Photo By Kevin Sommer Giron | Gwen Nelmes, center left, the National Museum of Health and Medicine education...... read more read more
More than 50 subject matter experts from the Defense Health Agency’s Vision Center of Excellence visited the National Museum of Health and Medicine on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
The group toured several galleries and were invited ‘behind the scenes’ to view many of the museum’s collections. They also learned how their work - to improve vision health, strengthen military readiness, and improve life for service members and veterans - connects to the history of military medicine.
The tour took place during VCE’s all-hands meeting at which Navy Capt. Todd Lauby, the center’s division chief, addressed the group. Lauby welcomed new staff, shared updates, and thanked the team for their dedication.
Participants learned about the history of military medicine through the numerous medical artifacts on display, and behind the scenes.
Archivist Laura Cutter showed items from the Ball Collection. It includes eye illustrations, tools, and anatomical specimens from past centuries. Before photography, doctors used drawings to study disease. This connects with VCE’s work to teach about eye health and use modern tools to help service members and veterans see better.
Anatomical Collections Manager Kristen Pearlstein Ph.D., showed specimens with spinal tuberculosis and bone cancer. She also showed the skeleton of HAM, the first chimpanzee to travel into space.
Historical Collections Manager, Alan Hawk showed the Wilmer Ophthalmology Collection. It includes eye tools and books donated by Dr. William Holland Wilmer, a retired Brigadier general in the army and early leader in military ophthalmic research. They also saw other devices used to treat vision problems. These included ophthalmoscopes, which help doctors look at the retina.
By exploring these collections, the SMEs gained valuable insight into the history of our military medical history. They also gained an appreciation of how their daily work supports military medicine, and all our service members.
Want to see it for yourself? Schedule a tour or learn more at medicalmuseum.mil.
| Date Taken: | 08.26.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2025 10:52 |
| Story ID: | 548909 |
| Location: | SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Vision Center of Excellence Visits the National Museum of Health and Medicine, by Kenya Baylor, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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