Photo By Sgt. Daniel Schneider | Capt. Joseph Woodring examines the vertebrae of a Soldier while twisting him to...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — Travelling the world, seeing many different cultures, influencing societal changes that can potentially save thousands of lives — seem like a dream life?
For Capt. Joseph Woodring, it's a natural part of his.
The Radnor, Pa., native who works for the U.S. Division—Center surgeon's office, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Division, as the preventative medicine physician has enjoyed a very unique life.
Woodring attended Boston University, one of only three schools at the time offering a public health program that emphasized tropical medicine. During his sophomore year, he traveled to Calcutta, India, to work directly with Mother Theresa. He said that experience determined the future field of study that would lead him to where he is today.
He said he recalled thinking at the time, "Wow! This is something I really want to do."
Later, Woodring received the opportunity to again travel, this time to South Africa for three months, where he studied ways to prevent and treat plasmodium falciparum; considered the single most deadly strain of malaria which is responsible for 90 percent of all malaria-related deaths.
"Being in public health, we learn how to see the birds-eye view of diseases, which allows us to work upstream of the problem to find the bigger issue and a solution," Woodring said.
In South Africa, 1-3 million children die every year of malaria. While he was there, they were able to provide vaccines that have had a 60 to 70 percent success rate among the local villagers.
"To American standards, a 60 to 70-percent success rate is frowned upon, but to the people we were helping, it was worth it," Woodring explained. "If you can save that percentage of kids, that's a lot of lives that would be lost otherwise."
During his Army career, he has been able to go to Kenya, where he researched a malaria epidemic, and Thailand, where he studied infectious diseases found in seafood.
His international experience and knowledge of harmful diseases is now paying off in Iraq.
"As a preventative medicine physician, I have the unique ability to apply statistics, which can change policy to help hundreds of Soldiers remain healthy," said Woodring. "By providing Soldiers with vaccines and guidance, I can help keep them safe in environments they're not used to."
During his time in Iraq, Woodring has focused on long-term effects of burn barrel exposure, malaria and animal-related diseases, such as rabies.
He urges Soldiers going on leave outside of the United States to see the division surgeon's office to learn of possible health issues in the countries they expect to go to, and to receive medications which will keep them safe.
"A Soldier died in December from malaria after a mission to Nigeria," Woodring said.
"That would be horrendous if a similar occurrence happened to one of ours. If we can prevent one Soldier from dying, it's worth it."
| Date Taken: | 03.10.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.10.2010 11:27 |
| Story ID: | 46451 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 131 |
This work, Soldier brings international medical expertise to USD-C, by SGT Daniel Schneider, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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