[TCT2007]Cardiologist Discusses Army Career

Casscells invitedattendees to contribute.

Words such as COURAGE,FREEDOM and ENDEAVOR are more than names of some of the latest trials in cardiovascular research. They are words that describe and inspire U.S. military personnel, according
to S.Ward Casscells, MD, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.

“ L o o k i n g through this list of cardiovascular trials, I noticed that many of these are terms that motivate the people that I work with everyday,” Casscells said, making reference to the 17 patriotic and inspirational trial names – such as STRENGTH andHOPE – listed behind him on the Main Arena screen.

Upon reaching the middle of his successful career in cardiology, Casscells decided to switch tracks when he joined the U.S. Army Reserve. This week, he came to TCT to describe the expansive military health system, and to urge others to take part in the military’s health-care efforts.

Trained in leadership

Prior to his government appointment in April 2007, Casscells was the John Edward Tyson Distinguished
Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He was also director of clinical research at the Texas Heart Institute. As a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, he was deployed to recent hurricane and tsunami relief efforts, as well asto Iraq.

“It’s been a very tough time,” he said. “I found it a very difficult thing being deployed there. I lost friends there — doctors, nurses, soldiers, marines under my care, colleagues.”

He urged doctors who are facing the next phase of their careers to “walk down to the recruiting station
and join the Army Medical Corps.”

Casscells urged pharmaceutical and device company CEOs in the audience to consider that soldiers coming off military service are potential workers trained in leadership and informatics. “Their specialty is management and leadership, not restenosis or heart failure.”

The “signature injury of the war on terror” is traumatic brain injury, and information is needed. “We have $300 million going into that research,” he said, inviting neurologists to consider applying for grants. “We welcome your suggestions,” Casscells said.
 

Collaboration possible

The military health-care system is extensive, Casscells told TCT Daily in an interview.

“The military health system is bigger than [physicians] know about because it’s so quiet,” he said. “They don’t realize most of the scientific contributions, medical contributions, and social and humanitarian contributions. If they want to participate as collaborating scientists with researchgrants, if they’re interested in putting on a uniform and doing some handson work … we welcome that.”

The system operates with a $43 billion per year budget that is climbing. This year, there are between 130,000 and 145,000 employees working in the system each day. That number includes 70 in-patient facilities and close to 1,000 clinics. There are 9.1 million people in the patient database.

The health-care system funds its own internal research run primarily out of the Army with a little over $1
billion available. That money is generally earmarked for combat casualty care, medical informatics, tissue
regeneration and infectious disease technology research.

As the system grows financially, so will its staff.

“We continue to think that over thenext decade, the military physicians and nurses will increasingly be ambassadors of peace and not just protectors of the nation’s warriors,” Casscells said.