Young AFCEANs Host Defense and Military Health Panel

The chapter presented a detailed discussion before a sold-out crowd on defense and military health initiatives within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense Health Agency and Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office. The event was held in April at Northrop Grumman in McLean, Virginia, and hosted by the chapter's Young AFCEANS. Leaders from each government agency discussed their defense and military health goals and gave attendees a peek at what's on the horizon. They told industry that the government was looking for its help with mobile, infrastructure and cybersecurity. Panelists discussed how mobile health is an emerging growth area for the Defense Department and VA. Alan Constantian, Ph.D., assistant deputy chief information officer for product management, Department of Veterans Affairs, warned the audience that security challenges may arise “if we don't provide convenient solutions and tools.” Chris Miller, program executive officer, Defense Healthcare Management Systems Modernization (DHMSM) and Integrated Electronic Health Records, said the Defense Department's priorities are twofold: interoperability with the VA and the health sector, and modernizing electronic health records. Miller added that the future of Defense health is all about innovation. The health panel featured a question-and-answer session. Speakers included Michael Krieger, deputy Army chief information officer; David Bowen, director, Health Information Technology Directorate, Defense Health Agency, and chief information officer for the Military Health System; Constantian; and Miller.

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