Volume 9, Issue 10 n June 9, 2014

www.usuhs.edu

The Official USU Newsletter

Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way
On the cover

The Uniformed Services University is 

fighting post traumatic stress disorder 

through research, education and patient 

care. Army Col. Jess Calohan, a Graduate 

School of Nursing faculty member, is part 

of this work. Read more about his PTSD 

investigations on page 3.

Courtesy of DoD Live

Sharon Holland

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Gwendolyn Smalls

Chief, Media Affairs

Master Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson

NCOIC of VPE and Deputy Chief, 

Media Affairs

Christine Creenan-Jones

Editor and Layout Design

MC2 Brittney Cannady

Writer and Photographer

MC3 Laura Bailey

Writer and Photographer

Production

Editorial content is edited, prepared 

and provided by the USU Office of 

External Affairs unless otherwise 

indicated. The Pulse staff may 

include or exclude articles based 

upon news value, impact on the 

university and space availability.

Submissions

The Pulse will be published 

bi-weekly on Mondays. The 

deadline for submissions is at 4 p.m. 

Tuesday prior to the publication 

date. Submissions can be sent to 

christine.creenan-jones@usuhs.edu 

or by calling 301-295-3338.

2 the pulse June 9, 2014

New initiative aims to improve quality, reduce 

cost of care for critically ill patients

by Sharon Holland, managing editor

 Service members are surviving catastrophic combat 

injuries because of advances 

in body armor, the far-forward deployment of advanced 

medical resources, and the 

integration of an adaptive 

health care system that can 

rapidly effect change. However, because there is limited 

precedence for caring for such 

complex and life-threatening 

injuries, the costs for critical 

care of these types of injuries 

can skyrocket. A new DoDled and -funded initiative has 

been launched, aimed at improving clinical outcomes and 

reducing the cost of care for 

critically ill patients for the 

benefit of both military and 

civilian healthcare systems.

 The Surgical Critical Care 

Initiative, or SC2i, was established at the Uniformed 

Services University under 

the leadership of Navy Capt. 

(Dr.) Eric Elster, chair of the 

university’s Normal M. Rich 

Department of Surgery. The 

university will partner with 

the Naval Medical Research 

Center, Walter Reed National 

Military Medical Center, Emory University, Duke University and DecisionQ to develop 

decision-making tools for the 

management of complex and 

critically injured patients and 

will translate these advances 

into clinical practice.

 SC2i investigators will analyze data collected in standard 

practice in both the military and civilian health care 

systems, leveraging lessons 

learned from recent conflicts 

to establish tools that support 

clinical decision-making and 

accelerate assessments, ultimately saving thousands of 

health care dollars.

 The Department of Defensefunded initiative will undertake a number of projects 

across several disciplines, 

including integrated research 

platforms across all of the 

partnering institutions and 

rapid turnaround of innovation into deliverable products. 

Some of the initial areas that 

SC2i will focus on include 

wound closure, targeting severe infections, decompensation in the intensive care unit, 

and decisions surrounding 

surgical interventions in traumatic brain injury patients.

 “A decade of conflict has resulted in the lowest mortality 

rate in the history of conflict 

despite an increasing injury 

severity. As a result, the injury 

patterns that we are presented 

with are among the most complex and challenging seen in 

modern medicine. The aim of 

this effort is to change critical 

care by enhancing decisionmaking by making better 

use of information. This is a 

direct benefit from the experience gained in taking care of 

wounded warriors over the 

past decade,” said Elster.
3 the pulse June 9, 2014

Old drug brings new promise for PTSD-related nightmares

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Every day, thousands of American service members relive the 

trauma of war in their sleep. They 

hear explosions, see the carnage of 

battle erupt around them and feel 

the crushing weight of a painful 

combat memory resurface in their 

dreams.

 Unfortunately, frequent nightmares are common among service 

members with post traumatic 

stress disorder. Moreover, they 

disrupt sleep, which can magnify 

the daytime symptoms of PTSD 

and stymie the recovery process 

significantly.

 “Although psychotherapy is 

the best treatment for PTSD, it’s 

less impactful when a patient is 

tired, irritable, anxious or unable 

to concentrate because recurring 

nightmares continuously disrupt 

their sleep,” said Army Lt. Col. 

Jess Calohan, program director 

for the Psychiatric Mental Health 

Nurse Practitioner Program at the 

Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School 

of Nursing. 

 In 2005, Calohan began working 

with Dr. Murray Raskind, who 

discovered that a largely obsolete 

blood pressure medication called 

prazosin appeared to be effective 

for treating PTSD-related nightmares. 

