Courtesy Photo | Defense Health Network Pacific Rim’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Rotruck, left,...... read more read more
The Defense Health Network Pacific Rim Chief Medical Officer, Dr. John Rotruck, reinforced the network’s commitment to high reliability, operational readiness, and trusted partnerships across the Indo-Pacific during a December visit to Japan. His trip included participation in the 2025 Indo-Pacific Military Health Exchange (IPMHE) and visits to several military treatment facilities (MTF).
Hosted by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Japan Joint Staff Dec. 2-5, IPMHE 2025 brought together nearly 1,000 military health professionals from 22 nations to strengthen collaboration in global health security, operational medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and medical research. Through expert-led panels, workshops, and applied training, the exchange focused on improving interoperability and medical readiness among allied and partner nations.
Drawing on decades of leadership, Rotruck, a retired Navy captain and anesthesiologist who served as commanding officer of USNS Mercy’s (T-AH 19) MTF and force surgeon for both III Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, contributed an operational perspective during a panel on multinational licensing and credentialing. The discussion focused on the practical importance of ensuring allied medical teams are able to work together seamlessly to provide life-saving care during combat and contingency operations.
Panel members shared lessons learned from past missions, emphasizing that repeated interaction and joint training are essential to building cohesive medical teams capable of performing effectively together in complex environments.
“When medical teams understand each other, their systems and capabilities, before a crisis, they are far better prepared to deliver safe, effective, life-saving care when it matters most,” said Rotruck.
Rotruck emphasized that forums like IPMHE play an important role in strengthening relationships beyond formal agreements and improving coordination during multinational operations.
“There is no substitute for repeated engagement and building trust between allies and partners,” he said.
Following the exchange, Rotruck visited U.S. military hospitals and clinics across the Tokyo metropolitan area to better understand their capabilities and identify opportunities for collaboration. The region is home to facilities from three separate Defense Health Networks, making coordination and partnership at the local level especially important.
During his visit, Rotruck toured the 374th Medical Group at Yokota Air Base and the BG Crawford F. Sams Army Health Clinic at Camp Zama. He also visited Branch Health Clinic Atsugi and U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, which fall under Defense Health Network Pacific Rim.
According to Rotruck, staffing challenges have not deterred military medical teams who continue to deliver safe, high-quality care through professionalism, adaptability, and commitment to the mission.
“What stood out to me was the professionalism and commitment of the staff and the strong, collegial relationships that exist across services and networks,” he said.
He noted that open communication and collaboration remain defining strengths of the region’s military medical community.
“These teams are making things work to the maximum extent of their authority,” Rotruck said. “That kind of cooperation reflects a culture of high reliability and a shared focus on our mission, taking care of our patients and supporting the readiness of the force.”
As chief medical officer for Defense Health Network Pacific Rim, Rotruck oversees clinical quality and medical readiness across nine military treatment facilities spanning the U.S. West Coast, Japan, and Guam. His participation in IPMHE and engagement with Japan-based MTFs highlight the network’s role in advancing high-quality care, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring medical forces remain ready to support operations throughout the Indo-Pacific.
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Defense Health Network Pacific Rim (DHN-PR) is one of the Defense Health Agency’s nine networks of hospitals and clinics that deliver high-quality health care to more than 280,000 enrolled beneficiaries, supporting major operational units through the Indo-Pacific. The DHN-PR headquarters is located in San Diego, overseeing military hospitals and clinics along the U.S. West Coast and overseas in Guam and Japan.
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2026 15:25 |
| Story ID: | 556410 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
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This work, DHN Pacific Rim CMO Advances Readiness, Partnerships During Japan Visit, by Regena Kowitz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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