ALCOAST 331/20 - SEP 2020 2019 HEALTH CARE AWARDS SELECTION RESULTS

R 091232 SEP 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06010//
ALCOAST 331/20
COMDTNOTE 6010
SUBJ:  2019 HEALTH CARE AWARDS SELECTION RESULTS
A. Recognitions Programs Manual, COMDTINST M1650.26 (series)
1. In accordance with REF (A), a selection board convened in June 2020 to review
nominations for the Coast Guard (CG) 2019 Michael J. Cristy Health Care Facility
(HCFOTY), Clinic Health Services Technician (HSOTY), and Independent Duty Health
Services Technician (IDHSOTY) of the year awards.
2. HCFOTY - The winner of the 2019 HCFOTY is the USCG Academy (CGA) Regional Practice
Clinic:
   a. CG Academy Clinic executed 21,916 patient encounters in 2019, including Primary
Care, Pharmacy Services, Dental Services, Psychiatric Services, Cadet Counseling,
Physical Therapy, Military Readiness Exams, Travel Medicine, Optometry, Concussion
Research, Sexual Assault Response Coordination, and Complex Case Management. The
Clinic has provided approximately 146 days of medical support for various Coast
Guard operations, including underway HS support and contingency operations (e.g.
Border Ops and Hurricane Response). Clinic staff members actively participated in
several Cadet Clubs and activities, including lunch speaking engagements, Operation
Sail, Officer Christian Fellowship as well as coach for the Women's Rugby coach,
which qualified for Nationals placing third in the country.
   b. The following outstanding clinics were also finalists for this award and can
take pride in their significant accomplishments during 2019:
      CG BASE Elizabeth City
      CG SECTOR Columbia River
      CG TRACEN Cape May
      CG BASE Seattle
      CG SECTOR North Bend
      CGC HEALY
3. HSOTY - The winner of the 2019 HSOTY Award is HS1 Shelby Zaborowski, CG Air Station
Clearwater:
   a. HS1 Zaborowski is being recognized for her outstanding work ethic and contributions
to direct patient care and mission readiness. During Hurricane DORIAN response operations
in September 2019, HS1 Zaborowski voluntarily forward deployed into the heart of the
storm, in a first of its kind integration of a clinic support team into the CG’s first
wave aviation response. Hurricane DORIAN struck as the strongest category five hurricane
on record to make landfall in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. With catastrophic winds
topping 185 miles per hour it wrought a staggering path of destruction and devastated
multiple islands throughout The Bahamas. Within hours of arriving at Forward Operating
Base AUTEC, HS1 Zaborowski boarded a Coast Guard H-60 on the first wave of rescue
missions to the Marsh Harbor Clinic on Great Abaco. Working out of a makeshift garage
in the middle of the hardest hit area, she overcame a lack of proper medical supplies,
extreme heat and tropical storm force winds to triage and provide stabilizing care
for 258 survivors with life-threatening injuries. Maintaining vital continuity of care,
she led the safe transport of patients during the critical transition between ambulances
and awaiting helicopters.  
   b. The following HSs were also finalists and nominated by their commands for this
award and can take pride in their significant accomplishments during 2019:
      HS2 Christopher Roche   CG SECTOR Key West
      HS2 Molly McGill           CG TRACEN Cape May
      HSC Erica Pasquier   CG SECTOR North Bend
      HS2 Danna Karas    CG AIRSTATION Detroit
      HS1 Joshua Kirkland   CG AIRSTATION Sacramento
      HS2 Kyle Tiezte    CG BASE Kodiak
4. IDHSOTY - The winner of the 2019 IDHSOTY Award is HS2 Ryan Shoemaker - CGC VENTUROUS:
   a. HS2 Shoemaker is being recognized for demonstrating unwavering commitment to
his shipmates over the past year. HS2 Shoemaker's skill with patient care was evident
while deployed to remote areas of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, HS2 coordinated with
partner nations’ medical professionals, Duty Flight Surgeons, and country teams to
facilitate the medevac of five crewmembers to the United States to receive life-saving
care. HS2 Shoemaker, during the early morning hours of 29 October, was approached by
a member embarked on VENTUROUS complaining of severe pain. HS2 swiftly and accurately
diagnosed the patient and coordinated medevac arrangements with the District 11 Duty
Flight Surgeon and Costa Rican first responders.    
   b. HS2 Shoemaker will be automatically nominated for the Lewis Seaman Award for
Outstanding Operational Support. This is an annual award for enlisted personnel
presented by the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS).
   c. The following IDHSs were finalists for this award and can take pride in their
significant accomplishments during 2019:
      HS1 Nicole Richalyn Abbate-Losole  CGC NORTHLAND
      HS1 Elizabeth Pyanowski   CGC ALEX HALEY
      HSC Meredith Folks   CGC STRATTON
      HS1 Jordan Vigna           CG STATION Grand Isle
      HSC Kimuyen Nguyen   CG SECTOR Ohio Valley
      HS2 Tiffany Pulliam   CGC MAPLE
      HS2 Amber Gonzales   CG TRACEN Petaluma
      HS2 Andrew Paiyarat   CG MSST 91112 NEW ORLEANS
5. All nominees are worthy of the recognition and support provided by their commands.
I applaud all the nominees for their accomplishments and their commanding officers and
supervisors for taking the time to submit well-deserved nominations. Successful mission
execution demands the very best. Mission support professionals must possess in-depth
technical knowledge, strong leadership skills, practical experience, and professional
credentials to sustain our greatest assets-our people. I encourage all leaders to
recognize their high performing medical professionals by nominating them next year for
the 2020 Health Care Awards. This year’s awardees demonstrated outstanding professionalism
in carrying out their duties. Bravo Zulu for a job very well done.
6. Award presentations for the 2019 winners will be scheduled at a date and time TBD due
to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
7. POC: CWO Luis A. Muniz COMDT (CG-1122), 202-475-5173, Email: Luis.A.Muniz@uscg.mil.
8. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.