Combat Aviation Brigade physicians recognized by Society of U.S. Army Flight Surgeons

TAJI, IRAQ

04.21.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt 

1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Two physicians from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division — Baghdad, have been recognized by the Society of U.S. Army Flight Surgeons for their contributions to Army Aviation Medicine and the support they provide to aviation operations.

Capt. Erik Hermstad, 4th Battalion, from Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, has been named the 2009 Theodore Lyster Flight Surgeon of the Year and Capt. Scott Bier, 1st Bn., from Harker Heights, Texas, is scheduled to receive an Outstanding Achievement Award.

The Society named the two Fort Hood, Texas, based physicians at the 2009 Medicine in Challenging Environments Conference held in Galveston, Texas, earlier this year, and the doctors are scheduled to receive their awards once they redeploy from Iraq this summer.

"These awards are very competitive and indeed very prestigious. They are open to all flight surgeons and aeromedical physicians' assistants of all ranks in the Army, Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard," said Maj. Scott Orr, the CAB's senior flight surgeon. "The fact that we have two such outstanding flight surgeons in our brigade is noteworthy."

Hermstad was named the flight surgeon of the year for his innovation in updating mass casualty supplies at the brigade's medical clinic north of Baghdad, and was also recognized for the modernization of all first aid kits on the CAB's fleet of aircraft as well as updating the medical inserts for the Aviation Life Support Equipment vests.

"The old first aid kits had not been updated by the Army in over 15 years and had razor blades and Band-Aids in them which are not needed," said Hermstad. "The new kits are designed for anyone who is combat lifesaver qualified and provides a multitude of modern lifesaving supplies."

The updated first aid kits and ALSE inserts now come standard with modern chest seals, combat application tourniquets, medicines, combat gauze and a plethora of equipment designed to keep a patient alive until they can be transported to a medical facility for further treatment. Every aircraft in the brigade is equipped with the kits and Hermstad is conducting research to make them standard on all aircraft in the U.S. Army.

"I'm working on proving why this kit is better and why it should be a model for all aircraft," Hermstad added.

Hermstad and Bier were instrumental in training more than 600 aviators in the CAB how to use the life-saving equipment prior to and while deployed in Iraq.

Bier has also committed his time, and has been the driving force behind new upgrades to the "Iron Eagle" Troop Medical Clinic. He is recognized for the modernization of the clinic by ordering more than $250,000 worth of non-standard medical equipment for the isolated medical facility on Camp Taji. This equipment facilitated the safe return to duty of Soldiers that would have otherwise been evacuated to the Combat Support Hospital for additional evaluation, thereby saving lost duty time and money on countless occasions.

In addition, he was the officer in charge for medically processing more than 2,800 CAB Soldiers for deployment, and started a volunteer program for the brigade's physicians and medics at Baghdad's Combat Support Hospital where he has personally volunteered more than 100 hours in the treatment of battlefield trauma patients as well as Soldiers suffering from medical illnesses.

"I stepped-up and volunteered for a lot of tasks that needed to be completed before and during the deployment," said Bier. "I'm proud to be a flight surgeon, and I'm grateful to the 1st Battalion chain of command for the leeway to take on the extra responsibilities.

"Teaching aviators and flight crews the basics of how to save a life is what I feel is the most important task I received recognition for from the society," he added.

• Date Taken: 04.21.2009
• Date Posted: 04.21.2009 11:28
• Story ID: 32658
• Location: TAJI, IQ