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Show 8 TIME H HILLTOP TIMES S Feb. 2, 2012 2012 AFCEA Wasatch Chapter grants STEM Teaching Tools money to Roy High BY ED DROLLETTE AFCEA Wasatch Chapter R oy High School and its biology teacher Alan Jacobs were the recipients of the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Wasatch Chapter Educational Foundation's Science Teaching Tools Grant Program for academic year 20101011. The grants are supported in part by generous contributions from Booz Allen Hamilton. On Jan. 26, Dr. Tim Martin, AFCEA Wasatch Chapter president, and Security and Facilities Division chief, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) Ogden, presented the $1,000 grant to Jacobs, who is also a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) faculty member at Roy High. Jacobs is responsible for running its unique Aquaculture Program. Gina Butters, Roy High School principal, officiated at the formal presentation of the grant award. The formal presentation in the high school classroom and commons area was well attended by nearly 40 technology students. Ed Drollette, AFCEA Wasatch Chapter vice president of Scholarship and Grant Programs, and DISA DECC Ogden branch chief, explained to the students in Jacobs biology class the purpose of AFCEA and the AFCEA Educational Foundation STEM Program. Its goal is to promote effective science teaching and to enhance the abilities of capable STEM teachers in schools worldwide. Every year AFCEA provides $1,000 grants through 144 AFCEA chapters worldwide to worthy and deserving programs that augment STEM activities in the classroom. Martin expressed his appreciation for Jacobs and the types of STEM experiences he is providing at Roy High which expose students to the wonders of science and how technology plays a pivotal role enabling wonderful outcomes in the lives of people and other species that inhabit the earth. Martin also spoke about the importance of young people getting involved in STEM programs at an early age in order to be a part of the technology revolution that is going on today, and how they will influence the outcomes of tomorrow. Roy High was selected from among 14 high schools and four private schools across Box Elder, Weber, and Davis counties. The board selected Jacobs after researching and cornparing multiple evaluating factors including program performance, demographics, financial need and the potential of a teacher's skills in using the funds well to support his program and students. Jacobs graciously accepted this generous donation on behalf of Roy High and the STEM program and explained the funds would go to good use covering the cost of upgrading the school's hydroponic recirculating grow systems. This simulates the way in which rivers and lakes work in the natural world, and reduces SENIOR AIRMAN MELISSA DEARSTONE Dr. Tim Martin (right), AFCEA Wasatch Chapter president, presents Roy High School biology teacher Alan Jacobs with the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association Wasatch Chapter Educational Foundation's Science Teaching Tools Grant on Jan. 26. The grant was for $1,000 and is presented annually to a deserving teacher who is part of a science, technology, engineering and math program. the need for chemicals, artificial filters and the use of electricity. Humidity and temperature have been problematic. The grant funds will be used to purchase greater technology, ABS hydroponic trays, and drastically improve the grow systems. This project is a perfect example of how technology is used to advance the management of critical ecosystems while reducing the energy costs to do so. Jacobs explained this donation would directly benefit many young technology students over the next several years and would aid tremendously in helping these same students choose a STEM career. Butters and Jacobs closed the ceremony by acknowledging the American Forces Press Service W ASHINGTON — The $50 billion military health system will plan for its future by slowing the growth rate of health care costs, strengthening partnerships and focusing on prevention, primary care and chronic disease management, the Defense Department's top health official said Jan. 31. Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and director of the TriCare Management Activity, addressed some of the 3,000 attendees at the 2012 Military Health System Conference in Washington, D.C. The military health system includes more than 133,000 military and civilian doctors, nurses, medical educators, researchers, health care providers, allied health professionals and health administration personnel around the world. "The federal government, the Department of Defense and the military health system are at an inflection point," Woodson said. "We must begin to plan for how our system will operate in the long term." In the background of everything that will be discussed at the conference, the vascular surgeon said, is the question of resources and prioritization. Slowing the growth rate of health care costs, Woodson added, "will require a new commitment to collaboration among the services, where joint interests exist to reduce redundancy and waste." The military health system, he said, will expand partnerships and implement major initiatives addressing