Military Pharmacist of the Year

LTC Leslie Gibbs Walthall, PharmDUS Army Medical Service Corps

San Antonio, TX

For LTC Leslie Walthall, patient care is a priority—even under enemy fire.

While overseeing pharmacy support during the Iraqi High Court Tribunals in Baghdad in 2007, LTC Walthall spent multiple nights caring for critically ill and traumatically injured detainees at a theater internment facility.

“In war, there were instances where her Combat Support Hospital exceeded its operational capacity and began to care for patients in the hallways,” says her nomination. “LTC Walthall expertly supervised and coordinated pharmacy support to all patients in the hospital and in/out of the wire through hostile fire.”

The deployment, which included treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and cancer, builds on a history of success in harsh conditions. LTC Walthall, who entered military service as a Medical Specialist in the Army Reserve, rose through the military ranks, and held numerous medical operations assignments. She voluntarily entered active duty within the Army following September 11, 2001.

At her first active duty assignment, LTC Walthall soon became the only active duty military pharmacist on her base when her supporting unit deployed to Kosovo and Iraq. Despite this, LTC Walthall provided pharmaceutical care to more than 25,000 beneficiaries in the 300-mile radius and implemented more than $1.5 million in performance improvement initiatives.

LTC Walthall currently serves as US Army Service Lead for the Joint Service Pharmacy Technician training program at the Medical Education and Training Center in San Antonio, Texas, where she and her team prepare and train more than 500 students who will serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.