Photo By Jean Graves | Col. Aristotle Vaseliades, commander, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity,...... read more read more
FORT POLK, La. —Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity has a new leader following a change of command ceremony at 10 a.m., June 4 on Warrior Field at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The outgoing commander, Col. Jody Dugai, relinquished command to Col. Aristotle Vaseliades, in front of military and local civic leaders, network hospital partners, family and friends.
Throughout military history, unit colors have marked the position of the commander on the battlefield and served as a rallying point in times of confusion. Now, the colors symbolize the authority of the command. During the change of command ceremony, the passing of the colors represents the transfer of authority between commanders.
As the rain quietly fell, Dugai passed the unit colors to Brig. Gen. Shan K. Bagby, Regional Health Command-Central commanding general and host of the ceremony, indicative of handing over her responsibility and authority. Bagby then passed the colors to Vaseliades charging him with the same responsibilities and authority.
Bagby said it was an essential part of Army culture and important to honor both leaders, a commander who served with honor and an officer assuming the mantle of command.
“During her tenure, Col. Dugai and her team have demonstrated a true talent for ensuring the safety of more than 60,000 troops who rotate through the Joint Readiness Training Center annually,” he said. “Col. Dugai also lead her team by implementing the integrated disability evaluation system, program review and mission support commander engagement resulting in the highest medical readiness classification percentages for the installation.”
Bagby lauded Dugai for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the team at BJACH stood up an expanded virtual health capability that saved valuable resources while capitalizing on patients’ willingness to use technology for their medical appointments during unprecedented times.
Bagby welcomed Vaseliades and his family to RHC-C acknowledging his strategic vision and recognizing his impacts at ground zero in Korea at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and the development of initial protocols for the Army.
“As we move into an uncertain future, although one much brighter with the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, I’m confident under Col. Vaseliades’ leadership, the healthcare team at BJACH will continue to excel in it’s important role as the key partner to the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk as well as the entire military health system in support of our Soldiers and their families,” he said. “I am honored to serve our great nation alongside of you.”
During a heartfelt and emotional address Dugai thanked her family, installation leadership, fellow commanders and the BJACH team.
“I can’t possibly name all of the people who make BJACH successful,” she said. “I have to name a small portion of the 700 plus team members who make the wheel go around.”
Dugai shared several interactive customer evaluation comments that highlighted the dedication and caring nature of the medical professionals who work tirelessly each day in support of their patients. She praised nurses from the immunization clinic to the emergency department; the pharmacists and technicians; labor and delivery doctors; the radiology department; the hospital chaplain and command sergeant major for their selfless service and dedication to duty.
“Col. Vaseliades, you are in good hands with the team,” she said. They will demand a lot from you. In return, they will give you 100 percent and more to ensure the hospital is taking care of Soldiers, families and retirees.”
During his remarks Vaseliades thanked his family for their resiliency and support during his military career. He also thanked Dugai for handing off a successful organization.
“I’ve watched from afar as this organization has worked through two hurricanes, a major ice storm and multiple other severe weather events. Each time providing high quality, safe, patient-centered care,” he said. “To my new Fort Polk family, Team Vaseliades is excited to be here and get integrated into the community.”
Before turning the formation over to the commander of troops and retiring the colors Vaseliades said BJACH has and will continually strive for excellence.
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2021 13:02 |
| Story ID: | 398292 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 327 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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