Colonel Laura Ruse Brosch, PhD RN, US Army Retired

Board Member, Individual Letterman Award Winner, 2015

Distinguished by her tireless work for the rights and well-being of patients, Colonel Laura Brosch is both a great leader and a great adviser in the field of military medicine. Colonel Laura Brosch currently serves as Director of the Office of Research Protections (ORP) and Director of ORP Human Research Protection Office Headquarters at the US Army Medical Research and Material Command on Fort Detrick. Since beginning her career as a civilian nurse over 40 years ago, Colonel Brosch has worked to ensure high-quality care for recipients of military medicine.

Colonel Brosch established the Department of Defense guidelines for ethical research on humans who are not able to provide informed consent. In doing so, Brosch navigated changing federal guidelines and the ongoing debate on medical ethics. She created a research process that did not sacrifice ethics for results, nor vice versa. Brosch’s guidelines have made it possible for innovative research on traumatic brain injury, en-route care, and hemorrhage control to be conducted. Brosch continues to enable ethical and effective research as Director of the Office of Research Protections, where she has been instrumental in initiating new research programs including trauma related research studies incorporating civilian trauma centers. Brosch has also been a key advisor to medical researchers, participating in weekly, if not daily, calls to researchers in Afghanistan and Iraq, providing sage guidance.

As Director of the Office of Research Protections, Colonel Brosch established an in-theater Joint Combat Command Casualty Research Team. Brosch understands the importance and challenges of in-theater research. While working as the Nursing Research Consultant to the US Army Surgeon General from 2000-2004, Colonel Brosch led the formation of the first in-theater research team since the Vietnam War.

The impact of Colonel Brosch’s work is far-reaching. Experts estimate that her influence has touched half of all clinical research conducted during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Her work has contributed to the lowest case fatality rate in the history of warfare. Brosch is widely recognized as a national expert of emergency research. She is the Department of Defense’s most valuable expert when it comes to complex regulatory, human protection, and ethical issues. In addition to the Letterman Award, she has been awarded the Army Order of Military Medical Merit, several Meritorious Service Medals, the Legion of Merit Medal, two US Army Superior Civilian Service Awards, US Army Combat Casualty Care Research Program Award, the Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee “Nurse of the Year” award, and many more awards  and honors in recognition of her service and her contributions to the medical field.

Do you know someone who carries on Letterman’s legacy today.
Nominate them for the Major Jonathan Letterman Medical Excellence Award.