Pax River Corpsmen Spark Smiles and Curiosity at Local Homeschool Share Fair

Photo By Maria Scott | Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Daniel Strunk, assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Patuxent River, demonstrates the use of a tourniquet to a local student during the Share Fair at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River Youth Center. Coordinated by NAS Patuxent River School Liaison Officer Dawn Simpson, the event allowed homeschooling families to connect and learn about base resources, with NMRTC Pax River personnel providing interactive medical readiness demonstrations and conversations with families.  

PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES

08.28.2026

Story by Maria Scott 

Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River, Maryland

Corpsmen from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Patuxent River brought high energy and hands-on learning to local military families during the Share Fair at the NAS Patuxent River Youth Center on Aug. 27. Coordinated by Dawn Simpson, the NAS Patuxent River School Liaison Officer, the Share Fair provided a dedicated space for homeschooling families to connect, share resources, and learn about support services across the installation.

Operating across the intersection of care and readiness, the command delivers everyday beneficiary health through Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River under the Defense Health Agency (DHA), while advancing Navy Medicine’s core mission to generate and sustain medically ready naval forces under NMRTC Patuxent River. Combining DHA’s enterprise support with Navy Medicine’s focus on warfighter readiness allows the command to seamlessly connect clinical excellence with operational capabilities. During the event, local students and parents got a front-row look at Navy Medicine in action, blending daily health habits, career insights, and practical lifesaving skills.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sandra Zdunowski and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kerby Maurice—both serving as Biomedical Equipment Technicians (BMETs), a specialized Navy Enlisted Classification responsible for maintaining and calibrating vital clinical and field medical systems—joined Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Daniel Strunk, a Radiology Technician, to guide families through practical demonstrations. Using oversized dental models; specialized operational gear like all-weather field notebooks; and emergency medical packs, the team showed how Navy Medicine delivers care across both clinic and expeditionary environments. HM2 Strunk walked students through CPR compressions on a mannequin and guided them through trying out training tourniquets, sparking curiosity about lifesaving care.

Beyond the day's interactive displays, the event served to strengthen community ties and open doors for future educational partnerships with local homeschool networks. The team highlighted opportunities for guided clinic tours, STEM presentations, and Navy Medicine career presentations available through the command to support local students year-round. Capt. Ken Radford, NMRTC Patuxent River commanding officer, emphasized the command's dedication to supporting base families through these initiatives. “We’re proud to serve the Pax River community whenever possible," said Radford. "I’m incredibly proud of our Sailors in their recent support of Back to School events providing outreach and interaction with local students and their families.”

• Date Taken: 08.28.2026
• Date Posted: 08.28.2026 21:33
• Story ID: 573516
• Location: PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND, US