By Dr. Gerard Muraida
Dating back as far as the 19th century, the military has played a pivotal role in the development of modern medicine. Key contributions include infection control and antibiotics, trauma care advances, rehabilitation and prosthetics, public health and preventive medicine, and medical technology and systems.
As we celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we should recognize the lasting impact our military physicians have made on modern medicine.
Antiseptic techniques and wound debridement were refined during earlier conflicts, such as the Civil War and World War I. It was not until World War II that the mass production of penicillin revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections, which had previously been treated by rudimentary wound cleansing.
Military conflicts have driven innovations in trauma surgery, wound care, and triage systems. Jonathan Letterman, known as the “Father of Battlefield Medicine,” developed the modern system of triage and ambulance evacuation during the Civil War. The development of the tourniquet, rapid evacuation (MEDEVAC), and the concept of the “golden hour”
in trauma care all originated from military medicine.
The famous heart transplant surgeon Michael E. DeBakey is credited with developing the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) concept during World War II. The use of mobile surgical hospitals (MASH units) during the Korean War laid the groundwork for modern emergency and trauma systems. The same Dr. DeBakey later pioneered cardiovascular surgery, including the development of the roller pump for heart-lung machines.
The need to care for wounded soldiers led to advances in physical rehabilitation, prosthetic limb development, and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Norman M. Rich advanced the field of vascular surgery, particularly in the management of vascular trauma, and contributed to the development of military trauma systems.
Sir Archibald McIndoe, a physician with the Royal Air Force, led the advancement of reconstructive surgery for burn victims, especially pilots during World War II, and developed holistic approaches to rehabilitation.
The military has contributed to vaccine development (e.g., typhoid, influenza) and the implementation of large-scale immunization programs. Two U.S. Army physicians, Walter Reed and William Gorgas, proved that yellow fever was transmitted by mosquitoes. This helped to eradicate yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal. These two doctors set the stage for the development of public health initiatives and advances for the specialty of tropical medicine.
Innovations such as telemedicine, portable diagnostic equipment, and advanced surgical techniques (e.g., vascular surgery, plastic surgery) were often developed or refined in military settings.
The Veterans Affairs health system has been a recognized leader in telemedicine. In 2015, over two million telemedicine consultations were provided to almost 700,000 veterans.
To our military doctors, we salute you.
