Major General Thomas R. Tempel, Jr., Commanding General of the U.S. Army Regional Health Command – Central

Today’s guest is Major General Thomas R. Tempel, Jr., the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Regional Health Command – Central, and the Chief of the US Army Dental Corps. The Regional Health Command - Central is one of four geographic commands in the US Army Medical Department. The Regional Health Command - Central is the largest geographic command, and covers from Louisiana to Minnesota in the east and Southern California to Idaho in the west. It includes fourteen subordinate commands, including 12 hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well as the Dental Command - Central and the Public Health Command - Central. The Command provides care for more than 440,000 military beneficiaries, and in 2016 delivered 5.8 million clinic visits, 7,600 live births, and 57,000 admissions. 

Major General Tempel is a third generation member of the Army Medical Department. He entered active duty in 1991 as an Army dentist, serving with a variety of operational units including the 1st Special Forces, and commanded the 464th Dental Company while deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later served in a series of clinical leadership roles including the Commander of the US Army Dental Command and the Commander of the Western Regional Medical Command before coming to his current role.

I really enjoyed talking with Major General Tempel about his unusual career. We conclude with a brief discussion about his leadership philosophy, but I think you will get a sense of the kind of leader he is throughout the interview.

Links to the Podcast

Soundcloud: 

Edited: https://soundcloud.com/healthleaderforge/mg-thomas-r-tempel-jr-cg-of-the-regional-medical-command-central-1

Full Length: https://soundcloud.com/healthleaderforge/mg-thomas-r-tempel-jr-cg-of-the-regional-medical-command-central 

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-health-leader-forge

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/healthleaderforge/id981989377

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pj7A_9c-k0c

Podcast Outline (applies to full length interview)

Time      Topic

0:02:14 Gettysburg College, pre-dental

0:04:16 being an Army brat, the influence of ROTC on his future

0:07:08 Family history in military medicine

0:08:27 dental school at U of MD

0:09:14 surprises about dental school

0:10:28 establishment of clinician identity

0:11:55 coming on active duty

0:14:48 residency in general dentistry

0:15:56 examples of specialties included in the residency

0:16:30 training and selection for the special forces

0:19:59 selection and Q course

0:21:24 role of the dental surgeon with the Special Forces

0:23:59 leadership lessons from Special Forces experience

0:26:51 unique clinical experiences working with the Special Forces

0:30:16 providing dental support in Iraq during OIF

0:33:10 first experience of command

0:35:53 Command of Ft. Meade DENTAC - transition from operational (TOE) units 

                        to fixed facility (TDA) units

0:38:54 Commander, Northern Regional Dental Command

0:40:49 adjusting leadership for a geographically dispersed organization

0:44:21 Commander, US Army Dental Command

0:46:49 scope of the US Army Dental Command

0:47:35 "Go First Class"

0:52:47 Chief of the Army Dental Corps

0:55:19 what do most people misunderstand about dentistry?

0:57:51 what doe people misunderstand about military dentistry?

0:58:27 Commander, Western Regional Health Command

1:00:12 scope of Central Medical Command

1:03:15 structure of the Central Medical Command headquarters

1:04:52 how does the regional structure add value

1:06:18 role of the Commander

1:06:54 a day in the life of the Commander

1:08:22 most important metrics tracked

1:09:21 what keeps him up at night

1:10:55 what is he most excited about in the future of Army medicine

1:12:18 leadership philosophy

1:15:41 advice for early careerists

Topics Discussed:

Major General Thomas R. Tempel, Jr. Biography

Regional Health Command - Central

Gettysburg College

University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Army Dentistry

US Army Special Forces Training

Ft. Meade DENTAC

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Brigadier General Jeffrey J. Johnson, Commander, Brooke Army Medical Center

Today’s guest is Brigadier General Jeffrey J. Johnson, the commanding general of Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) serves as the largest and most robust military healthcare organization within the Department of Defense (DOD). Both inpatient and outpatient services are provided by approximately 8,500 staff members, including active duty military personnel from each of the uniformed services, federal civilian employees and contractors. Brooke is a Level I Trauma center, and includes a forty bed burn center. It is also a hub for graduate medical education, with more than 30 graduate medical education programs.

General Johnson is a board certified family medicine physician and has served in and commanded a wide range of units, from traditional clinics and hospitals to Special Forces units and the legendary 82nd Airborne, and has deployed in support of the Army’s missions around the world. 

