Vice Adm. Forrest Faison, Navy surgeon general and chief, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, served as a keynote speaker at ‘Caring for the Military Child Symposium’ held at Madigan Army Medical Center April 18, 2019.

The symposium was held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Madigan Developmental Pediatrics Fellowship at Joint Base Lewis McChord.

Faison’s post-graduate training in general pediatrics and fellowship training in neurodevelopmental pediatrics provided him a plethora of experience to pull from as he spoke on the lessons he learned from decades of medical care for families and its impact on readiness.

He placed emphasis on the thought that, “people serve because of their families.” Faison noted, “One out of four Americans qualify to join the military, and a good portion of them have children. What we do for those children is critically important.”

Faison stressed that military medicine - collectively and individually – represents, “hope, strength and love to those we serve.”

“Medicine is not just about the science, it is the art and privilege of caring for another. Medicine is a profession of service and ministry to others.”

Faison closed his presentation after taking questions and reiterating the importance of self-care.

“Caring for others starts with caring for yourself,” he said and that it’s especially important during this time of great change across the Military Health System

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 personnel that provides health care support to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, their families and veterans in high operational tempo environments at expeditionary medical facilities, medical treatment facilities, hospitals, clinics, hospital ships and research units around the world.

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