 In his own practice, Raskind, 

director of the Northwest Network 

Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center at Veterans Affairs, used prazosin to treat 

Vietnam War veterans with PTSD. 

 Theoretically, the drug block the 

effects of adrenaline in areas of 

the brain thought to be responsible for causing nightmares during 

sleep. Raskind found that prazosin was tremendously successful 

at improving sleep quality and 

other PTSD-related symptoms. 

 Still, Raskind wondered if prazosin would also work on active duty 

service members. Their combat 

experiences were 

different and they 

weren’t as far removed 

from the fight as the 

Vietnam War-era patients in his study. 

 Raskind, Calohan 

and colleagues partnered to investigate 

prazosin’s crossover efficacy. In two 

separate VA-funded 

studies, active-duty 

soldiers with PTSD 

reported experiencing 

better, more restful 

sleep while taking prazosin. Furthermore, 

in many cases, the 

combat-related nightmares that amplified 

other PTSD symptoms 

were eliminated altogether. This led to vast 

improvements in overall PTSD treatment for 

the soldiers Calohan 

treated at Joint Base 

Lewis-McChord in 

Washington and at 

frontline clinics in Iraq 

and Afghanistan.

 “Before our research, prazosin 

was a level C on the Strength of 

Recommendation on the VA/DoD 

clinical practice guidelines, a system that measures the quality and 

consistency of evidence for using a 

medical intervention. Now, it’s a 

level B but we fully expect prazosin will move up to a level A soon,” 

Calohan said.

 Level A is the highest rating on 

the SORT scale. It’s reserved for 

interventions validated by highquality, evidence-based studies. 

The team’s compelling work is 

reaching for the top of the scale 

through research results and professional accolades. In fact, their 

study was the most read article in 

the September issue of last year’s 

American Journal of Psychiatry. 

It was also lauded as the Number 

One Innovation in Psychiatry for 

2013 by the New England Journal 

of Medicine.

 Furthermore, in an effort to 

continue improving patient care, 

Calohan is currently using his 

expertise to shape the way rising military healthcare providers 

deliver care to service members 

with PTSD.

 “Now that I’m here at USU, I’m 

able to review the prazosin literature and its application in clinical 

practice with my students. It is 

definitely a good thing because 

I’m educating providers about an 

effective method for treating sleep 

disturbances related to PTSD,” 

said Calohan.

Nightmares are common side effects of post 

traumatic stress disorder. To combat this 

troubling symptom, Lt. Col. Jess Calohan, 

program director for the Psychiatric Mental 

Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the 

Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, 

conducted a nightmare reduction initiative to 

improve treatment for service members with 

PTSD.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Army
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter The Official USU Newsletter 4

Bacteria found in nose may be key indicator for future development 

of skin, soft-tissue infections in remote areas of the body

by Sharon Holland, managing editor

 Scientists have long known 

that a number of bacteria 

reside in the nose, and those 

who carry the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus in their 

noses are at a higher risk for 

developing skin and soft tissue 

infections, or SSTI. However, 

until now, no one has been 

able to determine why some S. 

aureus carriers develop 

infections while others do not.

 The nose is the primary S. 

aureus reservoir in humans 

and nearly 80 percent of the 

time an individual’s colonizing 

strain is the same strain that 

causes subsequent remote skin 

infections. Given this association, researchers at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services 

University postulated that the 

population of S. aureus in an 

individual’s nose may harbor 

valuable clues regarding SSTI 

susceptibility that had not 

yet been described. This is 

of particular interest to the 

military, as it is well known 

that soldiers in training are at 

increased risk of developing an 

SSTI.

 In research findings presented at the 114th General Meeting of the American Society for 

Microbiology in Boston, Ryan 

Johnson, a graduate student at 

USU, and his mentor, D. Scott 

Merrell, PhD, an associate professor in USU’s Department of 

Microbiology and Immunology, in collaboration with USU’s 

Infectious Disease Clinical 

Research Program, collected 

nasal samples and cultures 

from 86 infantry soldiers at 

Fort Benning, Ga. For those 

individuals among the 86 who 

developed SSTIs, the researchers also collected samples and 

cultures from within the soldiers’ skin abscesses.

