The United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) is the United States Air Force (USAF) organization focused on education, research, and operational consultation in aerospace and operational medicine . USAFSAM was founded in 1918 to conduct research into the medical and physiologic domains related to human flight , and as a school for medical officers trained to support military aviation operations, later coined as flight surgeons . The school supported early military aviation from World War I through the evolution of aviation and into the modern era. USAFSAM conducted medical research and provided medical support for the initial US space operations beginning in 1947 through the establishment of NASA in 1958. After the creation of NASA, USAFSAM continued to actively support civilian and military manned space missions through clinical and physiologic research. USAFSAM is one of the oldest continually operating school for flight surgeons and other operational medical personnel of its kind in the world. USAFSAM is located in Dayton, Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , and is part of the 711th Human Performance Wing (711 HPW) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
42-435: Ernsting is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: John Ernsting (1928–2009), British Royal Air Force commander Walter Ernsting (1920–2005), German writer See also [ edit ] Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (born 1974), German field hockey player 15265 Ernsting , a main-belt asteroid [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
84-578: A Radiobiological Laboratory was established at Austin, Texas as a joint venture between USAFSAM and the University of Texas which looked at the effects of ionizing radiation on living organisms and the prevention and treatment of radiation injury. They worked closely with the Atomic Energy Commission at Oak Ridge, Tennessee and their work resulted in many advances in knowledge important to this new field of study. In July 1952 Public Law 534
126-504: A modified Gemini capsule attached to a cylinder-shaped laboratory. The MOL missions were planned to be up to 30 days. The MOL never launched a space mission, but the USAFSAM MOL studies of man in space for extended periods of time in preparation for MOL missions were used by NASA in the operation of Skylab . And much of the work in space food , radiation studies, space cabin atmospheres, and pressure suits were adopted by NASA during
168-699: A new location at Mitchel Field , Long Island. Maj. Bauer established a permanent course of instruction for flight surgeons and the first regular class of 2-months duration was begun in May 1919. In February 1921 the War Department recognized The School for Flight Surgeons as a Special Service School, giving it equal status with the Medical Research Laboratory. On November 8, 1922, the Air Service Medical research Laboratory and School for Flight Surgeons
210-412: A result, on April 28, 1917, an Air Service Medical, Signal Corps, US Army was organized with General Theodore C. Lyster, Medical Corps, US Army, appointed to the newly created position of Chief Surgeon, Aviation Section, Signal Corps on September 6, 1917. One of the first observations made by General Lyster was the alarming mortality rate from aircraft accidents among flying cadets at training centers in
252-578: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles John Ernsting Air vice-marshal John "JE" Ernsting CB , OBE , FRCP , FRAeS (21 April 1928 – 2 June 2009) was a senior Royal Air Force (RAF) commander and renowned medical researcher. Ernsting was born in Woolwich , London on 21 April 1928, and educated at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School for Boys. From Guy's Hospital , he qualified in physiology in 1949 and in medicine in 1952. In 1954, Ernsting
294-873: Is provided for Physicians . And a six-month fellowship in Aerospace Medicine for International Officers is conducted each year. USAFSAM is host to the largest aeromedical library in the US – the Franzello Aeromedical Library. In 2010, 65 students from 46 countries attended courses at USAFSAM. USAFSAM provides consultative support to all USAF bases in the disciplines listed above fielding approximately 5000 requests and over 2.3M laboratory tests annually. USAFSAM Aeromedical Research Department conducts research in four key areas: The United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine began operations on January 19, 1918 at Hazelhurst Field , Mineola, Long Island as
336-806: Is provided for enlisted and officers in the disciplines of public health and preventive medicine , Bioenvironmental Engineering , aerospace physiology , aeromedical evacuation for nurses and enlisted medical technicians, flight and operational medicine , and critical care air transport team ( CCATT ) treatment. Advanced and refresher courses are provided in these same disciplines as well as pre-deployment critical care refresher training for surgeons , critical care nurses , respiratory therapists , emergency department physicians , anesthesiologists , and other primary care providers . A two-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited clinical residency in Aerospace Medicine
