Welcome to the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) – the Flagship of Navy Medicine. It is my distinct honor and privilege to serve as your Commander. I am very proud of this world class, state-of-the-art health care facility and its staff, who are some of the brightest and best-trained medical practitioners, administrative and support staff found anywhere in the world. As a patient or family member, you can rest assured that you are in outstanding and capable hands.

We are the ‘‘President’s Hospital”, serving and caring for our Nation’s Leaders, our wounded warfighters, and all those who serve and have served our great nation. We strive to provide the same level of exceptional care and concern to each and every beneficiary that enters our doors. Integral to our concept of care is Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC), which ensures Force Health Protection by providing care along the entire spectrum of life. We believe that the patient’s family members are vitally important in the healing, rehabilitation and wellness process. Our men and women in the field need the support of their families back home; they need to know that their family members’ healthcare needs are being met. Quality PFCC involves a health care delivery system that is constantly evaluated and encourages partnerships among providers, patients and their families. Respect, Empowerment, Choices and Flexibility embody the concept of Patient and Family-Centered Care, which empowers individuals and families and fosters independence. It also supports patient care-giving and decision-making; respects patient and family choices and their values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds; and involves patients and family in planning, delivery and evaluation of health care services.

While NNMC’s primary mission is the readiness and care of the Uniformed Services and their families, we also provide care for authorized government officials including the President, Vice-President, their families, members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court, heads of state and all beneficiaries designated by the Secretary of the Navy. In addition, we provide care to our foreign military allies and embassy personnel.

Because we are a Navy at war supporting a country engaged in the Global War on Terrorism, NNMC has been given the very important privilege and responsibility of caring for our Nation’s fallen heroes. We are honored and proud to carry out this mission of restoring the health, well-being, and function of our country’s courageous men and women who have been injured in harm’s way. They deserve nothing less than our absolute best for defending the freedoms and liberties this Nation was founded on. It is also our great pleasure to care for our veterans who gave so much in past conflicts and for their families who always supported them. We gladly do this with respect and compassion.

The National Naval Medical Center is committed to being flexible, adaptable and willing to accommodate any local, national or worldwide need. We are constantly vigilant and remain on the forefront of current events, standing by ready to assist whether it be conflicts such as the Global War on Terrorism or Operation Iraqi Freedom; natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Tsunami relief; or world wide humanitarian missions to underprivileged countries as in USNS COMFORT deployments to the farthest corners of the globe to render assistance where we are needed.

We are also committed to a strong and viable health care education program. The National Naval Medical Center is a leader in Graduate Medical Education and other health professional training like undergraduate medical education; graduate degree programs in health related topics; phase II enlisted technical training; and continuing staff education and training. We continue to make constant improvements in our health professional education programs which allow us to keep up with the most current means of treatment to better-meet the needs of our patient population.

These are very exciting times for the National Naval Medical Center and Military Medicine as a whole. Since the Base Realignment and Closure announcement became law, we have been on a full-speed-ahead path to the Congressionally-directed integration between NNMC and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As we rapidly approach our deadline of September 2011, we have successfully achieved full functional integration of many of our clinics and departments. Working as a true team, we have combined the best practices of both medical centers into one cohesive unit without any interruption or compromise in patient care. With the ever-expanding evidence of construction it is becoming easier and easier to visualize the future Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which will be the biggest, most renowned military health care system in the world. Nothing of this caliber has ever been done before and it is both an honor and a challenge to be a part of military medical history.

Today, NNMC stands as a unique military medical complex. The size and scope of our day-to-day operations requires the effort, talent and dedication of nearly 4,000 military and civilian personnel, all of which make it possible for us to maintain our title as the Flagship of Navy Medicine. I am extremely proud of and privileged to serve with such an exemplary team of professionals. As we continue to share the responsibility with Walter Reed Army Medical Center of receiving our wounded warriors who have been fighting for our freedom, our dual missions of casualty care and services to our local patient population has truly been tested. The unique challenges require that our dedicated staff remain focused, diligent and, most importantly, compassionate. We never fail to rise to the challenge. I have the utmost respect for our active duty, reserve, civilian, contract and volunteer staff. We prove our heartfelt commitment to serving our country and the beneficiaries we serve. I strive to make my job as Commander a lot easier and a rewarding experience.

Once again, welcome to the National Naval Medical Center. I thank you for your continued support and it is truly an honor to serve as your Commander.

Respectfully,
M. L. NATHAN
RDML, MC, USN