Navy Medicine Stories – Ep. 4: Under Pressure, Resiliency in the Fleet
BLUF – In this episode of Navy Medicine Stories, we sit down with U.S. Navy Force Master Chief Jerry Cantorna, director of the Hospital Corps, to explore the deep-rooted resilience required of today’s hospital corpsmen. From his humble beginnings in California, to leading more than 30,000 enlisted medical professionals worldwide, he shares personal reflections on his 29-year journey. Going beyond the uniform, Cantorna opens up about the human side of command: balancing the intense demands of Navy Medicine with family life, maintaining personal grounding, and the invaluable role of mentorship. Tune in to hear firsthand why taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of the mission.
https://www.dvidshub.net/audio/94426/navy-medicine-stories-ep-4-under-pressure-resiliency-fleet
USU Medical Team Brings Military Medicine Expertise to Ironman World Championship
BLUF – A Uniformed Services University medical team, including retired Army Col. Francis O’Connor, Army 2nd Lt. Michael Kim and Navy Ensign Paige Sim, provided medical support at the 2026 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, gaining hands-on experience managing heat illness, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances and other emergencies in a demanding environment. For Navy Medicine, their participation demonstrates how military medical training in triage, operational medicine, interdisciplinary teamwork and rapid clinical decision-making translates to civilian endurance events while strengthening skills essential for caring for sailors and Marines in austere operational settings.
https://news.usuhs.edu/2026/10/usu-medical-team-brings-military.html
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The Pentagon wants ketamine wafers as a battlefield medicine option
BLUF – The Pentagon awarded a nearly $41 million contract to Singapore-based iX Biopharma to develop Wafermine, a sublingual ketamine wafer for treating moderate to severe battlefield pain, with the manufacturer pursuing emergency use authorization that could allow military deployment before full FDA approval. For Navy Medicine, this needle-free alternative to injectable ketamine could expand pain management options for corpsmen treating combat casualties in austere environments, although its clinical effectiveness, safety and regulatory status must be established before widespread use.
Hegseth’s military imposes testosterone testing despite concerns about the science
BLUF – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s mandatory testosterone screening policy requires male service members aged 30 and older to undergo annual assessments for possible testosterone deficiency, despite medical experts questioning the evidence that routine screening of asymptomatic personnel improves health or military readiness. For Navy Medicine, the policy creates additional screening and follow-up responsibilities while emphasizing the need to distinguish clinically significant hormone deficiencies from normal fluctuations, avoid unnecessary treatment and counsel patients about potential risks, including infertility.
Joel Schofer’s Promotion Board Preparation: A Guide for Officers in Navy Medicine – Now Available on Amazon!
The updated version of Joel Schofer’s Promotion Board Preparation: A Guide for Officers in Navy Medicine is now available on Amazon!
I updated it after the 2026 promotion boards and tried to make it as useful as I could for all corps in Navy Medicine. For now it is available on Kindle and paperback with a hardcover and audiobook planned for down the line. Please note that these are affiliate links that will support the blog if you make any purchases on Amazon.
Please consider purchasing the book and leaving a review on Amazon!
Tip of the spear, or stranded on beaches? Chinese planners dissect USMC Pacific posture
BLUF – In a Defense News opinion article, analyst Lyle Goldstein examines Chinese military assessments of the Marine Corps’ strategy of deploying dispersed, missile-equipped forces across Pacific islands, finding that Chinese planners recognize its potential to threaten naval operations but also identify vulnerabilities involving inadequate air defenses, limited logistics and difficulty sustaining isolated units without air or sea superiority. For Navy Medicine, these vulnerabilities reinforce the importance of preparing to support geographically dispersed Marines with prolonged casualty care, forward-positioned medical supplies, blood products and evacuation alternatives in contested environments where isolated units could face significant casualties without timely access to higher-level medical care.
WarDocs Podcast – CAPT Melissa Austin, MD: From Warship to Walter Reed
BLUF – In a WarDocs podcast interview, Navy Capt. Melissa Austin, former director of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, describes her unconventional career from surface warfare officer to Navy physician and hospital executive, highlighting efforts to restore Walter Reed’s clinical capacity by expanding available beds from approximately 100 to 220, increasing operational operating rooms from eight to 14, and regaining Level II trauma center status. For Navy Medicine, her leadership demonstrates how increasing patient volume, strengthening civilian healthcare partnerships and sustaining clinical proficiency can improve medical readiness, as illustrated by Walter Reed’s successful reception of its largest group of combat casualties in more than a decade.
https://www.wardocspodcast.com/post/capt-melissa-austin-md-from-warship-to-walter-reed