Photo By Spc. Claudia Rocha | Sgt. Cameron Trueblood, a combat medic assigned to Army Reserve Medical Command’s...... read more read more
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COVELO, Calif.-- Sgt. Cameron Trueblood, a Ph.D. student at Drexel University, is no stranger to the field of medicine and deals with patients as both a neuroscience student and as an Army Reserve combat medic. Although her civilian and military careers parallel in many ways, she said there is one major difference when dealing with patients as a medic: “Well, these patients talk more than my lab rats!” joked Trueblood.
Sgt. Trueblood, along with 11 other U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to Army Reserve Medical Command’s 7221st Medical Support Unit, located in Newark, Delaware, and three Navy medical personnel assigned to 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, partnered with Round Valley Indian Health Service to provide medical and dental care at the Round Valley Indian Health Center in Covelo, California, from July 17-28. The collaboration between the military and IHS is part of the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training mission, a training opportunity that ensures Reserve Soldiers maintain their combat readiness while addressing the needs within local communities.
During the IRT mission, military medical professionals provide general exams and school physicals to Covelo residents. Trueblood said that administering patient care equips her with a useful perspective that she uses in her civilian life. “I always have to have a clinical mindset,” said Trueblood. “I have to think ‘OK how would this work with humans? How does it relate to humans?’”
The harmonious nature of her two careers embodies the foundation of America's all-volunteer Army Reserve in which Citizen-Soldiers are able to form cooperative relationships between civilian employers and the Army Reserve. Reserve Soldiers can attain work-life balance while enhancing their knowledge as they integrate their military occupational skills into their everyday lives.
Reciprocally, Sgt. Trueblood said her studies outside of the Army Reserve have better prepared her for this mission. “I’m currently doing research on cardiovascular dysfunction,” explained Trueblood. “So now, when I see someone come in with high blood pressure, I can understand the science behind it, and I’m able to inform my patients better.”
Army Reserve Capt. Julie Birmingham, a registered medical-surgical nurse with the 7221st MSU, works with Trueblood and said her knowledge shows in her work performance. “She has been excellent,” said Birmingham. “She has picked up all of the tasks very quickly and is proficient with the skills that are necessary here.”
As she hustles between patients, Trueblood said she values the training she receives during the Round Valley IRT mission. “Usually we’re just practicing on each other,” said Trueblood. “But here, we get hands-on patient experience.” IRT missions are multifunctional as they allow Reserve Soldiers to train in their skillset while providing medical support requested by local communities in the U.S. Trueblood’s participation in the mission allows her to be immersed into a real-world environment that refines her mission-essential skills to better serve her patients, both as a Soldier and in her civilian capacity.
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2017 16:02 |
| Story ID: | 243010 |
| Location: | COVELO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Citizen-Soldier Brings Insight to Army Reserve, by SPC Claudia Rocha, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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