Lessons for the Battlefield and Back Home: Key Moments from GSS26
Annually, emergency physicians serving in military and federal roles convene for the Government Services Symposium (GSS)- three days of learning, networking, and socializing with fellow physicians, residents, and medical students. GSS26 was held in Norfolk, VA, home to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, which is a major training hospital for Navy emergency physicians. Though hosted by a naval city, the symposium welcomed military physicians of all branches and federal agencies, including GSACEP members from all over the country and internationally. Throughout the week, attendees were reminded of the necessity of preparedness, especially with rapidly escalating global tensions.
The symposium opened with an inspiring keynote address from American College of Emergency Physicians President Dr. Anthony Cirillo, where he highlighted the College’s advocacy work, commitment to advancing the specialty, and encouraged attendees to remain resilient in a challenging field. The academic agenda featured speakers discussing topics ranging from history to wellness, clinical updates, and transitioning to civilian practice. CAPT Lawrence Decker, USN, discussed lessons from the Korean War and their application to modern rapid deployment and medical readiness, which dovetailed with a talk from Lt Col Benjamin Fox, USAF, on military-civilian partnerships and deployments for future wars. Dr. Torree McGowan provided evidence-based strategies for managing overnight shifts in “Night Shift Like a Pro.” MAJ Katey Osborne, USA, reviewed infectious disease considerations in returning service members in “Fever in the Returning INDOPACOM Servicemember / Traveler” and spoke about Common Medical Errors in a separate talk. The day of lectures ended with talks on Hepatic Encephalopathy from Dr. James Williams and caring for patients in custody from Dr. Joseph Gehrz. These sessions, along with many more, delivered a wide range of content, with no shortage of practical insights and engaging discussion.
Attendees then participated in hands-on training sessions and procedural labs, including a simulated mass casualty escape room, care for the military working dog, surgical cricothyrotomy, and air transport ventilation considerations. The first day concluded with the opening reception and research forum at the Nauticus, where attendees enjoyed delicious hors d'oeuvres and beautiful sunset views of the Portsmouth harbor. The forum featured thirty-nine posters encompassing quality improvement projects, original research, and case reports, illustrating the bright future of the chapter and emergency medicine. Congratulations to the Research Forum winners!
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Quality Improvement/ Research |
Case Reports |
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1st Place: 2Lt Allen Archer - “Addressing STEMI Transfer Door-In-Door-Out Times Through Process Improvement” 2nd Place: CPT Lizzy Zinn - “Contaminated Airway Study: Yankauer vs DuCanto” 3rd Place: CPT Bivor Shrestha - “Ultrasound Assessment of Neonatal Spinal Fluid Volume” People’s Choice: CPT Lizzy Zinn - “Contaminated Airway Study: Yankauer vs DuCanto” |
1st Place: LT Esther Bartlett - “First Documented Case of Painless Horner’s Syndrome in Search-and-Rescue Navy Helicopter Diver”
3rd Place: LT Karen Norling - “Austere Medicine: The Chest Tube That Found a New Career Path” People’s Choice: CPT Jess Wimberly - “Hidden in Plain Sight: A Mysterious Collapse in a Previously Well Child” |
The second day kicked off with a keynote talk by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Ralph Vermeltfoort of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. His address offered an international perspective on military air-medical operations. Additional presentations included an overview of the Veterans Health Administration from Dr. Gerry Cox, a deep dive into the VA’s innovative intermediate care technician program from Dr. Colleen McQuown, a dialogue on end-of-life care for casualties from 2LT Ryan Leone, USA, and MAJ Matt Tentis, USA, and a panel moderated by 2LT Ryan Leone, USA, that explored post-military career pathways, featuring physicians working in the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Navy Reserves, and the Department of State.
After lunch, attendees heard a strategic talk from the Naval War College about Indo-Pacific threats from Dr. Daniel Caldwell, a presentation on visual diagnosis from Dr. Kevin Knoop, an update on the literature for traumatic brain injury from Dr. Andy Jagoda, and a comparison of civilian and military trauma protocols from CPT Stephen Radloff, USA.
Later that evening, attendees gathered at the MacArthur Memorial Museum for the final round of the annual SimWars. During preliminary rounds, teams, assigned by residency, navigated a city-wide simulation course on the streets of Norfolk, racing against each other to earn a bid to the final round. The resident team from Brooke Army Medical Center came out on top, taking the title for the second year in a row!
The final day featured a New Speakers Competition, where residents and medical students had the opportunity to share brief presentations. Award recipients from the competition included CPT Joshua Berk for a talk on asking for feedback in third place, CPT John Rego for a talk on military bioethics in second place, and CPT Jamie McLean for a talk on prehospital POCUS in first place. After additional presentations about the use of ultrasound in cardiac arrest care from MAJ Renato Rapada, USA, combat ultrasound approaches from LTC Aicha Hull, USA, and MAJ Mekko Gillen, USA, and cervical motion restriction in tactical environments from LCDR Nicholas Roberts, USN. GSS26 concluded with a networking lunch with the tri-service emergency medicine consultants.
This was my second consecutive time attending GSS, and as a medical student, it provided valuable exposure to military medicine, opportunities to connect with experienced military physicians, and hands-on practice with tactical medical procedures. These hands-on lab experiences and academic lectures allowed me and other medical students to operate as a team, with residents leading LSCO (large-scale combat operations) training exercises. The content gave me the ability to practice skills and review important academic material such as travel-related diseases. At GSS26, I was able to reconnect with medical students, residents, and attendings from last year while also building new relationships. The environment balanced academic rigor with a strong sense of camaraderie.
The research forum was the highlight of the conference. Here, I was able to present my own case report, explore the variety of other projects being presented, and socialize with GSACEP members. I left the conference with a renewed sense of motivation and a deeper appreciation for the military medical community, and I look forward to continuing to build on the relationships established there. Medical students interested in emergency medicine within military or federal roles should consider attending a GSS in the future to reap the same benefits!
The Government Services Chapter of ACEP thanks all members, speakers, researchers, organizers, and sponsors who contributed to yet another successful conference!