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An interview with Dr. Stephen Ferrara, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs

Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs/Military Health System

Jan. 9, 2026 | 22:27

In this interview, Dr. Stephen Ferrara, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, looks back on the successes of the Military Health System in 2025 and the outlook for 2026. Supporting the warfighter, sustaining medical skills, and strengthening the health care system -- referred as the "3 S's" -- are three key pillars of providing “health care for the people who defend our country,” says the top Department of War doctor. In this interview, Ferrara discussed the critical priorities for the MHS, such as upgrading infrastructure, maintaining clinical readiness, and strengthening the pipeline of talented professionals dedicated to delivering the best possible care for warfighters. "Fundamentally, our focus is to support the warfighter," said Ferrara in this interview. "There are many great health care systems in America — but there's only one great American health care system that goes to war."