For Immediate Release
December 10, 2007
Georgia Casciato
CHEF Marketing Chair, (630) 248-2484
Gcasciato@healthetechnologies.com
CHEF ANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 16, 2008
Medicine In the Military:
Running An ICU at 30,000 Feet
Keynote: Brigadier General (Dr.) Byron C. Hepburn,
Headquarters Command Surgeon AMC Scott Air Force Base, IL
Panel: When Soldiers Return To Our Medical Communities
CHICAGO ,ILLINOIS---- Brigadier General (Dr.) Byron C. Hepburn, of the United States Air Force will
deliver the keynote address, ”Medicine In the Military: Running An ICU at 30,000 Feet.” at the Annual
Meeting of Chicago Health Executives Forum (CHEF) to be held Wednesday January 16, 2008, at the
Hilton Chicago located at 720 S. Michigan.
His address will offer health care leaders & medical professionals unique insights into the care
wounded soldiers receive as they transition their way back to stateside military medical and civilian
health care. Profiled in the presentation will be critical care capabilities provided on the ground as well
as emergency life-saving operations performed in fully-equipped hospitals of the sky. Brigadier
General Hepburn is the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Mobility Command (AMC), at Scott Air
Force Base, Illinois.
Following the keynote, The General will be joined for a Panel Discussion entitled, “Doing Our Part
When Soldiers Return To Our Medical Communities. Esteemed Panel members joining General
Hepburn will be Nathan Geraths, Director of Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospital and Felise
Zollman MD, Brain Injury Medical Director, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. An interactive
discussion with the audience will focus on bridging the care continuum for returning service men and
women as they re-enter traditional civilian medical communities--- the last step for any wounded
service member separating from service.
General Hepburn is a Director on the staff of the Commander of Headquarters AMC. In this capacity,
he ensures maximized operational health, combat readiness, and the efficient delivery of peacetime
health benefits to beneficiaries, AMC leadership, military treatment facilities (MTFS) and gained units
worldwide. He also helps shape medical capability through plans, operational policies, guidance,
oversight, consultation, financial management and training. General Hepburn supervises and monitors
peacetime health care services for 11 community-based MTFs as well as the AMC medical budget of
$672 million with assets exceeding $1.3 billion.
Approximately 6,500 medical personnel provide care for more than 429,000 beneficiaries. The
General is the manpower, equipment and force packaging (MEFPAK) manager for aeromedical
support and equipment. As the MEFPAK, he ensures the readiness of AMC manpower and
equipment force capabilities on behalf of the Air Force Medical Service. General Hepburn is a
distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is one of 15 U.S. Air Force pilot-physicians
and is a command pilot. The General has previously commanded at the squadron and group level,
and he recently served as Commander of the David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base,
California.
Panelist Nathan L. Geraths is the Director of the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and has responsibility
for a budget over $326 million and over 2,100 FTE (Full time equivalent employees) at this complex,
tertiary care referral center. A distinctive feature of Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital is its heightened
level of affiliations and significant number of campus tenant organizations. Mr. Geraths is also
responsible for collateral duties in support of VISN functions. Prior to his medical administration
career, he served with the U.S. Army on active duty from 1967 to 1969 and retired in August 1995
from the Army Reserves with the rank of Colonel. Mr. Geraths is a Fellow in the American College of
Healthcare Executives (ACHE) where he served as a Regent from 1989-1993.
Panelist Felise Zollman MD, provides medical leadership for the brain injury program throughout the
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) system of care and is board certified in neurology. Dr.
Zollman led RIC’s development of a screening process offered to returning Illinois National Guard
service members for brain injury- a condition that affects 14-20% of military members serving in Iraq
and Afghanistan; an initiative announced last summer at a press conference with Illinois Governor
Rod Blagojevich and Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, Major Tammy Duckworth.
CHEF’s Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday January 16 at the Hilton Chicago, located at 720
S. Michigan. Networking/social hour begins at 5:30 with dinner served at 7 pm. Leadership & Student
Award Recipients will also be announced.
Reservations are $95 for CHEF/ACHE members with group purchases (table of 10) available for
$900. Rates apply to early registration by January 4, 2008. Tickets may also be purchased after
January 4 or at the door. Nonmember and discounted student rates also available.
For more information or to register visit WWW.CHEFCHICAGO.ORG or Call (847)256-9454.
END
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About CHEF/ACHE
CHEF is the largest independent chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE.)
CHEF was established in 1976 as a not-for-profit organization to serve the needs of Chicago's health
care community by providing networking opportunities and avenues for continuing education and
leadership development. Membership consists of health care professionals from all aspects of the
industry throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, including Southeastern Wisconsin and
Northwestern Indiana. Combined Membership for CHEF/ACHE in metropolitan Chicago is represents
approximately 1600 members.
As an independent chartered Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, CHEF is
authorized to award 1.5 hours of Category II continuing education credit toward advancement or
recertification in ACHE. Participants in this program who wish to have it considered for Category II
(non-ACHE) credit should list their attendance when they apply to the American College of Healthcare
Executives for advancement or recertification.
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