90th Medical Group wins MAJCOM level awards

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dan Gage
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYO --  The Air Force Medical Services (AFMS) Awards Program recognizes individuals and teams whose outstanding actions improve the delivery of health care and contribute to expeditionary medical operations for our Air Force personnel worldwide. According to Air Force documents, the awards acknowledge sustained superior job performance, innovative operations, and exceptional teamwork.

A total of 121 awards are given out each year to officers, enlisted and civilian personnel.

In 2010, Air Force Global Strike Command's 90th Medical Group excelled in the AFMS Awards Program at the Major Command level, bringing 20 individual and three team awards back to F. E. Warren.

This saw an improvement over the previous year's 14 awards earned by the 90th MDG.

The awards won at the MAJCOM level give the recipients an opportunity to compete at the AF level. Those awards will be announced in the spring.

Among the recognition received this year by the Mighty Ninety was the Military Treatment Facility of the Year Award. This is the first time in three years the award was earned at any level by Warren's Airmen.

"It's a really competitive program," said Col. Amelia Hutchins, 90th Medical Group. "I've been here since 2007 and we have had winners every year, to win the MTF of the year is a huge accolade for everything that we've done."

Along with winning the MTF of the year award, 90th MDG also earned the USAF Outstanding Patient Centered Medical Home Award and were named the Lt. Col. George M. Prascsak Jr. Outstanding Public Health Team of the Year.

A lot of effort on the job went into winning the medical service awards, along with many hours behind the scenes to get the packages together for submittal.

"These awards recognize the hard work and daily excellence the men and women of the 90th MDG put into their jobs to keep the Mighty Ninety mission ready on a daily basis," said Col. Vasta-Falldorf, 90th MDG commander.

A total of 48 submissions were turned in this year by the medical group.

"With the business of the mission and maintaining inspection readiness, these credit activities sometimes take a lower priority," said Col. Hutchins.

"Col. Francesca Vasta-Falldorf is our biggest proponent and advocate of making sure we recognize our people," she added. "She set the bar high ensuring daily excellence and wanted to recognize this phenomenal effort in making sure we got as many submissions out as possible."

Group Awards:
USAF Surgeon General Award for Best Clinic of the Year

Lieutenant Colonel George M. Prascsak, Jr Outstanding Public Health Team of the Year

USAF Outstanding Patient Centered Medical Home Award

Individual Awards:
USAF Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research Award:
Lt. Col. Steven Pflanz

Outstanding Dental Airman of the Year:
Senior Airman Tommy Vinh

USAF Civilian Dietitian of the Year:
Cynthia A. Mulcahy

USAF Colonel Donald D. Dunton Opthalmic NCO of the Year:
Tech. Sgt. Edward Mayle

USAF Maxine Beatty Award:
Maj. Matt Cowan

USAF Fred Coleman Award:
Capt. Sarah Hooker

USAF CMSgt Michael A. Gambuti Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year:
Senior Airman Michael Martinez

USAF Company Field Grade Physical Therapist Award:
Maj. Evan Kelley

USAF Physical Medicine Craftsman Award:
Tech. Sgt. Micki Hinnershitz

USAF Outstanding Company Grade Social Worker of the Year:
Capt. Janelle Weyer

Health Benefits Advior of the Year:
Annette Lupo

Outstanding Medical Logistics CGO Officer of the Year:
Capt. Tobie Wethington

Outstanding Biomedical Equipment Repair NCO of the Year:
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Helms

Outstanding Civilian Medical Logistician of the Year:
Bradley Guritza

CMSgt Anton Zembrod Award for the Outstanding Air Force Diagnostic Imaging Technologist SNCO of the Year:
Master Sgt. Christy Jones

CMSgt Anton Zembrod Award for the Outstanding Air Force Diagnostic Imaging Technologist Civilian of the Year:
Patsy Tate

Olson/Wegner Outstanding Aerospace Medicine SNCO of the Year:
Master Sgt. Miguel Diaz

Group Practice Manager of the Year:
Capt. Chang Han

Outstanding Facility Manager of the Year for a Small Medical Logistics Activity:
Brian Schaefer

USAF Expeditionary Medical Operations NCO of the Year:
Tech. Sgt. Christine Ramler