Kevin O'Meara MD

Education

2013 - Pediatric Gastroenterology, National Capital Consortium, Bethesda, MD
2007 - Undersea Medicine, Naval Undersea Medical Institute, Groton, CT
2004 - Pediatrics, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA
2000 - Pediatric Internship, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA
1999 - M.D., Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
1994 - B.S., University of the State of New York, Regents College, Albany, NY

Biography

Captain O’Meara began his naval career in 1988 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. After Initial training he was stationed at Naval Hospital Oakland and shortly thereafter mobilized with the USNS Mercy (TAH 19) for Desert Shield. He then volunteered to join the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and spent the duration of Desert Shield/Desert Storm with the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st FSSG and Combat Service Support Detachment 91.

After Desert Shield and Desert Storm he returned to Naval Hospital Oakland where he worked as a laboratory technician, earned his bachelors degree in biology and then left the Navy to be a Microbiologist at an academic hospital in Chicago. In 1995, Captain O’Meara received a commission in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps and began medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).

Graduating from USUHS in 1999, Captain O’Meara began Pediatric Internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and followed this with an assignment as General Medical Officer onboard the USS WASP (LHD 1). Here he earned the Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer qualification and, following September 11, 2001, deployed on WASP to support Marine Corps and humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Persian Gulf and East Africa.

Upon Returning from deployment, Captain O’Meara continued his pediatric training at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, graduating in 2004. During his 3rd year of residency he was voted Pediatric Educator of the Year by USUHS students. He then served as a general pediatrician and Pediatric Department Head at Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan.

In 2007 Captain O’Meara was selected for training as an undersea medical officer candidate. After Graduation, he transferred to Naval Special Warfare Group 4 where he served as Senior Medical Officer. Captain O’Meara deployed to Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines, as the Civil Military Operations Officer, to Africa in support of special operations in Kenya and in support of operations and training missions for west coast Seal Delivery Vehicle detachments.

Captain O’Meara returned to the National Capital Region in 2010 where he completed his fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology. After Fellowship he became the Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Walter Reed and then Chief of Pediatric Subspecialty Services. CAPT O'Meara requested transfer to Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and became the Chief of the Pediatric Department there. After 3 successful years he returned to Walter Reed as faculty for the fellowship and residency programs. He deployed to Qatar as the sole pediatrician with a US Army Medical Company caring for 4000 Afghan evacuees - 2000 of which were children. He is board certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. He is an Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University. He also sits on advisory boards for the National Science Foundation and the Defense Health Agency.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

2017 to Present National Science Foundation, Polar Programs, Medical Advisory Committee Member

2007-2010 Senior Medical Officer, Naval Special Warfare Group 4, Virginia Beach, VA - Deployed to JSOTF-P (Mindinao), JTF-HOA (Kenya) and with USS Florida (SSGN-728)

2000-2002 General Medical Officer, USS WASP (LHD 1), Norfolk, VA - Deployed to OEF (HOA and Indian Ocean)

1989-1994 Hospital Corpsman, Oakland, CA, Deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait (Desert Shield/Desert Storm)

2004 - Pediatric Educator of the Year, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA - 2004

2005-2007 - Instructor, Medical English and Western Medicine, Approach to the Patient, Yokohama City University Medical School, Yokohama, Japan

2013 - Robert A. Phillips Award Winner: “Adaptive response to chronic inflammation in the gut mucosa stem cell compartment.

O'Meara KM, Notari L, et al. The Emerging Roles of IL-13 in Chronic Colitis. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2012; 55(4): Suppl 1, ppE115-16.

Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star, Combat Action Ribbon, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer, Dive Medical Officer, Fleet Marine Forces Ribbon/Device.