Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center

The Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, commonly known as TATRC, is a medical research unit of the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command. Headquartered at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, it develops, evaluates, and helps transition technologies intended to improve military medical care, particularly in circumstances where patients, clinicians, and specialist support may be separated by distance or operational conditions. TATRC traces its institutional origins to a United States Army and United States Air Force project launched in 1991 to develop, procure, and deploy a filmless medical diagnostic imaging system. Lieutenant Colonel Fred Goeringer was assigned as project officer on 1 November 1991. The initiative became a formal organization in 1993 under the name Medical Advanced Technology Management Office, or MATMO. During the 1990s, MATMO worked across a broad technology base that included medical imaging, biomedical science, wireless networking, secure positioning and communications systems, data compression, and mobile tactical networks. The organization was renamed the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center in 1998. Its work expanded beyond imaging to encompass health informatics, remote monitoring, mobile computing, simulation and training, virtual-reality applications, biomaterials, and concepts associated with hospitals of the future. A consistent theme has been the use of communications and digital systems to support deployed forces, distributed medical teams, and patients who cannot readily reach conventional tertiary-care facilities. TATRC also contributed to the development and early promotion of telemedicine as a military and civilian field. In the first half of the 1990s, tertiary-care telemedicine support from the Walter Reed Telemedicine Directorate was used for military medical missions in 12 countries. TATRC-related personnel and predecessor organizations were also involved in early efforts connected with the American Telemedicine Association. In 1993, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Poropatich was deployed to Somalia during Operation Restore Hope with responsibilities related to applying telemedicine in an operational setting. The center operates as a government research and technology organization rather than as a commercial healthcare provider. Its role is to sponsor, coordinate, test, and transition research and advanced capabilities for military medicine and related public-sector needs. Its stated mission is to automate casualty care by combining data, human expertise, and machine capabilities into trustworthy solutions intended to improve medical performance and casualty outcomes. This orientation places TATRC at the intersection of military medicine, digital health, medical-device research, artificial intelligence and decision support, communications, and human performance. TATRC is headquartered at Fort Detrick and has satellite offices at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, and at a second location in Frederick, Maryland. The organization was involved in multiple projects responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Leadership of the organization and its predecessors was historically designated by the title Director; that title changed to Commander in October 2021. Colonel Jeremy Pamplin therefore served first as Director, from June 2019 to October 2021, and subsequently as Commander through April 2025, according to the supplied reference material. The available material does not identify the commander after April 2025.

TATRC developed from a military medical information-technology effort initiated in 1991. On 1 November of that year, Lieutenant Colonel Fred Goeringer became project officer for a joint Army–Air Force program intended to create and deploy a filmless medical diagnostic imaging system. The project reflected a broader military need to move medical information rapidly and securely across dispersed facilities and operational environments. In 1993, the effort was formalized as the Medical Advanced Technology Management Office, or MATMO, under Goeringer's leadership. During the mid-1990s, the organization worked with technologies including biomedical systems, secure positioning and communications, wireless networks, data compression, medical imaging, and adaptable tactical mobile networks. These technologies were considered in relation to the practical needs of military medicine, where clinicians may need to assess and treat casualties despite limited infrastructure and long distances. Leadership changed in March 1996, when Colonel Gary Gilbert succeeded Goeringer as director. In 1997, Colonel Jeffrey Roller of the United States Air Force Medical Corps joined as clinical director. Roller later succeeded Gilbert as organizational director, while Gilbert moved to a deputy role focused on information management and information technology before retiring in June 1998. MATMO was reorganized and renamed the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center in 1998. The new name reflected a widening mandate. In addition to medical imaging and information systems, TATRC became associated with telemedicine, remote monitoring, mobile computing, simulation and training, virtual reality, biomaterials, and future-hospital concepts. Its work sought to connect clinical expertise and advanced technology with the operational requirements of deployed forces. Telemedicine was a particularly important area. Between 1993 and 1996, tertiary-care support was delivered through the Walter Reed Telemedicine Directorate for military medical missions in 12 countries. TATRC and its predecessor organizations also supported the development and promotion of telemedicine as an emerging field, including early support for the American Telemedicine Association. During Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1993, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Poropatich used telemedicine-related capabilities in an operational deployment, illustrating the center's interest in extending specialist medical support beyond fixed hospitals. Roller remained director until his retirement in October 2006, after which Colonel Karl Friedl assumed the position. Later leadership included Colonel Jeremy Pamplin, who served as director from June 2019 until October 2021 and then became the organization's commander when the leadership title changed. The supplied reference identifies his command as continuing through April 2025 but does not identify a successor. TATRC's later work has continued to focus on integrating digital information, human expertise, communications, and machine-supported tools into medical operations. Its stated mission emphasizes trustworthy systems that can automate or improve casualty care and produce better medical outcomes. In 2020, the center participated in multiple projects related to the COVID-19 pandemic. TATRC is headquartered at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, with satellite offices at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, and at another Frederick location. It remains a U.S. Army research organization rather than a consumer-facing healthcare brand.

