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A Career of Service

Military service has allowed this orthopaedic surgeon to focus on
clinical training and skills, practice overseas, and build camaraderie
with a network of civilian physicians.

By lt. col. roman hayda, md Published September/October 2004

As chief of orthopaedic trauma and the program director for orthopaedic residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, I have the opportunity each day to help heal our nation’s soldiers and their families.

One of the nation’s oldest and largest health-care networks, the Army and Army Reserve currently employ more than 250 orthopaedic surgeons and residents. However, many physicians remain unaware of the opportunities offered by the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve. Although no two Army Health Care experiences are alike, my 24 years of R.O.T.C. and active-duty service have crossed numerous geographic boundaries and a wide swath of orthopaedic practice opportunities.

I joined the Army as an R.O.T.C. student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1980. My initial reason for joining was partially financial —I was paying my way through school and the Army offered 100 percent tuition reimbursement for two to four years, plus allowances for books and fees. But financial support was not the primary reason I volunteered. The concept of service has always been appealing to me, and the Army was a way to give back to my country.

Attending medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1984 to 1988, allowed me to serve as an officer in the Army while I was in medical school. I completed the two-week Officer Basic Course in 1984, learning what is expected of an Army Medical Service Corps Officer. Unlike enlisted soldiers, physicians and other members of the Army Health Care Team do not have to undergo basic training.

Training

Following graduation from medical school in 1988, I completed my general surgery internship at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. From there I was assigned to Sinop, Turkey, where I was the sole physician responsible for the medical care of 550 soldiers. This was a unique opportunity to closely observe the impact of our profession in a small community. Upon returning to the U.S., I began my orthopaedic residency at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. I finished in 1994 and returned overseas to Heidelberg, Germany, where I served as assistant chief, orthopaedic service for a U.S. Army Combat Support Hospital until 1997. I received board certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1996.

I completed my orthopaedic trauma fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1998, and was assigned to serve in my current position as chief, orthopaedic trauma at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), in Texas. In 2000, I also became the chief of BAMC’s Institute of Surgical Research Extremity Trauma Study Branch. Much like the civilian practice, Army surgeons can choose to focus on a strict clinical practice or to expand other areas based on skill sets while contributing as a key team member. For me, leadership has always been extremely rewarding.

Building a career

I have continued to expand my leadership experience during my service at BAMC, becoming the assistant residency program director in 2001 and serving as orthopaedic residency program director since 2003. I enjoy working with our residents and seeing them grow personally and professionally. The Army offers them a number of professional opportunities which can be tailored to their personal desires, while giving them the opportunity to serve the country. As I have personally experienced, the Army offers graduates a tremendous number of venues around the world usually not available to civilian physicians.

While at BAMC, I have served as a member of the Army’s Surgical Medical Trauma Augmentation Team (SMART). A SMART team can deploy anywhere in the world within 72 hours and is always prepared to support civilian disaster relief teams or evacuate patients to available medical centers.

In addition to my professional appointments in Army Health Care facilities, I have also been “attached” to field units throughout my career and would be deployed with these units if called upon. From 1998 to 2000, I was assigned with the 555th Forward Surgical Team based in Fort Hood, Texas. Comprised of three general surgeons, one orthopaedic surgeon, a nurse anesthetist, surgical technicians, and combat medics, Forward Surgical Teams are designed to save lives on the battlefield, as you may have seen in recent news stories. These teams are support groups that follow advancing units as they move forward, and remain close enough to receive, treat, and stabilize patients and send them further back to receive higher levels of medical care. The Army reassigned me to the 228th Combat Support Hospital, based at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from 2000 to 2002. These larger mobile units are comprised of varying medical specialties and serve well behind battlefield front lines, further stabilizing patients before they can go to regional medical centers.

Though I trained with field units, actual deployments in my career have been relatively short in length, comprised mainly of my assignment in Germany and deployments to Hungary and Bosnia. I also took advantage of the Army’s specialty education program earlier in my career, traveling through Europe to practice general orthopaedic surgery and meeting surgeons from other nations. Deployments of any kind can be quite an experience for physicians, but like any assignment, how you deal with it determines how valuable it will be.

Civilian work

A noticeable aspect of my career has been my participation with the civilian orthopaedic community. This participation is not exclusive to my experience, but rather a part of the Army’s professional development. Army surgeons can choose to interact regularly with their civilian counterparts in practice and in professional societies, virtually blurring the line between military and civilian careers. I serve as an editor to the Journal of Trauma, the University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Journal and section editor of the OTA Resident Lecture series. I have published six scientific papers and abstract publications and three book chapters, completed 21 medical presentations, organized 13 educational programs, and have presented numerous lectures and seminars. The Army allows me to focus on professional development rather than on business practices, helping me to become the best clinician possible.

My experience as a surgeon in the Army has offered me educational opportunities, the ability to practice overseas, camaraderie with a close network of orthopaedic surgeons and the ability to focus on professional development while giving back to the country. For those interested, the Army is a tremendous place for today’s surgeons who are looking for a unique career path g

Lt. Col. Roman Hayda, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon serving in the U.S. Army.

The comments in Remarks are solely those of the author and may or may not be shared by UO or its advertisers.