Links to the Podcast

Soundcloud: 

Extended version: https://soundcloud.com/healthleaderforge/brig-gen-jeffrey-j-johnson-commander-brooke-army-medical-center

Edited version: https://soundcloud.com/healthleaderforge/bg-jeffrey-j-johnson-commander-brooke-army-medical-center

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-health-leader-forge

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/healthleaderforge/id981989377

YouTube:  https://youtu.be/f3CE_P6h1OE

Podcast Outline (this timeline refers to the extended version)

Time       Topic 

0:01:55 Evangel university, ROTC

0:05:15 medical School at U of CO Health Sciences Center

0:06:03 what was surprising about medical school

0:07:11 clinical stereotypes - cultures of specialties

0:08:07 confirming his interest in primary care

0:09:10 keeping options open 

0:10:05 Family Medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center

0:12:28 Family Medicine vs. Internal Medicine

0:13:08 Why Madigan?

0:14:23 the physician identity

0:16:32 Clinic Command

0:19:17 lessons learned from first command

0:20:09 support from higher command

0:21:27 battalion and group surgeon, 7th Special Forces

0:25:53 observations of healthcare delivery in deveoping countries

0:26:46 director of resident training for Family Medicine

0:28:03 how did prior experience prepare him to run a residency program

0:29:53 life-long learning

0:31:24 challenges and enjoyment of the residency director role

0:33:44 making the decision to continue in the military

0:35:51 division surgeon for 82nd Airborne

0:37:42 comparing roles at 82nd and 7th

0:38:55 combined command surgeon in Baghram, Afghanistan

0:42:36 working with Afghan allies and the Afghan medical system

0:44:12 Commander (CEO) of Irwin Community Hospital

0:45:19 the complexity of the CEO role - comfort with not knowing everything

0:48:29 developing the organization's vision

0:51:15 advisor role in Saudi Arabia

0:53:52 44th Medical Brigade

0:55:50 Office of The Army Surgeon General 

0:57:26 Surgeon, Korea

0:58:20 Brooke Army Medical Center

0:59:45 the difference between an Army Community Hospital and an Army Medical Center

1:00:53 organizational transitions and coming in as the senior leader

1:03:52 senior staff of the organization

1:06:55 the advantages and challenges of having a physician as commander

1:09:13 leadership philosophy

1:11:39 characteristics and behaviors of a good leader - servant leadership

1:13:17 mentorship

1:15:15 advice to early careerists about leadership

Links to topics discussed:

Brooke Army Medical Center

44th Medical Brigade

Irwin Army Community Hospital
Faculty Development at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Madigan Army Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program

University of Colorado Health Sciences

Evangel University

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Brigadier General R. Scott Dingle, MEDCOM Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7

Today’s guest is Brigadier General R. Scott Dingle, the director plans, operations, and training for the US Army Medical Command, also known as the MEDCOM G-3/5/7. BG Dingle has had an extraordinary career, including attendance at some of the Army’s most respected training schools, battalion and brigade commands, and combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I really enjoyed hearing BG Dingle’s career story, but I found his lessons for leaders at the end of the interview particularly striking. He uses a clever metaphor to talking about the need for leaders to never lose their bearing, to never forget they are always in the spotlight, and to never forget they are always part of a team, because when bearings work together they can move large things. He also uses bearing as an acronym:

B - Believe in yourself and God
E - Endure through tough times
A - Accept responsibility
R - Remain unconquered
I - Identify with others who are excelling
N - Never quit
G - Give to others

This podcast is being released just in time for Independence Day weekend, and it seems appropriate to reflect on the career of a dedicated military leader and combat veteran as we remember that freedom is not free.

Links to the Podcast:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/healthleaderforge/bg-dingle-interview

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-health-leader-forge

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/healthleaderforge/id981989377

Transcript: A transcript of the podcast is available here.


Podcast Outline

Time Topic
0:01:49 Educational background, majoring in Sociology and English
0:03:39 Getting involved with Army ROTC
0:06:50 Experiences in ROTC
0:08:02 Commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Officer (MSCO)
0:09:05 Medical Service Corps description
0:10:12 First duty assignment as a MSCO
0:12:10 The transition from ROTC to active duty
0:15:07 Initial leadership lessons in active duty
0:16:04 Decision to stay in active duty
0:17:08 The importance of company command
0:19:56 Decision to become an operator in the Medical Service Corps
0:23:44 Being a Medical Planner
0:24:34 Attending the School of Advanced Military Studies
0:27:10 Planning and coordinating delivery of health services in Afghanistan and Iraq
0:30:05 Lessons learned from working with foreign nations
0:31:12 Healthcare operations in the Office of Army Surgeon General
0:32:52 Difference between being a company commander and a battalion commander
0:36:12 Serving as a Brigade Commander for the Army Medical Recruiting Brigade
0:38:45 What is a Medical Brigade? Serving on the 37th Medical Brigade
0:41:50 Organizing and planning healthcare delivery in the G3
0:46:50 Goals for the G-3/5/7 Organization
0:48:20 Worries in the current role
0:49:30 Common misconceptions/understanding the Army Medical Department
0:52:52 Personal leadership philosophy
0:54:50 Characteristics of a good leader
0:57:20 What do you look for in a leader?
0:58:13 Leadership advice for young leaders


