Army Military Civilian Trauma Team Training (AMCT3)

Melissa Bales serves as the Military-Civilian Coordinator at UChicago Medicine, overseeing the AMCT3 partnership with the U.S. Army. She coordinates training exercises for the Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD) of the 759th Airborne, preparing teams for deployment through real-world clinical experience. She also supports clinical training initiatives for other military branches partnered with the hospital.

CPT Kristina Noel Foster, a native of Rochester, New York, began her military career in May 2011 when she enlisted in the United States Army Reserve during her freshman year at Norfolk State University. She later graduated and commissioned as an Ordnance Officer in August 2015, earning both an Associate Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Science.

Upon commissioning, she was assigned to the 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During her time with the unit, she served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Supply and Services Support Operations Officer in Charge, and Battalion S-4 Officer in Charge. Prior to attending Captains Career Course, she completed her RN to BSN through Old Dominion University and was selected to transfer into the Army Nurse Corps. After completing the Logistics Captains Career Course, she officially transferred in August 2020.

Her first assignment as an Army Nurse Corps officer was at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, where she served as a Medical-Surgical Nurse in the Inpatient Surgical Unit. She later became the Clinical Nurse Officer in Charge of both the Inpatient Surgical and COVID Units, leading her teams to achieve the highest Tricare Inpatient Survey Scores in the entire Department of Defense on two separate occasions.

In April 2023, she completed the Critical Care and Emergency Nurse Course and transitioned into her role as a Critical Care Nurse at the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Brooke Army Medical Center. During her tenure there, she also volunteered for a three-month rotation in the Emergency Department at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center to help address staffing shortages. She was later selected to serve as the Clinical Nurse Officer in Charge of the CVICU, a position she continues to hold while still maintaining her passion for direct patient care by regularly taking patients each month. She has also earned her Critical Care Registered Nurse certification.

Throughout her career, CPT Foster has built a wide range of military experience, beginning with her ordnance foundation and extending into her medical career. She has completed the Ordnance Basic Officer Leader Course, Captains Career Course, Air Movement Control Officer training, Unit Movement Control Officer training, HAZMAT certification, Air Load Planning, Defense Travel System, and Jumpmaster School.

CPT Jackson Goddard grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts, and began his military career in 2015 when he enlisted in the Army as a Specialist. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, earning his MOS as an infantryman before joining the 1-181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts National Guard as a rifleman.

After completing Basic Training, CPT Goddard was accepted into the University of Massachusetts Boston’s nursing program and began participating in ROTC at Boston University. In 2017, he attended Air Assault School at Fort Campbell. Over the next three years, he balanced nursing studies, National Guard service, and work as an EMT. He graduated in 2018 with a nursing degree and earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

In 2019, he attended the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sam Houston and completed the Army’s Clinical Nurse Transition Program. He began his nursing career at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) on the surgical telemetry unit. In 2022, he completed the Army’s Critical Care and Emergency Nursing Course and transitioned to BAMC’s Emergency Department—the only Level 1 trauma center in the Department of Defense—where he gained extensive experience in trauma resuscitation. He later became board-certified as an Emergency Nurse.

In 2024, CPT Goddard attended the Joint En Route Care Course, training to provide critical care for patients during rotary-wing aircraft transfers. That June, he assumed command of HHD, 14th Field Hospital, 16th Hospital Center, while forward deployed to Iraq, simultaneously serving as Officer in Charge of human resources for a brigade-sized element. The following month, he completed the Army’s Basic Airborne Course.

Currently, CPT Goddard serves as one of two emergency nurses with the 759th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Team at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He will join the University of Chicago Medical Center in September 2025.

