, to be collocated with Public Health, will offer a variety of services to beneficiaries, includ-ing metabolic assessments, body composi-tion analysis, submaximal Vo2 testing and fitness assessments, biofeedback training, and a variety of health education classes.

For more information, visit Public Health at 2407 N. New Braunfels, Bldg. 147, call 916-4626 or ask for a referral from your primary care physician.

DEC 2015 5

By Lori NewmanBAMC Public Affairs

Gen. Mark A. Milley, chief of staff of the Army, visited with wounded service mem-bers during a town hall-style meeting Nov. 4 at the Center for the Intrepid.

Milley started by outlining his priori-ties. He explained that his first priority was readiness of the force, because the United States Army is still actively engaged in combat operations around the world.

“Readiness is the number one priority of the United States Army,” Milley said. “The second priority is the future of the U.S. Army, 25 to 30 years from now.”

The third priority, the general said, was not in order of importance, but is “always a priority.”

“Readiness is your current operation, the future of the force is your future operation and your always operation is to take care of troops and their families,” Milley said. “It’s that third category that I want to talk to you all about,” he told the audience.

Milley said he was committed to making sure Soldiers, their Families and civilians are taken care of, not just while on active duty but for life.

“It is my goal that we fulfill that commit-ment to those who have raised their right hand to serve,” he said. “One of the most important things people in the military have come to expect and deserve is quality medical care.”

Milley encouraged all the service mem-bers to ask questions. Retired Col. Stanley Thomas, a current patient at the CFI, asked about future funding and support for the Center for the Intrepid.

“I want to make sure that our troops are taken care of – period, regardless of cost,” Milley assured, adding that he can’t predict the future but at some point, we are like-

ly to engage in more conflicts around the world.

“As chief of staff of the Army, I need to make sure that places like this continue to operate,” he said, stressing his commitment to ongoing support.

Milley expressed his awe of the entire military medical system and the ability to save lives on the battlefield.

“I’m not going to waste good efforts and lessons learned in the last 15 years of combat. Military medicine is really on the leading edge of so many advances in medi-cine,” Milley said.

Service members asked a variety of questions including the length and frequen-cy of future deployments and the ability to stay in the military after being injured. He

handed several service members business cards with his contact information so they could contact him personally with their questions and concerns.

Before Milley left Air Force veteran Colton Read, a double amputee, wanted to make sure the Army chief of staff under-stood how much the CFI helped him during his recovery.

“Personally I have been here since 2009 and I just want to tell you how import-ant this place is,” Read said. “Being able to come back here after being retired … I know it’s beneficial for a lot of guys to come back here after some time has passed, so we can do it for ourselves and become more successful.”

Milley visits injured service members at CFI

Gen. Mark A. Milley, chief of staff of the Army, visits with wounded service members during a town hall-style meeting at the Center for the Intrepid Nov. 4. (Photo by Robert Shields)



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Army nurse-athlete conquers cancer, readies for elite marathonBy Elaine SanchezBAMC Public Affairs

Cancer may have taken her ability to run, but Capt. Kelly Elmlinger refused to let that slow her down.

Instead, the Army nurse traded running for wheelchair racing and sped her way to multiple medals at the Warrior and Invictus Games and a spot in this spring’s Boston Marathon.

“Cancer was really tough, but it opened up a world of opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Elmlinger, who serves at San Antonio Military Medical Center. “I’m still a productive member of society, still celebrating successes in life.”

The Cleveland, Ohio, native developed a passion for both sports and the military at an early age. Elmlinger recalls being glued to the television during Operation Desert Storm, and set her sights on joining the Army her senior year.

However, the versatile athlete became conflicted after earning college scholar-ships for cross country, track and basket-ball. “I got cold feet about joining the service,” she said. “I couldn’t see myself giving up sports just yet.”

Elmlinger devoted herself to college, but the military beckoned again her sophomore year. This time she trusted her gut and en-listed as an Army medic on Veterans Day in 1998. Over the next decade, she served with Fort Bragg’s 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, attended U.S. Army Airborne School, was deployed twice, and had a two-year stint with a special missions unit.

In 2011, Elmlinger applied for the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program and Uni-versity of North Carolina’s nursing school and got accepted to both. She spent the next two years at school and caring for her then-4 month old daughter, Jayden.

