Former corpsman and current nurse practitioner Melissa Tracht has a new title to pin to her resume: Army captain.

Ms. Tracht, Department Head for Occupational Health at Branch Health Clinic China Lake (parent command, Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms), was sworn in to the Army Nurse Corps May 19 as an Army Reserve Captain (O-3), a 66P, family nurse practitioner.

Ms. Tracht's accomplishment not only represents a dedicated and determined career progression but also a merging of military medical cultures. Ms. Tracht was a corpsman at Branch Health Clinic, Everett (parent command: Naval Hospital Bremerton) from 2001 to 2004. She earned her Registered Nursing degree and then her Nurse Practitioner post-graduate degree. And she's not pausing to take a break.

"My goal is to meet every demand provided to me to see what I can do," she said (through an email exchange). "I hope to teach and learn from others and grow on a professional and personal level. I will finish my doctorate degree and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specialty in two years and I hope to apply my new skills for the military," she said.

As the occupational health nurse for Branch Health Clinic, China Lake, Ms. Tracht provides medical surveillance exams and work-related injury evaluations for civilian and active-duty personnel. As Occupational Health department head, she supervises staff education and training for medical and nursing staff and assures mission readiness.

Originally from Homer, Alaska, Ms. Tracht earned her Master of Science in Nursing (with a specialty board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner) from the University of Kansas. She is now an Army Reserve officer with the 7401st Troop Medical Clinic, Port Hueneme, California.

She said there are some aspects to military deployment that appeal to her. "Being able to apply my skills, leadership and teamwork in a more austere environment will likely challenge me in ways I have not been challenged before," she said.

"Melissa has all of the qualities you look for in a military officer," said Lt. Cmdr. Henry Bird, Officer in Charge at Branch Health Clinic China Lake. "She has done an excellent job with all aspects the occupational health programs at Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, and has an outstanding work ethic. We are all proud of her and know she will have a successful career as an Army officer," he continued.

Ms. Tracht said her commissioning ceremony had to be small due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Lt. Cmdr. Bird was her commissioning officer. "It was a beautiful ceremony reflecting the coming together of different branches of our military healthcare services. I will now have to cheer "Go Army AND Navy," she said.

Get more information about the Navy from U.S. Navy Facebook or Twitter.

For more news from Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms, visit www.navy.mil/.