Medical Group wins multiple command honors

  • Published
  • By JC Corcoran
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The 66th Medical Group has captured six Air Force Materiel Command awards for 2009, including four individual, one team and one flight award.

Recognized as the best in AFMC were: Capt. Kerry L. Ciolek, who was named Public Health Officer of the Year; Capt. Michael B. Elliott, who was recognized as Junior Clinical Dentist of the Year; Master Sgt. Jaime L. Capps, who earned the Senior Master Sgt. Timothy A. Maggard Medical Readiness Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; and Staff Sgt. Sara E. Hayes, who won the Chief Master Sgt. Lewis W. Dunlap Award for outstanding Mental Health Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Also, the 66th Dental Flight was named the Small Dental Clinic of the Year, and the 66th Medical Support Squadron's Resource Management Flight was recognized as the Outstanding Resource Management Team of the Year.

As the Public Health Officer for the 66th Medical Group Operations Squadron, Capt. Kerry L. Ciolek was hand-selected for the Aerospace Medical Flight command position, overseeing five elements composed of 20 members caring for five Electronic Systems Center wings and over 300 geographically separated units. She oversaw occupational health programs that saw the administering ratio of 575 audiograms and examinations, raising Hanscom's performance to five percent over Air Force standards. Captain Ciolek's oversight of the base immunization clinic helped immeasurably in the administration of over 10,000 shots to members of the Hanscom community.

Capt. Michael B. Elliott, AFMC's Junior Clinical Dentist of the Year, was chosen number one of 45 company grade officers, winning CGO of the year. As a general clinical dentist in the 66th Medical Operations Squadron, he is described as a tireless worker by his commander. Averaging 317 clinical procedures he also supported the New Hampshire Air National Guard during weekend training, completing 84 examinations that resulted in a 95 percent readiness rate for the unit. Spearheading the clinic's efforts during Children's Dental Health Month, he provided dental health tips and oral health kits to 450 children -- the highest number of program participants in four years.

Identified by her commander as the "go-to-person" for the group's most important jobs, Master Sgt. Jaime L. Capps serves as the 66th Medical Support Squadron's Medical Readiness noncommissioned officer in charge. Her directing of the readiness office move eliminated several system vulnerabilities and increased overall protective measures by 20 percent. Her flawless management of squadron training requirements ensured medical personnel were 100 percent ready to deploy when needed. She managed her section's $58,000 budget and secured an additional $48,000 in unfunded requirements, helping to obtain vital equipment for the squadron. Filling in as group superintendent, Sergeant Capps seamlessly executed enlisted issues to both the Medical Group and Air Base Wing commanders.

As the 66th Medical Group Medical Operations Squadron's Mental Health Flight noncommissioned officer in charge, Staff Sgt. Sara E. Hayes was credited with revitalizing the Hanscom Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program. She conducted monthly inspections and section reviews that resulted in improved processes in four key areas. Sergeant Hayes was a catalyst for the bases' frontline supervisor training, aggressively increasing training from 13 percent to 96 percent in four short weeks. Her efforts in implementing a new "landing gear" deployment program resulted in 100 percent completion and compliance. As a valued member of the Patriot Honor Guard, Sergeant Hayes has continuously maintained the highest standards of dignity and respect while provide honors for fallen service members.

The Resource Management Flight of the 66th Medical Support Squadron flawlessly executed an $8.5 million budget for the unit. The flight was able to increase by 25 percent third party collections that exceeded $1.2 million. The team secured funding and approval for 15 student summer hires, filling critical roles within the organization. The team was lauded by the 66th Air Base Wing commander for setting the example for base resource advisors and rated number one in the wing.

Outstanding team effort and operational management led the 66th Dental Flight to be selected as the Small Dental Clinic of the Year by AFMC. Among the unit's accomplishments was being chosen number one in maximizing in-house services, providing a 24 percent decrease in private sector referral expenditures from FY 08. The clinic saved the Air Force $100,000 by flawlessly integrating a hygienist into periodontal operations and slashing off-base referrals by 20 percent. The organization's high quality laboratory received a 4.9 out of a possible 5.0 during an internal quality assurance review.