Photo By Dan Grubb | LTC Kristen Fricchione, a Fort Bragg JAG Officer, speaks during a mock sexual assault...... read more read more
FORT BRAGG, NC – In the pursuit of justice for sexual assault survivors, a dedicated team at Womack Army Medical Center is ensuring that every voice is heard and every crime is answered. The Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners (SAMFE) team, led by Kelly Taylor, provides a pillar of support and crucial evidence to see that perpetrators are held accountable.
“We are proud to provide care to our community and we hope that survivors know that we are here to listen, support and provide exceptional care,” said Taylor, Forensic Healthcare Program Manager for the Womack SAMFE team. “We strive every day to be a safe place for those in need of resources to find assistance. We are dedicated to improving the lives of others and showing survivors and their loved ones that they are not alone; there is a whole team of providers, nurses and assistants that stand behind them and with them.”
To sharpen their skills, the SAMFE team recently participated in a mock trial, providing them with invaluable, real-world experience in a courtroom setting. This intensive training allowed forensic examiners to collaborate with legal professionals, gaining a deeper understanding of the judicial process and how their work directly impacts the outcome of a case.
The comprehensive two-day training event brought together representatives from law enforcement, advocacy groups, legal teams, and behavioral health to provide a multi-faceted educational experience. The first day focused on updates in processes and research from each partner agency, offering insight into the various interactions a patient has throughout their journey. On the second day, examiners and assistants applied their knowledge in mock scenarios, from the initial exam to providing expert testimony in the mock trial at the Main Courthouse on Fort Bragg.
“This training is valuable not only from an educational and collaborative standpoint, but it ensures that our medical personnel see how everything we do impacts the process as a whole and why we must always work to improve patient outcomes,” Taylor explained. “We must always stay vigilant to honor the human connection of what we do in providing exceptional and compassionate healthcare.”
The primary responsibilities of a sexual assault forensic examiner are extensive. They are tasked with gathering a patient's medical history, conducting a thorough head-to-toe physical assessment, meticulously documenting all findings, collecting forensic evidence, coordinating follow-up medical treatment, and providing immediate medical care.
Taylor’s expertise extends beyond the examination room. She has consulted and served as an expert witness in over 550 legal cases and is a lead instructor for military attorneys and criminal investigators at the Staff Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command School.
Taylor emphasizes the importance of open dialogue, no matter how difficult. "Conversations about assault and abuse are hard, but we must have the hard and uncomfortable conversations," she stated. "We must ensure that everyone is listening and striving to do better every day to ease the suffering of others. Do all you can, whenever you can, and understand that trauma is present in almost every room you enter; be aware of that and and try to make our world better every moment of every day.”
For more information about Womack’s SAMFE team, visit https://womack.tricare.mil/Patient-Resources/Sexual-Assault-Support
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2025 07:20 |
| Story ID: | 542173 |
| Location: | NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT LIBERTY, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Womack's Elite Medical Team Stands for Sexual Assault Survivors, by Dan Grubb, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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