The newly graduated nurse requested an assignment at San Antonio Military Medi-cal Center. “My key reason is I wanted to

take care of wounded warriors,” she said. “I cared for warriors at the point of injury during deployments and wanted the opportunity to close the loop, care for them as they move forward in their recovery.”

Elmlinger arrived at SAMMC in the summer of 2011 and was assigned to a unit focused on warrior care. It was here she decided to readdress a health issue that had been nagging her for more than a decade -- tenderness and pain in her left leg. Her doctors found what appeared to be a collection of blood vessels and performed a proce-dure, but in six weeks she was back and in even more pain.

This time, her doctor suggested a bi-opsy and diagnosed Elmlinger with sy-novial sarcoma. “I knew the term, but it took a while for it to click: it was can-cer,” she said. “I knew from then on my life would be different.”

Synovial sarcoma is a rare form of soft tissue cancer with removal as the primary treatment option. Elmlinger weighed her options: remove the tumor or take the ex-tra step of removing the leg. She opted for limb salvage, undergoing the first of three surgeries in June 2013.

A turning point came in January 2014, when Elmlinger was given the green light to rehabilitate at the Center for the Intrep-id. The avid athlete was eager to dive back into sports, but due to the bone and tissue removal from her leg, was unable to run. Fortunately, someone suggested wheel-chair racing. “It was not love at first sight,” she said. “But I agreed to try it.”

The sport clicked with Elmlinger, who trained for hours each week to gain speed. Faster than ever, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of racing in the Boston Mar-athon. She qualified by 10 minutes and will participate in the elite race in April 2016.

Just a year after starting the sport, the versatile athlete went on to earn eight med-

als at national and international competi-tions -- not just for wheelchair racing, but also track and field, cycling and swimming.

Elmlinger, who continues to train for future events, said the games have come to represent much more than sports to her. “I look at these sporting events as more of a celebration of life,” she said. “I may be having a bad day, but I look around and see how other people are overcoming challeng-es … and they inspire me.”

Along with sports, Elmlinger was deemed fit to return to her other passion, military nursing. This month marks her fifth back at work in SAMMC. “Some days are tough, but I’m fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to still serve,” she said.

While she holds the Army in high es-teem, Elmlinger said she’s most grateful for her daughter, who is now 7 years old, and for reaching the milestone of two years cancer free.

“I am so thankful for my doctors, the CFI and for the technology that enabled me to keep my leg,” she said. “It was a tough road, but it’s what led to amazing opportu-nities. I’ve traveled around the world, met amazing people. I feel very fortunate.”

Warrior Care

Capt. Kelly Elmlinger competes at the 2015 Depart-ment of Defense Warrior Games on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., in June. (Courtesy photo)

DEC 2015 7

Sgt. 1st Class Samantha Goldenstein practice rides Nov. 17 at the Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion. The dedicated rider usually works out inside when there is in-clement weather outside. (Photo by Lori Newman)

Injured cyclist spoke in wheel of recovery for transitioning SoldiersBy Lori NewmanBAMC Public Affairs

Soldiers assigned to Brooke Army Med-ical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion often have the deal with more than just the business of soldiering. Many deal with chronic pain and medical appointments along with their daily routine.

Sgt. 1st Class Samantha Goldenstein, reception noncommissioned officer at the WTB, understands this better than most people do because she too has chronic pain.

“I’ve been a warrior in transition so I un-derstand the frustration Soldiers experience when they are trying to heal and all the oth-er stuff they have to deal with on a daily basis,” Goldenstein said.

Goldenstein suffers from femoroacetab-ular impingement, a condition that affects her hip joints.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, femoroacetabular impingement or FAI is a condition where the bones of the hip are abnormally shaped. Because they do not fit together perfectly, the hipbones rub against each other and cause damage to the joint.

“My hips are pretty much destroyed at this point,” Goldenstein said. “I’ve had two surgeries already and the doctors told me I will need total hip replacement in the fu-ture.”

Once an avid long distance runner, Goldenstein could not run as much as she did before. Adaptive cycling helped fill a void and helped reduce her pain.

“I did a couple of trips with Ride to Re-covery and really got into cycling,” she said. “That was my jumpstart into the adap-tive sports realm.”

