CAPT Matthew D. Tadlock, MD Surgeons at Sea: Challenges and Innovations- Preparing for Maritime Deployment

<p style="font-weight:400;">Military Medicine & WarDocs present: "A Ready Medical Force Special Collection"</p> <p style="font-weight:400;">MILMED-D-22-00390R1: “The Impact of The Maritime Deployment Cycle on the Surgeon’s Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities”</p> <p style="font-weight:400;"> </p> <p style="font-weight:400;">EPISODE SUMMARY</p> <p style="font-weight:400;">Discover the intricacies of maritime deployment cycles and their impact on surgeons' knowledge, skills, and abilities in our engaging conversation with Navy Captain and Trauma Surgeon Matthew D. Tadlock, MD. As Chair of the Joint Trauma System Committee on Surgical Combat Casualty Care, Matt shares his expertise on pre-deployment training for maritime surgical teams and its effects on their practice in Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs). We also delve into the three primary surgical teams deployed in maritime environments: Aircraft Carrier Surgical Teams, Fleet Surgical Teams, and the Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System (ERSS).</p> <p style="font-weight:400;">Learn how Navy Medicine is leveraging teleconsultation and telemedicine to support less experienced surgeons on deployments and bridge gaps in training. We uncover innovative solutions for junior surgeons to gain experience in rare cases such as ectopic pregnancies and testicular torsions, including providing colleague support from larger MTFs. Furthermore, we discuss the Maritime Surgery Quality Improvement Program, which collects crucial data to help improve training for maritime deployments.</p> <p style="font-weight:400;">Matt highlights the importance of robust MTFs and military-civilian partnerships for delivering top-notch care in trauma, burn, and critical care. We discuss the potential of simulation training in scenario-based environments and the need for a maritime-specific curriculum to prepare surgeons before deployment. Emphasizing the distinction between training and clinical skill sustainment, our guest underscores the significance of maintaining optimum performance in