New Army Wellness Center Opens on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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MAY 2016 NEW ARMY WELLNESS CENTER OPENS ON JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON INSIDE THIS ISSUE ... 4 A survivor’s story BAMC FOCUS Sexual assault survivor shares her story MAY 2016 to bring awareness COL Jeffrey Johnson 5 Commander’s Call Commander New commander holds town hall CSM Albert Crews meetings for staff Command Sergeant Major Dewey Mitchell 6 Promoting Healthy Living Chief, Communications Army Wellness Center opens Division for business on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Lori Newman 8 20th Anniversary Editor BAMC Focus is an authorized publication for members of Brooke Army Medical Center ‘New BAMC’ marks 20th anniversary and Southern Regional Medical Command, published under the authority of AR 360-1. Contents are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, Depart- 9 Days of Remembrance ment of Defense, Department of the Army, or Brooke Army Medical Center. BAMC hosts ceremony to remember the Holocaust BAMC Focus is published monthly by the Communications Division, 3551 Roger Brooke 10 Other Happenings Drive, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234. Questions, comments or submissions for See photos from other events happening BAMC Focus should be directed to the editor at 210-916-5166 or by email to throughout BAMC [email protected]. Deadline for submission is six business days 11 Research Day before the first of the month. We reserve the right to edit submissions selected for publication. 5th Annual SAUSHEC Research Day OUR COMMITMENT Jeffrey J. Johnson, M.D. Colonel, MC Commanding Team - BROOKE ARMY Memorial Day is among the most revered of holidays in our military. We remember those who have MEDICAL CENTER served before us, and during this era of persistent conflict, honor the memory of those now absent from our formations. Thank you for your continued service, which ensures their sacrifices, will COMMANDING OFFICER never be forgotten. COL Jeffrey J. Johnson POC: Ms. Carolyn Putnam Memorial Day also marks the beginning of the summer season and time for outdoor fun, travel and (210)916-4100 family vacations, among other activities. The long holiday weekend will be the first opportunity for many of our personnel to enjoy the warm weather and time with one another, so it’s especially important we work together to keep everyone safe. COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR Leaders must engage with your team members on their holiday plans. Please look out for one anoth- CSM Albert Crews er and speak up when your buddy takes unnecessary risks. Speeding in a privately owned vehicle or POC: SGT Thomas Salazar III (210)916-5061 on a motorcycle, neglecting to wear seat belts or personal protective equipment and drinking while driving or boating are all too common and very real hazards for every member of our family. Leaders will conduct routine safety briefings with their personnel and ensure risk management prin- ciples are understood by all team members. While engaged leadership is a key to our safety program and everyone is responsible for safety; vigilance, attention to detail, and a willingness to speak up when hazards are recognized are crucial. Eliminate Sexual Assault: “Know your Part, Do Your Part.” Also, keep in mind Homeland Security; everyone plays a critical role in protecting our nation -- “If you see something, say something and report it to the local authorities.” Thank you again for all you do every day for our patients and our nation. We may be beginning the critical days of summer, but remember that risk doesn’t keep a calendar – every day is critical in our fight against preventable accidents. Enjoy your summer and always play it safe! JEFFREY J. JOHNSON Colonel, MC Commanding MAY 2016 3 Sexual assault survivor shares her story to bring awareness By Lori Newman BAMC Public Affairs Brooke Army Medical Center invited sexual assault survivor Monika Korra to speak during a Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month event here April 15 in the San Antonio Military Medical Center auditorium. “As you hear Ms. Korra’s story and you listen to what happened please think about family, friends, acquaintances, people you know that may have had this happen to them,” said Army Col. Jennifer Bedick, chief nursing officer. “What Ms. Korra went though was something that shouldn’t happen to anyone.” The 5-foot-2 girl with blonde hair, blue eyes stood in front of the auditorium to share her story of horror and triumph. “I always like to start off by saying I am a happy, healthy girl today,” she said. Growing up in Norway, Korra’s life was centered around sports, and she was an avid Army Col. Jennifer Bedick, Brooke Army Medical Center chief nursing officer, and BAMC Command runner. She jumped at the chance to come Sgt. Maj. Albert Crews present Monika Korra (center) a token of appreciation for speaking at the Sexu- al Assault Awareness and Prevention Month event April 15 in the auditorium. (Photo by Lori Newman) to the United States when she was offered a track scholarship to Southern Methodist leaving a party with her friend, she was Her mother told her, “Monika, I can hear University in Dallas, Texas. kidnapped at gunpoint and repeatedly strength in your voice. No matter how long She said, at first, it was hard being away raped by three men. it will take, no matter how much effort it from home, but by her Freshman year she “I wish when I share my story I could will take, we are in this together.” had made friends with another student from say I was the only rape victim in the Unit- That was the first time she realized she Norway, she had a boyfriend, and things ed States that night, but if that night was could do it, and she wasn’t alone. She need- were looking up. like any other average night, I was only one ed her teammates and friends more than “Life was just good,” she said. “No wor- of 1,871 rape victims in the United States ever. ries, no concerns. alone,” she said. “And, we know that this “No matter what we experience it’s ok “I remember one evening my boyfriend happens in every city, in every country in to lean on each other. We all need that at tried to talk to me about the sexual assault the world.” times,” she said. of a fellow student and athlete on campus, The men were caught quickly, but the Korra said there were five elements that she said. event still haunted her thoughts and dreams. helped her get through – openness, hope, “I didn’t want to think about it or talk “Even though I felt safe again. I knew closure, passion and forgiveness. about it,” Korra said. “I didn’t want to re- I would have to go through a healing pro- People asked her why she wanted to tes- alize that could happen there in that perfect cess,” she said. tify at the trials. little world we lived in -- in that college “At first I didn’t want help. I wanted to “I knew that I had to do it, I had to do it bubble.” be strong; I’m an athlete,” Korra said. “It for myself and for everyone else,” she said. Instead, she joked about the fact that she didn’t take me many days to realize that it’s “I was there and I heard the words that I was a runner. “I told him you don’t have to ok to ask for help.” needed to hear and I saw what I needed to worry about me I would just run. You know The college provided counseling for her, see,” she explained. That did so much for that I’m a runner, right?” but the hardest thing she had to do was me in my healing process.” Her boyfriend followed her home that tell her parents what happened to her. She Two of the three men were convicted of night to make sure she got home called her parents and they were very sup- aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to safely. Two weeks later after portive. life in prison. The third took a plea agree- For more information visit us on the web: 4 www.bamc.amedd.army.mil MAY 2016 www.facebook.com/BrookeArmyMedicalCenter ment and was sentenced to a 25-year prison term. New commander holds She turned to her passion for running. “After this happened it be- town hall meetings for staff came even more important to me,” she said. “It was about By Lori Newman reminding myself of who I BAMC Public Affairs really am. I believe we all are defined by our passion.” The new Brooke Army Medical Center She said she felt anger and commander Col. Jeffrey Johnson held a se- hate, but she realized that ries of town hall meetings for staff April 26 wasn’t who she was. in the San Antonio Military Medical Center “I had so many questions auditorium. and I just didn’t understand “What I am trying to do today, as well as how they could do this to me,” for the first couple of weeks, is to give you she said. “I realized that I had an understanding of who I am,” Johnson to understand to be able to let said. go.” “I want to let you know how I’m ap- She signed up for victim/of- proaching this command at Brooke Army fender mediation and met with Medical Center,” he said. New Brooke Army Medical Center Commander Col. Jeffrey one of the men who had raped “We have a pretty cool mission here and Johnson holds a series of town hall meetings for staff April 26 her.