WarDocs - The Military Medicine Podcast
Health & Fitness:Medicine
There's no doubt that military spouses and families are the unsung heroes of our nation's military community. As Host Doug Soderdahl and Guest Host Kim Causey sat down with Sue Clark and Melinda Stackle, their strength and resilience became evident. These incredible women, married to retired Major General Jeff Clark and Colonel Mark Stackle, respectively, share their unique experiences and challenges in navigating the demanding lifestyle of being a military medical spouse. In our conversation, we explore the unique challenges, sacrifices, and strength of the families of military medical providers, as they navigate the demanding lifestyle of traveling away from relatives and adapting to new military customs and traditions.
We were fascinated to hear how Sue and Melinda managed their households and coped with the uncertainties of their spouses' deployments which can be particularly challenging for all military spouses and families. Their stories emphasized the importance of having strong support systems and learning from senior military spouses. They also shared strategies for coping with deployments and reintegration, offering a rare glimpse into the realities of military family life.
In this heartfelt discussion, we also explore ways to better support military spouses and families, such as intentionally educating them on resources and strengthening their buy-in to military life. We were inspired by the Oak Leaf Club at Walter Reed, which serves as an excellent example of how auxiliaries and organizations can provide similar programs. Ultimately, this episode is a celebration of military medical spouses and their immense significance in caring for our nation's warriors and supporting the cause of freedom.
Chapters:
(0:00:00) - Military Medical Spouses
(0:16:23) - Challenges of Military Spouses During Deployments
(0:22:01) - Coping With Deployments and Reintegration
(0:28:31) - Supporting Military Spouses and Families
(0:42:55) - Challenges and Opportunities for Military Spouses
Chapter Summaries:
(0:00:00) - Military Medical Spouses (16 Minutes)
We honor military medical spouses by learning about the unique challenges, sacrifices, and indomitable strength of those married to military medical providers. We hear from Sue Clark and Melinda Stackle, both military medical spouses of many years, who share their personal stories of how they and their spouses met and the most difficult assignments they had. We explore how the transition from clinical practice to operational command can be a significant challenge, creating a demanding lifestyle of traveling away from family and making it difficult to identify with the military side of life.
(0:16:23) - Challenges of Military Spouses During Deployments (6 Minutes)
We hear directly from military medical spouses on the unique challenges and sacrifices they face when their spouse is deployed. We learn how they must manage the house and family while the spouse is away, and how communication has changed over the years. We also discuss the need to put systems in place to prepare for the deployment and how to cope with the unknowns of the situation.
(0:22:01) - Coping With Deployments and Reintegration (6 Minutes)
We understand the unique challenges that come with deployments, including reintegration when a spouse returns home. We explore strategies for coping, and the importance of finding a good support group. We hear directly from service members and spouses on how to best manage the challenges of deployments, and how to reintegrate when a spouse returns home. We discuss the difficulties faced when communicating with family while deployed, and the importance of talking to each other and taking things slowly as part of the reintegration process.
(0:28:31) - Supporting Military Spouses and Families (14 Minutes)
We discuss how military spouses can better support each other and their families. We explore ways to strengthen the buy-in of spouses into the military life, such as taking advantage of educational opportunities provided by the military and making connections with other spouses in their service member's unit. We also consider how military medical centers can intentionally educate and empower spouses on what life in the military looks like and how to access resources when needed. Lastly, we look to the success of the Oak Leaf Club at Walter Reed to encourage other auxiliaries and organizations to provide similar programs.
(0:42:55) - Challenges and Opportunities for Military Spouses (10 Minutes)
We consider the impact of gender roles on military medical spouses and the evolution of male and female roles within the military over the years. We talk to spouses directly about the unique challenges they face and the role of social media in helping them find jobs. We also learn about Guest Host Kim Causey's journey with her career and how the choice to stay at home with their baby has benefited their family. Lastly, we explore ways to strengthen the buy-in of spouses into the military community to ensure they are supported.
Take Home Messages:
Episode Keywords:
Military Medical Spouses, Military Medical Families, Unsung Heroes, Deployments, Reintegration, Support Systems, Oak Leaf Club, Walter Reed, Social Media, Career Choices, Buy-In, Sacrifices, Uncertainties, Strengthening, Educating, Empowering
Hashtags:
#wardocs #military #medicine #podcast #MilMed #MedEd #MilitaryMedicalSpouses #MilitarySpouses #UnsungHeroes #MilitaryLife #MilitaryFamilies #DeploymentChallenges #ResilientSpouses #MilitaryFamilySupport #DeploymentCopingStrategies #MilitarySpouseEducation #BehindEverySoldier #SilentWarriors
Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine
The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.
Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/
Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes
Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm
WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you.
WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.
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Col (Ret) Donald Jenkins, MD – Air Force Trauma Surgeon leading the way with the Joint Trauma System and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Trauma.
LTG(R) Ronald Blanck, DO – From Vietnam Battalion Surgeon to Surgeon General of The US Army
CAPT (R) James Cole, MD- Trauma Surgeon serves with Seal Team 6 in Iraq and as Marine Expeditionary Surgeon in Iraq and Afghanistan
COL Jeremy Pamplin, MD- Understanding How Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Augment Battlefield and Rural Medicine
COL (R) Sean Keenan, MD- Special Operations Doc: Training and Execution of Tactical Combat Casualty Care at the Point of Injury
MAJ (R) Bill Vasios, MPAS, APA-C - Special Operations Enlisted to Officer: Developing Ultrasound and Telemedicine for the Battlefield
Sergeant Rob Jones, USMC(Ret): SURVIVE-RECOVER-LIVE-A Wounded Warrior with Bilateral Above-Knee Amputations Reflects on his Journey From Injury to Recovery
COL(R) Charles R. Scoville, DPT- Applying Lessons Learned in War to Improve Amputee Care
LTC (Ret) Jim Reed, CRNA- Special Operations Nurse Anesthetist and Veteran Suicide Prevention Advocate
COL Kirby Gross, MD- Insights and Perspectives on the Deployed Trauma System From an Innovative and Humble Leader.
COL Kirby Gross, MD- 48-year-old General Surgeon calls an Army recruiter the day after the 9/11 attacks and becomes an Expert Expeditionary Trauma Surgeon
COL (Dr.) David Doman- Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgeon Supporting Special Operations
Military Medical Veterans and Volunteers- Making a Difference in Ukraine with the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group (GSMSG)
Major General (Ret) Richard A. Stone, MD- Transformational Leadership Providing Population Health Improvement within the Military Health System and the Veterans Health Administration.
CSM (Ret) Althea Green, Ph.D.- Army Medicine’s Most Senior Combat Medic Now Shapes Military Medicine through the Enlisted to Medical Degree Program
Major General (R) Elder Granger, MD- Leading a Multi-National Battlefield Health System in Iraq and Executing a $20+ Billion Worldwide Defense Health Program
CAPT(Ret) Peter Rhee, MD, MPH- Navy Trauma Surgeon Leading Innovation in Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Training, and Unit Design
COL Ramey Wilson, MD, MPH- Special Operations Command Surgeon: Understanding the Big Picture of Medical Support for Unconventional Missions
MG(R) Richard W. Thomas, MD, DDS- Surgeon, Soldier, Educator, Leader- Shaping the Future of Military Medicine
MG(R) George Weightman, MD- Commander, Command Surgeon- Optimizing Medical Support to Combat Units Across the Globe
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