COL Nicholas Jaszczak, MD is an active duty US Army surgeon currently stationed at The University of Chicago as part of the Army Medical Department Military-Civilian Trauma Team Training Program (AMCT3).  Dr. Jaszczak trained in trauma and surgical critical care at Johns Hopkins University and general surgery at Creighton University.  He joined the Army upon completion of his training and was stationed for 8 years at San Antonio Military Medical Center.  During that time he deployed multiple times to locations throughout the Middle East and Africa in support of special operations and conventional Army missions.  Most recently Dr. Jaszczak was stationed at Oregon Health & Science University for 3 years as part of the same AMCT3 program.

Major (MAJ) Ema Loewen was born in Slovakia. She commissioned into the United States Army Medical Service Corps in 2012, through Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, after graduating from St. John’s University in New York.

Upon commissioning, MAJ Loewen served her first assignment as a Medical Platoon Leader in 1-67th Armor Battalion in 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado. In this assignment she deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Upon redeployment, MAJ Loewen was assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Carson, Colorado, where she served in several positions to include Company Executive Officer, Group Medical Logistics Officer, and Group Deputy Medical Operations Officer. Subsequently, MAJ Loewen completed the Interservice Physician Assistant Program in 2020, earning a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from University of Nebraska Medical Center. Upon graduation, MAJ Loewen was assigned as the battalion physician assistant for 1-12th Infantry Battalion in 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. Currently, MAJ Loewen is a trauma physician assistant at University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), through the Army Military Civilian Trauma Team Training (AMCT3) program.

Dr. Michael McCartin is an emergency physician and former U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (PJ). His own background as a PJ fuels his commitment to preparing today’s Pararescue Specialists for the realities of combat and austere medicine. At UChicago Medicine, Dr. McCartin directs the clinical training of active duty Air Force PJ students rotating through the Adult Emergency Department, Pediatric Emergency Department, Trauma Surgery Service, Labor and Delivery, and the University of Chicago Aeromedical Network (UCAN). 

COL (Dr) Timothy Plackett is a trauma surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago.  He is also a US Army Reservist, paratrooper and the Chief of Surgical Services for the 374th Hospital Center, Fort Sheridan.  He graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, Benedictine University with a Master’s in Public Health, and Midwestern University with a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine.  He completed a general surgery residency at Tripler Army Medical Center, serving as the administrative chief resident, and fellowships in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Loyola University Medical Center.

Major (MAJ) Mathew “Mat” Saab, MD MPH FACEP is an active-duty Soldier and Emergency Medicine Physician assigned to one of the Army’s only three Airborne Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachments, the 759th FRSD (ABN) of Fort Bragg, NC. His interests are in tactical combat casualty care, patient evacuation, and austere resuscitation techniques. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and board eligible in Emergency Medical Services by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Additionally, he is certified as a paramedic by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and in public health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

Holding academic appointment at 2 universities, Mat is heavily involved in the teaching and medical training of several resident and fellow physicians along with medical students in addition to his clinical duties within the UChicago Adult ED.

Mat graduated from The Ohio State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, commissioning as a Second Lieutenant into the Army Medical Corps. Prior to completing medical school at Marshall University of Huntington, WV in 2019, he matched into the emergency medicine residency program at Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC) of Tacoma, WA as his first duty assignment.

There, he was elected by his peers to serve as the Intern Class President, voted MAMC’s Second-Year Emergency Medicine Resident of The Year, and he served on several intra- and interdepartmental committees while training at numerous community and academic centers across 2 states, including 2 level-1 trauma centers, even caring for some of the first confirmed COVID-19 patients in the nation. In 2021, Mat was elected by both his instructors and peers to serve as Chief Emergency Medicine Resident.

Before coming to University of Chicago in 2024, he completed a two-year EMS & Disaster Medicine fellowship housed at Brooke Army Medical Center, the DOD’s only level 1 trauma center.

Mat’s military training and education include Army Medical Officer Basic Course, Captains Career Course, Combat Casualty Care Course, and the Military Tropical Medicine Course. Mat’s awards and decorations include Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Army Parachutist Badge, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

Dr. Kenneth Wilson is a Professor of Surgery and the Medical Director of the University of Chicago trauma center. He is a current Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.