378-541: The Air Service Medical Research Laboratory under the leadership of Col. William H. Wilmer. The Hazelhurst Laboratory had a small decompression chamber and research was begun on human tolerance to lowered oxygen tension. The impetus for the creation of the lab was the entry of the United States into World War I on April 6, 1917 and the resulting increase in use of aircraft by military forces. As
420-618: The American Board of Preventive Medicine was authorized by the American Medical Association to establish aviation medicine as a specialty in the field of preventive medicine and to grant specialty certification in aviation medicine. On 10 May 1957, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of the New School of Aviation Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base , San Antonio, Texas Space medicine research began at
462-632: The Gemini and Apollo missions. The MOL program was canceled in 1969 to reduce defense spending. Both the military and civilian manned space programs resulted in major expansion of the research facilities and capabilities at the Brooks Aeromedical Center: The first Primary Course in Aviation Medicine was held at the new campus on Brooks AFB 11 August 1959. On 8 August 1961 the School name
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#1733085188266504-444: The surname Ernsting . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ernsting&oldid=732213008 " Categories : Surnames German-language surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description
546-599: The Altitude Division in 1977, he was first appointed Deputy Director of Research (1977–1985), then Director of Research (1985–1988), before becoming Commandant of the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine (1986–1992). However, between 1979 and 1980, Ernsting spent a sabbatical year at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine . He was Queen Elizabeth II 's honorary surgeon from 1989 to 1993. He retired as commandant of
588-645: The Aviation Medical Research Board was to direct construction of the Air Service Medical Research Laboratory at Hazelhurst Field on Long Island. The term Flight Surgeon was adopted by the Hazelhurst Laboratory on March 11, 1918 to identify those physicians devoting themselves to the health and well-being of the flyers. Just two months later the first three students graduated as Flight Surgeons and were ordered to
630-585: The Bath on 31 December 1991, on completion of his tenure as Commandant of the RAF Institute of Aviation. Ernsting received the Louis H. Bauer Award from the Aerospace Medical Association in 2002. In May 2008 Ernsting was awarded the title of honoris causa by PUCRS , Porto Alegre, Brazil in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the field of Aerospace Physiology. He was further honoured with
672-575: The IAM in December 1992 and from the RAF on 21 April 1993. On retiring from the RAF, Ernsting became a visiting professor at King's College London (KCL), where he taught a human and applied physiology Master of Science course. Later, KCL asked him to establish a research laboratory. He was active both in research and in training undergraduate and postgraduate students for 16 years. In addition to his position at KCL, he
714-448: The Irish writer, tells in one of his books how, as a boy, he and his friends would make their way across the countryside, and when they came to an orchard wall that seemed too high and too doubtful to try and too difficult to permit their voyage to continue, they took off their hats and tossed them over the wall--and then they had no choice but to follow them. This Nation has tossed its cap over
756-573: The Physics and Medicine of the Upper Atmosphere. The meeting was held in San Antonio Texas and the results of the symposium were published in a book entitled Physics and Medicine of the Upper Atmosphere with 21 chapters from 34 collaborating scientists. In October 1954 USAFSAM took delivery of a sealed cabin simulator for space research. The simulator modeled the inside of a space vehicle and
798-849: The School in 1947 conducted by Hubertus Strughold who was previously the Director of the Aeromedical Research Institute in Berlin from 1935 to 1945. And Heinz Haber , an Astrophysicist . Their work matured leading to the creation of the Department of Space Medicine within the School on 9 Feb 1949. In November 1951 USAFSAM, in collaboration with the Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research in Albuquerque, New Mexico, jointly organized and sponsored an international Symposium on
840-601: The School of Aviation Medicine and the Physiological Research Unit, Material Division, Wright Field , Dayton, Ohio. A division of focus was agreed upon between the two research units with the Material Division taking responsibility for the development of equipment, and the School focusing on personnel factors having to do with selection, classification, and maintenance of the flyer. With the onset of war in Europe
