Keesler medic to serve in White House clinic

Published March 27, 2013
By Steve Pivnick
81st Medical Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- One 81st Medical Group nurse will soon join an elite medical staff when he becomes a member of the White House clinic.

Capt. Kyle Perry, a critical care nurse in the 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron intensive care unit, was notified of his selection for the post in February and reports there in October for the three-year assignment.

"I didn't hear anything for three months, then I received an email telling me I had been selected for an interview," Perry said. "I went to Washington for a two-day interview process in early February. Once completed, the entire staff (of 40-45 physicians, physician assistants, nurses and medical technicians) votes and the next day the applicants were called to let them know whether they'd been chosen."

Three other nurses were competing for the three Air Force positions.

He added, "To say the least, I was pretty surprised that I got the job. When I left for the interview, I wasn't at all certain I would be selected. Everyone was very friendly and I'm excited about working with them. The entire staff is outstanding and they've been working together for some time. They truly rely on one another."

The staff is led by the president's physician, a Navy captain, and is comprised of medics from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The medical unit cares for the president, his family, the White House staff and visitors and the job requires two to three weeks of travel each month. The clinic is located on the grounds adjacent to the White House and five to six staff members provide care in the clinic.

Perry said. "When the president travels, the clinic staff goes in advance to establish emergency medical services."

Before leaving Keesler, Perry will attend flight nurse training at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and survival school at Fairchild AFB, Wash. He anticipates further training after he begins his new duties.