patientcentered medical homes, tobacco and obesity reduction, patient safety improvements and system-wide innovation. A patient-centered medical home is a teambased way to care for a patient led by a personal physician who provides coordinated care throughout the patient's life, Woodson explained. "We are in the second full year of implementing the patient-centered medical home," he said. "The early returns, with 2 million beneficiaries enrolled in medical homes, are very encouraging." Fully functional medical homes are improving the delivery of preventive services, reducing inappropriate emergency room use and hospitalizations, and improving patient care experiences, he added. Woodson said he will announce a new multiyear program this year to help service members deal with tobacco use and obesity. "Our service members are using tobacco and tobacco products at a much higher rate than their peers in the civilian sector," he said, and entry-level service members and retirees tend to develop weight problems. "We have the legal, statutory, moral and financial responsibility for care of retirees," Woodson said, "and we must ensure that they maintain their health." This month, Woodson said, he will announce the implementation of a new comprehensive safety model for the military health system, establishing a performance model that is the best in the country. "We have already shown on the battlefield that we have the ability to rapidly process information, understand best practices and disseminate them into the worldwide medical community," he said. "We need to do the same in patient safety practices." Innovation is not a new concept in the Defense Department or in the military health systern, Woodson said, "but we've got to undertake the process of innovation in a more strategic manner." To that end, he added, "I've tasked our innovation team with responsibility for finalizing and disseminating the knowledge sharing systern within the military health system, open to the entire community and easily accessible so we can communicate across the enterprise and across silos." Providing better care at reduced costs with improved outcomes and a focus on prevention, primary care and chronic disease management is not the role of doctors, nurses and pharmacists alone, Woodson said, but requires the work of the entire military community. "We have engaged Gallup and Healthways to look at measures of overall community wellness and their insights into how communities can change behaviors," he said. "We will move from health care to health by involving a larger set of partners." Strengthening partnerships is one way the military health system is preparing for the future. "With the Department of Veterans Affairs, we have one overarching committee called the Joint Executive Cornmittee," said Jo Ann Rooney, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. "That's where we address the large issues facing us between the two departments," she added, "not only involving health care, but also how we continue to support service members and their families." One issue involves facilities, Rooney said, in determining "how the Defense Department can best use its resources and dollars to jointly develop facilities that take us into the future focused on the idea of health as well as health care." Other issues include how to streamline disability and evaluation processes and how to See HEALTH I page 10 www.accucolor.biz 801.779.2420 4111111111111110' BOUTIQUE up Mow, Oct j free up Military health system works to slow cost growth BY CHERYL PELLERIN kind donation and the wonderful relationship the local community shares with members of AFCEA, Team Hill, and their leadership. Military Personnel & their families get 20% Off anytime! Must present coupon to receive discount. Discount does not apply to any other specials or coupons. 293 S. State Street, Clearfield Ut • 801-525-158 blackvelvelboulique.com Public Comment Opportunity Feb 2 - Mar 5, 2012 The Air Force is accepting comments from the public on an Environmental Assessment (EA) completed for the possible future construction of a rail spur. The spur will connect the main rail line at Lakeside, Utah to the missile storage area on the North Range of the Air Force's Utah Test and Training Range. The spur will provide rail access to allow transfer of missile motors to the storage area. A transfer station would also be constructed. The EA was prepared to analyze and document potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed construction project. Based on the results of the EA, the proposed project would not have significant adverse effects on the human environment or any of the environmental resources described in the EA. The Air Force, therefore, proposes a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed project and has determined an Environmental Impact Statement is unnecessary. Public comments will be accepted through March 5, 2012. To obtain a copy of the EA or to submit comments on the document, please contact: Sam Johnson 75 CEG/CEVP 7274 Wardleigh Rd., Hill AFB, UT 84056-5137 (801) 775-3653 " Sam.Johnson@hill.af.mil Come to Liberty Tax, let us do your taxes and we'll hand you $50 cash. Glibertytax libertytax With paid lax preparation. 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