Page 128 - JSOM Spring 2021

An Ongoing Series

Interviews With MSG (Ret) Rick Hines,
Capt Kyle S. Stigall, MD, and COL (Ret) Russ Kotwal, MD, MPH

Interviewed by Josh Randles and Alex Merkle, Podcast co-hosts

MSG (Ret) Rick Hines COL (Ret) Russ Kotwal, MD, MPH
Rick Hines has a long history in Special Dr Kotwal spent nearly 30 years in the
Operations and is currently an instruc- military and more than 15 years in op-
tor Special Warfare Training Group. erational assignments with the 25th In-
He teaches at the SF Medical Sergeant fantry Division, 75th Ranger Regiment,
Recertification Course and focuses on and US Army Special Operations Com-
anesthesia and surgical care in the aus- mand. He deployed to combat 12 times
tere environment. Rick and Josh have a with the Ranger—nine times to Afghan-
long conversation discussing the benefits istan and three to Iraq. He conducted
of recycling at the 18D course, and the hundreds of combat ground and air mis-
historical basis and current practice of surgical care and anes- sions as the senior medical provider and is highly decorated,
thesia for the far forward Special Operations medic. including five Bronze Star medals, two Joint Service Commen-
dation medals for Valor, and two combat jump stars, among
many others. Dr Kotwal is also a master parachutist, master
Capt Kyle S. Stigall, MD flight surgeon, and Ranger qualified. He is credited with nu-
Dr Stigall attended the United States Air merous novel training and technology initiatives, professional
Force Academy as an undergraduate publications, and national and international presentations
and the University of Kentucky Medi- related primarily to prehospital medicine on the battlefield.
cal School. He is currently a fourth-year Dr Kotwal is an adjunct professor for both the Texas A&M
general surgery resident at Brooke Army Health Science Center and the Uniformed Services University
Medical Center. He completed a research of the Health Sciences. He has been an advisor for the De-
year at the Naval Medical Research Unit fense Health Agency’s Joint Trauma System and Committee
in San Antonio in 2020 with a focus on on Tactical Combat Casualty Care, as well as the National
trauma resuscitation and plans to apply Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. He is a Fel-
to the Air Force Special Operations Surgical Team next year. low of the American Academy of Family Physicians, a Hero of
Military Medicine award recipient, a Distinguished Member
of the 75th Ranger Regiment, an inductee into the US Army
Ranger Hall of Fame, and the current president of the Special
Operations Medical Association.

124