Shaun Firster, certified registered nurse anesthetist with North American Partners in Anesthesia, who recently served in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, shared photos with his NAPA colleagues Oct. 5 of the U.S. flag being flown in honor of NAPA during combat operations.
Mr. Firster was part of the 624th Forward Surgical Team, OB Fenty in the Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. After his deployment, Mr. Firster returned to work at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot in Erie, Pa.
"Wearing this uniform and serving with others that do the same is truly an honor and a privilege," Mr. Firster wrote in a note to his clinical colleagues. "I just wanted to send a token of my appreciation to all of you. Will be home soon."
Mr. Firster shared a certificate to represent the flag flown in honor of NAPA, which is now hanging in the reception area of NAPA's headquarters in Melville, N.Y. "The entire organization is thrilled and humbled by this recognition," said John Di Capua, MD, CEO of NAPA. "To have the American flag fly in NAPA's honor while [Mr.] Firster was serving his country during combat operations in Afghanistan is an inspiration to all of us."