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***image1***Volunteering at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is becoming contagious among neurosurgeons.
Since December, LRMC has been operating with volunteer neurosurgeons – doctors who left their private practices for a week or two to help injured servicemembers.
“It’s hugely nice of them to do this,” said Col. Kory Cornum, 435th Medical Squadron commander. “We have to have neurosurgery covered, no question about it. These fine volunteers allow us to do just that.”
Over the past year, LRMC has had 11 neurosurgeons working on a temporary duty assignment. The lacking active-duty neurosurgeon has been a problem at times.
Even if one is at LRMC for an extended period, problems can arise. The surgeon can’t always be on call, nor can he take leave. It’s a catch-22, because LRMC cannot justify hiring two permanent neurosurgeons.
“The Air Force is sending neurosurgeons downrange, and there really aren’t a lot of them in the military,” said Colonel Cornum.
The answer to the shortage came when Colonel Cornum gave a briefing to a group of senior Air Force medical leaders in October, where he told them of LRMC’s dire need of a neurosurgeon.
“After the briefing, I had all these generals coming up to me saying, ‘I’ve got a friend … or I know some civilian guys who may be interested in helping.’ They went home and beat the bushes and now this thing is gathering steam.”
The surgeons are coming from all over America. The first volunteer was from South Carolina. The second, who came from Wisconsin, was so impressed with the work at LRMC that he wants to sign up as an active-duty doctor, said Colonel Cornum. The current volunteer left LRMC Saturday to head back to his private practice. His two-week stint in Landstuhl, however, did make an impression on him.
“The neurosurgeons downrange are doing a fabulous job,” said Dr. Karl Detwiler. “The military should be proud because I have never seen people look so good after having such complex medical procedures.”
Dr. Detwiler is an Oklahoma native and self-described homebody who has never left the United States. But this work made the decision to come easy.
“These guys here need the help,” he said. “I’m happy to volunteer and lucky enough to have the talent to do it.”
The Air Force flies the volunteer surgeons here with international travel orders through funding acquired by Brig. Gen. Rosanne Bailey, 435th Air Base Wing and KMC commander.
The KMC American Red Cross orients the doctors and makes all of this possible by covering the malpractice insurance of the incoming doctors.
“I am so pleased with the way this is working out,” said Colonel Cornum. “These surgeons just want to help in any way they can and this is a great way for them to be a part of the effort.”
