55th MDG member wins federal level award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Danielle Jinkens
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  A 55th Medical Group member was announced earlier this month as the winner of a federal level nursing award for her work as a healthcare clinical nurse.

Robbin Alex, 55th MDG chief of quality services, was named the federal nurse of the year by the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States at their annual convention and dinner in San Antonio, Texas Nov. 9.

"It is an honor to have been selected as the AMSUS federal nurse of the year," Alex said. "It is validation for all the long hours and education you have endured to help others when they need you most."

AMSUS is a national association of medical practitioners and technicians from all federal health agencies. Organized in 1891 and chartered by Congress in 1903 to advance the knowledge of healthcare within the federal agencies and to increase the effectiveness of its members, the association is dedicated to all aspects of federal medicine - professional, scientific, educational and administrative.

"It is particularly meaningful to receive this recognition from AMSUS with its focused dedication to the advancement of federal nursing and healthcare," Alex said. "There is nothing more gratifying than recognition from your peers and colleagues for a job well done. It is an even greater honor to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of the past honorees whom have made important contributions to federal nursing."

Every year, the association presents more than 20 awards to medical personnel from throughout the federal government, encompassing categories from dentistry to medical logistics to research and development. Most of the awards are based on nominations from association members and are awarded to those with proven excellence in the individual's field.

"Ms. Alex is an exceptional member of the 55th MDG and we are very fortunate to have her on staff," said Col. Patrick Dawson, 55th MDG commander. "She exudes our Air Force core values in every way and is a model civilian employee at the 55th MDG."

As the chief of quality services for the 55th MDG, Alex is directly responsible for the group's entire health services compliance inspection program.

As such, she will lead the 55th MDG through a Health Services Inspection by Air Force Inspection Agency and an Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care inspection and accreditation survey next summer.

"Both of these detail-oriented compliance inspections will commence next summer. "As the lead for compliance with (these inspections), she is responsible in directing, leading, and preparing staff through rigorous line-by-line reviews of over 4,500 inspection criteria including 14 critical focus elements," Dawson said. "Having Ms. Alex head this very challenging and complex compliance inspection process speaks very well of her expertise, talents, and tremendous clinical leadership at the 55th MDG."

Major (retired) Ernest Fry, previous acting chief nurse for the 55th MDG, nominated Alex for the nursing award and said no one is more deserving than her.

"Robbin Alex is our number one healthcare clinician," Fry said. "She is dedicated, soundly credentialed and diversely experienced as an advanced practice registered nurse clinical nurse specialist with over 23 years of experience. Her comprehensive background in health care quality, risk management, patient safety, process improvement and accreditation programs is readily evidenced in her exceptional leadership and teaching or mentoring abilities."

AMSUS is currently made up of nearly 8,000 members who represent all healthcare disciplines and serve in the active and reserve components of all the uniformed services as well as the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.