Post Messenger Recorder -

Colonel (Dr.) Matthew Talarczyk, son of Karen Talarczyk and the late Richard Talarczyk, recently retired from the United States Air Force after 25 years of service. His last assignment was at Wright-Patterson Medical Center, where he was the Chief of Surgery and Commander of the 88th Surgical Operations Squadron, 88th Air Base Wing (AFMC), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. As the director of all surgical services, Colonel Talarczyk provided clinical oversight and guidance to over 270 Department of Defense personnel ensuring continuity of surgical care and performance improvement programs while maintaining compliance with Air Force, The Joint Commission, State, and Federal regulations and standards. He executed a $16.5 million budget providing care to over 58,000 beneficiaries and was responsible for direct clinical oversight and guidance of five operative suites providing full-spectrum surgical care from 23 surgical subspecialties in 14 outpatient clinic facilities. Colonel Talarczyk also oversaw graduate medical education for 36 active duty general surgery and obstetric-gynecologic residents, 40 enlisted Phase II surgical service apprentices, and supported a clinical training site for the USUHS Nurse Anesthesia training program. He has served as the Military Plastic Surgery Consultant to the US Air Force Surgeon General since 2013, where he provided insight and guidance on policy, manning, readiness, clinical practice, and surgical compliance.

Colonel Talarczyk was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering. In 1994, he received his initial commission in the United States Air Force. Colonel Talarczyk earned his Medical Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998, and continued his surgical training at Wright State University and Wright-Patterson Medical Center General Surgery Residency program. He then attended Oregon Health and Science University's Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery training program and graduated in 2005 while also completing his General Surgery Board Certification.

Colonel Talarczyk was assigned to Wilford Hall Medical Center in 2005, and later relocated to Wright-Patterson Medical Center in 2008. Colonel Talarczyk later attended The Ohio State University and, in 2012, became the first Air Force Plastic Surgeon to complete a fellowship in Reconstructive Microsurgery. He returned to Wright-Patterson Medical Center and has served as General Surgery Flight Commander, Chief of Surgery and General Surgery Master Clinician while also serving as a member of the Credentials and Medical Executive Committees and Chairing the Morbidity and Mortality Conference. Colonel Talarczyk is currently Board Certified in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has published two text book chapters, numerous journal articles and delivered over 45 lectures around the country.

From left: Colonel (Dr.) Matthew Talarczyk, his wife Sharon Talarczyk, his mother Karen Talarczyk, and brothers Joe Talarczyk and Bob Talarczyk.

Colonel Talarczyk has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He also taught Disaster and Trauma Management in Nepal for the Defense Institute of Medical Operations (DIMO). Colonel Talarczyk has instructed over 100 deploying orthopedic surgeons the management of lower extremity soft tissue injuries through the Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons (SOMOS) Combat Extremity Surgery courses. He further participated in multiple humanitarian plastic surgery missions in Latin America, including Ecuador, Nicaragua, Columbia, Belize, Panama and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, Colonel Talarczyk has supported two plastic surgery manning assists to Aviano Air Base, Italy.

Colonel Talarczyk is married to the former Sharon L. Snook of Louisville, Kentucky. They have three children, Ryan, Brendan and Mason. Dr. Talarczyk will begin his new medical journey working for the Veteran Administration's Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio.