Senior Airman Corey Gruszka, 30th Medical Operations Squadron aerospace medical technician, checks the blood pressure of Senior Airman Bryce Ferland, 30th MDOS aerospace medical technician, April 2, 2015, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Gruszka plays an integral role in the physical upkeep of Team V personnel, ensuring they remain healthy and mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Robert J. Volio/Released)

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Airman highlight: Senior Airman Gruszka

Published April 3, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Robert J. Volio

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- It's Monday morning. The clinic at the 30th Medical Operations Squadron needs to be prepped for incoming patients. Those patients need to be checked in to their assigned doctors and those doctors need to be provided their patients' vital signs, medical history and the reason for their visit. Senior Airman Corey Gruszka, 30th MDOS aerospace medical technician, performs not only these tasks but many more.

Gruszka plays an integral role in the physical upkeep of Team V personnel, ensuring they remain healthy and mission ready. As an aerospace medical technician, some of Gruszka's day-to-day duties vary, but others remain consistent.

"I regularly assist with different medical procedures such as ear irrigations, pap smears, mole removals, intrauterine devices and Nexplanon birth control placements, wart removals and more," said Gruszka. "I am also in charge of four different additional duty programs here at the clinic."

One of the plans Gruszka directly supervises is the isoniazid program, where patients with tuberculosis are treated.

"I observe patients while they take the medications required to treat latent tuberculosis," said Gruszka. "I document each visit and ensure they're getting the correct treatment, labs and x-rays throughout the time of treatment."

Gruszka's development as an Airmen and medical technician, as well as her enthusiastic demeanor, has drawn praise and acclamation from her superiors.

"Airman Gruszka has been an absolute joy to supervise," said Staff Sgt. Erica Shearer, 30th MDOS aerospace medical technician. "She has faced every challenge thrown her way thus far and ran with it. Her positive attitude and energetic personality set her apart from other Airmen. She always has a smile on her face."

Along with some of the challenges her job provides, Vandenberg also offers some unique work-related scenarios for Gruszka.

"As medical technicians in the Space and Missile Medicine Clinic, we ensure members in charge of the launches are physically and mentally cleared to carry out the mission," said Gruszka. "Also, we initially clear students hoping to be a part of the Personal Reliability Program and maintain members who are actively involved in the PRP mission."

Members of the Space and Missile Medicine Clinic cater to personnel here on base as well as downrange, the latter of which Gruszka hopes to experience in the future.

"I think my job is very important because we are trained to take care of our Airmen and their families," said Gruszka. "I would love the opportunity to deploy as a medic so that I could have the chance to make a difference and put all of my acquired skills to an even bigger use."