882-685: The School on 18 July 1946. He had previously established and served as Director of the Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright Field from 1935 through 1940, and then as Director of the Research Department at the School of Aviation Medicine (1941–1942) before serving as the Surgeon of the Air Division at the Office of Military Government for Germany in Berlin (1942–1946). On April 1, 1946, the School
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#1733085188266924-610: The U.S. and with the Allies in France. In the first year of flying in World War I the English and French found that 2% of aircraft accidents were due to combat, 8% were caused by mechanical problems, and 90% were due to human failure. Interest in reversing this trend led to the establishment of an Aviation Medical Research Board consisting of four Army Medical Corps officers to: The first action of
966-650: The USAF tasked with the military effort. In July 1958 the USAFSAM Department of Space Medicine was reorganized as the Division of Space Medicine with 4 Departments. Col Paul A. Campbell served as the first Chief of the Division of Space Medicine. The USAF focused on plans for a military space station, the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). The MOL was designed to be an earth-orbiting space station and would use
1008-657: The United States began mobilizing its forces in 1940 which resulted in an expansion of personnel and funding for the School. On January 20, 1942, a Research Department was formally established by the School Commandant Brig. Gen Eugen G. Reinartz MC with Maj. Harry G. Armstrong MC as the director. Included in this new research department were branches for physiology , psychology , psychiatry , biochemistry , biophysics , pharmacology , ophthalmology , clinical investigation, otolaryngology , pathology , statistics , physical education and dentistry . An Aeromedical Library
1050-712: The dedication of a research laboratory in his name, the John Ernsting Aerospace Physiology Laboratory, at the Microgravity Centre , PUCRS, coordinated by Professor Thais Russomano . He was married twice. He had two sons (one of whom predeceased him) and a daughter through his first marriage. He was survived by his second wife Joyce, née Heppell, whom he married in 1970. USAF School of Aerospace Medicine USAFSAM provides in-residence and distance learning courses graduating approximately 4000 students annually. Initial skills training
1092-575: The education activities were temporarily placed at Gunter Air Force Base , Montgomery, Alabama. The headquarters for the School remained at Randolph Air Force Base along with the Research Department and the Primary and Advanced Courses in Aviation Medicine, while the Flight Nurse Course, Physiological Training Officers Course, and all enlisted courses were transferred to the 3882nd School Group, Gunter Branch-School of Aviation Medicine. In March 1950
1134-473: The fatalities among aviators, with only 24.8% due to combat and only 0.6% to disease. In response the Air Service Medical Research Laboratory deployed 34 officers and 13 enlisted men to Issoudun, France . There they found the physical and mental health of the pilots in poor condition. The team from the Research Laboratory employed lessons learned from their work in the laboratory and by October 1918 there
1176-448: The field for duty. Capt. Robert J. Hunter arrived at his station first on May 8, 1918 and is considered the first flight surgeon. Major William R. Ream was the first Flight Surgeon killed on duty in an aviation accident on August 23, 1918. In early August 1918, General John J. Pershing identified a need for medical assistance in France. There were approximately 3,000 American flyers in France and aircraft accidents accounted for 74.6% of
1218-698: The other side. In 1996 a new School-house on Brooks Air Force Base was completed (building 775). In 2005 the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission ( BRAC ) commission ordered the removal of the Air Force mission from Brooks City Base and the activation of the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. The new wing combined the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate with USAFSAM, and
1260-410: The wall of space, and we have no choice but to follow it. Whatever the difficulties, they will be overcome. Whatever the hazards, they must be guarded against. With the vital help of this Aerospace Medical Center, with the help of all those who labor in the space endeavor, with the help and support of all Americans, we will climb this wall with safety and with speed-and we shall then explore the wonders on
1302-595: Was a marked improvement in health and morale among aircrew and a reduction in the aircraft accident rate. After the redeployment of the Laboratory following the Armistice , most of the laboratory staff were reassigned or returned to civilian life and in January 1919 Maj Louis H. Bauer replaced Colonel Wilmer as the Director of the Laboratory under a new name, The Medical Research Laboratory and School for Flight Surgeons and at
