55th Medical Group - Offutt Air Force Base (2024)

The 55th Medical Group supports the 55th Wing, United States Strategic Command, 557th Weather Wing, and Team Offutt, providing medical and dental services for nearly 20,000 enrolled patients with outpatient clinic capabilities and ancillary support. Additionally, the 55th MDG supports over 43,000 TRICARE beneficiaries in Omaha and the surrounding areas.

The 55th MDG is accredited by The Joint Commission, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the College of American Pathologists.

The Medical Group is comprised of four squadrons:

The55th Dental Squadronprovides high-quality comprehensive dental services, assuring the highest state of dental health and readiness for Team Offutt. Services include general dentistry, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics. The squadron also supports an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program, which typically graduates eight military residents every year.

The55th Healthcare Operations Squadronprovides high-quality primary and specialty health care services at Ehrling Bergquist Clinic and several major medical centers in the Omaha community. Services include Family Health, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Immunizations, Dermatology, General Surgery and Podiatry. The 55th HCOS also hosts the largest integrated military-civilian Family Medicine Residency program in the nation through a strong partnership with the University of Nebraska.

The55th Medical Support Squadronserves as the hub of medical support functions and ancillary health services for the MDG, ensuring a high level of medical readiness and customer services while supporting wartime contingency operations, homeland defense plans, and disaster preparedness. The 55th MDSS supports health care delivery by managing a $36 million budget and manpower programs for more than 600 staff members.

The55th Operational Medical Readiness Squadronprovides, optimizes, and integrates population-based preventive medicine services and guidance to enable peak mission readiness and sustained performance. In addition, the squadron provides safety and operational medicine expertise, including proactive intervention, risk communication, and behavior modification for all beneficiaries. Furthermore, it is the foundation for the medical component of the base’s Personnel Reliability and Assurance Program, providing 24/7/365 medical support to personnel in this mission-critical status. Finally, the 55th OMRS offers services in Aerospace Physiology, Audiology, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Chiropractic, Flight and Operational Medicine, Health Promotions, Mental Health, Occupational Health, Optometry, Physical Therapy and Public Health.

Our facility honors the late Col. (Dr.) Ehrling L. Bergquist, 1905-49:

Col. Bergquist earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota, and entered active duty on July 1, 1929. In 1941, he traveled the U.S. recruiting cadets for the U. S. Army Air Corps Flying School. In 1942, Capt. Bergquist’s innovative thinking and exceptional performance of duty while working with the Army Air Corps Flying School led to his promotion to colonel. In November 1948, he was assigned as the first Command Surgeon, Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base. During this assignment, he traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, successfully accomplishing special assignments for the command. He also presented the first plan for Blue Cross/Blue Shield military dependent medical coverage, a precursor to today’s TRICARE plan. Col. Bergquist’s career ended tragically on Feb. 12, 1949, when the B-17 in which he was a passenger crashed as it prepared to land at Offutt.