The Department of Army Aviation Medicine (DAM) is the “Rally Point” where aviation and medicine meet. The DAM is a satellite campus of the Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) located at Fort Rucker, AL, and is the Army’s center for all aeromedical training for aviators, aircrew members, and aeromedical providers.
The DAM trains, educates, and develops capable and adaptive aeromedical leaders focused on readiness and enabling the Combatant Commander to compete and win in all Army and joint operations. We train over 1750 Soldiers annually in 92 courses per year within 48 programs of instruction.
The DAM supports the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (AVCOE) by providing instruction to aviators and aircrew on aeromedical subjects in accordance with AR 95-1, TC 3-04.93, AR 40-501, AR 40-502, and NATO STANAG AAMedP-1.2 Edition A Version 2, RTO MP-086 / HFM-085. We operate the Army’s only training altitude chamber supporting aviators and aircrew flying in pressurized cabins, as well as high-altitude parachutists.
The DAM trains aeromedical physician assistants, aeromedical clinical psychologists, flight surgeons, critical care flight paramedics, aviation medicine nurse practitioners, medical planners from all military services and international military students. DAM also serves as the only non-hospital based graduate medical education program under T2COM producing physicians specializing in aerospace and occupational medicine.
Mission
The Department of Aviation Medicine develops aeromedical professionals, integrates aviation and medical standards, and drives change at the intersection of both domains to preserve combat power and enable the Joint Force to win the Nation’s wars.
Vision
To be the foundation of aviation medicine, empowering leaders to preserve combat lethality for the future Joint Force.
Functions
- Educating tomorrow’s aviation leaders and ensuring proficiency for today’s aviation leadership
- Advancing the skill, knowledge, and confidence of Critical Care Flight Paramedics
- Equipping Combat Aviation Brigades with aeromedical providers
- Training behavioral health professionals to understand and affect the aviation environment
- Prepare Service Members to work as a team in the joint medical evacuation and patient movement environment
Leadership
Director, Department of Aviation Medicine
Col Sonya Heidt is board certified in Emergency Medicine, Aerospace Medicine, and Occupational Medicine with substantial experience in operational assignments.
She is a native of Henryetta, OK, who received her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University in 2002 and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship program as a second lieutenant in the United States Army... READ MORE
Senior Enlisted Advisor, Department of Aviation Medicine
Master Sgt. Kathryn Asurmendi is a native of California and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2009. She attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, TX, becoming a Healthcare Specialist (68W). 1st Sgt. Asurmendi’s military education includes Master Leader Course (Honor Graduate), Senior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course (Commandant’s List), Basic Leader Course (Commandant’s List), Master Resilience Training Course, Unit Prevention ... READ MORE