341st MDG Airmen receive Air Force awards
By Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves, 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
/ Published February 23, 2017
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Two Airmen from Malmstrom Air Force Base recently received Air Force-level awards in the medical career field.
Senior Airman Kaitlyn Callahan, 341st Medical Operations Squadron physical medicine technician, received the U.S. Air Force Physical Medicine Airman of the Year award.
“I help plan, coordinate, evaluate and provide patients with their physical medicine care plan, as well as maintain standards of care and uphold our clinic’s trusted care and ethical conduct practices,” said Callahan. “I train the patient in exercises and activities of daily living to help rehabilitate them so they regain functional movement and full range of motion.”
Callahan grew up in a military family but considers herself a native of San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated high school.
Once she joined the Air Force and graduated basic military training, Callahan moved on to technical school.
She said she faced adversity while in technical school.
“Winning this award is a huge accomplishment for me,” said Callahan. “I struggled in technical school and I definitely was not at the top of my class. It was the first time I had taken an anatomy or physiology class and I had to work really hard to graduate with my peers.”
Callahan is not the only junior enlisted Airman in the 341st Medical Group to receive an Air Force award this year.
Senior Airman Cody Best, 341st MDOS family health clinic office manager, received the U.S. Air Force Enlisted Health Services Management Airman of the Year award.
“I feel that my job contributes to the mission because I help patients get the care they need through the family health clinic,” said Best, originally from Eugene, Oregon. “I assist with booking 2,500 available appointments on a weekly basis.”
Best also acts as the alternate group practice manager, which means he helps maintain the medical clinic when needed.
“I (along with 1st Lt. Nathanael Welsh) ensure the clinic is up to the standards given to us,” said Best. “We manage 21 different providers and 14 office managers throughout the group. This ensures the medical group provides proper care for our patients, whether they are seen in optometry, physical therapy, mental health or any other clinic.
“Being able to provide patients with proper care allows them to carry out the mission of nuclear surety and deterrence,” he continued.
“Winning this Air Force-level award means I can hold my head up high and take pride in the work I do every day,” said Best. “It means that the sky isn't the limit because I can always learn something new, improve and be better than I was.”
Callahan said she has a similar mission in physical therapy.
“We ensure patients are capable of doing their job safely and efficiently by helping to rehabilitate injured patients,” said Callahan. “Many of our patients are missileers, security forces members and other Airmen who work directly with the nuclear mission. We make sure they are mission ready.”
Callahan and Best are part of a much larger team at the 341st MDG which, as a whole, supports the success of the nuclear deterrence mission.
However, according to Best, medical Airmen not only support the mission but also support each other as peers.
“I think what set me up for success was my competitiveness, drive to succeed and the support I received from my family and team,” said Best. “I want to do well in my career and I couldn't do that without the people I have in my corner who coached and supported me.”
Callahan also said she was supported by leaders and peers along the way.
“I have been blessed with amazing leadership,” said Callahan. “They have trusted me and allowed me to be self-empowered. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I do my best every day, give my patients my all and truly care. I have overcome a lot of obstacles to make it where I am today and I am proud to have received this award.”