The Antietam Staff Walk at the Uniformed Services University: A Program Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: The battle along Antietam Creek in September 1862 was pivotal in shaping future combat medical readiness practices. With the full confidence of his commander, Major (Dr) Jonathan Letterman implemented an innovative ambulance corps system, which contributed immensely to modern-day battlefield medicine. Each year, the Uniformed Services University (USU) holds the Antietam Staff Walk, during which military medical students are engaged by faculty at various "stops" along the 6-mile walk. The four learning objectives for the Antietam Staff Walk are to (1) introduce the role of the "staff ride," (2) orient learners to reading terrain, (3) reinforce the six principles of health service support, and (4) recall the heritage of the military medical officer. The Department of Military and Emergency Medicine at USU commissioned a program evaluation to determine if these course objectives were being met, evaluate the effectiveness of the Antietam Staff Walk as a teaching tool, and make recommendations for improving its educational impact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We engaged in qualitative program evaluation to evaluate the Antietam Staff Walk course objectives. Our research team analyzed 156 reflection papers written by second-year military medical students attending Antietam in August 2021. We coded each of the papers, noting important words and phrases that were salient to the students' learning experiences at Antietam. Our research team then compiled each of these codes into a master list and then determined how to divide this list into major categories. We collectively defined each of these categories, which served as the resulting themes of this program evaluation. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: (1) creation of an ambulance corps allows for proximal battlefield medicine, (2) a lack of buddy aid inspires Tactical Casualty Combat Care, and (3) disease/nonbattle injury necessitates preventative medicine. The students foremost gained an appreciation for the impact of the ambulance corps and recognized that the ambulance corps not only impacted medical care, but also the mission as a whole. However, may not have completely understood the long, slow evolution of battlefield care and may have overestimated the knowledge of physicians practicing mid-19th century medicine. We provided recommendations for addressing these learning opportunities during future Antietam Staff Walks at USU. CONCLUSIONS: Our review of the Antietam Staff Ride resulted in several curricular recommendations for enhancing its learning impact. Our program evaluation serves as a model for line units and other military organizations to optimize the impact of the historical staff ride as a teaching tool.

Students' Leadership Development During a High-fidelity Military Medical Field Practicum.

INTRODUCTION: Leadership development is a cornerstone aspect of military medical education. Operation Bushmaster, a medical field practicum (MFP) conducted by the USU, tests fourth-year medical students' clinical skills and leadership acumen in an operational environment. No studies have examined students' perceptions of their own leadership development during this MFP. Therefore, this study explored leadership development from the students' perspectives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a qualitative phenomenological design, we analyzed the reflection papers of 166 military medical students who participated in Operation Bushmaster during the fall of 2021. Our research team coded and categorized the data. Once defined, these categories served as the themes in this study. RESULTS: Three central themes were expressed: (1) the importance of direct and decisive communication, (2) unit cohesion and interpersonal relationships enhance the team's ability to adapt, and (3) followership quality determines leadership outcomes. The students' leadership ability was maximized by established relationships within their unit and well-practiced communication, and a decreased propensity for followership negatively affected leadership. Overall, Operation Bushmaster increased students' appreciation of the importance of leadership development and overall enhanced their leadership outlook as a future military medical officer. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided an introspective vantage from military medical students pertaining to their own leadership development, as participants described how the challenging environment of a military MFP challenged them to hone and develop their leadership skills. As a result, the participants gained a greater appreciation of continued leadership development and realization of their future roles and responsibilities within the military health care system.