Former CSAF praises medical graduates, future of military medicine Published June 12, 2015 By Staff Sgt. Michael Ellis 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Emphasizing the new paradigm of military medicine, a former chief of staff of the Air Force praised the commitment and service of 235 physicians and allied health care graduates during the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium awards and graduation ceremony at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in San Antonio June 5, 2015. "You're different. You'll be expected to serve right on the frontlines with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines," said retired Gen. Ronald Fogleman, the 15th Air Force chief of staff and keynote speaker for the ceremony. The U.S. has been engaged in constant combat since 2001. During this period, military medicine has advanced the overall progress in medical technology, Fogleman told the group. This "revolution" in military and civilian care has produced profound results. If a casualty reaches a military treatment facility on the battlefield, the survival rate is now 95 percent due to such advances. "Military doctors and technicians saw the need to go further to provide treatment early in the casualty care process. The results have not only helped reduce causalities on the battlefield, these techniques migrate into civilian emergency rooms and surgical centers around the world, Fogleman said. "The dramatic reduction in death due to previously fatal wounds on the battlefield is directly related to advance patient stabilization and treatment." SAUSHEC has been instrumental in training and equipping these warrior medics. With over 35 programs with more than 600 residents in training, it is one of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country. The consortium is responsible for all military graduate medical education in San Antonio with two major training sites at the San Antonio Military Health System's two flagship medical treatment facilities - Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and San Antonio Military Medical Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. Its residents are among the nation's top-rated in board certification. The retired general said a profession is a subset of society that shares some core expertise, such as lawyers who know legal codes, educators who know the arts and sciences, and doctors who know the body and the healing process. The profession of arms, Fogleman said, is even more special. Fogleman expressed how the profession of arms is unique, as it may require members to lay down their life. "With this new paradigm of military medicine...you're different."