Goldenstein became an adaptive sports site coordinator at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

“It was a good fit because of my fitness background,” she explained. She has a

bachelor’s degree in Exer-cise Physiology and Nutrition from the University of Mis-souri-Columbia.

Goldenstein and Army vet-eran Dave Smith currently run the adaptive cycling pro-gram here.

One Soldier, Capt. Michael Rash, appreciates Golden-stein’s dedication and guid-ance.

“She’s focused on the cy-cling performance, teaching us how to stay in our lines or how to do certain things while we are cycling,” Rash said. “She inspires you, keeps you going and keeps pushing you.”

Rash received internal in-juries from a bomb blast in 2007, since then he hasn’t been able to do the things he did before his injury.

“I couldn’t run, do push-ups or sit-ups, after the inju-ry,” he said. “Riding bike has changed my life. I was able to get back out and get phys-ically active doing something besides sitting and gaining weight from not being able to be active.”

He said other wounded service members inspire him. He gave an example of a re-cent ride he was on where the weather con-ditions were very poor and he was hurting badly.

“A quad amputee riding an upright bike rode past me. I told myself, ‘If that guy can do this, I’ve got to do this,’ it’s seeing peo-ple like that who inspire me to keep going,” he said.

Rash has participated in multiple train-ing events with Goldenstein as part of the WTB here. He said he also enjoys the so-

cial aspect of cycling, be able to interact with other injured service members.

“I may not always understand their inju-ries,” Goldenstein said, “but they know I’m not just this random person asking them jump on a bike and ride.”

The Soldiers cycle about two hours Tuesdays and Thursdays. Most trips are about 20 miles, but a couple of days a month the group goes on longer rides of 40 miles or more.

Cycling is one of many adaptive sports activities Soldiers can participate in while recovering here.

Warrior Care

DEC 2015 DEC 2015For more information visit us on the web:


8 9

Soldiers take the reins of their recovery Story and Photos by Lori NewmanBAMC Public Affairs

Transitioning warriors have a plethora of activities to choose from in the Soldier Adaptive Reconditioning Pro-gram, but only one involves a 1,000-pound animal.

Every Tuesday Soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion have the opportunity to go horseback riding at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Equestrian Center.

Part of the equine therapy is learning to care for and bond with the animal as well as ride, explained Annie Blakely, who is a certified and registered Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship instructor. PATH is a global authority, resource and advocate for equine-assisted activ-ities and therapies.

According to the Equine Assisted Therapy website, this type of therapy can help people both physically and men-tally by improving respiration, circulation, balance, metab-olism, muscle strength and agility.

Army Staff Sgt. Cedric Richardson never rode a horse before he started the program three months ago.

“When I came out here I’m having fun with the animal, but I’m also taking care of the animal,” Richardson said. “I’m learning a new skill, horseback riding. It’s unique and different if you haven’t grown up doing it.”

Richardson usually rides Gary. “I think he’s one of the biggest horses out here. He’s very energetic and he has the muscle to match, so you have to really know what you are doing and have confidence when you ride him,” he said.

“When I bring people out here [to the equestrian center] I see their inner child come out because they relax and they really enjoy being around the animals,” said Brad Bowen, Military Adaptive Sports Program coordinator.

“It gives me a little bit of release from the Army-side. I get to come out here and just enjoy being outside and with my favorite animal,” said Army Pvt. Ashiah Moshauer.

Army Sgt. Andrea Kraus agrees, “I love the animals; they seem to be so intuitive of what you are feeling. It’s nice to able to take a step back; it creates a sense of mindfulness.”

Adaptive horseback riding is just one of several options the transitioning Soldiers can participate in during their re-covery.

“The Soldier Adaptive Reconditioning Program offers Soldiers the opportunity to get out and do what they really like to do as part of their recovery,” Bowen said.

SARP offers more than 15 different options for transi-tioning warriors including high impact, high-energy activ-ities such as wheelchair basketball, cycling and track and field, as well as low impact options such as brain games, chess or arts and crafts.

“SARP is designed to get Soldiers active during their transition. They are required to participate 150 minutes a week in one or more of our activities,” Bowen explained. “We try to incorporate almost any activity that you can think of or anyone wants to do into our program.”

To fulfill the requirement of 150 minutes per week, activ-ities are held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and there are different programs each month. Soldiers participate in their Physical Training and can pick other activities.

