Relevance through medical adaptation: AFMEDCOM commander visits AFSOC mil-civ partnership at UAB Hospital
DVIDS
Last updated: July 22, 2026
Special Operations Medicine (SOM) demands highly specialized medical skills in extreme conditions. To ensure effective training for these medics, the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has established a crucial Military-Civilian Partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
- Lt. Gen. John J. DeGoes, U.S. Air Force Surgeon General and Air Force Medical Command commander, alongside Chief Master Sgt. James M. Woods, visited the UAB Hospital on June 17, 2026, to observe this partnership. The visit highlighted the critical importance of this collaboration in preparing Special Operations Forces (SOF) medics for the unique challenges they face. These challenges include operating in remote, austere, and hostile environments. The partnership aims to equip SOF medics with the necessary lifesaving skills and resilience required for high-pressure situations. This strategic alliance between military medical forces and a leading civilian medical institution like UAB is vital for maintaining the highest standards of care and operational readiness for SOF personnel.
