2016 Scientific Paper Award
It is our pleasure to announce that the winner of the 2016 AMSRO Scientific Paper Award is Eric Chumbley of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. The title of his abstract is The Use of Home Cervical Traction To Reduce Neck Pain in Fighter Pilots. This abstract was one of 85 abstracts that were reviewed. This award will be presented at the Aerospace Medical Association's 87th Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Thank you all of the committee members for their work in this.
Lt. Col. (Dr.) Eric Chumbley became interested in investigating fighter pilots’ neck pain while serving as flight surgeon with the US Air Force’s Formal Training Unit for the F-15C at the 173rd Fighter Wing, Kingsley Field ANGB, OR. He joined forces with a local physical therapist, Nicole O’Hair, MSPT, USAFSAM research guru Col. (Dr.) James McEachen, fellow 173rd flight surgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Christopher Lienesch, Wright State University statistical wizard Adrienne Stolfi, MSPH, and USAFSAM physiologist Dr. Bruce Wright to develop a viable research plan. Much to his surprise, the wing supported the study.
The team learned that the regular use of a Saunders Home Cervical Traction device improves pain mainly for those fighter pilots who have greater pain at baseline. They hope to continue their work both academically and operationally with the recommendation that USAF fighter squadrons make this simple, safe, and inexpensive option available to their members with neck complaints, in conjunction with judicious visits to the flight surgeon’s office and physical therapy. Their abstract entitled “The Use of Home Cervical Traction to Reduce Neck Pain in Fighter Pilots” received the 2016 AMSRO Scientific Paper Award, and will be presented at the 2016 AsMA Scientific Meeting in Atlantic City, NJ.
Dr. Chumbley is currently completing his MS in Aerospace Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton OH. Should he graduate in June, he will move on to the USAF Residency in Aerospace Medicine at USAFSAM, Wright-Patterson AFB OH. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Scott AFB Family Medicine Residency, and USUHS Fellowship in Sports Medicine. He lives in Dayton with his wife, Amy and dog, Lucy.
