In the United States, Flight Surgeon is the title used by the military (and NASA) to designate a medical doctor who has completed specialized training in aerospace medicine and has been awarded an aeronautical rating. This contrasts with the term Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) used by the Federal…
Ebola has come to the United States! First, an imported case from Africa and now two cases transmitted within the country. Making things worse, the first home-grown Ebola is a nurse named Nina Pham who willingly cared for a contagious and sick patient under constant…
The Boeing 747 was first introduced in 1970 by Panam Airlines. The 747 was the first aircraft to earn the moniker ‘Jumbo Jet’, which has now become synonymous with all large passenger aircraft. Even after more than 3 decades, this incredible double-decker…
This is boring, but important news in military health. The final report for the 90-day review that Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called for in July 2014 was released on 1 October 2014. This request by Hagel is thought to…
“Ok, I got this nailed- Vitamin M, dip, coffee, Jack & Coke. That’s what makes a fighter pilot” ~ Anonymous Fighter Pilot Although this may be the typical formula that fighter pilots from decades past relied on for optimal performance, the…
Many times large number of incentive and familiarization flights are offered to maintenance and operational support personnel during temporary duty (TDY) deployments. Flight surgeons play a crucial role in this process educating and medically clearing potential candidates. In this setting,…
Another piece of investigative journalism slamming military medicine recently ran across the New York Times‘ headlines. The same journalists, Sharon LaFraniere and Andrew W. Lehren, who published the 28 June 2014 article provoking my initial response on GFM have published…
Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR’s) are considered a threat to aviators, flight crews and frequent air travelers. This risk to astronauts is even greater (possibly even lethal) and continues to pose a significant obstacle to long expeditions into outer space. Cosmic radiation is comprised…
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains a webpage dedicated to providing updated recommendations to airlines on high-interest infectious diseases. The current website offers guidance to airlines on the measles, flu, cholera, and Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS). On August 11 2014,…
“…and I will do no harm or injustice to them.” ~ Hippocrates (460-370 b.c.)…
