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Privileged

** This is the author’s opinion and does not represent the military or U.S. government. **

By Col. P. Shea Brannan, MD

The “thank you for your service” greeting is always appreciated by United States military personnel.  However, as I near the end of my military career, it is not I who should be thanked for service to country, but the opposite.  I am indebted to this country and our military for the opportunity to serve this nation as a hand surgeon.  Although the journey to each differs significantly, the one common theme is quality individuals – patients, mentors, soldiers, colleagues, and most importantly the family who supported me. 

My experience as a military resident in San Antonio, Texas was a tremendous influence on my current perspective as a hand surgeon.  Dr. Jack Ingari was the first to share the inspirational story of Dr. Sterling Bunnell and General Norman Kirk with me as a resident.  Unifying themes such military-civilian partnership in a time of national crisis, educational hierarchy, and the genealogy of hand surgery still resonate in my practice today.  Later, Dr. Fred Corley, epitomized to me the example of selflessness as much as any physician I encountered.  San Antonio military surgeons of all facets have incorporated “Corleyisms” into their practice for years – a mix of South Texas and Mississippi charm.  He insisted we call our operative patients the night of surgery to insure their welfare.  It was not uncommon to see him open his wallet for a patient.  I am confident my weak attempt at Mississippi charm and open communication with patients has paid dividends in my success as a hand surgeon.         

Military deployments are the most powerful influence on my perspective as a hand surgeon.  14 years as an orthopaedic surgeon, 6 deployments, 5 continents, 4 children, and most importantly 1 committed wife somewhere in between.  Missions included supporting the fight in the war on terror, hostage rescue, disaster relief, and even humanitarian outreach in a Third World children’s hospital.  I encountered burns, blasts, crush injuries, and congenital deformities.  There was a role for a hand surgeon in every country, every environment.  It reemphasized the importance of the diversity of our skillset including the ability to treat bone, vasculature, nerve, and soft tissue coverage.  The lack of appropriate rehabilitation in the Third World gave me further appreciation for therapists and our limits as surgeons.  The “Touching Hands” project and my prior deployments share so many parallels and I am optimistic I can play a role abroad in the future.  This generation of military hand surgeons will never forget our civilian counterparts who served at Landstuhl, Germany and Walter Reed Medical Center assisting in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) at peak tempo.  The necessity for civilian-military partnership in hand surgery was once again at the forefront.  Finally, nothing like an Afghanistan moon on a cold night to help you appreciate a good cigar.  I look forward to another with old friends in Las Vegas. 

The most powerful military influence on my role as a hand surgeon is my patients.  I work in an extremely unique location.  The Florida Panhandle is home to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), 7th Special Forces Group (SFG) — Green Berets, Army Ranger Training School, and the Explosives Ordinance Disposal School (bomb detonation).  The Special Operations community is like no other.  I work in the epicenter of a population whose sole job is to protect this country.  Their members are selfless in dedication to country, tireless in commitment to their “teams”, and flawless in execution of a skillset possessed by no other country.  I retire from the military in 9 months and likely will never encounter a better population to serve.  This occupation is not a rite, but a privilege.  I’m privileged to serve them.          

Both the United States Military and the Hand Society are only as strong as its members.  The unifying theme in my “ASSH perspective” is quality individuals – both military and civilian.  Individuals such as Dr. Jim Dobyns (1924-2011), David Green, Lee Osterman, Andy Koman, and current President Scott Levin have provided fellowship opportunities, financial support, and quality education for numerous military hand surgeons.  They are lifelong mentors for many of my former colleagues.  Dr. Glenn Gaston, my personal mentor, has followed suit.  He is committed to training young military hand surgeons through fellowship, fostering a growing partnership through tri-service outreach, and pioneering advances in amputee care such as the “Starfish” project.  These mentors epitomize integrity, service, and excellence – just as our service branches promote.  Current military members have benefitted substantially from the great work in fields such as nerve transfer, vascularized bone grafting, hand transplantation, and targeted muscle reinnervation through partnership of the military and ASSH.  I hope future generations will continue to model the example set by our ASSH pioneers and current generation of military-civilian partners.   

Col P. Shea Brannan, Eglin AFB, Florida    

Comments (5)
Anonymous
May 9, 2019 10:59 pm

loved your essay. Thanks for writing it. David Nelson

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David Nelson
May 9, 2019 10:59 pm

loved your essay. Thank you for writing it

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Scott Eisenhuth
May 10, 2019 5:45 pm

Great essay Shea. Congratulations on a fantastic career. And still have to say, thank you to you and your family for years of dedicated service.

-Scott

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Christopher Lincoski
May 10, 2019 12:39 am

Awesome… inspiring!

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Edward A. Stokel, MD
May 10, 2019 2:48 pm

No amount of “thank you for your service” is enough, what an inspiration!

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