U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Slabaugh, 31st Surgical Squadron orthopaedic surgeon, dons protective surgical equipment in the operating room, Aug. 20, 2015, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Slabaugh performs approximately 20 surgeries a month like shoulder stabilizations, tendon rupture repairs or three-hour-long knee surgeries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Austin Harvill/Released)

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Heal with steel: 31st Surgical Squadron

Published Aug. 21, 2015
By Senior Airman Austin Harvill
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- The 31st Surgical Squadron performs a wide-range of procedures from multi-ligament knee surgery to anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, reconstruction. In addition to the surgeons, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, surgical technician, operating room nurse and general surgery physician assistant may assist in the surgery depending on the procedure. Through their efforts, they exemplify the squadron's motto - heal with steel.