28th Medical Group receives ACC awards

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Air Combat Command Surgeon Col. Kory Cornum presented the 2007 ACC-level medical group awards to members, both military and civilian, of the 28th Medical Group.

Recipients of the awards met requirements in their fields while exhibiting outstanding individual performance on duty, Lt. Col. Tom Greenlee, 28th Medical Support Squadron commander said.

The ceremony opened with a speech by Col. Scott Vander Hamm, 28th Bomb Wing commander, describing the compassion for and attention to patients that distinguishes military healthcare providers.

One of the elements which makes Air Force medical care outstanding is that our doctors, nurses and medical staff take extra time to ensure their patients' needs are met, Colonel Vander Hamm said.

"The providers take the time to listen; this is the difference between a disgruntled patient, and one who leaves with a sense of their provider being there for them," Colonel Vander Hamm said. "It's important that each patient feel their provider truly cares about their personal health and well-being."

Some recipients were caught off guard by their awards, and surprised to find that their supervisors had nominated them for the awards without their knowledge

"I was shocked and I definitely wasn't expecting [the award]," said Airman 1st Class Hannah McGuire, 28th MDSS. "It really makes you feel like all the hard work pays off; it helps to know that my supervisors were paying attention to it."

Among the other recipients of the ACC awards was Lt. Col. Tom Greenlee, 28th MDSS commander, who received the ACC Commitment to Service award.

Colonel Greenlee credits his staff with his achievement, giving the majority of the credit to his squadron and Master Sgt. Tracey House, 28th MDSS superintendent, who also won the award for Enlisted Health Services Management Senior NCO of the Year.

The awards acknowledge Ellsworth health providers for their hard work and dedication to their patients, assuring that their work does not go unnoticed by their supervisors (AFI 36-2856).

There are about 15,000 local beneficiaries in the Rapid City and Black Hills area that receive care from the 28th Medical Group.

The 2007 ACC Annual Award winners are:

ACC Commitment to Service Award for Excellence
Lt. Col. Tom Greenlee, 28th Medical Support Squadron

ACC Filed Grade Pharmacist of the Year
Maj. Robin Johnson, 28th MDSS

ACC Company Grade Optometrist of the Year
Capt. Michael Bogaard, 28th Medical Operations Squadron

ACC Resource Manager of the Year
Capt. Lisa Adams, 28th MDSS

Enlisted Health Services Management Senior NCO of the Year
Master Sgt. Tracey House, 28th MDSS 

Biomedical Equipment Repair Senior NCO of the Year
Master Sgt. Wayne Helmick, 28th MDOS

Expeditionary Medical Operations Airman of the Year
Airman 1st Class Hannah McGuire, 28th MDSS

Resource Management Civilian of the Year
Charles Mommerency, 28th MDSS

Civilian Pharmacy Technician of the Year
Teresa Truman-Wright, 28th MDSS

Outstanding Resource Management Team of the Year
Capt. Lisa Adams, 28th MDSS
Tech. Sgt. Tammy Colvin, 28th MDSS
Airman 1st Class Philip Baiao, 28th MDSS
Charles Mommerency, 28th MDSS
Bill Kindle, 28th MDSS
Karen Kjellerson, 28th MDSS
LTanya Starr, 28th MDOS
Merrilyn Schroeder, 28th MDOS
Cynthia Carroll, 28th MDSS