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1344-718: Was a visiting professor at Imperial College, London . In 1998, Ernsting was appointed Head of the Human Physiology and Aerospace Medicine Group of the Guy's, King's and St Thomas's School of Biomedical Sciences. He was the Honorary Civil Consultant in Aviation Medicine to the Royal Air Force. He was also an aeromedical adviser to BAE Systems , and a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association . Ernsting
1386-621: Was an international ambassador for aviation medicine. He was President of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine from 1995 to 1997. On 1 January 1958, the then Acting Squadron Leader Ernsting, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his work in connection with the Lightning and Canberra aircraft. He was appointed Companion of the Order of
1428-454: Was built to study humans in a closed ecological system at simulated heights of 80,000 feet and above. Experiments were conducted in the simulator beginning in January 1956 leading to Airman Donald F. Farrell remaining enclosed in the simulator for 7 continuous days in February 1958. Following the launch of Sputnik in 1957, the U.S. pursued both civilian and military manned space programs with
1470-450: Was changed to The School of Aerospace Medicine . On 21 November 1963, President John F. Kennedy dedicated the new school complex at Brooks Air Force Base , Texas the day before he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. This was Kennedy's last official act as president and the location of his famous cap over the wall speech inviting the nation to embrace space exploration. Frank O'Connor,
1512-768: Was commissioned by the Surgeon General to formulate plans for an Aeromedical Center. The findings and recommendations of the Board were released in September 1949 as the Report of the Aeromedical Planning Board on an Aeromedical Center and were the basis for the School complex constructed later at Brooks Field , San Antonio, Texas. By 1950 the School had outgrown its space on Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas so portions of
1554-550: Was commissioned into the RAF Medical Branch , where he spent his entire military service. While working in the Altitude Division of the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine , he worked on Partial-pressure suit assemblies. He was head of this division for twenty years from 1957 to 1977. However, the RAF never issued a partial-pressure suit, preferring instead to use anti-g trousers in conjunction with pressure jerkins . He
1596-502: Was designated as The School of Aviation Medicine . Maj. Francis H. Poole succeeded Major Bauer as the Commandant of the School of Aviation Medicine in 1925. In August 1926 the School was moved to Brooks Field , San Antonio, Texas. Just five years later it was moved across town to Randolph Field in October 1931. In 1934 it was recognized that there was overlap in research topics between
1638-512: Was newly established to support this research effort. The new research building on Randolph Field was officially opened on April 2, 1943. In January 1943, the Army Air Corps School of Air Evacuation was transferred to the School of Aviation Medicine from Bowman Field , Kentucky, linking the training of flight nurses with aeromedical education and research. After the war Colonel (Maj Gen) Harry G. Armstrong took over as Commandant of
1680-485: Was passed by the 82nd Congress which authorized $ 8,000,000 for construction of facilities (The Aeromedical Center) for the School of Aviation Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. On 24 October 1952, the mission of the School was expanded from education and research to include consultation with the establishment of the Aeromedical Consult Service. Another milestone was achieved on 8 February 1953 when
1722-683: Was the aeromedical project officer for the development of the United Kingdom's versions of the Phantom , F-111 , and Hercules . He later became chairman of the aeromedical and life support system working parties for the Tornado and Typhoon . In 1971 he became the RAF Consultant Adviser in Aviation Medicine, a position he held until 1990. Between 1990 and 1993 he served as Dean of Air Force Medicine, then as Senior Consultant (RAF). Upon leaving
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1764-554: Was transferred from the Air Training Command to Air University Command and became the graduate medical department of the Air University, the educational and doctrinal center of the Air Force. In August 1946, Colonel (Maj Gen) Armstrong formally proposed the establishment of an Aeromedical Center to provide for the teaching, research, and clinical practice of aviation medicine. On June 21, 1949, an Aeromedical Planning Board
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