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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Military Health System recognized medical researchers’ accomplishments on Monday, August 19th, opening day of the Military Health System Research Symposium at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. Four individuals and three teams received honors.
Dr. Amy Adler, clinical research psychologist at the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience Research at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland received the 2019 MHSRS Distinguished Service Award for lifetime achievement in the research category of behavioral health and resilience research. Army Col. Jeffrey Thomas accepted the award on her behalf.
Thomas nominated Dr. Adler, saying, “Dr. Adler's peerless leadership and productivity in military behavioral health and resilience have led to numerous evidence-based solutions that have improved the health, resilience, and performance of service members. Dr. Adler's remarkable service, professionalism, and dedication reflect great credit on her, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and the Military Health System.”
Navy Cdr. Ian Valerio, attending plastic surgeon and director of burn, wound and trauma at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center received the award for outstanding individual research accomplishment/academia-industry (research category: precision medicine for acute & trauma and critical care).
Valerio, who now serves in the Navy reserves, researched and pioneered the use of a surgical technique whereby cut sensory nerves are buried in the remaining, nearby muscles during limb amputations, significantly preventing neuroma formation and phantom limb pain.
In his nomination letter, Dr. David Dean, associate professor in the department of plastic surgery, said of his colleague, “Dr. Valerio is a tireless example of patient advocacy to his trainees, whom he involves in his care of both civilian and military patients. He is one of the busiest physicians at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, yet he finds time to mentor trainees on the importance of basic, early state, translational and outcome assessment research.”