High quality care from those who care

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Austin Duran
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Laughlin's nurses and medical technicians ensure Team XL is healthy and able to complete its mission, and May 6 through 12 is the National Nurses and Technician Week, a week dedicated to honor these same professionals.

Senior Airman Daniel Lee, 47th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, supports family, pediatrics and flight medicine by administrating immunizations. He also supervises and mentors fellow airmen in his shop and has helped immunize more than 1,600 people in the last six months.

"I enjoy working with all the different people," said Lee. "Everyone needs immunizations, so I have the opportunity to interact with everyone."

Lee administers deployment specific immunizations, such as typhoid fever or small pox, to ensure that each person is immune and ready for their deployment. Different environments require different immunity precautions. In addition to his primary duties, Lee is often called upon to do other medical services, such as inserting chest tubes and giving intravenous fluids.

Tech. Sgt. Jaimy Gennero, 47th MDOS chief of flight medicine, is a medical technician with almost 16 years of experience. She comes from a long line of military service and joined the medical service corps in order to help people. Her field taught her many lessons about people and helped her prepare to be a better NCO.

"I've worked hard as an airman," said Gennero. "Caring for nearly 20 patients a shift really pushed me and engrained my skill which I now pass on to the other airmen on my team"."

Gennero oversees the flight medical operations here. She is the head medical qualifier for the personnel reliability program and issues medical clearances for pilot qualification, security clearances, survival evasion resistance and escape, and medical waivers.

"I love my job here, and I work with a great team," said Gennero. "My coworkers are what make this job so great."

Maj. Michelle Schnakenburg, 47th MDOS flight commander for family health and medical services and critical care chief nurse, supervises the certification of the technicians in her flight. She is a prior enlisted air traffic controller and later became a nurse, supporting airmen worldwide.

Schnakenburg enjoys the flexibility and challenge of being a nurse. She has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and also served as the nurse for former Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, the first American female prisoner of war.

"Being a critical care nurse has allowed me to care for the wounded service members of our military and host nation nationals," said Schnakenburg. "It's a great mission and I am proud to have served in such a manner."

Although difficult at times, Schnakenburg enjoys her assignment and working with her coworkers.

"Due to our size it can be challenging to meet Laughlin's needs," said Schnakenburg. "However, the challenge is well worth it because of the people that I work with and I am happy to be here."