AMSCA was proud to award LTC (ret) Vicky L. Thomas with the Colonel Emma E. Vogel Award during the awards dinner at the 2024 meeting. This award is given for outstanding and distinguished service to the Army Medical Specialist Corps Association. Vicky has been a member of AMSCA for 21 years, having joined in 2002 just months prior to her retirement from the Army in 2003. Vicky served on active duty as a dietitian from 1982-2003. During her career, she served at several Army hospitals as the Chief of the Nutrition Care Division. She was course director for the Army’s first Conference on Nutrition Care in Operations Other Than War, was a Clinical Instructor at the US Army Dietetic Internship at BAMC, an assignments officer at PERSCOM, and Nutrition Staff Officer at the Ofc of the Army Surgeon General. She served as an Accreditation Site Reviewer with the Commission on Dietetics Education, is a published author of several research papers, and spoke at an annual meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on the topic of "Communicating the Value of Nutrition Therapy to Medical Executives".

Vicky’s goal in becoming a member of AMSCA in 2002 was to serve the association and to stay in touch with her family of military friends. Her wealth of interests and skills led her to convince the AMSCA board in 2006 to develop and implement a website. By 2008, Vicky designed and implemented the website for AMSCA. In 2016, she added online membership management so members could electronically join and renew memberships. In 2023, she transitioned the association's information to a new website platform and implemented our first online meeting registration. In addition to being the webmaster since 2008, Vicky also served as the Membership Chair for AMSCA from 2019-2022.

Using her unique skills, knowledge, and selfless dedication during her 15 years as webmaster for AMSCA, Vicky has provided well over 1,000 hours of professional web design, management, and consulting services at no charge to AMSCA. Vicky’s leadership, dedication and vision has taken AMSCA to new levels of service to its members. Thank you Vicky for your years of outstanding service!

in 2022, there were three COL Emma Vogel Award recipients, awarded at the 2022 San Antonio Biennial AMSCA Meeting. The 2022 awardees are: COL Jessie Brewer, MAJ Teresa Dillon and COL Karen Hobson.

COL JESSIE S. BREWER

In 1983 a small group of retired Army Medical Specialist Corps officers met to discuss the potential formation of Retired Army Medical Specialist Corps Association. The stated goals were Service, Education and Social. This initial group recognized that it would take more than a few individuals to formulate a viable organization. It would take individuals to participate and give generously of their time and talents to sustain such an organization. One of these individuals is one of 2022's COL EMMA E. VOGEL recipients. She has provided exceptional service through her leadership, personal influence, and sustained activity since the inception of RAMSCA/AMSCA. As the Chief, Army Medical Specialist Corps from 1982-1986, during the time RAMSCA was being formed, she actively and wholeheartedly supported the efforts of this group from the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). Following retirement, she wholeheartedly began volunteering for a multitude of positions within RAMSCA. Positions which she has held, within RAMSCA, include:

• Awards Committee in 1989 and 1990
• By Laws Committee (1989)
• Finance Committee 2005-2013
• RAMSCA President from 1999-2003

She was personally involved in soliciting pledges from the AMSCs to honor COL Vogel who was clearly a key driver in the events of a significant period of AMEDD history and the AMSC. Always interested in supporting education-al pursuits by AMSCs, she was involved in helping to establish the RAMSCA Nannie Rudd Evans Endowment Fund. In 2014, she coordinated with COL Dorothy Pinkston to propose the establishment of the Betty Lambertson Memorial Newsletter Fund. In addition to all her activities, she is always willing to represent RAMSCA/AMSCA, including attendance at funerals, AMEDD activities in San Antonio, graduations, receptions, etc. She received the RAMSCA Special Recognition Medallion in 2003 (established in 1994 to recognize individuals who have provided extraordinary service and dedication to RAMSCA). Fifty years after the formation of the AMSC, RAMSCA established the Colonel Emma E. Vogel award to recognize individuals who truly emulate COL Vogel’s exceptional service. Without a doubt, for almost forty years, this individual has demonstrated that exceptional leadership, personal influence, and tireless sustained activity within RAMSCA/AMSCA. Not only has RAMSCA/AMSCA benefitted from her efforts, but the active component has received significant support in their endeavors. COL Jessie S. Brewer represents the highest traditions and standards in service to AMSCA and in the legacy of Colonel Vogel, the first Corps Chief of the AMSC. It is my pleasure to award the 2022 COL Emma E Vogel Award to COL Jessie S. Brewer.

