Special ceremony marks NMHM transition from USAMRMC to DHA

By Paul Bello, National Museum of Health and Medicine

SILVER SPRING, Md. - The National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM) hosted a special ceremony Aug. 28, 2015 officially recognizing its transition from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) to the Defense Health Agency (DHA).

NMHM, a Department of Defense museum founded in 1862 as the Army Medical Museum, is now an element of the DHA's Research, Development and Acquisitions Directorate (RDA). This component of DHA is responsible for advancing research across all military medical service platforms, in addition to improving standards of care for beneficiaries of the military's healthcare system.

Dr. Adrianne Noe, NMHM director, addressed those gathered by first acknowledging NMHM's recent Anatomy of Sports program, which was held on Aug. 22. Athletes from several military services and backgrounds paired with medical illustrators and physical therapists to become object lessons in an anatomical teaching, she said.

"They were exposing young kids to the values and rewards of athletic discipline and to the opportunities that exist in research and in healing. That's something this museum takes great pride in," Noe continued. "This museum was also founded with a national purpose, which is to assemble and study specimens, as well as improve the care of the wounded. Our research alignment with DHA gets us ever closer to that aspiration. We've become the story of military medicine and we are an engine of its progress."

She continued by thanking members of USAMRMC for their help and support over the years, including U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian C. Lein, commanding general, USAMRMC and Fort Detrick. With such a strong partnership, the museum was able to spread its wings to become part of military medical research in a way that perpetuates and strengthens what is unique about NMHM, according to Noe.

"While I'm sad personally, I'm happy professionally by elevating this museum. This is a change for the better," Lein said during his remarks. "Elevating this national, historic landmark up to a DoD level and at an appropriate level to the Defense Health Agency will bring this museum to even further heights. But, please know you will always have an open door at USAMRMC, and you will always have a mission."

Lein said NMHM possesses an extensive, centuries-old collection of millions of objects that could never be replicated. He noted contributions in trauma, infectious and vector-borne diseases, adding that "this museum is predicated on identifying the best of the best and doing research in areas we don't know anything about for the benefit of our service members."

He later gave special thanks to Noe, her staff and all NMHM volunteers who have devoted their time and passion to making the museum a success. As a gesture of gratitude in return and on behalf of NMHM, Noe presented Lein a scrapbook comprised of photographs from recent NMHM programs.

After moving to Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2011 from the campus of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center, NMHM has continued to grow its exhibitions, education programs and collections. New acquisitions have come to NMHM from across a broad array of DoD, Army, Navy and Air Force medical agencies in areas such as regenerative medicine, infectious disease and medical evacuation. Public programs at NMHM also often feature researchers, program managers and clinicians of all types who reflect on their experiences while sharing with the public valuable information about military medicine. To learn more about NMHM, visit www.medicalmuseum.mil.

	Caption: MG Brian C. Lein, Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and Fort Detrick, speaks during a ceremony held on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 to acknowledge the transition of the National Museum of Health and Medicine from USAMRMC to the Defense Health Agency on Aug. 23, 2015. (Disclosure: This image has been cropped to emphasize the subject.) (National Museum of Health and Medicine photo by Matthew Breitbart / Released)
	Caption: MG Brian C. Lein, Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and Fort Detrick (right), stands with Beth Eubanks, registrar, National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM), and Alan Hawk, NMHM historical collections manager, following a ceremony held on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 to acknowledge the transition of NMHM from USAMRMC to the Defense Health Agency on Aug. 23, 2015. (Disclosure: This image has been cropped to emphasize the subject.) (National Museum of Health and Medicine photo by Matthew Breitbart / Released)
	Caption: MG Brian C. Lein, Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and Fort Detrick (right), speaks with Tim Clarke, Jr., deputy director, National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM), after a ceremony held on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 to acknowledge the transition of the NMHM from USAMRMC to the Defense Health Agency on Aug. 23, 2015. (Disclosure: This image has been cropped to emphasize the subject.) (National Museum of Health and Medicine photo by Matthew Breitbart / Released)