Warrior Care

Army Staff Sgt. Cedric Richardson rides Gary Nov. 10 at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Equestrian Center. This is one of several activities available to transition-ing Soldiers through the Soldier Adaptive Reconditioning Program at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion.

Soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion ride hors-es at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Equestrian Center Tuesdays as part of the recovery process. Equine Assisted Therapy can help people both physically and mentally by improving respiration, circulation, balance, metabolism, muscle strength and agility.

Army Sgt. Andrea Kraus brushes her horse after a ride Nov. 10 at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Equestrian Center. Kraus rides every Tuesday as part of the Soldier Adaptive Reconditioning Program at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion. Army Pvt. Ashiah

Moshauer bonds with her horse Nov. 10 at the Joint Base San An-tonio-Fort Sam Houston Equestrian Center.

Army Sgt. Jeffery Long learns to control his horse Nov. 10 at the

Joint Base San Anto-nio-Fort Sam Houston

Equestrian Center. Equine Assisted Therapy

is one of several activi-ties available to service members recovering at

Brooke Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transi-

tion Battalion.



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(Left) Brooke Army Medical Center Deputy Commander for Surgical Services Col. Douglas Soderdahl and his family deliver a Thanksgiving basket of fruit to John Whiting and his wife Nov. 26.

(Right) Brooke Army Medical Center’s Commander Col. Evan M. Renz and his wife Diane deliver a Thanksgiving basket to 2 South patient Margaret Houck Nov. 26.

Brooke Army Medical Center Commander Col. Evan M. Renz (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. Albert Crews (left) serve Thanksgiving dinner to hundreds of attendees Nov. 26.

(Left) BAMC’s Deputy Commander for Medical Services Col. Pedro Lucero and his wife Norma give pediatric patient Nicolas Szymanski a Thanksgiving basket of fruit Nov. 26.

(Right) Felipe Car-done brings out turkey legs in preparation for BAMC’s Thanksgiving

meal on Nov. 26.

(Right) Janine Rangel and

Alex Garcia prepare hundreds

of rolls for the Thanksgiving meal

Nov. 26.

Sharing thanks ... on Thanksgiving

Members of the command team and their families helped patients and staff celebrate Thanksgiving by delivering gift baskets and serving dinner in the new dining room at San Antonio Military Med-ical Center. (Photos by Robert Shields)

DEC 2015 11

SAMMC Decon Team among best in SW Texas

By Steven GalvanUSAISR Public Affairs

San Antonio is well-known throughout Texas for hosting one of the nation’s larg-est and best rodeos with the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls competing for top prizes in bareback, bull riding, barrel rac-ing, steer wrestling and other traditional rodeo events.

On Oct. 29, San Antonio was once again the host of a rodeo, but there wasn’t a sin-gle bull, horse or a cowboy to be seen. In-stead, the area’s best hospital decontamina-tion teams from the southwest Texas region competed in a “Decon Rodeo.”

The rodeo designed to improve response times and promote team building was host-ed by the Emergency Medical Service/Hospital Disaster Group Decon-Radiation Safety Officer Committee and the South-west Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma.

The San Antonio Military Medical Cen-ter’s Decon Team placed second this year, just a couple of points behind the winning team from the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Eight six-person teams competed in the

annual event where they were judged in five timed events: assembly and disas-sembly of a portable decontamination tent; personal protective equipment donning and the decontamination pro-cess of a manikin; a written exam; and the use of a radiation detector to detect radiation on a patient.

“We were well-prepared this year,” said 1st Lt. Eric Bracamonte, SAMMC Decon Team officer in charge.

SAMMC’s team competed last year coming in fourth place out of four teams. This year the team was perfect in three events and had the best time in two.

SAMMC Decon Team Leader Sgt. TJ Chavez assigned to the U.S. Army Insti-tute of Surgical Research Burn Center credits that to the teams’ determination to win.

“We’ve been training since June,” he said. “But we really ramped up our training during the last month.”

Chavez added that every team in the competition was a winner because it’s all about being trained and prepared when called for a real event requiring the response of the decon team.

“It’s also an excellent opportunity for all of the teams to get together and learn from each other,” he said.

The SAMMC Decon Team trains month-ly and has 70 Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the hospital and the USAISR Burn Cen-ter trained and ready to respond when the call comes.

