Saturday is Veterans Day — a day for honoring those who have served, or are serving, within our nation’s armed forces. It’s a day to reflect on the sacrifices they have made to protect our freedom, and a day for all of us to express our deep gratitude for their service.
As “Military City, USA,” San Antonio has a special connection to our veterans and active-duty service members. So does UT Health San Antonio. We have a significant number of faculty, staff, students and residents who have served our nation in the past or are currently committed to service. Individually and collectively, they exemplify the values that drive our institution: selflessness, bravery and loyalty.
One way in which we as an institution underscore our university’s commitment to our military, veterans and their families is by leading the Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative (TRC4) in partnership with the Department of Defense and the Level 1 Trauma Center at University Hospital. This collaborative serves to address the critical need for improved trauma care in the United States — both on the battlefield and in the civilian sector — to dramatically improve health outcomes and the survival rate for trauma injuries.
Our own Military Health Institute, established in 2014 and under the direction of retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, is dedicated to improving the health and resiliency of our nation’s military service members, veterans and their families through advances in research, education and health care. Within its first decade of existence, the institute has earned a place as one of the nation’s most prestigious interdisciplinary research and clinical care collaborators with the military. It also works to strengthen the ties of service and science within our community with events such as the Distinguished Lecture Series, which most recently featured Lt. Gen. James Peake, former Secretary of the Veterans Administration and former Army Surgeon General.
Today, tomorrow and every day, let us honor and thank our veterans and offer our heartfelt gratitude to all those who serve our country and those who continue their commitment of service within our extended community here at UT Health San Antonio.
Sincerely,
William L. Henrich, MD, MACP
President
Professor of Medicine