A well written piece by Bob Herbert in the NYT on August 25 http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/bobherbert/index.html pretty much summarizes why I volunteered for a 2 week rotation at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. All seriously wounded US military personnel are transported there after initial treatment in Iraq or Afghanistan. After stabilization at Landstuhl, they are flown back to hospitals in the US. The Society for Vascular Surgery has encouraged civilian vascular surgeons to assist military surgeons in the care of these wounded soldiers. I'll be writing about my experiences and, hopefully, be getting feedback from some of you reading this blog. When my 2 week rotation is completed, I'll be winding down at Oktoberfest in nearby Munich (maybe less writing during this time...). I hope this blog is entertaining and informative - your comments will be much appreciated.

Breaking the ice on the blog. I'm completing the background check and other paperwork for my volunteer position at the US Army Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. So far the process is pretty straightforward, but I don't know many details of exactly what I'll be doing there. The uncertainty makes me a little nervous, but hopefully I'll respond well when the time comes.