In 2026, the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Military Health System is joining the celebration by recognizing 250 years of military medicine.
As we reflect on our nation’s past, we will speak with experts who identify the heroes in military medicine whose innovations and sacrifices have been pivotal in protecting the warfighter and liberties we hold dear.
Publisher
Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs/Military Health System
Military Medicine 250 Podcast: Episode Six - Advancements in Military Medicine
"We did everything within our power to ensure that our troops were vaccinated and protected." - Retired Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric Schoomaker
From Civil War battlefield evacuation to modern combat casualty care, military medicine has continually evolved to meet the needs of wounded service members. In the sixth episode of the Military Medicine 250 video podcast, Peter J. Graves of Military Health System Strategic Communication and Public Affairs speaks with retired Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric Schoomaker, the 42nd U.S. Army Surgeon General, about the people and innovations that have advanced military medicine, and how lessons learned on the battlefield continue to shape care today.
11 Sept 2026
Military Medicine 250 Podcast: Episode 5 - How 9/11 Shaped the Future of Military Medicine
The Ground Zero experience “made me acutely aware that you needed to be able to prepare units and leaders to assess situations (and) find solutions in confusing, certainly unclear environments.”— Dr. Jonathan Woodson, President of the Uniformed Services University
What happens when military medical professionals are called into an unfolding crisis with more unknowns than answers?
Dr. Jonathan Woodson, president of the Uniformed Services University, shares his firsthand experience responding to the Sept. 11 attacks at Ground Zero, where medical teams had to adapt, coordinate, and solve problems on the fly. He explains how those lessons continue to influence how military medical leaders are trained to operate in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments.
28 Aug 2026
Military Medicine 250 Podcast: Episode 4 - Military Medicine and Immunology
It’s been a phenomenal success story for American medicine.” — Dr. Dale Smith, Uniformed Services University Historian
Military medicine has a long history of innovation that reaches far beyond the battlefield and has shaped American medicine in ways many people do not realize.
In the fourth episode of the Military Medicine 250 video podcast, Peter J. Graves, from Military Health System Strategic Communication and Public Affairs, continues his conversation with Dr. Dale Smith, military medical historian from the Uniformed Services University. Smith explores the contributions of pioneering military physicians and the lasting impact of their work on both military and civilian healthcare. He also looks at what today’s military medical professionals can learn from the past as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
28 Aug 2026
Military Medicine 250 Podcast: Episode 3 - Military Medicine Invents Medical Evacuation System
“It was a phenomenal system. It’s still a phenomenal system.” — Dr. Dale Smith, Uniformed Services University Historian
From the Civil War battlefield to the skies over Vietnam, military medical evacuation has continually evolved to get wounded service members the care they need.
In the third episode of the Military Medicine 250 video podcast, Peter J. Graves, from Military Health System Strategic Communication and Public Affairs, continues his conversation with Dr. Dale Smith, military medical historian from the Uniformed Services University. Smith explores the evolution of military medical evacuation, from Major Jonathan Letterman’s Civil War innovations to the helicopter evacuation systems that transformed care in Vietnam. He also considers what military medicine must do next as drones, missiles and contested airspace threaten the “golden hour” standard.
28 Aug 2026
Military Medicine 250 Podcast: Episode 2 - Military Medicine in the American Revolution
“A sick force can’t fight.” — Dr. Dale Smith, Uniformed Services University Historian.
During the American Revolution, military medicine was already doing more than treating the wounded, it was keeping the Continental Army in the fight.
In the second episode of the Military Medicine 250 video podcast, Peter J. Graves, from Military Health System Strategic Communication and Public Affairs, sits down with Dr. Dale Smith, military medical historian from the Uniformed Services University. Smith discusses George Washington’s decision to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox at Valley Forge, the creation of the Army’s hospital department, and the doctors who advanced medical knowledge including Benjamin Rush, John Warren and William Shippen. Their efforts established lessons about prevention, leadership and caring for troops that continue to resonate 250 years later.
29 Jul 2026
Military Medicine 250 Podcast: Episode 1 - Evolution of Military Medicine
“It’s like coming to an office full of superheroes.” -- Dr. Joseph Frechette, Air Force Medical Service Historian
Military medicine has been integral to achieving peace through strength since the earliest days of our Nation's history. The individuals and institutions that heal our warriors and keep them ready for the fight have a legacy of courage, innovation, and vision in the face of adversity. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Military Health System honors the legacy of remarkable medical heroes and recognizes the significant medical advances pioneered by innovation.
In this first episode of the Military Medicine 250 video podcast, Peter J. Graves, from Military Health System Strategic Communication and Public Affairs, sits down with Dr. Joseph Frechette, senior historian for the Air Force Medical Service. Documenting centuries of lifesaving breakthroughs, Dr. Frechette describes his work as “coming to an office full of superheroes.”
Join them as they discuss the evolution of military medicine, highlighting key milestones such as George Washington's smallpox inoculations, the tactical lessons of Civil War medical history, and the rapid development of flight medicine and air evacuation.
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