DOWNRANGE: Warrior Medics Deployed Staff Sgt. Brittany Vonlehmden

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston | Staff Sgt. Brittany Vonlehmden 455th Expeditionary Medical Group orthopedic surgical technician, provides surgical care and clinical follow-up appointments for orthopedic patients at Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. She is deployed from the 59th Medical Operations Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (courtesy photo)  

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TEXAS, TX, UNITED STATES

09.16.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston 

59th Medical Wing

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Though deploying for the first time can be a challenge for some Airmen, the experience often provides invaluable lessons on service, teamwork and leadership.

Such is the case for Staff Sgt. Brittany Vonlehmden, a native of Perry, Ohio, and a member of the 59th Medical Operations Group at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center. She is currently deployed as an orthopedic surgical technician at Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

The Craig Joint Theater Hospital operating room is the only role III hospital in the area of responsibility providing care for the 36,000 NATO and coalition forces across 21 forward operating bases.

“Our unit ensures the operating rooms are trauma ready at all times for our patients,” said Tech. Sgt. Mellissa Eterovic-Johnson, 455th EMDOS surgical services flight chief.

A role III hospital has more surgical specialties and can take on more patients than a role II facility. Additionally, Bagram is the hub for aeromedical evacuations.

“I see patients … twice a week in the clinic for acute injuries and follow-up appointments from surgeries done at Craig Joint Theater Hospital and surrounding forward operating bases,” Vonlehmden said.

“I’ve recently moved to the non-commissioned officer in charge position in the operating room where I oversee the daily operations and schedules for the enlisted members in the OR,” she added.

Although this is Vonlehmden’s first deployment, Eterovic-Johnson said the young staff sergeant’s dedication and work ethic is motivating, and she continuously finds ways to make processes more efficient for the whole team.

“Being a surgical technician in a deployed setting is different from the role back at home station. I don’t just work in one specific area or do one specific job, this is a team effort. I’m willing to do whatever needs to be done to save lives and complete the mission,” Vonlehmden said.

Surgical technicians in the operating room play a vital role in surgery from start to finish. “We not only make sure the surgeons have all the equipment and surgical supplies needed to successfully perform the surgery but we also process the instrumentation used in surgery,” she explained

“Staff Sgt. Vonlehmden is the sole orthopedic surgical technician in the entire AOR. She is responsible for ensuring our two orthopedic surgeons have everything they need to provide outstanding care both in the OR and in the clinic,” said Eterovic-Johnson.

“When boots hit the ground, she went sprinting and hasn’t skipped a step. She plugs herself into the operations beyond her assigned roles, teaching other specialties to junior technicians from her vast knowledge and experience prior to orthopedic specialization,” she added.

Vonlehmden was promoted to staff sergeant just before leaving for her deployment. In addition to embracing and learning her NCO responsibilities, she said the experience has given her insight into the role 59th Medical Wing Warrior Medics are playing in Afghanistan.

We are providing “outstanding care” to the warfighter and people in a country where they might not get any medical care at all, she said.

• Date Taken: 09.16.2016
• Date Posted: 09.16.2016 12:29
• Story ID: 209830
• Location: JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TEXAS, TX, US
• Hometown: PERRY, OH, US