USA: Naval Station Norfolk Hosts Change of Charge Ceremony

The leadership of Branch Health Clinic (BHC) Norfolk Triad changed hands Jan. 18 during a change of charge ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

Capt. Richelle Kay-Marriner relieved Cmdr. Sarah Neill. The triad consists of the BHCs at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.

The Naval Station Norfolk clinic is the largest branch health clinic in the Navy and supports the largest fleet concentration area.

During the ceremony, speeches were filled with a list of Neill’s accomplishments and gratitude for her devotion to her staff and to the many service members and their families for whom they care. Capt. David A. Culler, Naval Station Norfolk commanding officer, led the accolades.

“Cmdr. Neill’s engaged and proactive leadership as officer in charge of the world’s largest branch health clinic and most operationally intensive naval installation on the planet certainly kept Sarah busy – and she performed flawlessly,” Culler said. “Successful commands are tied to strong, positive leadership. [It should be] better when you depart than when you arrived, and you get an A plus as you certainly did that.”

Capt. James Hancock, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) deputy commander, praised the value of Neill’s accomplishments.

“You have made something that supports our fleet, not only more economical, but better,” Hancock said. “They’ve done over half a million visits during Sarah’s tenure, they’ve taken the no-show rate down to nothing. You got certified by the nation’s certifying [body for health care quality], NCQA, and you’ve done this in a time of war.

“We thank you for the job that you have done,” Hancock added. “It has been no small challenge. As they say, this is not her first rodeo. She’s a ‘been there, done that’ kind of gal.”

Neill spoke how the three branch clinics in her charge were like her “children,” each with unique challenges and solutions to improve health care delivery to their patients.

“When I reflect on what it is that these clinics and this amazing staff are able to accomplish each and every day, I am humbled by your awesomeness,” Neill said.

She thanked dozens of co-workers, shipmates and family members, and said this was the “tour of threes”: Three commanding officers she supported, three branch health clinics in the region and the respective officers in charge (OICs), and the staff during her tenure – three administrative officers, three senior enlisted leaders and three senior nurses.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be your OIC,” Neill said. “I could think of no other job in the Navy better than the one I leave today. It has been my distinct honor and privilege, and for that I am eternally grateful.”

After Neill and Kay-Marriner read their orders, Kay-Marriner expressed her excitement over her new assignment.

“Many say that the assignment of officer in charge is one of the best jobs in Navy Medicine,” Kay-Marriner said. “Having been previously assigned as an OIC, I would tend to agree. To be afforded another opportunity to serve as OIC with the responsibility of leading the largest health care clinic in Navy Medicine is an honor and also a dream come true.”

Kay-Marriner was most recently at NMCP as the senior advisor for the APL Research Project, “Improving Access to Care for Orthopedic Services.”

Following the change of charge, Neill held her retirement ceremony with retired Capt. Peter O’Connor as the guest speaker. Neill and O’Connor most recently served together at Navy Medicine East (NME) in Portsmouth.

O’Connor related many moments of stellar service by Neill, including her coordination in sending medical teams to Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake, adjusting manning levels to improve services at the 15 naval hospitals and clinics within NME, and most recently for her work at the BHC.

“Sarah has been a superb naval officer and a great mom and wife,” O’Connor said. “I don’t know how she did all that. She will make a great catch for the organization lucky enough to get her. Fair winds and following seas.”

Neill was presented a fun run T-shirt and specially painted Adirondack chair by Rear Adm. Terry Moulton, deputy chief, medical operations director, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, and Capt. Robert Fry, deputy executive aide to the surgeon general. The T-shirt was inspired by their command participation in runs while Neill and Fry were stationed together previously. The chair had the Medical Service Corps logo and her name stenciled on it. After the flag-passing ceremony, Neill surprised her mother, Linda Bagg, and presented her with the flag.

Neill wraps up a notable career with many critical accomplishments within the BHC triad. The triad experienced a 700 percent increase in customer service satisfaction reporting with a more than 96 percent satisfaction rate; oversaw the merger of the Norfolk Dental Clinic within BHC Naval Station Norfolk; recently celebrated the 200th consecutive ship to deploy since 9/11 with 95 percent of greater dental readiness; overhauled the physical health assessment process resulting in higher and more comprehensive health care; and greatly improved access to care through the implementation of the Medical Home Port team concept.

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Naval Today Staff, January 23, 2013; Image: US Navy