He was a doctor, teacher, scientist, and a gentle and courteous man. His work against typhoid and especially against yellow fever immortalized him. He left an enduring legacy for all people: relief from the fear, pain and sorrow these diseases indiscriminately caused. But in 1902, at the age of 51, he died of complications following an appendectomy. For scientific medicine, for his corps, and for the medical profession to which he gave so much, his loss was a severe blow.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center is a monument to a long tradition of patient care, medical research, and educational development. It is a tribute to the vision, intelligence, and dedication of the men and women who have worked here through the years.
The commanding general of Walter Reed Army Medical Center also serves as commander of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, which covers 21 of the northeastern United States plus the District of Columbia.
The Walter Reed Health Care System provides comprehensive health care for more than 150,000 Soldiers, other service members, family members and retirees in the National Capital Area. Its hub is Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the clinical center of gravity of American military medicine.
The main campus of Walter Reed is in a residential area of northwest Washington between Rock Creek Park and Georgia Avenue near the Maryland-D.C. boundary. All patient-careactivities, as well as most administrative services, are on the main installation.
Walter Reed supports the Department of Defense in wartime, both by caring for ill or injured service members who are evacuated to the medical center for specialty treatment and by sending its own staff members into harm’s way.
The Allergy, Asthma and Immunization Clinical Service evaluates and treats patients of all ages with allergic and immunologic disorders, and provides adult immunization services and travel immunization for all ages.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center has a long-standing reputation as one of the finest teaching institutions in the country. A fundamental mission of the hospital is to train physicians and other health care professionals for service to the Army and the nation.
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, a tri-service organization on the Walter Reed campus, is the nation’s leading laboratory for pathology. The AFIP’s wide-ranging mission includes research, consultation, and education to serve the military and the civilian community worldwide.
The Department of Ministry and Pastoral Care at Walter Reed provides religious and spiritual support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through assigned ward chaplains and on-call staff, for all faith groups and individuals.
All newly assigned Walter Reed Soldiers and students must report to the Medical Center Brigade Personnel Administrative Center (S-1⁄PAC) and receive paperwork to complete inprocessing.
In 2002, the Family Housing Office joined a new Army program called the Residential Communities Initiative, or RCI. This program is designed to improve the quality of life for Walter Reed’s Soldiers. It allows the government to partner with civilian developers to improve the maintenance and operational systems for its housing.
Parking on the main installation is severely limited, as it is in most of the Washington area. Carpooling reduces traffic and parking congestion, saves both gas and nerves, and reduces overall exhaust emissions. You must have a parking permit to park in designated parking spaces on post.
Information about TRICARE is available on Walter Reed’s Web site at www.wramc.army.mil. Visitors are also welcome at Walter Reed’s TRICARE Service Center in Bldg. 2 (main hospital), third floor, Suite 3-D, for help with enrollment or claims issues. Phone (202) 782-4393 or DSN 662-4393.
Army Community Health Nursing provides a wide range of population-based programs and services that promote the health and readiness of all beneficiaries. Major services include communicable disease surveillance (control of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and other communicable diseases; disease reporting; contact investigation; and epidemic control), community health consultation, maternal and child health, and health promotion.
The Education Services Division administrative offices and college or university representatives are on the ground floor of Bldg. 11 (Delano Hall). The Learning Center – including test section, computer laboratory and classroom facilities – is on the third floor of Bldg. 11. Distance learning facilities for military and civilian training are on the ground floor of Bldg. 1 (old hospital) in Wing D.
The Auto Skills Center provides the space and tools for service members, their families, retirees, and Department of Defense civilian employees to do their own auto repair. The shop is on the main installation in Bldg. 82, in front of the fire station. Open Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sunday, Monday and federal holidays. Phone (202) 782-7433 or 4972.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Forest Glen section is in Silver Spring, Md., approximately four miles north of the main installation. Forest Glen has a land area of 164 acres. It includes a contemporary area and a mixed commercial district.
In this self-guided “the buck starts here“ tour you can see millions of dollars of paper money printed, as well as bins of shredded bills. Open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Guided tours take 40 minutes. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. Free, but tickets are required. Call to make reservations for tours. Closest Metro is Smithsonian.
Welcome to Walter Reed is an authorized publication for members of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is printed by Comprint Military Publications of Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army, under exclusive written contract with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Public Affairs Office.