MAJ TERESA DILLON

This 2022 COL Emma E. Vogel Award recipient has consistently provided exceptional service to the Army Medical Specialist Corps Association through her strong leadership, her mentorship of other AMSCA members and her sustained activity within the AMSCA for 13 years. Her contributions have been many:

• Member of the RAMSCA/AMSCA Board of Directors for 12 years
• Member of planning committees of 4 Biennial Meetings, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2022
• RAMSCA/AMSCA President 2015 - 2002
• RAMSCA/AMSCA Newsletter Editor for several years. This occurred during her Presidency when no one else was able to step forward

Through her mentorship, she has consistently encouraged and enabled, RAMSCA/AMSCA members to assume more active roles in the organization, as committee members and Board of Director positions. This is evident with the new slate of Officers and Members of the incoming BOD. This recipient is innovative in her thinking, especially in identifying ways that AMSCA can better meet the needs and interests of its members. Due to this recipient’s innovative approach, critical thinking and problem solving skills, she enabled AMSCA to “survive” the challenges of the COVID “era”. Her position as AMSCA President continued well beyond its original term with her commitment to keep the position filled. Without her commitment, many of us ponder where AMSCA would be today. Due to her leadership and commitment, the Army Medical Specialist Corps Association will continue well into the future. MAJ Teresa Dillon truly emulates the exceptional service of COL Vogel and is most deserving of the 2022 COL Emma E. Vogel Award.

COL KAREN HOBSON

This 2022 Col Emma E. Vogel Award recipient’s successful career in the Army Medical Specialist Corps and as a leader in the Army Medical Specialist Corps Association is due to her vision, values, dedication, and knowledge that she always applies to the job and to life to improve and enrich. In the AMSCA, formerly RAMSCA, she has provided effective and insightful leadership in several roles since 1997. Whenever she saw a need, it was seen as an opportunity to serve, accomplishing the job with dedication and excellence. Her contributions have been many:

• Several terms as Regional Director
• Biennial Planning Committee Chair for Branson 2003 and St Louis 2013
• Biennial Meeting Registration Coordinator for 3 meetings
• Newsletter Editor for 3 years
• President for 2 terms
• Assistant Treasurer for several terms

COL Karon Hobson has served the Army Medical Specialist Corps Association with dedication, passion, excellence, and joy for many years and is indeed deserving of the COL Emma E. Vogel Award for 2022.

The 2019 COL EMMA E. VOGEL AWARD  recipient is  LTC Janice Rambo. She has given generously of her time, energy and talents in pursuit of AMSCA goals.

• Mid-Western Regional Director 2007-2014
• Member of 2 AMSCA Biennial Meetings Planning Committees: Branson, MO 2003; St Louis, MO 2015
• Prior to serving as AMSCA Treasurer, since 2014, she was on the RAMSCA Finance Committee as assistant to the Treasurer.

She has been innovative in updating AMSCA’s accounting practices and bringing financial reports current with state-of-the-art electronic reporting. Her budget and financial reports and requests are always completed in a timely manner. LTC Rambo has worked closely with the Membership Chair to ensure membership lists and dues paid/due are current. She is consistently available to the AMSCA President, responding to any requests providing innovative ideas to continue AMSCA’s success today and into the future.

The 2019 RAMSCA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD recipient is COL (ret) Judith Hanses. She continues to have a long history of service to many civic and military organizations in St. Louis, MO.

Following are only a few of her many contributions:

• After her 2007 appointment by the Mayor of St Louis, she has been a member of the St Louis Soldiers memorial Board of Commissioners.
• She serves as Commander of American Legion Post #4, including 5 other leadership positions with the American Legion.
• Commander of the Military Order of World Wars, St Louis Chapter Member of the Missouri Athletic Club Board of Governors, including 7 Leadership positions.Some of these include coordinating the St Louis Veterans’ Day and St Patrick’s Day parades.
• With AMSCA she has served on 2 Biennial Meetings Planning Committees, Branson, MO 2003 and St Louis, 2015 and on the Finance Committee.

Two (of many) Awards received are:

1. The Ageless Remarkable St Louisianan Award (recognizes the most dynamic citizen over 75 years for achievement and service through volunteerism, leadership, philanthropy and especially her service to Veterans.
2. The Military Order of World Wars Patrick Henry Patriot Award given for distinguished and patriotic service as St Louis Chapter commander.