Team Kirtland Celebrates Nurse-Technician Appreciation Week Published May 10, 2024 By Senior Airman Ruben Garibay 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Military nurses and technicians are vital to ensuring the readiness of every service member no matter which respective branch they serve in. Being fit-to-fight does not only correlate with physical and mental fitness, but it stems heavily in maintaining the health and wellbeing of our service members. “Patient care is a team effort,” Capt. Jennifer Ramirez, 377 MDG clinical nurse, reflects. “We all need each other in different ways and we all have different strengths. Learning how to collaborate and having a strong team, is crucial to meeting the demands of the mission.” Team Kirtland took a week to show its appreciation to the Airmen working in the 377th Medical Group by hosting a variety of morale-boosting events throughout the week of May 6- 10, 2024. Maj. Heather Farrington, 377 MDG flight chief nurse, and her planning committee, were the driving force behind the week-long engagements held at the clinic. “A culture of excellence and collaboration is created with leading by example,” Farrington shares. “Nurse-Tech week is all about showing our appreciation to our medics who work so hard and continue to excel both professionally and personally.” Nurse-Tech week kicked off with opening remarks from Col. Nisa Pistone, 377 MDG commander, followed by breakfast and sweet-treats provided to medics. Throughout the rest of the week, engagements such as Trivia, “Eat Fresh” and “Our Pleasure” luncheons, an ice cream cart roundabout and to top off the successful week, the 377 MDG hosted a “Burger Burn” grill-out with closing remarks from Col. Elizabeth Keller, 377th Air Base Wing deputy commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Antonio Cooper, 377 ABW command chief. “You guys are the unsung heroes of our force,” Keller remarks. “Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you do.”