“I am very proud of the team’s perfor-mance,” said Bracamonte. “They did a great job and I’m confident that we will be able to respond quickly and accurately when needed.”

1st Lt. Eric Bracamonte, SAMMC Decon Team officer in charge congratulates Sgt. TJ Chavez during a cere-mony Nov. 20 here. San Antonio Military Medical Cen-ter’s Decon Team placed second in the Decon Rodeo. (Photo by Robert Shields)

The San Antonio Military Medical Center’s Decon Team springs into action to assemble a portable decontamination tent during the Decon Rodeo Oct. 29 which was hosted by the Emergency Medical Service/Hospital Disaster Group Decon-Radiation Safety Officer Committee and the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma. (Photo by Steve Galvan)



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BAMC celebrates American Indian Heritage Month

Westover, Moreno and Schertz clinics offering extended hoursBy Lori NewmanBAMC Public Affairs

The Westover Medical Home, located off Highway 151 and Westover Hills Blvd., will offer extended hours starting Dec. 14. The clinic will be open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Family Medicine Service at the Capt. Jennifer M. Moreno Clin-ic and Schertz Medical Home currently offer the same extended hours to meet the needs of their patients.

The extended hours at these clinics include both same day and routine appointments focusing on continuity of care whenev-er possible. In addition, extended hours allow patients to utilize pharmacy services for refills to meet their busy schedules.

The Capt. Jennifer M. Moreno Clinic also offers routine labora-tory and radiology services during the extended hours.

“Evening clinic hours are offered because we understand that sometimes typical clinic hours are not convenient for our service members, their families and our retired beneficiaries,” said Army Capt. Camille Betito, operations officer, Department of Family and Community Medicine. “We truly value our patients and con-tinuously strive to ensure they have access to their health care.”

Westover Medical Home is a 12,500-square-foot communi-ty-based medical home with a team of licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, family nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians working together to take care of patients. The med-ical home also has on-site laboratory capabilities and a full-service pharmacy.

“We are committed to delivering safe, quality medical care to our patients in a way that meets both their needs and their expectations,” said Dr. Darii A. Lane, chief of the Westover Medical Home.

Westover is one of nearly a dozen military medical clinics across San Antonio, and one of several community-based medical homes designed to offer convenient, high quality care to military families throughout the region.

“We want our military beneficiaries to take advantage of what military medicine offers. We want to be their first choice for health care,” said Anthony O’Bryant, Westover Medical Home clinic ad-ministrator. “Our intent is always to provide the best access to mil-itary medicine for our beneficiaries.”

TRICARE beneficiaries who would like to enroll or change their current location for care can visit https://www.humanamili-tary.com/ or call 1-800-444-5445. For beneficiaries age 65 or old-er, call 210-808-2721 for more information.

Raymond Hernandez, president of the Yan-

quana Native American Church, speaks at the Brooke Army Medical

Center National American Indian Heritage Month

celebration Nov. 20 in the San Antonio Military Medi-

cal Center medical mall. Hernandez spoke about Indian heritage and the importance of tradition,

values and integrity. (Photos by Maria

Gallegos) Koda (bear) Issac Cardenas also made an appear-nace at the event.

Maria Colbert assists Laura Gleason, an Army spouse, as she checks in for her appointment at the front desk of Westover Medical Home. (Photo by Robert Shields)

DEC 2015 13

By 1st Lt. Samantha GerbineDepartment of Nutritional Medicine

The time of year is approaching again with the inevitable surplus of holiday fes-tivities and corresponding unhealthy eat-ing. Too many scrumptious parties and inadequate physical activity can result in weight gain. However, you can prevent the holiday weight gain with a little planning.

Here are a few tips to keep your weight in check:

Have a light sensible snack prior to an event to prevent overindulging on higher calorie foods and drinks. A good choice could be some yogurt, piece of fruit, or 10 almonds.

Instead of eating a whole piece of cake, pie, or dessert have a sample or share with

a friend. You could also save the dessert for dinner or a separate meal.

Make the event a pot-luck and bring a healthier option, http://www.myrecipes.com and http://www.cookinglight.com are great resources for lighter holiday dishes.

Watch your drinks. Calories in bever-ages such as egg nog, wine, mixed drinks, or apple cider can quickly add up. These drinks are not filling and can add hundreds of calories to your meal. A better option would be plain water or calorie-free fla-vored water.

