EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- The 96th Medical Group won 18 Air Force Material Command annual awards, most notably AFMC Hospital of the Year.
Throughout the year, the 96th MDG generated over 500,000 visits, 700,000 labs, and over 6,000 clearances for patients on the way to earning the award.
“This award demonstrates the hard work and the dedication of the entire staff,” says Col. Tara Lovell, 96th MDG commander. “It takes true collaboration and effort of each section to get the job done.”
Along with hospital of the year, the 96th MDG took home 17 other awards between small teams and individuals.
The 96th Dental Squadron’s Senior Airman Bryson Rodgers won Dental Airman of the Year. As a dental lab technician, Rodgers assisted providers in creating dental prosthetics for patients. For Rodgers, this achievement is not a final destination, but a stepping stone.
“This is not the end of my achievements,” he stated. “I hope to continue to raise the standard as a lab technician and as an Airman.”
In the pharmacy, Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Matos won Pharmacy Technician NCO of the Year. In her role, she ensures patients around the hospital receive the proper medications and assisted in generating over 520,000 prescriptions in 2025. As one of only two Phase II training instructors for her career field on base, she is also shaping the next generation of pharmacy technicians. Matos credits her leadership for the award.
“I’m grateful to have the best leadership, who uses our strengths to our advantage,” she said.
Leadership and mentorship were also central to Tech. Sgt. Shannon Ury’s Public Health NCO of the Year win.
Ury said her greatest accomplishment this year was watching her junior team really grow into their roles and develop as Airmen. “I couldn’t do this job if I didn’t have the support of my team.”
On the other side of the hospital, Senior Airman Miranda Russell earned the Surgical Service Airman of the Year award for her work as an orthopedic technician. Her job mainly involves splinting and casting patients, as well as assisting surgeons in the operating room. For Russell, this award is fuel for her future ambitions.
“My goal is to commission, and being recognized for this award motivates me to continue to work towards this goal and shows me I’m doing something right,” she said.
Congratulations to the following on their AFMC win:
Public Health NCO of the Year
TSgt Shannon E. Ury
Laboratory NCO of the Year
TSgt Miguel W. Rodriguez Amaya
Diagnostic Imaging NCO of the Year
TSgt Dornita R. Melvin
Pharmacy Technician NCO of the Year
SSgt Kaitlyn J. Matos
Mental Health NCO of the Year
SSgt Ashley M. Crawford
Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year
SrA Yuliana Payblas
Mental Health Airman of the Year
SrA Shannon N. Taylor
Surgical Service Airman of the Year
SrA Miranda Russell
Dental Airman of the Year
SrA Bryson J. Rogers
Diagnostic Imaging Airman of the Year
SrA Alejandro S. Gonzalez
Public Health Airman of the Year
Airman 1st Class Freda A. Baah
Aerospace Medicine Airman of the Year
A1C Fay A. Madlangbayan
Surgeon General Hospital of the Year
96th MDG
Health Plan Management Team of the Year
96th MDG TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration Flight
Medical Service Corps Team of the Year
96th MDG Medical Service Corps
Medical Logistics Team of the Year
96th MDG Medical Logistics Flight
Medical Readiness Team of the Year
96th Medical Support Squadron Medical Readiness Flight