Military Medicine and Leadership: A Conversation with Retired Navy RADM Terry Moulton

WarDocs - The Military Medicine Podcast

Ever wondered what it takes to lead in one of the world’s most challenging environments, the US Navy? Do you find yourself intrigued by the thought of making critical decisions under immense pressure? Then this episode is for you. As we sit down with retired Navy Rear Admiral and Medical Service Corps officer Terry J Moulton, we uncover a lifetime of leadership lessons, critical decision-making insights, and stories from his remarkable 37-year-long career. Admiral Moulton shares his experiences deployed during Operation Desert Storm to the heart of the Pentagon on one of the darkest days in US history.

In our conversation, Admiral Moulton delves into the challenges he faced during his deployment on the USS Nimitz, his time in Okinawa, and the unforgettable experience of being in the Pentagon on 9/11. His accounts of these events, woven with lessons on leadership, draw a vivid picture of the realities of Military Medicine. You will hear about the intuitive decisions Admiral Moulton made to handle patient safety concerns, his performance-based approach to promotions, and the importance he placed on trusting his staff. His story illustrates the courage, resilience, and dedication necessary to thrive in high-stakes environments.

RADM (Ret) Moulton opens up about his time leading the Tidewater Multiservice Market Office. His unique perspective on uniting the three Services, aligning with the needs of the MHS, and managing dual responsibilities offers invaluable advice for those navigating leadership roles within similar structures. Whether you're a veteran, on active duty, or simply interested in learning about leadership from a unique perspective, this episode promises a wealth of wisdom and a deeper understanding of Military Medicine. Terry's wisdom and advice, combined with his fascinating experiences, make this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and leadership guidance.

Chapters:

(0:00:00) - Lessons From Early Years in Navy Medicine

(0:05:28) - Military Assignments, Mentoring, and Medical Readiness

(0:12:08) - Military Experience Around 9/11

(0:19:04) - Leadership Challenges in Okinawa and During Deployment

(0:26:18) - Leadership Approach in Multiservice Market

Chapter Summaries:

(0:00:00) - Lessons From Early Years in Navy Medicine (5 Minutes)

We speak with retired Navy Rear Admiral and Medical Service Corps officer Terry J Moulton. Admiral Moulton shares his story of joining the Navy, his deployment lessons learned aboard the USS Nimitz, and the experience of being in the Pentagon on 9-11. He provides advice to those advancing in roles with increased levels of accountability and responsibility. Admiral Moulton also shares his understanding of how enhanced multi-service markets and managed care support contractors can enable a ready medical force and a medically ready force. We discuss his early years and his early assignments, his roles and responsibilities, and the leadership lessons he learned. Join us as we explore these topics and more with Admiral Moulton.

(0:05:28) - Military Assignments, Mentoring, and Medical Readiness (7 Minutes)

Retired Navy Rear Admiral and Medical Service Corps officer Terry J Moulton reflects on his experience joining the Navy and the people who had a lasting impact on his career. He recounts his deployment on the USS Nimitz during Operation Desert Storm, and his efforts to ensure medical readiness on the ship. Finally, Admiral Moulton shares how the USS Midway Fire After-Action Report informed his approach to medical readiness.

(0:12:08) - Military Experience Around 9/11 (7 Minutes)

RADM (Ret) Moulton recalls his time serving in the Pentagon on 9/11. He reflects on the events of that day and how staying in the Pentagon to help set up a triage station transformed his future medical and military service. He speaks about the training he had done in the past that prepared him for this moment and the leadership challenges he faced when he was put in command roles.

(0:19:04) - Leadership Challenges in Okinawa and Navy (7 Minutes)

RADM (Ret) Moulton reflects on his leadership challenges in Okinawa. He discusses how he addressed patient safety concerns and relied on his intuition when making decisions. Admiral Moulton also shares his involvement in the planning for the evacuation of US citizens from mainland Japan and his role in ensuring their safe arrival to Okinawa. He emphasizes the importance of trusting his staff and the performance-based approach to promotion boards.

(0:26:18) - Leadership Approach in Multiservice Market (17 Minutes)

Terry speaks about his experience leading the Tidewater Multiservice Market Office. Admiral Moulton shares his approach to leading the three services with a focus on unity of effort and alignment with what the MHS needed. He then offers advice to the nine DHA directors and MTF directors on how to effectively communicate direction and understand their dual-hatted responsibilities. Lastly, Admiral Moulton counsels those in leadership positions on resolving conflicts between the hats they are wearing.

Take Home Messages:

1. Leadership often involves tackling difficult situations with honesty and integrity, whether it's addressing patient safety concerns or making critical decisions in high-pressure situations.
2. Trusting your staff and adopting a performance-based approach to promotions are key leadership principles in any organization.
3. When leading diverse teams, it's crucial to unite everyone with a common vision and align them with the organization's needs.
4. Good leaders communicate effectively, providing clear direction and follow-ups. They ensure their teams understand what is important and what needs to be executed.
5. It's essential for leaders to understand their dual responsibilities and roles, particularly in complex organizations where they might be wearing different 'hats.'
6. Effective leadership requires an understanding of when to delegate tasks and when to be directly involved, often trusting one's gut instinct to make this decision.
7. In challenging times, such as the evacuation of citizens during a crisis, leaders must make quick decisions, trust their staff, and have a plan in place to ensure safety and security.
8. In healthcare, patient safety and quality of care should always be the top priorities. Leaders should pay close attention to these aspects and act promptly on any concerns.
9. Mentorship is a valuable tool in leadership. It's important to learn from senior leaders and, in turn, guide those who are new to the organization or role.
10. Embracing change and adaptability are critical to leadership. With changing scenarios, leaders must be ready to adapt their strategies and reassure their teams about the future.

Episode Keywords:

Navy, Medical Service Corps, Terry J Moulton, USS Nimitz, Operation Desert Storm, Pentagon, 9/11, Leadership Challenges, Medical Readiness, Military Assignments, Mentoring, Evacuation of US Citizens, Performance-Based Approach, Multiservice Market, DHA Directors, MTF Directors, Unity of Effort, Alignment with MHS, Effective Communication, Dual-Hatted Responsibilities, Conflict Resolution, Local Civilian Medical Providers, Quality Care for Veteran Patients, Leadership Impact

Hashtags:

#wardocs #military #medicine #podcast #MilMed #MedEd #NavyLeadership #MilitaryMedicine #TerryMoulton #RearAdmiralInsights #Pentagon911 #LeadershipPrinciples #TidewaterMultiservice #MilitaryCareer #LeadershipChallenges #DHAAdvice

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