USAFSAM - Aerospace and Operational Medicine

Mission:
Delivers aerospace medicine expertise in education, consultation and special program development and execution across the air force aerospace and operational medicine enterprise.  Provides initial, advanced, and graduate education and training in aerospace medicine and physiology awarding five Air Force Specialty Codes. Provides aerospace physiology training to pilots and aircrew.  Hosts and trains international military students in initial and advanced aerospace medicine, physiology and other courses within USAFSAM.  Conducts aeromedical evaluations for initial flight qualifications and aeromedical consultations for return to flying duties.  Consults on a wide range of aerospace and operational problems and selects and funds studies to advance knowledge in these areas.  Develops and executes integrated operational support and aerospace operational clinical support.
 
Vision:
World Leaders in Aerospace and Operational Medicine and Aerospace Physiology.
 
About Our Department:
The Aerospace and Operational Medicine (FE) Department in the 711th Human Performance Wing’s U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) maximizes warfighter safety and performance by providing direct support to the Aerospace and Operational Medicine Enterprise (AOME) through education, training, consultation, and responsive studies and analysis. This department generates, disseminates, and applies AOME knowledge to support medics and warfighters across the USAF, and leverages knowledge and capability from DoD, U.S. Government, civilian, and International partners to enhance the support it provides to the USAF.


DIVISIONS/UNITS
Base Operational Medical Clinic
The Base Operational Medical Clinic (BOMC/FEB) utilizes a cross functional team to provide standardized operational medical processes across USAF Medical Treatment Facilities, directly supporting the Air Force Medical Service readiness mission.  Standard workflows developed within this division include Periodic Health Assessments, Medical Clearances, Command Screening Boards, Separation History and Physical Examinations (SHPEs), Airman Availability, Deployment-Related Health Assessments, Occupational Health, and Sustainment. This clinic utilizes a Defense Acquisition University cradle-to-grave program management approach to develop, test, and field these requirements across the total force. This work has already had measurable effects, with a time savings of 43 minutes per SHPE, and most importantly, reaching 95% deployability for the first time in the AF’s history.
 
Aeromedical Consultation and Medical Flight Screening
The Aeromedical Consultation and Medical Flight Screening (FEC) division has two key missions.
 
The Aeromedical Consultation Service team provides expert aeromedical review and risk analysis for USAF-rated aircrew, who have developed complex or unusual health conditions, and personnel within this team provide comprehensive assessments and medical care plans to return flyers to the fight. This team also processes approximately 2300 waivers per year through in-house expertise in aerospace medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonology & sleep medicine, optometry, ophthalmology, neurology, neuropsychology, and psychiatry. In addition to aeromedical waiver review, this team provides medical standards and policy advice, USAF Waiver Guide management, and exception to policy assessments to customers including MAJCOMs, AFMRA, AF/SG, sister services, NASA and international air forces.
 
The Medical Flight Screening team provides medical flight clearances for pilot pipeline candidates. USAFSAM is the largest provider of Flying Class I physical examinations and of Medical Flight Screening examinations in the USAF, providing 1500-2000 exams per year. The Medical Flight Screening team has dedicated assets in flight medicine, optometry, dentistry, schedule and quality control, and anthropometrics. The team is also integrated with the Aeromedical Consultation Service team, which provides ancillary testing support, as well as waiver evaluations when indicated.
 
Aerospace Medicine Education & Training
The Aerospace Medicine Education & Training (FEE) division comprises of Aerospace Medicine Education, Residency in Aerospace Medicine, and International Aerospace Medicine Education & Training.
 
The Aerospace Medicine Education team provides the USAF pipeline for Aerospace Medicine Professionals, producing approximately 180 Flight Surgeons (48R/48G) and Aeromedical Practitioners per year, and approximately 300 Flight & Operational Medicine Technicians (FOMTs, 4N0X1F) per year. The team teaches 43 iterations of 10 courses per year, providing multiple skills enhancement courses in addition to AFSC-awarding courses.
 