 Using a high-throughput 

DNA sequencing strategy, the 

microbial composition of each 

sample was determined. The 

biodiversity of the bacterial 

population in each nose was 

compared between individuals 

colonized and/or infected with 

Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus, Methicillin-Sensitive S. 

aureus, and those individuals 

that were culture-negative 

for S. aureus. The researchers 

observed a significantly higher 

percentage of a type of bacteria known as Proteobacteria in 

the noses of individuals who 

did not develop SSTI, suggesting that Proteobacteria may be 

protective against the development of SSTIs. Furthermore, S. aureus carriers had a 

unique nasal microbiome that 

differed from non-carriers.

 Establishing a nose “marker 

microbiome” associated with 

development of SSTI infections may pave the way for 

focused preventive treatments 

that target the microbiome, 

rather than S. aureus itself.

 The scientists believe this 

study will aid in the design of 

future prophylactic procedures 

that can help prevent SSTI, 

particularly in the setting of 

military training, and help 

influence how health care providers think about and treat 

these complex and diverse 

infections.

 Funding for this project was 

provided by the Department of 

Defense. Education Day 

Save the Date

Photo by Thomas Balfour
5 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Finley selected as Junior Employee of the Quarter

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Netina Finley, an administrative officer at the F. 

Edward Hébert School of Medicine, was selected 

as the Junior Employee of the Quarter at the Uniformed Services University. 

 Finley, who provides administrative support to 

both the Neuroscience and Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Programs, was chosen for this honor 

because she excels in all of her workplace responsibilities, which include scheduling meetings, maintaining files, updating university websites, balancing 

department budgets and assisting graduate students 

with multiple professional and personal tasks.

 “Ms. Finley was one of the first people I met when 

I arrived at USU. She helped orient me to GEO (the 

Graduate Education Office), taught me about using 

cards at the copy machines, provided information 

regarding mass transportation benefits and helped 

me feel welcome at the university,” said Ensign 

Kyna Pak, a graduate student in USU’s Department 

of Medical and Clinical Psychology.

 Moreover, Finley’s expertise is also utilized for 

student recruitment and orientation purposes. Not 

only does she prepare materials, but Finley also 

helps organize open houses and other academic 

events at USU. Impressively, this work and her 

many other responsibilities, were completed during 

a period of significant transition for the university’s 

Graduate Education Office.

 “The last several years were difficult for the GEO 

since a dramatic turnover of staff occurred and 

hiring restrictions limited the number of new staff. 

Ms. Finley stepped in and filled the void in an 

exceptional manner, handling all aspects of GEO 

business,” said Finley’s supervisors, Drs. Mary Lou 

Cutler and Sharon Juliano. “Her ability to step up 

and into a situation with little guidance permitted 

GEO to function at the heightened state inherent in 

the beginning of every school year.”

 Although for Finley, prevailing during a challenging time is reward enough, she is both humbled and honored to be recognized by the USU 

community.

 “Having been selected as Junior Employee of 

the Quarter truly means a lot. It’s like the faculty, 

staff and students of GEO, MCB (Molecular and 

Cell Biology), NES (Neuroscience), EID (Emerging Infectious Disease) and MPS (Medical and 

Clinical Psychology) are saying ‘thank you,’ we 

recognize all that you do. I am truly appreciative 

for the nominations by so many,” Finley said. 

Netina Finley

Photo by Thomas Balfour

Goodie lauded as “top scientist” by Scientist Professional Advisory Committee

Courtesy article

 Public Health Service Cmdr. Jeffrey Goodie, a 

clinical psychologist and associate professor in the 

Department of Family Medicine at the F. Edward 

Hébert School of Medicine, was selected as the 2014 

Derek Dunn Memorial Senior Scientist of the Year 

for his professional achievements, leadership and 

commitment to the United States Public Health 

Service Commissioned Corps.

 The Scientist Professional Advisory Committee 

of the U.S. Public Health Service established the 

Scientist of the Year Awards in 1995 to recognize 

officers of the Commissioned Corps of the PHS in the 

Scientist category whose professional career and work 

performance have resulted in significant contributions 

to the health of the Nation and to the mission of the 

Corps.

 This is the second consecutive year that a recipient 

from USU has received the award. Last year, Public 

Health Service Cmdr. Sara B. Newman, deputy chief of 

the Office of Risk Management for the National Park 

Service, a 2002 graduate of USU’s Doctor of Public 

Health program, earned the prestigious recognition.
6 the pulse June 9, 2014

Photo by Thomas Balfour

Burke selected as Senior Employee of the Quarter

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Mary Ann Burke, a program administrative specialist in the Office 

for Student Affairs, was selected 

as the Senior Employee of the 

Quarter at the Uniformed Services 

University. 