1. 2021Senior leadership title changes

   The organization changed the senior leadership title from Director to Commander in October.

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2. 2020COVID-19 response involvement

   TATRC participated in multiple projects addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

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3. 1998MATMO renamed TATRC

   The Medical Advanced Technology Management Office was reorganized and renamed the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center.

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4. 1993Medical Advanced Technology Management Office established

   The precursor project became a formal organization known as MATMO.

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5. 1993Operational telemedicine use in Somalia

   During Operation Restore Hope, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Poropatich was deployed to Somalia with a mission involving the use of telemedicine.

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6. 1993Tertiary-care telemedicine missions expand internationally

   Between 1993 and 1996, telemedicine support from the Walter Reed Telemedicine Directorate was used for military medical missions in 12 countries.

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7. 1991Joint filmless medical imaging project begins

   On 1 November, Lieutenant Colonel Fred Goeringer was assigned to lead development, procurement, and deployment of a filmless medical diagnostic imaging system, the initial precursor to TATRC.

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A U.S. Army government research center positioned at the intersection of military medicine, telemedicine, digital health, medical imaging, mobile communications, simulation, and advanced casualty-care technology.

• Filmless Medical Diagnostic Imaging SystemMedical imaging1991

  The initial project from which TATRC developed was a joint Army and Air Force effort to develop, procure, and deploy a filmless medical diagnostic imaging system. It represented an early attempt to replace physical image handling with digital diagnostic information suitable for sharing across military medical facilities and operational networks.

• Military Telemedicine SystemsTelemedicine1993

  TATRC's telemedicine work supports remote access to clinical expertise and medical information for deployed forces and distributed military-care settings. The work has included tertiary-care support, remote consultation, and technology assessment rather than a single commercial product sold to consumers.

• Casualty-Care Automation and Decision SupportDigital military medicine

  A central contemporary research direction is the integration of data, human users, and machine capabilities into trustworthy systems intended to improve medical performance and casualty outcomes. The work addresses technology-enabled care in demanding and resource-constrained operational environments.

• Medical Simulation and Training TechnologiesMedical education and simulation

  TATRC has worked with simulation and training technologies designed to prepare military medical personnel and support the evaluation of procedures, systems, and human performance. The area includes advanced digital and immersive approaches rather than a single named commercial offering.

• 2020COVID-19 response research

  United States

  TATRC participated in multiple projects responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, applying its expertise in telemedicine and advanced medical technology to an emergency health context.

  Outcome. The center contributed to pandemic-related military medical research and technology activity; the supplied material does not specify individual project outcomes.

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• 1993Operation Restore Hope telemedicine deployment

  Somalia · United States military operations

  A TATRC-related medical technology effort was applied during the Somalia deployment associated with Operation Restore Hope. The deployment demonstrated the potential use of telemedicine to connect deployed personnel with clinical expertise and support.

  Outcome. The operation became an early example of telemedicine being applied in a military field environment.

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• 1993International tertiary-care telemedicine support

  12 countries · Military medical missions

  From 1993 through 1996, tertiary-care telemedicine support was provided through the Walter Reed Telemedicine Directorate for military medical missions in 12 countries, within the broader development of the Army's telemedicine capabilities.

  Outcome. The program expanded the practical experience base for remote military medical consultation and support.

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• 2021Change from Director to Commander titleOther

  TATRC had historically used Director for its senior leader.

  What changed. The senior leadership title was changed to Commander in October 2021.

  Aftermath. Jeremy Pamplin became both the final leader described as Director and the first leader described as Commander under the new title.

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• 1998Reorganization as the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research CenterStrategy

  The predecessor organization had broadened from a medical imaging and information-technology project into a wider advanced military medical technology activity.

  What changed. MATMO was reorganized and renamed TATRC, formalizing a broader focus on telemedicine, medical informatics, mobile systems, simulation, and related technologies.

  Aftermath. The new organization continued as a medical research unit within the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command.

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• 2021Leadership title changes from Director to Commander

  TATRC changed the title used for its senior leader from Director to Commander in October 2021.

  Leadership change
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• 2020TATRC contributes to COVID-19 response projects

  The center participated in multiple projects related to the COVID-19 pandemic, applying its medical technology and telemedicine research capabilities to an emergency public-health context.

  Other
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• 1991TATRC predecessor begins filmless medical imaging project

  A joint Army and Air Force medical project began work on a filmless medical diagnostic imaging system, providing the initial institutional precursor to TATRC.

  Other
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1. Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (United States Army)
2. Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center official website