The Residency in Aerospace Medicine team provides the USAF pipeline of Aerospace Medicine leaders, producing an average of 8-10 Residents in Aerospace Medicine (RAMs, 48A) per year. The RAM course is a 2-year residency and is accredited by the ACGME, producing Aerospace Medicine specialists through dedicated faculty and partnerships with DoD, U.S., and international partners.
 
The Aerospace Medicine Education team efficiently provides residency-trained flight surgeons (48R) to the field to improve USAF expeditionary medical capability and quality. This team partners with additional Aerospace Medicine Education teammates to teach aerospace medicine concepts while residents are enrolled in civilian and active duty residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine, and emergency medicine.
 
The International Aerospace Medicine Education & Training team provides direct support to DoD and DoS international partnership objectives by providing aerospace medicine education and training to international students. This team of instructors places 50+ international students per year in existing USAFSAM courses and provides the course Advanced Aerospace Medicine for International Medical Officers. This team also facilitates acceleration training in our human-rated centrifuge for approximately 200 international aircrew per year in partnership with FEP.
 
Aerospace Physiology
The Aerospace Physiology (FEP) division comprises of Acceleration Training, Altitude Training, Aerospace Physiology Education, Aerospace Medicine Studies & Analysis, Aerospace and Operational Clinical Psychology, and Aerospace Medicine Studies & Analysis Support.
 
The Acceleration Training team partners with AFPC, MAJCOMs, flying squadrons, and other agencies USAF-wide to execute the Fighter Aircrew Acceleration Training Program, delivering Centrifuge Training to over 1000 aircrew annually.  As the sole Centrifuge Training Course provider to the USAF fighter pilot pipeline, FEPA offers commanders at all levels just-in-time action to address individual aircrew members’ high-G training needs.  FEPA also provides training for over 20 partner nations annually.
 
The Altitude Training team provides altitude chamber training for over 800 aircrew per year, serving USAFSAM students, cadre, and local aircrew.
 
The Aerospace Physiology Education team replenishes 10 percent of the USAF Aerospace Physiology career field annually, providing Aerospace and Operational Physiology Officers (43A) and Aerospace and Operational Physiology Technicians (4M) through dedicated training courses to 44 operational training units globally.
 
The Altitude and Acceleration Operations Support team provides maintenance and contracting support to ensure continued operations of the centrifuge, training altitude chambers, and research altitude chambers. This team also provides research support to the 711th Human Performance Wing and its Airman Systems Directorate, the Naval Medical Research Unit-Dayton (NAMRU-D), and external customers and partners such as NASA.
 
Aerospace Medicine Studies & Analysis (FES)
Within the Aerospace Medicine Studies & Analysis (FES) division is the 711HPW Operational Support Team, which provides the data center and subject matter expert consultative support hub for the USAF Integrated Operational Support initiative. This team assesses unit health, human performance, and resiliency of USAF units to focus efforts of base-level IOS. The team also provides assistance to base-level Operational Support Teams to execute IOS USAF-wide.
Also within this division is the Aerospace and Operational Clinical Psychology team, which provides enhanced psychological support to USAF Special Warfare and Remote Warrior operators. This team provides aerospace and operational clinical psychology consultation to optimize performance and assist in injury/decrement recovery, provides education to IOS psychology providers in partnership with the Operational Support Team, and conducts research to improve the program.

The Neuroimaging Research team provides an improved USAF understanding of military-specific injury patterns, including white matter hyperintensities, directed energy injuries, and traumatic brain injury. This team utilizes neuroimaging to conduct a research program to better understand patterns, etiology, and impact of neurological injuries.
 
The Aerospace Medicine Studies & Analysis Support team provides capability for USAFSAM and the USAF Medical Service to conduct and administer Aerospace and Operational Medicine Enterprise studies and analysis. The team provides operational consultation with a diverse team of subject matter experts, technical support, and program management support to administer and execute the Studies & Analysis program annually.

Contact Information
USAF School of Aerospace Medicine
Attention: Aerospace & Operational Medicine
2510 Fifth Street
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433-7212
 
Email: 711HPW.Info@us.af.mil