[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8962-8963]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT CENTER AND SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, when I began my chairmanship of the 
Veterans' Affairs committee this January, I assured my colleagues that 
we would renew our focus on the need for cooperation and collaboration 
between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. As we look at the way these two entities work together, it is 
important that we highlight the good work and progress being made. One 
example of progress and excellence in collaboration can be found at the 
Army Medical Department Center and School, located at Fort Sam Houston, 
which trains Army, Air Force, and VA nurses.
  This year, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Army Medical 
Department Center and School second in the Nation for their anesthesia 
nursing program. They missed first place by just a tenth of one point, 
and have improved their score from 3.8 out of 5.0 in 2003, to 4.0 out 
of 5.0 in 2007. This notable achievement brings added credibility to 
their already prestigious program.
  Since 2004, VA and DOD have partnered to train VA nurse anaesthetists 
to work in the VA health care system, the largest health care system in 
the country. The first class of VA nurse anesthetists recently 
graduated from the Army Medical Department Center and School. Their 
graduation represents what I hope will be a steady flow of highly 
qualified VA nurse anesthetists using their skills and knowledge to 
give veterans the high-quality health care they have earned through 
service.
  I realize that, with the private sector offering six-figure salaries 
for nurse

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anesthetists, those who chose to work within the military and VA do so 
not for personal gain. They stay to respond to the higher calling of 
caring for servicemembers and veterans in their times of need, and are 
to be commended for their dedication and their work. In that spirit, I 
say `e ho'omaika'i ia'oukou, or congratulations, to the graduates, 
students, faculty, staff, and others who have worked to make the Army 
Medical Department Center and School the success that it is today.

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