 Burke, a long-time USU employee, was lauded for managing 

the first and second-year medical 

support programs at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine. 

In this role, Burke helped more 

than 160 students register for the 

National Board of Medical Licensing Examination. This was an 

especially challenging task because 

at the time, several USU students 

were completing clinical rotations 

at military hospitals across the 

country. Furthermore, changes in 

the curriculum reduced the time 

students had to prepare for the 

USMLE from six to four weeks. 

 “Ms. Burke readily took on a 

large role in managing student 

readiness and preparation. She 

coordinated student placement 

into study programs, arranged for 

practice exams, and scheduled appointments for follow-up counseling sessions with advisors. Her 

commitment to making the best 

of a challenging situation yielded 

unprecedented results, including 

the most successful Step 1 testing 

results in USU history. Our overall 

class average for the exam was a 

230, well above the national average and a full 12 points above the 

previous school record. In addition, our pass rate was an almost 

perfect 99.4 percent, another 

school record. 

Ms. Burke’s 

proactive efforts 

and determination contributed much 

toward this accomplishment,” 

said Army 

Col. (Dr.) Lisa 

Moores, associate dean for 

Student Affairs, 

in her nomination letter.

 The new curriculum also 

necessitated 

other changes, 

including a way 

to recognize 

outstanding 

academic performance after letter-based grades 

gave way to a more favorable passfail system.

 “With Ms. Burke’s capable assistance, we collected and analyzed 

module and clerkship performance distributions and were able 

to establish a fair and accurate 

approach to academic awards. 

Once done, Ms. Burke took full 

responsibility for producing award 

certificates, and the program and 

script for two student ceremonies,” 

said Moores.

 Burke was also recognized for 

the way she paired incoming

medical students with members of 

the first-year class to facilitate a 

smoother academic transition. 

In creating sponsor matches, 

she considered each student’s 

background, special requests 

and individual needs to encourage more effective partnerships. 

 According to Burke, advocating for students in this manner 

and playing a role in their journey through medical school is 

one of the best parts of her job. 

 “I enjoy working closely with 

the medical students and seeing their transition from when 

they first arrive on campus 

until they leave us four years 

later,” she said.

Mary Ann Burke

Know somebody at the Uniformed Services University who deserves recognition? Is your 

department involved in cutting-edge work? Are you an alumnus with an interesting story to tell? 

 Share your ideas with Pulse staff members by e-mailing Christine.Creenan-Jones@usuhs.edu. 

Your suggestion could be featured in an upcoming issue of USU’s official newsletter. 
7 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

AOA at USU: More than a society

by Navy Ensign Hugh Lyford and Army 2nd Lt. Bart Wilkison, third-year medical students

 The Maryland Gamma Chapter of the Alpha 

Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society gathered at 

the Bethesda Marriott to recognize their newest inductees, which included 13 students from the Class 

of 2015 F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine; five 

residents; four alumni and four faculty members. 

 Dr. Arthur Kellermann, dean of the SoM, was the 

keynote speaker. In his address, Kellermann urged 

the new AOA members “not to accept what you cannot change, but to change what you cannot accept.” 

 His message was fitting given the history of AOA, 

which was founded in 1802 by a group of physicians 

desiring to bring a spirit of excellence to medical 

education at all levels and to help ensure all physicians were “worthy to serve the suffering.” 

 Earlier in the evening, outgoing chapter president 

and USU alumnus, Army 2nd Lt. Alex Knobloch, 

recounted some of the initiatives undertaken by the 

Class of 2014 to improve the educational and professional development experiences for students at 

USU through AOA membership. Specifically, AOA 

established a program of student-to-student panels 

to help with the various transitions in the medical 

school journey. These included preparing for the 

rigors of matriculation during orientation week for 

new students, moving from the pre-clerkship to the 

clerkship periods for the second-year students, and 

the intricacies of the military match process for the 

third-year students. The chapter also successfully 

coordinated and conducted the popular Military 

Specialty Night, an annual event that provides USU 

and local Health Professions Scholarship Program 

students an opportunity to learn about the various 

graduate medical education programs throughout 

the military and an opportunity to network with 

program leaders and personnel. 

 To close out the evening, incoming chapter president, Navy Ensign Hugh Lyford, thanked the graduating members of the class of 2014 for their service 

to USU and AOA. He vowed to continue their initiatives and defined the goals for the class of 2015 to 

include: leading the society in efforts to build on the 

outgoing class’ success by expanding mentorship 

opportunities, improving access to research projects 

and establishing a tradition of philanthropy within 

the chapter by promoting volunteer work with a local charity group in need of assistance. 

