BAMC doctor honored as hero of military medicine

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Oct. 24, 2022) — Brooke Army Military Center deputy commander for medical services received the first Hero of Military Medicine San Antonio award from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., 20 October.

US Air Force Colonel (Dr) Heather Yun, an infectious disease physician, accepted the award at a ceremony held at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The event recognized top researchers, practitioners, ambassadors and champions of military medicine within the San Antonio community.

“Honesty, I don’t consider myself a hero,” Yun said. “There are so many deserving people within military medicine, but I’m incredibly honored to be the recipient.

HJF is a global nonprofit organization that manages more than $500 million in medical research funds each year. Since 1983, HJF has partnered with researchers and clinicians to provide research support from the bench to the bedside on the battlefield. More than 3,000 HJF teammates provide scientific, administrative, and program operations services to researchers in the military, academic, and private sectors.

The Hero of Military Medicine award honors a military professional who demonstrates excellence in medical research or clinical care through compassion and selfless dedication to the advancement of military medicine and the overall health of military personnel and wounded, ill and injured veterans of the country.

“It’s always nice to know that people will take the time to recognize you,” Yun said. “It’s a great honor and I’m very honoured.”

Yun was nominated for the award by former U.S. Army Commanding General BAMC Brig. General Clinton Murray.

“Col. Yun has distinguished herself as an accomplished leader within the civilian and military medical specialty communities of internal medicine and infectious disease,” Murray said. “As a physician-scholar, she advanced the understanding of the medical field of civilian and military subjects, to include formative research on tropical diseases, SARS-CoV-2, and graduate medical education.”

As Program Director for the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Infectious Disease Fellowship, Yun led the training of approximately 24 military infectious disease physicians and mentored other fellows/junior personnel. , many of whom have held key leadership positions within their respective teams. military service, Murray explained.

“As a senior level leader, she continued to foster a clinical learning and working environment that supports the continued development of these future leaders in military medicine,” he added. “His commitment as a talented mentor has facilitated his impact within the military healthcare system far beyond the walls of BAMC. His capacity for clinical and academic excellence is matched only by his empathy and compassion as an affiliate leader.

Other honorees included San Antonio real estate developer and civic leader Marty Wender, who received the Civil Patient Award. Wender suffered burns to over 20% of his body in an accident. He received care at BAMC, the US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, and UT Health San Antonio.

Retired U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala received the Ambassador’s Award. Ayala is currently Director of the Office of Military Affairs for the City of San Antonio.

And Dr. Ian M. Thompson Jr. received the Civilian Provider Award, which recognizes an individual who has effectively used their clinical and research experience in military medicine to provide care to the civilian community they serve. Thompson is president and chief development officer of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation and the Christus Santa Rosa Friends Foundation.

“HJF is proud to present our 2022 Heroes of Military Medicine Awards to these San Antonio leaders who have made such significant contributions to military medicine in the community,” said the retired U.S. Army Major General ( Dr. Joseph Caravalho Jr., HJF. President and CEO. “This will be the first of many celebrations coming to San Antonio to honor our military and community collaborators.”

Caravalho is also a former commanding general of BAMC.