VOLUME 3, ISSUE 19 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 19 WWW.USUHS.MIL November 24, 2008 November 24, 2008

USU Newsletter 

Simulated Mass Casualty.....Page 2 
Bill Bester 

 Acting Vice President for 

External Affairs and Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. André Nicholson 

Editor 

Christine Creenan 

MC 2 (SW) Jason Turner 

Staff Writers 

Marla Wright 

Shaun Sadowski 

Webmasters 

Publishing 

USU Duplicating Office

Production: 

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the USU Office 

of External Affairs unless 

otherwise indicated. The 

Newsletter staff may 

include or exclude articles based upon news 

value, impact on the 

university and space 

availability. 

Submissions: 

The USU Newsletter will 

be published bi-weekly 

on Mondays and deadline for submission is 

Friday at 4 p.m. Submissions can be sent to 

usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by 

calling 301-295-3925. 

PAGE 2 

Cover photo: 

Christine Creenan 

In This Issue: 

Casualty Exercise...........2 

Faculty Award................2 

VP Honored....................3 

USU Alumnus.................3 

Navy Retirement............3 

Fellowship Award.........4 

BRAC..................................4 

Marine’s Birthday..........5 

USU Visitors.....................5 

Marathon.........................6 

OB-GYN Award.............6 

Chili Competition...........6 

USU Briefs.........................7 

 It was a seemingly normal 

Thursday in October at the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU). A crisp and 

familiar chill that so often accompanies the fall season encouraged 

most students and workers to continue their pursuits indoors. Soon 

though, a powerful boom would 

interrupt the calm and jeopardize 

the safety of an entire community. 

The command was under attack—

well, sort of. 

 Each year the National Naval 

Medical Center and various agencies, including USU (which provided evaluators, medics and physicians), simulate mass casualty scenarios in order to assess the critical 

medical skills of military and civilian 

responders at large. 

 And this year’s Collaborative 

Multi Agency Exercise was a real 

humdinger. The chaos began 

when the driver of a white box 

truck refused to yield through gate 

security. Traveling at a high rate of 

speed, the motorist lost control of 

his vehicle and crashed into a university building. There was an explosion: Chemical agents contaminated the scene and the university 

breezeway became riddled with 

human casualties (feigned by volunteer actors). 

 The well crafted scenario was 

amazingly realistic: skilled artists 

created the mock injuries, smoke 

machines and explosion simulators 

morphed the university pavilion 

into battlefield conditions, and 

voices of the wounded cried out. 

 “Somebody help us,” begged a 

young actor, weaving through the 

maze of bodies. “These people are 

dying.” Her gait 

was unusual and 

most certainly the 

result of blast 

trauma to the leg. 

Just yards away, 

the lifeless body 

of a Sailor lay; her 

bowels exposed 

by intruding 

pieces of shrapnel, jutting at 

precarious angles. 

Though it was 

too late for her, 

emergency response teams 

began triaging 

and stabilizing the casualties—

under the watchful eye of military 

evaluators. These trained experts 

critique the coordination and execution of responders and their ability to bring order out of chaos. 

 Hours pass and the day is soon 

ending. The scattered bodies are 

no more, the grounds are quiet 

again and little evidence remains 

of the simulated mass casualty that 

once took place. Comfort lies not 

only in the stillness but in the 

knowledge USU is prepared in the 

event true calamity strikes. 

Simulated Mass Casualty Tests Know How of 

Uniformed, Civilian Emergency Personnel 

By Christine Creenan 

VPE Staff Writer 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

Shrapnel from a van explosion during the exercise 

exposes the intestines of a badly wounded victim. 

 It was the early 1990’s and LTC Jeffrey Yarvis, 

Ph.D., was completing a tour in Haiti and noticed in 

the vortex of difficult deployments, 

U.S. and allied troops often times suffered harmful and lasting effects. This 

observation would shape his future 

research interests in Post Traumatic 

Stress Disorder (PTSD) and ultimately 

earn Yarvis the distinction of being 

named Uniformed Services Social 

Worker of the Year for 2008. 

 As the first recipient of this illustrious honor formed by the Uniformed 

Services Social Workers and the Association of Military Surgeons of the 

United States, Yarvis is being recognized for outstanding research and 

clinical efforts in the treatment of PTSD 

benefiting soldiers and wounded warriors. 

 Though proud to be recognized by his peers, the 

clinician is humble: “I find the ‘work’ with soldiers 

very rewarding by itself. The fact that colleagues noticed my passion and dedication for the work is very 

touching, but the people who deserve recognition 

are those who courageously persevere despite their 

psychological injuries.” 

 Also an assistant professor in the 

Department of Family Medicine at the 

Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU), Yarvis enjoys 

advancing PTSD understanding at the 

nation’s federal school of medicine 

and graduate school of nursing. 

 “What I love about my work at 

USU is the ability to affect military 

readiness and programming with 

scholarly research and clinical practice,” he said. 

 A soldier himself, Yarvis is committed to advancing PTSD understanding in order to compress the knowledge gap surrounding psychological 

injuries while enhancing the care provided to service 

men and women carrying the burden of a complex 

and misunderstood disorder. 

