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Bringing light to lab work

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stacia Zachary
  • Editor
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Pope touts being home to Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award winner Capt. Robert Larkowski, 43rd Medical Support Squadron. The captain, the chief of laboratory services at Pope Clinic, was selected for this award because he was the main factor in making Pope Clinic healthier and safer for its clients and personnel. 

The award recognizes Captain Larkowski and his team's ability to streamline policies; update procedures for more effective control of situations; purchase equipment necessary to meet and exceed preset goals and provide the most current care possible; and have a record of a zero infection rate at the clinic. These achievements resulted in the earlier 2005 Air Mobility Command Category II Medical Service Award. 

The Chief of Staff award also signals how Pope Clinic, under the management of Captain Larkowski, has been able to contribute valuable elements to the Air Force Infection Control Program. 

"This award only recognizes that we are doing our job and doing what is expected of all Airmen - to make any process smarter and smoother," said the Captain. "This award is nice for a trophy self but it leaves out so many people. The only reason I look so good in print is because of my staff. They are the real source of this achievement." 

The 43rd Airlift Wing is actively engaged in sustained combat supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. As such, several units at Pope are responsible for keeping its Airmen and Soldiers from Fort Bragg healthy and mission ready. 

"The Medical Treatment Facility directly supports all personnel associated with the wing and is tasked with providing prevention-focused quality healthcare to a community of more than 13,000 people," said Maj. Elita Conally, 43rd MDSS. "The state-of-the-art Infection Control practices and Laboratory Services support these missions directly and in attaining the MTF's goal: 100 percent mission ready 100 percent of the time."
This award, while means a lot to Pope and the 43rd Medical Group, means even more to the people working in back shops. 

"This award can mean a number of things to a number of people and there are a lot of people who can take credit for this award," said Captain Larkowski. "To me, the award shines on the smaller units and it shows how well our unit is at doing their job while working cohesively with other base units." 

Oftentimes, units or squadrons as a whole are recognized. In this case, a smaller component of the medical organization was singled out for its innovation and mission preparedness. 

"My job covers a lot but in comparison to the (43rd Medical Group), it's a minor part of something big," he said. "The main thing this recognition proves to me is that as small of a group as we are, we do still have an impact. I never really saw how what I do could still affect people and mission."