72nd MDG wins 21 AFMC awards Published Dec. 3, 2010 By Nicole Turner Staff Writer TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command/Surgeon General released the 2010 annual award winners, and the Tinker 72nd Medical Group professionals showed their outstanding talents, bringing in 21 total awards. The 72nd MDG won six team and 15 individual awards, which were announced Nov. 18. Col. Robert Marks, 72nd MDG commander, said he is very proud of each recipient. "This is a big deal," Colonel Marks said. "For the individual it is a culmination of their talents and career, and for the clinic it just validates that they do an amazing job. This is a great opportunity for us to recognize that." One of the team awards received was the Outstanding Clinical Lab. Master Sgt. Carol Gimenez, chief of diagnostic therapeutics flight in the 72nd Medical Support Squadron, is a member of the winning lab team. "Everybody here works so hard and it is nice to get that recognition for all of us," Sergeant Gimenez said. The team awards were a great achievement for the Medical Group, and individual stars shined just as bright. Tech Sgt. Stephanie Branscomb, non-commissioned officer in charge of community health in the 72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, won the United States Air Force Colonel Cleveland L. Parker NOC Award. Sergeant Branscomb said she was honored and excited to receive the award. "When they announced it, I didn't even realize it was me," she said. "I was very surprised." Colonel Marks was not surprised about the high number of awards, though. He said the employees are what make the Medical Group so successful. "In the end, what makes this mission happen isn't me, it's them," he said. "We are fortunate to have such a large number of professionals who are ready, willing and able to take care of the needs of other people." The following is a list of all team and individual awards won: · Outstanding Medical Clinic · Best Large Dental Clinic · Outstanding Clinical Lab (multiple repeat winner) · Outstanding Pharmacy · Outstanding Resource Management Team · Outstanding Health and Wellness Center · USAF Clinical Excellence Field Grade Awards: Maj. Angela Albrecht · USAF Surgical Excellence Award: Maj. Loyal Stierlen · Ambulatory Nurse of the Year: Capt. Terri Chapin · Nurse Practitioner of the Year: Maj. Amy Quirke · Brigadier General Sarah P. Wells Outstanding SNCO Award: Master Sgt. Kimberly Knight · Civilian Nurse of the Year: Rhonda Rodden-Graham · USAF Colonel Floyd M. Morris FGO Optometrist of the Year: Maj. Neil M. Horner · USAF Colonel Donald D. Dunton Ophthalmic Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Aimee Delos Santos · USAF Civilian Pharmacy Technician of the Year: Anna Barrios · USAF Public Health Officer of the Year: Captain Amanda Huston · USAF Colonel Cleveland L. Parker NCO Award: Tech Sgt. Stephanie Branscomb · Outstanding Medical Materiel SNCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Timothy Megenhardt · Surgeon General's Medical Info Services Award Airman of the Year: Airman 1st Class Brandon Hibner · Outstanding Health Plan Management NCO of the Year: Tech Sgt. Elizandro Rucoba · Olson/Wegner Outstanding Aerospace Medicine SNCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Vicki Moore