Use smaller plates to limit the amount of food and reduce your food consumption. The same can be done with using smaller cups. A 4-ounce glass of wine has 100 cal-ories where an 8-ounce glass would have 200 calories. If there is just one large cup

size, fill half way.Avoid skipping meals to save up your

calories. Most people overcompensate for it later in the day.

Ensure you’re consuming a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources to provide your body with much needed vitamins, miner-als, and energy.

Track your calories via an online appli-cation or a journal to ensure you’re staying within your recommended calorie range for your weight goals. My Fitness Pal, Fat Se-cret, Fit Day, and Spark People are all good to use.

Learn to say “NO” to food and don’t ac-cept every food item offered to you. You can politely decline … your waistline will thank you and your mom will forgive you.

Enjoy the other festivities the event has to offer. Although holiday events usually involve food, it can also be a time to socialize and have fun.

Get in physical activity. An ob-tainable goal is 150 minutes per week or 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day, but you may need to increase this amount if you’re splurging on holiday treats.

Join a holiday fun run. Group activ-ities such as fun runs are an excellent way to get in physically activity while socializing.

There are plenty of ways you can prevent holiday weight gain, but if you require a more personalized approach to weight maintenance through the holiday season contact your local dietitian at the Outpatient Nutrition Clinic at the Capt. Jennifer M. Moreno Primary Care Clinic at (210) 808-3609.

Preventing Holiday Weight Gain



14

Wounded Warrior Art Show

Wounded warrior and Vietnam veteran Guy Banta shows his artwork at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Wounded Warrior Art Show Nov. 10 in the San Antonio Military Medical Center Medical Mall. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Staff Sgt. Adalberto Perez, a wounded warrior and cardiovascular technician, presents his artwork for Brooke Army Medical Center’s Wounded Warrior Art Show Nov. 10 in the San Antonio Military Medical Center Medical Mall. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Sgt. Jessica Sanders, Warrior Transition Battalion chaplain’s assistant, stands alongside her artwork for Brooke Army Medical Center’s Wounded Warrior Art Show Nov. 10 in the San Antonio Military Medical Center medical mall. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Other Happenings ...at Brooke Army Medical Center

DEC 2015 15

WTB ThanksgivingMaj. Gen. Barbara Holcomb (right),

commanding general, Regional Health Command-Central (Provisional) and chief,

U.S. Army Nurse Corps, along with other leaders, serve a Thanksgiving meal to

Warrior Transition Battalion Soldiers Nov. 20 at the Warrior and Family Support

Center. (Photo by Robert Shields)

(Right) Keith Stone talks with respiratory therapy student Army Sgt. Ngozi White and Deborah Bray, nurse and to-

bacco cessation facilitator, during BAMC’s Great American Smoke-Out event in the SAMMC Medical Mall Nov. 19.

(Photo by Robert Shields)

Great American Smoke-Out(Left) Respiratory therapy student Army Sgt. Kelle Brown talks about the poison in tobacco with Monika Smith during Brooke Army Medical Center’s Great American Smoke-Out event in the SAMMC Medical Mall Nov. 19. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Army 2nd Lt. Brian Faulk-ner, registered nurse, places yellow socks on Seaman Recruit Christian Mar-tinez to inform hospital staff that Martinez has ex-perienced a fall during Nursing Skills Valida-tion Nov. 17. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Laura Drew (left) goes over the procedures for treating pressure ulcers with Karla Maison during Brooke Army Medical Center’s Nursing Skills Validation Nov. 17. (Photo by Robert Shields)

Honing Nursing Skills

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San Antonio Military Medical Center JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234(210) 916-4141

Center for the Intrepid Bldg 3634JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234(210) 916-6100

Moreno Clinic Bldg 1179JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234(210) 916-4141

McWethy Troop Medical Clinic 3051 Garden Ave, Bldg 1279JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234(210) 916-4141 or (210) 916-4141

Schertz Medical HomeHorizon Center6051 FM 3009, Suite 210Schertz, TX 78154(210) 916-0055

Taylor Burk ClinicBldg 5026Camp Bullis, TX 78257(210) 916-3000

Westover Medical Home10010 Rogers CrossingSan Antonio, TX 78251(210) 539-0916

SAN ANTONIO AREA MAP

Documents

HEALING WITH EQUINE THERAPY