Operational Health Support Unit (OHSU) Jacksonville held its change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Jacksonville’s pavilion Dec. 1.
Capt. Karen Young, Nurse Corps, relieved Capt. Jessica Reed, Nurse Corps, as commanding officer. The presiding officer and guest speaker of the ceremony was Rear Adm. Christina Alvarado, Deputy Chief, Reserve Policy and Integration, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
“It has been an honor to serve as commanding officer of Operational Health Support Unit Jacksonville,” said Reed. “Each day of my tour allowed me to marvel at the vast skills, expertise and the professionalism you display as members of the Navy Medicine team. And I am assured that with Captain Young at the helm, you will continue to succeed and provide our patients the care they deserve.”
Reed went on to thank her command leadership and sailors for their ability to take on the most demanding responsibilities in order to serve patients.
OHSU Jacksonville plays a vital role in Navy Medicine, including augmenting staff at Naval Hospital Jacksonville — its hospital and branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. OHSU’s highly capable and talented health care professionals meet critical staffing needs that arise due to deployments, permanent change of station billet gaps, and increased patient volume.
Reed led 685 sailors (across 18 detachments in a three-state region and Puerto Rico) in delivering 13,777 days of direct medical and dental support, providing $3 million in medical and dental services to 13 Navy Operational Support Centers, achieving medical and dental readiness rates of 92 and 95 percent respectively for 11,000 Select Reservists in the southeast region, and earning 17 Navy Surgeon General Health Promotion and WellnessBlue H Awards. She also integrated OHSU staff with Naval Hospital Jacksonville staff through participation in the hospital’s Executive Steering Committee.
“Capt. Reed has led her team to the highest degree of success, supporting the mission of Naval Hospital Jacksonville and Navy Medicine,” said Naval Hospital Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. David Collins. “Her unwavering leadership has been integral to keeping our Navy and Marine Corps family healthy, ready, and on the job.”
Collins then welcomed Young as incoming commanding officer.
Reed, who holds a master’s degree in midwifery and was commissioned in the Navy Nurse Corps in 1990, will transfer to OHSU San Diego, where she will serve as a certified nurse midwife at Naval Medical Center San Diego.
Young, OHSU Jacksonville’s newest commanding officer, holds a master’s degree in nursing education and adult health. She began her Navy Reserve career as a direct commission officer in 1994 and most recently served as director for command services at OHSU Portsmouth, from 2016 to 2017.
OHSU is comprised of 18 detachments, operating within 13 Navy Operational Reserve Centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico. It is responsible for the training and management of Bureau of Medicine and Surgery medical resources and medical/dental support to the Southeast region. The unit is also responsible for maintaining mobilization readiness to prepare the associated reserve population for short- and long-term support to active forces and national defense requirements.