VADM(Ret) C. Forrest Faison III, MD- 38th Navy Surgeon General- Providing Medical Support to Combat Operations and Humanitarian Missions Across the Globe: Defeating the Tyranny of Distance

  Dr. Faison is a pediatrician, fellowship trained in neurodevelopmental pediatrics, and he served as the 38thSurgeon General of the US Navy.   In this episode, Dr. Faison describes his career pathway to becoming a fellowship-trained pediatrician and explains how pediatricians support the critical missions of military medicine at home stations and deployed locations throughout the world.   VADM (Ret) Faison has significant deployment experience as a US Medical Task Force Commander as well as the Commander of a downrange Combat Hospital.  He shares many important lessons learned supporting combat operations and humanitarian missions such as the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami response.    Dr. Faison has extensive experience with telemedicine and informatics.  He describes some of the DoD's accomplishments in this evolving technology and where it is headed.  Following his Military Medicine career, Dr. Faison continued to make significant contributions in civilian medicine.  He describes his role in assisting the state of Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in public universities and in the Federal Mass Vaccination Center.  Dr. Faison is a strong advocate for Wounded Warrior care, and he talks about innovative ways to support these individuals and their families.  He also shares how he has been able to prepare disadvantaged minority students for healthcare career through a “Pathway to Practice” program.   Dr. Faison is a native of Norfolk, Virginia and Cleveland, Ohio, receiving his bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.  Faison earned his doctorate in medicine and surgery from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.  He completed residency training in pediatrics at Naval Hospital San Diego and fellowship training in neurodevelopmental pediatrics at the University of Washington.    Before he served as Navy Surgeon General, Faison also served as Deputy Surgeon General and, before that, as Commander, Navy Medicine West, where he coordinated the Navy's medical support and relief operations to the Government of Japan during the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami.  As the Navy’s Chief of Healthcare Operations, he also led Navy medical relief efforts during the earthquake in Haiti.  Among other leadership assignments, he has held command in a combat theater as Commanding Officer, U.S. Expeditionary Medical Facility (OIF combat hospital); and Commander, U.S. Medical Task Force, Kuwait.  He is a recognized expert on the use of telemedicine, health IT, and data analytics to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes.                 Find out more and join Team WarDocs at www.wardocspodcast.com   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine   The WarDocs Mission is to improve military and civilian healthcare and foster patriotism by honoring the legacy, preserving the oral history, and showcasing career opportunities, experiences, and achievements of military medicine.   Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm   WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in military medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you.   WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.           Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast