USAF Regional Hospital Eglin

• Origins During World War II: The USAF Regional Hospital Eglin (formerly Eglin Hospital) was originally established in 1941 to support the rapidly expanding Eglin Field, which trained thousands of airmen during World War II. • Supporting Doolittle Raiders: The hospital played a role in the preparation of the famous Doolittle Raiders, providing medical support as they trained at Eglin for their historic 1942 Tokyo raid. • Advanced Trauma Care: The facility has been at the forefront of trauma and emergency care, frequently training with local civilian agencies to prepare for mass casualty situations, both military and civilian. • Hurricane Response: Located in hurricane-prone Florida, the hospital has repeatedly been mobilized for disaster response, providing critical care and evacuation support during hurricanes such as Ivan (2004) and Michael (2018). • Expanding to Family Care: Over the decades, the hospital expanded from serving only active-duty personnel to caring for dependents and retirees, with a focus on family medicine and pediatrics. • Innovative Telemedicine: The hospital has been a leader in implementing telemedicine programs, connecting specialists from across the Air Force network to patients at Eglin. • Medical Readiness Training: It regularly hosts joint training exercises, preparing medics and providers for deployments to conflict zones and humanitarian missions worldwide. • COVID-19 Response: In 2020, the hospital rapidly adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing drive-through testing sites and supporting vaccination efforts for the base and local community. • Named for Heroes: In 1981, the hospital’s main building was dedicated to Colonel (Dr.) Archie R. Medlin, recognizing his distinguished service as a flight surgeon. • Research and Innovation: The hospital collaborates with Eglin’s research labs to test and implement new medical technologies, including cold weather injury prevention and aerospace medicine advancements.