 Although students can only be elected to the chapter during the spring of their third year or the fall of 

their fourth year, all USU students are encouraged 

to participate in any AOA event or initiative held 

throughout the year. 

 To learn more about Alpha Omega Alpha Honor 

Medical Society, visit the Gamma Chapter’s website 

at www.alphaomegaalpha.org/uhealth.html.

 Exposure to traumatic events 

can result in sleep disorders, 

depression, hyper-vigilance, 

increased irritability, anger and 

other changes in those who 

have experienced trauma. Now, 

researchers at the Uniformed 

Services University’s Center for 

Neuroscience and Regenerative 

Medicine (CNRM) are conducting 

a study using smart phone 

applications to help address these 

issues and build resilience in 

military service members and their 

families.

 The GETSmart, Guided 

Education and Training via Smart 

Phones to Promote Resilience 

study is now open to all active and 

retired military service members, 

as well as their family members, 

who may be experiencing stress 

after military deployment, an act of 

violence, or even a natural disaster. 

Study participants will use smart 

phones or tablets and a variety of 

different applications on a daily 

basis for six weeks to help relax 

and to think or act in ways that can 

better relieve stress. Study enrollees 

can participate from anywhere, 

at any time, making it easy to 

participate, especially for those who 

are in remote locations. 

 “It has long been said that 

prevention is the best medicine, 

and rather than wait for PTSD to 

develop, we hope this study will 

show that by helping those who 

have some symptoms, but not 

full PTSD, we can decrease those 

symptoms and decrease the risk 

of developing full PTSD,” said Dr. 

Michael Roy, principal investigator 

of the CNRM-funded study.

 For more information on this and 

other CNRM studies, please visit 

www.cnrmstudies.org.

An app a day may help keep the doctor away: New smart phone app 

study open for PTSD enrollment

by Sharon Holland, managing editor
8 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

AFRRI, NASA research reveals how zero gravity affects astronauts

by MC3 Laura Bailey, writer and photographer

 Scientists at the Armed Forces 

Radiobiology Research Institute 

and the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration’s 

Langley Research Center met in 

Hampton, Va., earlier this year.

 The meeting explored possible 

areas of collaboration between 

NASA Langley and AFRRI. Also 

in attendance were representatives from NASA Headquarters 

in Washington, D.C., and Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

 “There’s a big problem looming 

for human space travel and that’s 

radiation,” Dr. Mark Whitnall, 

a scientific advisor at AFRRI. 

“Right now it wouldn’t be safe to 

send someone to Mars because 

of the amount of radiation exposure. Astronauts who visit the 

international space station spend 

a long time there. They are not 

allowed to go up in space again if 

they’ve had one visit to the international space station because of 

their radiation exposure.”

 Research could help change 

this, said Whitnall. That’s where 

AFRRI could play a role. The institute’s resources, facilities and 

decades of experience in radiobiology have the potential to further advance the space program 

and possibly allow astronauts 

to make more than one visit to 

international space stations or 

even travel to Mars. 

 Research at NASA is geared toward engineering and the physical environment. It has a need 

for radiation biology research 

which requires resources NASA 

doesn’t have at its fingertips, 

according to Whitnall. In order 

to supplement their research 

program, NASA supports funding programs for biologists at 

universities and government 

agencies. 

 Researchers at NASA are especially interested in the interactions of radiation and low gravity 

environments and the possible 

synergistic effects on astronauts.

 “Dr. Lynnette Cary (a staff 

scientist at AFRRI) has been 

collaborating with Dr. Lisa Scott 

Carnell of the NASA Langley 

Research Center on the effects 

of combined chronic low dose 

radiation and simulated microgravity on cultured human 

cells in support of NASA’s Human Research Program,” said 

Whitnall. “The studies were 

performed in AFRRI’s low dose 

rate cobalt gamma facility. To 

simulate microgravity, Drs. 

Cary and Scott Carnell used a 

bioreactor designed by NASA 

that constantly rotates the cells 

to maintain a free-fall environment. The researchers combined 

this set-up with a 3-D cell culture 

scaffold, developed by Dr. Scott 

Carnell, that mimics the in vivo 

environment. The effects on gene 

expression in mesenchymal stem 

cells were observed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction 

microarrays. Preliminary results 

revealed changes in a number of 

genes associated with stress and 

toxicity.”