@ 2004 UO Inc. www.uoworks.com 800-888-2047










						A Career of Service Military service has allowed this orthopaedic surgeon to focus on clinical training and skills, practice overseas, and build camaraderie with a network of civilian physicians. By lt. col. roman hayda, md Published September/October 2004 As chief of orthopaedic trauma and the program director for orthopaedic residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, I have the opportunity each day to help heal our nation’s soldiers and their families. One of the nation’s oldest and largest health-care networks, the Army and Army Reserve currently employ more than 250 orthopaedic surgeons and residents. However, many physicians remain unaware of the opportunities offered by the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve. Although no two Army Health Care experiences are alike, my 24 years of R.O.T.C. and active-duty service have crossed numerous geographic boundaries and a wide swath of orthopaedic practice opportunities. I joined the Army as an R.O.T.C. student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1980. My initial reason for joining was partially financial —I was paying my way through school and the Army offered 100 percent tuition reimbursement for two to four years, plus allowances for books and fees. But financial support was not the primary reason I volunteered. The concept of service has always been appealing to me, and the Army was a way to give back to my country. Attending medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1984 to 1988, allowed me to serve as an officer in the Army while I was in medical school. I completed the two-week Officer Basic Course in 1984, learning what is expected of an Army Medical Service Corps Officer. Unlike enlisted soldiers, physicians and other members of the Army Health Care Team do not have to undergo basic training. Training Following graduation from medical school in 1988, I completed my general surgery internship at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. From there I was assigned to Sinop, Turkey, where I was the sole physician responsible for the medical care of 550 soldiers. This was a unique opportunity to closely observe the impact of our profession in a small community. Upon returning to the U.S., I began my orthopaedic residency at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. I finished in 1994 and returned overseas to Heidelberg, Germany, where I served as assistant chief, orthopaedic service for a U.S. Army Combat Support Hospital until 1997. I received board certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1996. I completed my orthopaedic trauma fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1998, and was assigned to serve in my current position as chief, orthopaedic trauma at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), in Texas. In 2000, I also became the chief of BAMC’s Institute of Surgical Research Extremity Trauma Study Branch. Much like the civilian practice, Army surgeons can choose to focus on a strict clinical practice or to expand other areas based on skill sets while contributing as a key team member. For me, leadership has always been extremely rewarding. Building a career I have continued to expand my leadership experience during my service at BAMC, becoming the assistant residency program director in 2001 and serving as orthopaedic residency program director since 2003. I enjoy working with our residents and seeing them grow personally and professionally. The Army offers them a number of professional opportunities which can be tailored to their personal desires, while giving them the opportunity to serve the country. As I have personally experienced, the Army offers graduates a tremendous number of venues around the world usually not available to civilian physicians. While at BAMC, I have served as a member of the Army’s Surgical Medical Trauma Augmentation Team (SMART). A SMART team can deploy anywhere in the world within 72 hours and is always prepared to support civilian disaster relief teams or evacuate patients to available medical centers. In addition to my professional appointments in Army Health Care facilities, I have also been “attached” to field units throughout my career and would be deployed with these units if called upon. From 1998 to 2000, I was assigned with the 555th Forward Surgical Team based in Fort Hood, Texas. Comprised of three general surgeons, one orthopaedic surgeon, a nurse anesthetist, surgical technicians, and combat medics, Forward Surgical Teams are designed to save lives on the battlefield, as you may have seen in recent news stories. These teams are support groups that follow advancing units as they move forward, and remain close enough to receive, treat, and stabilize patients and send them further back to receive higher levels of medical care. The Army reassigned me to the 228th Combat Support Hospital, based at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from 2000 to 2002. These larger mobile units are comprised of varying medical specialties and serve well behind battlefield front lines, further stabilizing patients before they can go to regional medical centers. Though I trained with field units, actual deployments in my career have been relatively short in length, comprised mainly of my assignment in Germany and deployments to Hungary and Bosnia. I also took advantage of the Army’s specialty education program earlier in my career, traveling through Europe to practice general orthopaedic surgery and meeting surgeons from other nations. Deployments of any kind can be quite an experience for physicians, but like any assignment, how you deal with it determines how valuable it will be. Civilian work A noticeable aspect of my career has been my participation with the civilian orthopaedic community. This participation is not exclusive to my experience, but rather a part of the Army’s professional development. Army surgeons can choose to interact regularly with their civilian counterparts in practice and in professional societies, virtually blurring the line between military and civilian careers. I serve as an editor to the Journal of Trauma, the University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Journal and section editor of the OTA Resident Lecture series. I have published six scientific papers and abstract publications and three book chapters, completed 21 medical presentations, organized 13 educational programs, and have presented numerous lectures and seminars. The Army allows me to focus on professional development rather than on business practices, helping me to become the best clinician possible. My experience as a surgeon in the Army has offered me educational opportunities, the ability to practice overseas, camaraderie with a close network of orthopaedic surgeons and the ability to focus on professional development while giving back to the country. For those interested, the Army is a tremendous place for today’s surgeons who are looking for a unique career path g Lt. Col. Roman Hayda, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon serving in the U.S. Army. The comments in Remarks are solely those of the author and may or may not be shared by UO or its advertisers. Back to top @ 2004 UO Inc. www.uoworks.com 800-888-2047