The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research was selected as the winner of the 7th Annual Major Jonathan Letterman Award for Medical Excellence presented by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine Oct. 23 in Bethesda, Maryland. The award is named after Maj. Letterman who is known as the "father of battlefield medicine." According to the museum website, the annual award recognizes an individual and an organization for leading innovative efforts in civilian emergency care, combat casualty care, prosthetic technology, improving outcomes for patients with catastrophic injuries or leveraging today's cutting medical technology to develop new ways to assist military service members or civilians who have suffered severe disfiguring wounds.

"This award is a direct result of the remarkable staff at this Institute and the significant contributions made every day to optimizing combat casualty care," said Col. Michael D. Wirt, USAISR commander. "Our commanding general, Maj. Gen. Brian Lein, congratulates us for winning this award calling it 'a phenomenal recognition of the sacrifices and work done.'"

Representing the USAISR at the award ceremony were Col. Anthony Johnson, research task manager for Ocular Trauma; Maj. Stuart Tyner, acting director of the Combat Casualty Care Research Directorate; and David G. Baer, former director of the Combat Casualty Care Research Directorate.

"I was honored to represent the Institute at the awards ceremony," said Tyner. "The men and women of this organization have done more than anyone else to advance the care of combat wounded. I am humbled to be a small part of the USAISR and privileged to have the opportunity to advocate for the impact the USAISR has had on advancing battlefield trauma care."

Other organizational nominees were the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine; the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center; the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine; and the Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune Warrior Rehabilitation Team.