The 2024 Military Health System Research Symposium recently honored top minds in military health research for their dedication to improving the health of service members. Dr. Lester Martinez-López, the Department of Defense’s assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, presented awards to individuals and teams whose research covered a wide range of topics, including cancer care, women’s health, traumatic brain injury assessment, and more.
Individual Distinguished Service Award Winners
Dr. Craig D. Shriver, a professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, and director of the John P. Murtha Cancer Center at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was recognized for his leadership in advancing cancer care for DOD beneficiaries. Shriver’s work has significantly contributed to improving cancer outcomes for active duty service members, retirees, and their families. His dedication to understanding cancer biology, treatment, outcomes, and survivorship has had a profound impact on the military community and beyond.
Roxana Lescano, director of the research administration program at the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH in Lima, Peru, was honored for her work in global health engagement research. Lescano’s efforts have led to model programs that exceed regulatory compliance and ethical guidelines, resulting in numerous research studies in Central and South America. Her commitment to research integrity and the establishment of institutional review board member training programs has strengthened research within the Military Health System.
Individual Award for Outstanding Research Accomplishment
Lynette Hamlin, a professor and associate dean for faculty affairs at the Uniformed Services University, was recognized for her research in women’s health and readiness. As the director of the USU Military Women’s Health Research Program, Hamlin’s work has directly supported the well-being of active duty service women and women veterans. Her research has informed policy formation and driven evidence-based healthcare improvements for this population.
Alyssa Davidson, a research audiologist at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was honored for her work in novel treatments, strategies, and technologies in hearing and balance health. Davidson’s research has led to major advances in audiology treatment within the DOD, including the development of normative values for the hearing subscale of the Tinnitus and Hearing Survey. Her dedication to leveraging new technologies to improve clinical practices has had a significant impact on the military population.
Team Awards in Outstanding Research Accomplishment
Four teams were awarded for their outstanding research contributions supporting the warfighter. The Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative team from the University of Colorado, Anschutz, led by Emmy Betz, was honored for their work in preventing firearm-related military suicides. Their research has influenced significant policy changes and community-based interventions, demonstrating a profound impact on service members’ welfare.
The Long-term Immunity against Novel and Known Strains of SARS-CoV-2 (LINKS-COVID) study team from the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC, led by U.S. Navy Lt. Huy Nguyen, was recognized for their research on COVID-19 boosters among active duty personnel. Their findings have improved force health protection and demonstrated the MHS’s ability to engage rapidly in research.
The Medical Assessment and Readiness System team from Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Liberty, North Carolina, led by Dr. Y. Sammy Choi, was awarded for their work in big data and machine learning for military health readiness. Their research has produced significant publications and presentations that have the potential to affect policy and procedure within the Military Health System.
Team Awards in Outstanding Program Management
The Traumatic Brain Injury Biomarker team from the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, Fort Detrick, Maryland, led by Damien Hoffman, was recognized for achieving a major programmatic milestone with the FDA clearance of a portable blood-based biomarker test for assessing and triaging warfighters suspected of having a TBI. This advancement represents a significant improvement in TBI diagnosis and care for service members.
The PMS 408 Expeditionary Medical team from Washington, D.C., led by Montrell Smith, received an honorable mention for their work in casualty care during multi-domain operations. Their efforts have established a crucial framework for acquiring essential expeditionary medical capabilities to support service members in combat situations.
The Military Health System Research Symposium also includes the Young Investigator Competition and the presentation of over 1,400 scientific posters. This event showcases the latest research and innovations in military health and recognizes the contributions of researchers and teams dedicated to improving the health and well-being of service members. For more information about the symposium and the research being presented, visit the MHSRS webpage.