HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Medical Squadron here is commemorating the 57th anniversary of the Biomedical Sciences Corps during BSC Appreciation Week Jan. 24 to 28.
The annual observance honors the heritage of the BSC, while recognizing the achievements and continued efforts of the men and women who serve in the field.
“With everything our medical professionals have worked through over the last few years, we want to highlight and celebrate the differences they’ve been able to make in our Hanscom community, as well as the larger community outside the gates,” said Capt. Scott Coberly, 66 MDS pharmacist.
Coberly said the BSC is the most diverse corps within the Air Force Medical Service, consisting of 16 Air Force Specialty Codes. At Hanscom, civilian, enlisted and officer BSC personnel serve in Public Health, Bioenvironmental Engineering, the Pharmacy, Optometry, Clinical Psychology and Social Work, Physical Therapy, the Biomedical Laboratory, and as physician assistants.
“Throughout 2021, our BSC professionals have gone above and beyond their typical roles to lead efforts in support of COVID-19 operations, while continuing to deliver excellent medical care to our beneficiaries,” said Coberly.
Among other mission-critical achievements, the Hanscom clinic is recognizing laboratory personnel for their process used to test patients for COVID-19, as well as the Public Health team’s efforts to prevent the spread of disease through contact tracing and educational protective measures.
“Our pharmacists and technicians have led a number of mass-vaccination events, resulting in thousands of flu and COVID vaccinations given at Hanscom,” said Coberly.
The 66 MDS will host a COVID vaccine and booster point of distribution at the base theater here Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hanscom personnel can secure POD appointments at https://health.mil/dap.html.
The BSC’s history began in 1917, when the Army Sanitary Corps was established to combat infectious diseases. In 1949, the Air Force Medical Service was officially established. Then in 1965, the BSC was created to consolidate the Medical Specialist Corps, Medical Scientists, Allied Health Specialists and the Veterinary Corps.