SOUDA BAY, Greece -- Most doctors don't have to endure pressure chamber tests and centrifuge training during their schooling.
So some might agree that Maj. Kristopher Wagner-Porter, 555th Fighter Squadron flight surgeon, isn't like most doctors.
“As a flight surgeon, I'm the medical oversight for a flying squadron in a deployed environment,” said Wagner-Porter. “I perform a lot of different duties to keep pilots and other flyers healthy.”
Unlike most doctors, Wagner-Porter doesn’t wear a white coat either.
“I step to the jet in my flight suit just like the pilots,” said Wagner-Porter. “I'm a flight crew member, so I've done all the same training as the pilots, but can’t pilot the F-16 [Fighting Falcon]. I have to meet flying hour requirements, assist in emergency actions and meet all the same tertiary training requirements as they do.”
Meeting the requirements to fly allows Wagner-Porter to do his job, which could take him anywhere across the globe.
“We are trained to be the first medical presence at any location,” he said. “Depending on where the squadron goes, my team and I could be asked to do a lot of different things.”
On a deployment, the flight surgeon and medical team assess a unit's health and environment, and liaise between unit member and medical specialty, if required. For example, if a pilot shows symptoms of a concussion, the flight surgeon could place the pilot on no-fly status and call a mental health doctor to determine what to do next.
According to Wagner-Porter, evaluation is the small part of the job.
“If I’m only fixing people, I’m not a very good flight surgeon,” he said. “I spend most of my time taking preventative measures to keep them safe so they don't have to come in.”
Wagner-Porter teaches pilots effective sleep/rest techniques, stress and coping management skills, and he visits units to ensure his people aren’t working in hazardous environments. On paper, the impact of a flight surgeon seems straightforward, but he finds more value in the position than just being a good doctor.
“The winning factor is the connection I can build with my patients,” said Wagner-Porter. “They know how I operate, and I know what they go through. This opens up dialogue and guarantees proper medical attention.”
Outside of the professional benefits of the doctor-patient arrangement, Wagner-Porter has grown attached to his fighter squadron and its members.
“I love what I do because it’s something different everyday,” he said. “I love the heritage, the camaraderie and the opportunity to aid our warriors at the tip of the spear every time I go to work.”