Links Discussed

Morgan State University

US Army Medical Service Corps

School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS)

Press Release About BG Dingle's assignment to the G-3/5/7

Army Medicine 2020 Campaign Plan



Thanks to Sameer Panesar for production support.

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Major General Jimmie O. Keenan, Deputy Commanding General, US Army Medical Command

Today's interview is with Major General Jimmie O. Keenan, the Deputy Commanding General-Operations for the U.S. Army Medical Command, and the Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. To put Major General Keenan's accomplishments into perspective for listeners who are not familiar with the the military, the Army has approximately 492,000 active duty personnel, and only 309 general officers. Furthermore, Major General Keenan is one of only eight female major generals, and there are only four women in the Army who outrank her. In this podcast we discuss her fascinating career which ranges from time as a floor nurse to writing legislation as a congressional fellow to being second in command of one of the largest and most unusual health care systems in the United States.

Links to the Podcast:

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/MG-Jimmie-O-Keenan--Deputy-Commanding-General--Operations--US-Army-Medical-Command-egra8f

Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/39565631&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/39565631

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mg-jimmie-o-keenan-deputy-commanding-general-operations/id981989377?i=1000346078498

Time              Topic

1:20-14:59     Background, early career, Army Nurse Corps opportunities
15:00-27:19   Congressional Fellowship and Congressional Liaison
27:20-30:24   Command of Camp Bullis
30:25-32:52   Chief Nurse/Deputy Commander for Nursing, DeWitt Army Health System
32:53-34:44   Chief of Staff, Warrior Transition Command
34:45-43:46   Commander (CEO), Evans Community Hospital, Ft. Carson
43:47-45:43   Commander, US Army Public Health Command and Chief of the Army Nurse Corps
45:44-49:54   Commander, Southern Regional Medical Command
49:55-58:47   Deputy Commanding General-Operations
58:48-62:18   Leadership and Mentorship
62:19-69:55  Thoughts on Cheryl Sandberg's Lean In
69:56-71:24  Advice for early careerists


Links to topics discussed:

Henderson State University
Army Nurse Corps
Eisenhower Army Medical Center
Medical College of Georgia
Congressional Fellowship Program
Camp Bullis
Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital (Formerly DeWitt Army Health System)
Expose on Walter Reed Army Medical Center by Washington Post
Warrior Transition Command
Evans Army Community Hospital
Public Health Command
Southern Regional Medical Command
US Army Medical Command
Sandburg, Lean In
MG Keenan's Army Nurse Corps reading list
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
Sinek - Start with Why

Colonel David Bitterman, Chief of Staff, Southern Regional Medical Command

Today’s guest is Colonel David Bitterman, Chief Operating Officer of the US Army Southern Regional Medical Command. The Southern Regional Medical Command is the Army’s largest Regional Medical Command and consists of 15 Army medical treatment facilities located in the southeast quadrant of the continental United States from Texas to Georgia, and north to Oklahoma through Tennessee. The Command provides comprehensive health care services for over 490,000 beneficiaries with an operating budget of over $1.4 billion, and has more than 18,000 employees. Colonel Bitterman holds a Masters in Health Administration from Baylor University, and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. He is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and is a recipient of that organizations Career Achievement and Distinguished Service Awards.

Links to the Podcast

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/healthleaderforge/episodes/Colonel-David-Bitterman--Chief-of-Staff--US-Army-Southern-Regional-Medical-Command-egra84

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=63805&refid=stpri

Tunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/healthleaderforge/id981989377

YouTube: https://youtu.be/6RAaoq365kA?list=PLWAR9LUGZi4mT4d01Lo_VqU4TxJKoW0Fu

Transcript of the interview available here.


    Time                 Topic
    1:33 - 17:10       Early Career
  17:11 - 53:24       Transition to executive leadership and command
  53:25 - 1:02:23    Role as Chief of Staff, SRMC
1:02:24 - 1:12:32   Thoughts on leadership and mentorship


Links:

Southern Regional Medical Command

American College of Health Care Executives

About the US Army Medical Command

Medical Service Corps Home page

Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration

Servant-Leadership