By Christa Hyson, MPH
Senior Manager, External Affairs and Public Information Officer
On February 14 we again recognized the successful completion of S.M.A.R.T. medical training for service members.
Operation S.M.A.R.T. (Strategic Medical Assets Readiness Training) is a unique training program that is designed to prevent skill atrophy and build civilian/military relationships while strengthening community ties.
Health system leadership and healthcare military veterans joined 36 service member graduates, from the US Army and Air Force, in our Learning Center for closing ceremonies – bringing our total number of graduates since inception to 179!
This is the first rotation to include St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky, bringing the total to five participating health systems in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Christ Hospital Health Network, Mercy Health, TriHealth, and UC Health continued to provide specialized training to S.M.A.R.T. participants in this round as in previous ones.
Among the numerous opportunities this past rotation, S.M.A.R.T. trainees were able to get hands-on exposure to variety of skills including the placement of central lines, suturing lacerations, assisting with mitral valve replacements & total knee amputations, and assisting with live births — many being the first of their career.
John G. Ramiccio, Deputy G-3/5/7 & Military-Civilian Partnerships Program Manager for the U.S. Army Medical Command Headquarters at the Office of the Surgeon General
The Operation S.M.A.R.T. graduation ceremony featured a keynote address from Mr. John G. Ramiccio, Deputy G-3/5/7 & Military-Civilian Partnerships Program Manager for the U.S. Army Medical Command Headquarters at the Office of the Surgeon General. Service members also listened to a panel discussion from hospital representative veterans that shared stories on transitioning from military to civilian life.
A special thank you to the continued collaboration and commitment from The Christ Hospital Health Network, Mercy Health, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, TriHealth, and UC Health to our service members. The next round of Operation S.M.A.R.T. participants will report in May 2020.
See below for a photo gallery of the February 14th graduation ceremony at The Health Collaborative.
