by Rodney Jackson Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Public Affairs
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – Cpt. Matthew Perdue, a physician assistant at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, was recognized as one of the phantom lethal warriors of the week by Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commander, III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos, during a ceremony Jan. 10.
Perdue serves in a dual role as Interservice Physician Assistant Program Phase II Clinical Coordinator and Program Director for the Emergency Medicine PA Program at CRDAMC.
He received the award after being named the U.S. Army Surgeon General physician assistant of the year and will receive that award from Lt. Gen. Mary Izaguirre, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command, later this year.
“This Phantom Warrior Awards ceremony is our opportunity to recognize excellence in our formations,” said Admiral. “These are members of Team Cavazos who went above and beyond to help our Soldiers, Families and members of the Central Texas Community.”
“It’s unusual but he is fulfilling two full time program director billets in our hospital,” said Col. Christopher Mitchell, medical director of the interservice physician assistant program and the emergency medicine physician assistant training programs. “In these roles, he is responsible for the initial and advanced training of PAs, who provide medical care to the majority of our operational force, consistent with the ethos ‘From the Line, For the Line’ embraced by all Army PAs.”
Perdue also works clinically in the emergency department, both in the main department and within the urgent care zone.
“He is an excellent clinician and is well regarded by his students and colleagues,” said Mitchell. “Captain Perdue is a clear example of the best of the Medical Specialist Corps and is a role model for other PAs.”
Perdue has been a physician assistant for a little over eight years and a member of the CRDAMC team since 2019.
“It’s an honor,” said Perdue when asked what it meant for him to receive the award.
“This is a new award, and to be the first to receive it feels like being a part of Army PA history,” said Perdue.
His advice to PAs aspiring to receive the award, “Always demand excellence of yourself. Be the clinician, leader, peer, and friend that you would want to have.”
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