 This experiment makes it possible for the researchers to see 

how cells will react to low or zero 

gravity conditions. It provides a 

better understanding of what an 

astronaut’s body encounters in 

space, said Cary.

 Interests in AFRRI’s research 

capabilities stem from a need to 

protect astronauts. Not only is 

NASA looking at how radiation 

affects its astronauts, but it also 

seeks possible treatments for 

radiation exposure. 

 “There’s a possibility we could 

be traveling to Brookhaven, N.Y., 

to an accelerator that produces 

protons that mimic those produced in a solar proton event,” 

said Whitnall. “We could also 

be trying out some of our radiation counter-measure drugs that 

we’ve shown work pretty well 

against gamma rays and neutrons. I’m really curious to know 

how all these genes and cells 

and tissues are affected by these 

different qualities of radiation 

because we don’t understand a 

lot of the mechanisms. It’s fascinating to see how cells cope with 

all these challenges.” 

The Armed Forces 

Radiobiology Research 

Institute at the Uniformed 

Services University is 

exploring a partnership with 

NASA to study radiation and 

human space travel.

Photo courtesy of NASA
9 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

New assignment, familiar tour for incoming GSN Company Commander

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Army Capt. Kevin Hayes 

arrived at the Uniformed Services University in January and 

became the Company Commander of the Daniel K. Inouye 

Graduate School of Nursing 

soon after. In this new role, 

Hayes is responsible the professional development, training 

and readiness of more than 180 

uniformed students.

 With so many duties, Hayes 

is sure to encounter obstacles 

throughout his tour at USU. 

Still, Hayes is confident he’ll 

prevail as a member of the GSN 

leadership team. After all, he’s 

already served in several key 

leadership positions on the 

Bethesda campus. 

 “I was stationed at the university from 2002 until 2007. Back 

then, I was enlisted and working 

in the Department of Military 

and Emergency Medicine as an 

Operations NCO and NCOIC for 

the Department of University 

Information Systems. It was a 

great tour that motivated me 

and afforded me opportunities,” 

he said. “During my undergraduate years, I felt compelled to do 

more for the society that helped 

cultivate my development, so I 

decided to apply for a commission”.

 After earning a Bachelor of 

Science in Computer Studies 

from the University of Maryland 

University College, Hayes was 

selected for Officer Candidate 

School under the leadership of 

Army Col. Charles Serio, USU’s 

brigade commander at the time.

 As an officer, Hayes has served 

in military hospitals across 

America and on Iraq’s frontlines 

twice, once to Baghdad as the 

medical supply officer in charge, 

and once to Talill as the chief of 

patient administration, where 

he coordinated more than 600 

aeromedical patient movements 

and 150 urgent/priority medical 

evacuations for ill and injured 

patients, resulting in countless 

saved lives and limbs. 

 “Both of my deployments have 

been exceptionally rewarding 

experiences. I learned a lot 

about medical operations in theater. I also witnessed firsthand 

the sacrifices people are willing 

to make in order to serve their 

country. I believe that nothing 

in life is more gratifying than 

rendering a service that is not 

only your passion, but simultaneously allows you to serve both 

your country and the individuals 

committed to protecting the values for which it stands,” he said.

 Hayes is bringing the same 

dedication to his new, but familiar assignment at USU through 

a leadership style informed by 

decades of diverse military experience. He’s also seizing more 

opportunities to succeed in the 

Army. Currently, Hayes is pursuing a second master’s degree 

from Texas A&M University.

 “I definitely believe in the 

value of a good education. It 

has greatly enhanced my abilities, and it will benefit all of the 

officers enrolled at USU,” he 

said.

 As company commander, 

Hayes will get to know many of 

them on a personal level. He’ll 

also get more opportunities to 

work with USU students and 

alumni at future assignments, as 

well. As a medical service corps 

officer, he will continue working 

in the same professional circles 

as the dentists, physicians and 

nurses who graduate from USU.

 “I was happy to return to 

Bethesda for several reasons. I 

enjoy working in a joint-service 

environment, and I also understand the value of serving in a 

community of military healthcare providers. I’ll be surrounded by them for the length of my 

Army career, so coming here is 

an amazing opportunity for me 

to both learn and lead,” he said.

Army Capt. Kevin Hayes

Photo by Thomas Balfour
Final Frame

Photo by MC3 Laura Bailey

Private First Class Dennis Aguilar, a veterinary technician for the Department of Laboratory 

Animal Medicine at the Uniformed Services University, donates blood during the spring blood 

drive in the Sanford Auditorium Lobby, May 27.