Healing in Harm's Way
A North Dakota National Guard soldier committed to the United States’ military mission in Iraq, Col. Craig Lambrecht, M.D. ’87, has brought peace and healing to children who are burn victims in that war-torn country.
A 23-year veteran of the National Guard, he completed his second tour of duty in Iraq in January, coming home to Bismarck after about four months. Two years ago, he was also deployed there for four months, serving near the Iranian border as part of the First Infantry Division.
Lambrecht, an emergency medicine physician at Medcenter One and clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the UND medical school, is state surgeon for the National Guard, responsible for overseeing medical training for all members of the North Dakota National Guard.
Most recently in Iraq he served as senior medical officer and field surgeon at the Troop Medical Clinic, located at Convoy Support Center, Scania, southeast of Baghdad, and was responsible for the medical care of Multinational Coalition Forces and contract workers, as well as detainee care.
| “The most important work I am achieving as a state surgeon, and in 23 years in the National Guard, 2 is being able to take care of our state’s troops and the country’s soldiers.” |
In addition to his regular duties, he treated Iraqi children at the Smith Gate Burn Clinic (SGBC), part of the military’s Effect’s Mission or civilian assistance mission, he says. The outpatient clinic, housed in a small shipping container located outside the walls of the operation base, is open usually three days a week.
“We can see one or two patients at a time. We see anywhere from 20 to 60 patients a day, primarily pediatric burn patients. They come from all over Iraq, and some even come from Iran.
“We do a lot of debriding and dressing changes, which can be very painful,” he says. In Iraq, there is no burn care expertise at the level provided at Smith Gate, so “we see a range of patients” with conditions spanning simple to complex.
Some patients require simple dressing changes, while others must undergo amputation which cannot be done at the clinic, Lambrecht says. “Patients will arrive by car, taxi, ambulance, from hospitals. (They) will be sick, not sick, dying or well - the full spectrum of health.”
Because they live in an environment with little or no electricity, children especially are at high risk for injury due to exposure to flammable substances and fire. Iraqis cook using open hearth ovens and store fuel in open containers next to flames.
Children also suffer burn injuries as a consequence of war, from explosive devices, as well as their work in brick factories, he says. They are not victims of Coalition fire or related action.
Help from home
The clinic has received assistance and donations from organizations and individuals throughout North Dakota, including basic medical and personal hygiene supplies.
Lambrecht is very grateful to the Edward (“Ted”) Fogarty, M.D., chair and clinical assistant professor of radiology, Bismarck, for researching a burn ointment, Medihoney, which is “the perfect product for the outpatient management of burns in Iraq,” he says. Medihoney is produced in Australia.
“He even donated thousands of dollars of the product to convince us to use it!” Lambrecht comments. “It has changed the way outpatient burn care is being delivered at Smith Gate.”
North Dakota’s contribution
“The most important work I am achieving as a state surgeon, and in 23 years in the National Guard, is being able to take care of our state’s troops and the country’s soldiers,” he says, “and helping the North Dakota Guard achieve one of the country’s highest overall medical troop readiness state ratings.”
Lambrecht wants people to understand “the profound impact the doctors of the North Dakota National Guard have on how health care has been delivered in Iraq. North Dakota has given some of its best providers and expertise to a health care mission which has never been without resolve or commitment.
“Doctors Joe Smothers (Minot), Mike Brown (M.D./Ph.D. ’92, Bismarck), Don Kosiak (M.D. ’79, Wishek, ND), Gordy Leingang (Bismarck), R.J. Moen (M.D. ’00, Williston), Stacey Smith (M.D. ’98, Detroit Lakes, MN), Rachel Hawker (M.D. ’02, LaCrosse, WI), and Todd Schaffer (M.D. ’02, Carrington, ND) are a team personifying what North Dakota physicians do best, serving their patients with quality care, no matter what, where or when the circumstances, “he says.
“Just as importantly, true battle buddies have covered for them at home, allowing them to fulfill their missions and stay focused.”
What this service means
For Lambrecht, his long-term dedication and service in the North Dakota National Guard is more than military duty, it’s “about the troops and service to the country,” he says.
“There can be no doubt that support for this country should be manifested by shared responsibility, shared sacrifice and shared service. You can’t ask someone to do what you are not willing to do yourself.”
Pamela D. Knudson
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