CAPT Zsolt Stockinger Joins Elite Order of Military Medical Merit
(former JTS Director) Right: Maj Gen Lee E. Payne, Assistant Director for Combat Support Agency, DHA.
This past August, Maj Gen Lee E. Payne, Assistant Director for Combat Support Agency, Defense Health Agency, welcomed CAPT Zsolt T. Stockinger (former JTS Director) into the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3). The Order is a unique, private organization founded by the Commanding General of U.S. Army Health Services Command in April 1982 to recognize excellence and promote fellowship and esprit de corps among Army Medical Department (AMEDD) personnel. Membership denotes distinguished service which is recognized by the senior leadership of the AMEDD. Members receive a medallion which signifies membership in the Order.
CAPT Stockinger was nominated by O2M3 member COL Russ Kotwal, MC, USA. CAPT Stockinger was selected for his numerous outstanding contributions to the AMEDD as well as all Services. His contributions span his services as a trauma surgeon to medical readiness leader to his directorship of JTS from fall 2015 to summer 2018.
During the 2005-6 combat surge in Al Anbar Province, CAPT Stockinger developed and nurtured an important and close medical support relationship with the 36th Infantry Division, and in particular with the 2nd Battalion, 112th Armored Regiment. He trained, supported, and utilized Army Role 1 medical personnel in Role 1 prehospital care as well as in support of Role 2 operations and Army civil affairs programs.
While CAPT Stockinger was the Deputy Commander to the Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute in 2006, he established (what was then) the US military's largest medical simulation center for Role 1 and Role 2 care, which was also incorporated into the Combat Casualty Care Course. CAPT Stockinger helped to establish the Joint En Route Care Course at Fort Rucker. He expanded opportunities to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) staff for Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) courses, and also established the ATLS program at Wilford Hall.
In 2011-2012, CAPT Stockinger served as the Chief of Trauma for the NATO Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar. In this role, he provided support to the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division through direct patient care. Working closely with the 82nd Airborne Division Surgeon, he helped successfully transition Afghanistan National Army (ANA) personnel to a local ANA Hospital. In 2013 as NATO Regional Command (Southwest) Surgeon and Command Surgeon, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force-Afghanistan, CAPT Stockinger coordinated with Task Force Med to provide optimal support to Army medical units throughout his area of responsibility.
CAPT Stockinger was assigned to the JTS in 2013. He initially served as the Division Director for Performance Improvement, and then was subsequently promoted to Director of the JTS in 2015. Under his direction, all DoD combat trauma Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) have been updated and new ones created. These CPGs set the standard of care for the US military. Under CAPT Stockinger's direction, research included limb and junctional tourniquets, analysis of impact of the "Golden Hour" mandate, prehospital blood transfusion, surgical training requirements, and others that have impacted combat morbidity and mortality.