Irwin Army Community Hospital

01/27/2026

Leaders from Irwin Army Community Hospital and the Eastern Kansas VA Health Care System came together on Jan. 14, 2026, to reaffirm and strengthen a long-standing partnership focused on one outcome: better care for Soldiers, Veterans, and their families.

In this feature, COL Laudino Castillo, IACH Commander, and Mr. Rudy Klopfer, Executive Director of the Eastern Kansas VA Health Care System, discuss how their Resource Sharing Agreement allows both organizations to align staffing, specialties, and capabilities to close gaps in access to care. From specialty services and radiology to women’s health, optometry, and mammography, the partnership reduces travel time, improves timeliness, and brings high-quality care closer to home.

The leaders also highlight how collaboration not only benefits Veterans today, but strengthens continuity of care for Active Duty Soldiers who transition to VA care. By sharpening provider skills, maximizing shared resources, and building a seamless bridge between DoD and VA medicine, this partnership reinforces trust with the Fort Riley and Flint Hills communities.

Watch the video feature to learn how IACH and the VA are working together to enhance care, readiness, and long-term health for those who serve and those who have served.

1st Infantry Division | Fort Riley | Defense Health Agency | Medical Readiness Command, West | Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Music title "A Drift Among Infinite Stars" by Scott Buckley () – released under CC-BY 4.0

01/27/2026

U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt visited Irwin Army Community Hospital as part of his Jan. 26 tour of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley. Hospital and division leaders briefed him on IACH’s mission, partnerships, and role in supporting Soldier medical readiness and trusted care for Army families. Rep. Schmidt also toured key clinical areas before continuing to additional stops across the installation focused on readiness, innovation, and community support.
Fort Riley | 1st Infantry Division | Defense Health Agency | Medical Readiness Command, West

01/27/2026

Good morning IACH Patients,

To improve access to care, we are now posting daily updates on our page about same-day appointment availability, broken down into different categories. These appointments are for any patients assigned a Primary Care Manager at our main hospital only. Soldiers assigned to FHC and AHC offer separate appointments.
To understand the graphic, Family Practice encompasses any clinician that can see both pediatric and adult patients, Soldier Medicine is for those Soldiers assigned to Primary Care at IACH, and Internal Medicine only sees adult patients.

01/22/2026

COL Laudino Castillo, Irwin Army Community Hospital commander, and CSM Meredith Greene recognized members of the hospital budget team—Crystal Barnes, Terri Feezor, and Lisa Hamm—for their recent recognition in the Defense Health Agency’s Direct Care Financial Management quarterly newsletter.

During a year marked by the absence of a Lead Budget Analyst, Budget Officer, and CFO, these professionals stepped forward and successfully led IACH through fiscal year-end closeout. Their efforts ensured every dollar was maximized and resources were available where and when patient care required them. As noted by DHA, they “grabbed the bull by the horns,” exemplifying dependability, humility, and agility.

Michelle Simmons, Chief, Resource Management & Program Analysis & Evaluation, was also recognized for providing the leadership that enabled the team’s success.

COL Castillo and CSM Greene also recognized Tabitha Taylor, hospital patient advocate, for her recent engagement that ensured a patient received the appropriate care within the facility. Her actions reflect IACH’s commitment to patient-centered care and the expectation that our patients receive nothing less than quality care.

These recognitions highlight the dedication of our team members who work every day—often behind the scenes—to sustain trust with our patients and support the medical readiness of the 1st Infantry Division and their families.

01/21/2026

IACH Recognizes 2025 Civilian, Soldier, and NCO of the Year

Irwin Army Community Hospital celebrated excellence and service during its 2025 Holiday Ball, held Jan. 17, 2026, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, Kansas. The annual event brought together Soldiers, civilians, and leaders to recognize outstanding contributions to the hospital’s mission of supporting the readiness of the 1st Infantry Division and caring for Fort Riley families.

During the evening, IACH leadership announced the hospital’s 2025 award recipients. Barbara Thomas was named Category 1 Civilian of the Year (Non-Supervisory GS-08 and below), Lorie Underwood was selected as Category 2 Civilian of the Year (Non-Supervisory GS-09–GS-13), and Crystal Ritz received Category 3 Civilian of the Year honors for Supervisors and Managers.

In the military categories, SPC Gabrielle Suslik, a radiology specialist, was selected as IACH Soldier of the Year for 2025; and SGT Skyler Price, a radiology NCO, was named IACH NCO of the Year. Both earned their place in the final competition after winning quarterly boards throughout the year. Quarterly winners advanced to a culminating series of events that tested physical endurance, technical medical proficiency, and leadership knowledge through a timed obstacle course, written examination, medical tactical lanes, and an oral board.

In addition to the annual awards, seven IACH team members, military and civilian, were inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit, recognizing sustained excellence and significant contributions to Army Medicine.

Major General Monté L. Rone, Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, served as the guest speaker for the evening. In his remarks, he emphasized the critical role Irwin Army Community Hospital plays in maintaining trust with the Fort Riley community, noting that high-quality, compassionate care is essential to sustaining the readiness of the Big Red One and supporting Soldiers and their families.

The Holiday Ball provided an opportunity to recognize individual excellence while celebrating the collective efforts of the IACH team, whose daily work directly contributes to mission success and the well-being of the Fort Riley community.

For additional photos, see "IACH Holiday Ball 2025" album.

1st Infantry Division | Fort Riley

01/21/2026