Ben named National Guard Flight Surgeon of the Year

Below is a link to the article in the Newark Advocate.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20100702/NEWS01/100702002

In case you can't go to the link...below is the article


Dr. Mitchell keeps F-15 pilots healthy and flying


By ANNA SUDAR
Advocate Reporter

NEWARK -- Ever since he was young, Maj. Ben Mitchell dreamed of being a doctor.

But he also loved aviation.

As a flight surgeon for the Air National Guard, Mitchell gets to pursue both of his passions.

A Newark native, Mitchell has been caring for the pilots of the 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls, Ore., since May 2007.

He recently was named Air National Guard Flight Surgeon of the Year. "This is a very prestigious award," said Lt. Col. Martin Balakas, wing executive support officer. "It is given by the National Guard to the person who best exemplifies the ideals of being a citizen soldier."

As a flight surgeon, Mitchell cares for the F-15 pilots on the base, Balakas said.

"The pilots are dealing with a very hostile environment to the human body," he said. "Our doctors have to be familiar with that and ensure pilots are very well taken care of."

A graduate of Newark Catholic High School, Mitchell attended the University of Cincinnati for medical school.

When he finished his residency, he moved to Oregon and began working as an emergency room doctor at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Living near the 173rd Fighter Wing's base, he got interested in the F-15 planes and decided to join the Air National Guard.

As a guardsman, Mitchell is required to serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year. But he goes above and beyond the call of duty, Balakas said.

Last summer, Mitchell volunteered to spend six weeks in southern Afghanistan working with a helicopter rescue squad.

"I felt like the mission was pretty important," Mitchell said. "There are guys who are getting hurt and giving a lot for their country. I feel like they deserve the best medical care out there."

He also spent two weeks in Guatemala on a humanitarian mission in April. He and several other National Guard physicians set up a free clinic.

In a few weeks, Mitchell will return to Afghanistan for three months.

This time he will be working as a doctor on a flying intensive care unit that will transport severely wounded patients to hospitals, Mitchell said.

"I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

These accomplishments surely made Mitchell stand out among the other Flight Surgeon of the Year candidates, Balakas said.

"You can't say enough about the character of someone who will climb into a helicopter and fly into gunfire to help his fellow soldier and do it time and time again," Balakas said. "He truly is the definition of an American hero."

When Mitchell's parents heard about their son's award, they were proud.

"He always goes the extra mile for people," said his father, Mark Mitchell, who is an internal medicine specialist for Licking Memorial Health Systems.

One of Mark's favorite stories about his son happened when Ben was in Afghanistan last summer.
Ben was caring for a solider who had a hand injury. "They were going to repair it in the standard fashion when the soldier said he played the guitar," Mark said. "Ben decided to fix the hand in a different way so he could play the guitar again."

Ben said he was honored to get the award and grateful to have a job that he loves.

"It's providing me with the opportunity to serve my country and take care of guys who give everything for their country," he said.


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