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The course prepares Army IT professionals with the skills they'll need in the combat zone to help the nation's best doctors and nurses capture critical medical information without skipping a beat. Sustaining the systems ultimately leads to improved continuity of care and a complete medical history-useful when soldiers apply for VA medical benefits.

Working together toward the same end-strengthening the health care capacity and crisis response capabilities of African nations to ultimately empower Africans to improve their health and security-was the theme of a conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Military Health System that introduced the new U.S. Africa Command surgeon to an array of partners from the military, Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the African Union.

The US Family Health Plan (USFHP) and the National Military Family Association (NMFA) were recently honored with an Emmy Award for their series of public service announcements, at a luncheon held by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in November.

Posted by: S. Ward Casscells, M.D. Our work in Africa is not new. Historically, DoD has worked in Africa through either Central Command or through European Command, and only recently have we better aligned our efforts to the needs of the African nations by forming Africa Command. This new venture marks an opportunity to change the way we do business by sharing expertise with other U.S. governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations. In order to support the new command surgeon, I am hosting an important conference called U.S. Africa Command: Health as a Bridge to Peace and Stability, January 8 and 9 at the Institute of Medicine here in Washington D.C.

Defense Health Information Management System (DHIMS) donated over 500 pounds of non-perishable items to the New Hope Housing organization at Thanksgiving time.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Department of Defense (DoD) is working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand a pilot program that simplifies the current disability evaluation process for wounded, injured and ill service members.

WASHINGTON - With motor vehicle crashes being a leading cause of deaths among combat veterans during the first years after their return home, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Defense (DOD) are working together to reduce these accidents.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. S. Ward Casscells speaks about global health and national security. (Speech given at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., January 7, 2009.)

For the second year, the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will deliver one million holiday cards to service members, families and veterans around the world. Please send your cards, with a greeting such as "Dear Service Member" to the address below:

Today we hear from Dr. Shakir Jawad, former director general of health in Iraq. He now serves on the faculty of Uniformed Services University and as a member of the Office of International Health.

As celebrations and social gatherings begin to spring up during this holiday season, I would like to remind everyone to please be safe and responsible, especially on the road where many lives, not just your own, are at risk. December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, an effort aimed to reduce the incidences of impaired driving accidents and deaths.

Africa Command Surgeon Col. Schuyler Geller discusses the Military Health System's humanitarian efforts to increase health care capacity in African nations.

LANDSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Germany - It's faster, more accurate and highly maneuverable. What may sound like the latest weapons system is actually a new way of doing business for doctors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

TRICARE's Wounded Warrior campaign took the number eight spot and Childhood Obesity the number 24 spot in the list of Top 50 campaigns out of more than 450 entries for 2008 and for the first time, TRICARE was listed in the top 10 among powerhouse organiza

Movement for Global Mental Health calls for scaling up treatments for mental disorders, for the human rights of those affected to be protected, and for more research in low- and middle-income countries. The range of activities and efforts by multidisciplinary health professionals allows us to make major strides. I heartily endorse this initiative and am committed to helping achieve the vision, spurred by the Movement, that this can be one of the great public health successes of our times.

Smoking and other tobacco use is common in the military, presenting a major health risk to the men and women in uniform. Indeed, tobacco use rates within the Department of Defense (DoD) exceed those of the general population by two percent. So this November 20, as we observe the Great American Smokeout established by the American Cancer Society, the Military Health System (MHS) encourages service members and their families to make a commitment to quitting smoking.

A new, $4 million, 12,000-square-foot facility is slated to open by December 1, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas.

Former Army colonel Dr. Donald Burke talks about how his experience studying infectious diseases in the Army helped shape his successful and pioneering career in medicine.

S. Ward Casscells, M.D. , Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, talks about his visit with British Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Louis Lillywhite with regards to combat care, care in UK, and PTSD.