U.S. Navy Surgeon General and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Vice Admiral Matthew Nathan visited Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton June 5 as part of a West Coast area trip to see Navy Medicine personnel and facilities.

This was Nathan’s first visit to Camp Pendleton’s new 500,000 square foot, four-story hospital since it opened in Dec. 2013.  While here, he met with NHCP’s senior leadership, toured the facility and held two Surgeon General calls.

While on the hospital tour he visited and was briefed by staff of the Physical Therapy Department, Emergency Medicine Department, Simulation Laboratory, Labor and Delivery Department, the Intensive Care Unit and the Muli-Service Ward.

During the Surgeon General call with the junior military and civilian staff, he stressed the importance of what they do every day.

“It’s challenging to be in the medical profession, but you add to that working for the military whether in uniform or as a civilian, you’re at an intersection of two very challenging jobs.  Unlike your civilian counterparts, you have to go to war.  And our civilian shipmates have to stay behind and deal with some of the extra duties and job requirements when we’re deployed.  Sometimes we lose track of that and get bogged down in the requirements of the job.  So never, ever forget how special you are to the service and to the American people.”

For more news and information about Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, visit the command website at www.cpen.med.navy.mil.