ALCOAST 392/23 - OCT 2023 2022 COAST GUARD FLIGHT SURGEON OF THE YEAR AND AVIATION PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS

R 171057Z OCT 23   MID120000544171U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 392/23
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 2022 COAST GUARD FLIGHT SURGEON OF THE YEAR AND AVIATION
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. Recognition Programs Manual, COMDTINST M1650.26A
1. COMDT (CG-7) is honored to announce the recipients of the Coast
Guard Flight Surgeon of the year and Aviation Physician Assistant
of the year awards for 2022. The Coast Guard Aviation Association
sponsors these annual aviation awards to recognize Coast Guard
medical professionals who have demonstrated exceptional performance
in support of Coast Guard aviation operations.
2. The Coast Guard Flight Surgeon of the year award is presented to
LCDR Jared R. Rispens from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, FL
for superior performance while serving as Senior Health Services
Officer and Flight Surgeon. As the lead Medical Officer at the
Coast Guards largest and busiest air station, LCDR Rispens
safeguarded the medical readiness for 31 CG commands in the
Central Florida area, which serves approximately 1,400 active
duty and reserve personnel. His leadership of three Physician
Assistants and 14 enlisted clinic staff preserved access to
critical medical care for members, and ensured continued
mission capability for search and rescue during Hurricane IAN, the
deadliest hurricane to strike Florida since 1935. LCDR Rispens
stationed medical personnel at the units evacuation site of Palm
Beach, FL and embedded EMT's into evacuation aircrews. He then led a
reconstitution team to rapidly resume clinic services just 48 hours
after storm passage. His efforts prioritized aircrew readiness
before, during and after the storm, which directly contributed to
the unit's ability to rescue 130 people form the destruction.
Prioritizing unscheduled medication access for operational crews,
LCDR Rispens created a "Medical Go-Bag" program with common
prescriptions for OCONUS deployed aircrews located 644 nautical
miles away from home station with no access to medical facilities.
This effort drastically improved readiness of the site at the
minimal cost of less than $400 per year. With the utmost care
for members, LCDR Rispens sacrificed his personal time to follow-up
on hundreds of health issues and intervened on several members
in crisis.
3. The following nominees were also recommended for this award and
deserve honorable mention for their actions:
      CAPT Mark Comnick, Air Station Traverse City
      LCDR Philip Wixom, Air Station Sacramento
      CAPT Khalid Jaboori, Air Station Port Angeles
      CAPT Kevin Nolan, Air Station North Bend
4. The Coast Guard Aviation Physician Assistant of the year is
presented to LTJG Mikel Vartanian from Aviation Training Center
Mobile, AL. As the Aviation Training Center's sole designated
Aviation Physician Assistant, LTJG Vartanian was crucial in the
unit's ability to maintain medically ready crews in support of
the unit's training and operational missions. LTJG Vartanian
deployed for 30 days in support of Homeland Security Task Force
Southeast's Operation Vigilant Sentry amidst an unprecedented
surge in illegal maritime migration in the Florida Straits,
Windward Passage and Mona Passage. As a Deployable Medical Officer,
LTJG Vartanian served aboard multiple cutters working tirelessly
to treat acute illnesses, manage chronic conditions and screen
100 migrants including elderly and children. In addition,
LTJG Vartanian utilized Flight Surgeon training to coordinate
a medical evacuation with the USCGC Resolute and an Air Station
Clearwater MH-60 of a patient experiencing seizures off the coast
of Florida. An advocate for the advancement of Coast Guard health
professionals, LTJG Vartanian served as the ATC Clinic's Training
Officer conducting weekly training modules resulting in a two-fold
increase in the number of ATC Health Service Technicians eligible
for the Service Wide Advancement Exam. Additionally, LTJG Vartanian
mentored five members pursuing a career in Coast Guard medicine by
sponsoring applications to the Interservice Physician Assistant
Program (IPAP) and facilitating over 200 hours of clinical
shadowing.
5. The following nominees were also recommended for this award
and deserve honorable mention for their actions:
      LT Drury Corley, Air Station Borinquen
      LT Chris Perkins, Air Station Houston
6. I extend my personal congratulations to the award winners,
and to each of the nominated aircrews. Through your actions,
you demonstrated the highest levels of courage and professionalism.
Your efforts are in keeping with the highest traditions of our
service.
7. COMDT (CG-711) will contact the commands of the winning crews
for funding travel and accommodations for attendance at the awards
ceremony at the 2023 Ptero Roost, occurring on 31 October, 2023
in San Diego, California.
8. RADM T.C. Wiemers, Assistant Commandant for Capability
(CG-7), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.