On the recordJanuary 28, 2020
today I pay tribute to a pioneer in the field of military medicine, retired Army COL Dr. Robert J.T. Joy. Colonel Joy was founding professor of military medicine and commandant of the School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University, USU. Most recently, he served as professor emeritus of USU's Section of Military Medical History. He passed away last year at the age of 90. Born in Rhode Island and raised between Narragansett, RI, and St. Petersburg, FL, he studied pre-med and pre-law at the University of Rhode Island, before attending Yale University Medical School on a Reserve medical officers training scholarship. From there, his service to his country began. After assignments stateside, Dr. Joy volunteered to lead the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, WRAIR, team to Vietnam, where he received his first--of four--Legion of Merit medals and his team received a Meritorious Unit Citation for their field research. After becoming Deputy Director and then Director of WRAIR, many thought he had found his dream job. However, after a meeting with Dr. Jay Sanford, the first dean of USU, in 1976, Colonel Joy received a transfer to take the position of professor of military medicine and commandant of the School of Medicine at the newly created USU.…
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