The Source for Navy News
NMCSD Graduates 177 Interns, Residents, Fellows
Story Number: NNS130615-01
6/15/2013
By Mass Communication Specialists 2nd Class Sean P. Lenahan and Jessica L. Tounzen, Naval Medical Center San Diego Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) Professional Education Class of 2013 graduated 177 interns, residents and fellows during a ceremony at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park June 6.
NMCSD's Graduate Professional Education (GPE) program consists of 26 different specialties to include pediatrics, orthopedics, emergency medicine and others, ranging from one to six years in length. The NMCSD GPE program trains an average of 340 interns, residents and fellows annually, and culminates with more than 150 internship, residency and fellowship graduates each year.
Rear Adm. C. Forrest Faison III, commander, NMCSD and Navy Medicine West who delivered opening remarks, spoke about NMCSD's continuing dedication to shaping the future of Navy Medicine.
"For 67 years, Naval Medical Center San Diego has been training doctors to care for and save those who have volunteered to defend our freedom. Across those years, our programs are recognized as among the best in the nation, ensuring that the care provided to our patients, whether on the battlefield, overseas, or in any of our clinics around the world is absolutely the best care our nation can offer," he said. "While medicine has evolved and advanced significantly since those early days, what has never changed is our belief that compassion and caring are the foundations of all we do and our commitment to the best training possible for those who devote their lives to serving the heroes of our nation and their families."
Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, Navy Surgeon General and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, said Navy Medicine's newest interns, residents and fellows are faced with a tremendous responsibility in today's ever-changing global climate.
"We are charged with providing care and preventing illness, disease and injury above the sea, on the sea, under the sea and on land in support of the Marine Corps and our special forces, and as the last 12 years has shown, in support of the other services," he said. "When they get tasked, the Navy comes in. This is where we live. This is our domain. You're expected to be able to provide care seamlessly in a hospital or medical center such as [NMCSD], and then seamlessly migrate to an environment that may be hostile from combat. We're charged with the most precious cargo this country has: the men and women who stand up when needed and step forward when called."
NMCSD's Graduate Medical Education (GME) program dates back to 1946, and today is one of only three major Navy GME training sites and five Family Medicine sites across the Navy Medicine enterprise. More than 60% of the graduating interns will report directly to operational medicine platforms, including 18 going into flight surgery and seven going into dive medicine.
For more information on Naval Medical Center San Diego, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd, www.facebook.com/nmcsd, or www.twitter.com/NMC_SD.
For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For more news from Naval Medical Center San Diego, visit www.navy.mil/local/sd/.