Grafenwoehr clinic bids farewell to Smyth, welcomes new commander

Photo By Gerhard Seuffert | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Rose L. Smyth, outgoing U. S. Army Health Clinic Grafenwoehr commander, left, U.S. Army Col. Mark Swofford, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Bavaria commander, center, and the incoming commander, Lt. Col. Avery J. Carney, right, stand in formation during a U.S. Army Health Clinic Grafenwoehr Change of Command Ceremony at the Tower Barracks, Germany, July 3, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Gerhard Seuffert)  

GERMANY

07.03.2019

Story by Alain M. Polynice 

Medical Readiness Command, Europe

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – The U.S. Army Health Clinic Grafenwoehr said goodbye to Lt. Col. Rose L. Smyth as she relinquished command of the health clinic to incoming commander Lt. Col. Avery J. Carney at a change of command ceremony July 3, 2019, at Tower Barracks, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Col. Mark Swofford, commander of the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Bavaria, presided over the change of command ceremony and referred to Smyth as “an outstanding Medical Service Corps officer who has led the men and women of the Grafenwoehr health clinic in an exceptional manner for the past 24 months.”

The AHC Grafenwoehr provides health services and force health protection to the commands, organizations, and family members of the Grafenwoehr military community that encompasses 7th Army Training Command headquarters, the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, battalions and squadrons of the 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the 16th Sustainment Brigade, and the rotational forces that occupy the training area.

“Collectively, this small group of outstanding professionals builds and maintains readiness on [United States Army Europe]’s cutting edge,” said Swofford.
Smyth, a medical operations officer by training, used the ceremony as an opportunity to praise her staff and their willingness to understand the importance of teamwork and team building, and their willingness to embrace it during her two years in command.

“Being able to get along with your peers and helping fellow team members, patients, and supporting units requires a sense of humility and unselfish attitude and our team fosters this environment every day,” Smyth said. “Throughout my tenure, I witnessed teamwork across our organization to make things happen at all levels, despite the size and scope of the task at hand.”

Smyth shared and highlighted with the audience key moments where the organization, through teamwork and team building, excelled during her tenure:

• United States Army Europe (USAREUR) Pandemic Influenza Immunization Exercise – a five day exercise in which the clinic had to perform rapid execution of influenza vaccination of 90 percent of the garrison’s available active duty personnel with 120 hours of receiving the vaccine.

• TRICARE International SOS (ISOS) Luncheon – a luncheon hosting network providers for a meet and greet followed by a static display of operations.

• Volksfest 2017 and 2018 – the clinic’s annual fundraising event that helps in supporting soldier and family programs. The clinic was top earner in 2018 and it came in second in 2017.

• The Joint Commission Survey – a triannual event focused on accrediting the clinic and validating that the organization is complying with the highest national standards for safety and quality of care and is committed to improving patient care.

Smyth is headed off to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for her next assignment where she will serve as the Deputy Commanding Officer for the 44th Medical Brigade.

Incoming commander Lt. Col. Carney, a physician assistant, arrives from Fort Carson, Colorado where he served as the Division Surgeon for 4th Infantry Division. Carney brings with him a wealth of knowledge working with Army operational forces.

“He has a long history of operational assignments at Fort Bragg and Fort Carson, and he understands how to build readiness and increase community health through cooperation between our operational forces and the [Tables of Distribution and Allowances] medical facilities that support them,” said Swofford. “So he is the right officer to command this facility and lead this team to even greater achievements in support of 7ATC and USAREUR.”

To learn more about the people and facilities of the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Bavaria (MEDDAC Bavaria) and the clinics they support in Ansbach, Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels, Stuttgart and Vilseck visit the MEDDAC Bavaria website at rhce.amedd.army.mil/bavaria.

• Date Taken: 07.03.2019
• Date Posted: 07.03.2019 11:40
• Story ID: 330238
• Location: DE