USU Professor Receives High Honors for PTSD Research 

By Christine Creenan 

VPE Staff Writer 

LTC Jeffrey Yarvis 
PAGE 3 

DALLAS – From engineering to information technology to military aviation and medicine, nearly 

forty women were honored at the 13th Annual 

National Women of Color STEM Conference in 

Dallas, Texas, Oct. 23 - 25. 

 Among the honorees was the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ Vice President for the Office of Recruitment and Diversity 

CAPT Cynthia Macri, M.D. Her passion and drive 

for capturing the interest of both high school and 

college students to pursue careers in military medicine is just one of the reasons she was recognized 

at the annual STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, conference. 

 Macri started the Science, Service, Military and 

Mentoring Program, known as S2M2, here at the 

university in order to mentor students and provide 

them with a bridge into the health professions 

career field. Tara Mccluskey, a recent graduate of 

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., 

participated in the S2M2 program as a junior in 

college and has become the first student from that 

program to matriculate into USU, joining the F. 

Edward Hébert School of Medicine Class of 2012. 

 “The mentoring program helps broaden the 

minds of students interested in a science related 

field, but are having a hard time deciding on a 

concentration,” Macri said. The Office of Recruitment and Diversity sponsors the program and reaches out to students all over the country. The program is now in its fifth year. 

 Along with being recognized for her mentoring efforts at the 

STEM conference, Macri also moderated a seminar titled “Managing 

Information Overload: Techniques for Working Smarter.” As part of a 

three panel discussion, Macri; along with Systems Software Developer Sandra Price, Northrop Grumman Corporation; and Manager 

Integrated Defense Systems Anena Metoyer, the Boeing Company, 

spoke about how people (particularly women) can balance their 

professional and personal lives while avoiding over-committing 

themselves and identifying tools that will enable them to manage 

their time more effectively. 

 Macri talked about her upbringing, attending 

medical school and eventually joining the Navy 25 

years ago. “I originally joined the Navy to assist 

with furthering my education, but now 25 years 

later I don’t want to get out,” she said. “There are 

days when things get overwhelming but, when 

there is too much to do you have to figure out 

what is important to you.” 

 She talked about raising her daughter who 

started walking at seven months and talking at 

seven and a half months because Macri’s philosophy is, “if she wanted something, she had to say it 

or go get it herself,” she admits with a laugh. 

 Some advice she passed on to the women in 

the audience was to “use your strengths to mentor 

those around you and if you have to figure out 

how to balance life, kids and work, just asks yourself, why are you doing it?” 

 Macri was also part of a focus group for more 

than 200 elementary and high school students, 

where she encouraged them to do well in school 

and to consider careers in medicine, computer 

science and engineering among other careers. 

 Providing the kids with a bit of humor and shaking the stereotypical myth about Asians, Macri said 

she’s the worst Asian ever because she doesn’t 

play any instruments, and she’s not that good at 

math, she admitted jokingly. 

 The entire conference culminated in an awards 

gala and dinner where the honorees gave a 100 

word speech and were presented their awards. Macri received the 

Diversity Leadership Award from VADM Ann Rondeau, deputy commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, 

Ill. 

 Each year the conference honors a woman of color as the technologist of the year and the 2008 Technologist of Year is Irene Hernandez Roberts, program director and master inventor, Independent 

Software Vendor and Developer Relations, IBM Software Group. 

 Although Macri is extremely content and humbled by the honor, 

Technologist of the Year, followed by the name CAPT Cynthia Macri, 

has a nice ring to it. 

USU’s VP of Recruitment, Diversity Honored at 

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math Conference 

CAPT Macri speaks to a group of 200 elementary and high school 

students about doing well in math and science so one day they 

can pursue careers in those fields if they choose. 

As part of a three panel discussion, CAPT Cynthia Macri (center), 

Sandra Price (far left), and Anena Metoyer (right) answer questions after the seminar. 

Story and Photos by TSgt Andre Nicholson 

NCOIC, Office of External Affairs 

CAPT Cynthia Macri (left), receives the Diversity Leadership 

Award from VADM Ann Rondeau at the awards dinner. 
PAGE 4 

USU 

A Traditional Academic University with a Unique 

Focus 

 Lt Col Kevin Bohan, Ph.D., Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), assistant director of the nurse anesthesia program and 

director of Air Force, Army and Public Health Service nurse anesthesia student research at the Uniformed Services University (USU) 

Graduate School of Nursing, is the recipient of this year’s prestigious Post-Doctoral Fellowship, granted by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Foundation. 

 The Post-Doctoral Fellowship was established in 2006 by the 

AANA Foundation, the research and educational arm of the 

AANA, to recognize CRNAs at the doctoral level who are actively 

involved in developing an anesthesia research program. 

 “I am grateful to the USU Graduate School of Nursing for allotting me the time to develop a research program. Thanks to the 

funds granted by the AANA Foundation, I will exert my passion in 

research to explore anesthesia simulation topics that are valuable 

to nurse anesthesia leaders, educators and practitioners,” said Dr. 

Bohan. “It is truly an honor to be selected as the recipient of such 

a competitive fellowship.” 

 Dedicating his career to nurse anesthesia education and research, during the past year Dr. Bohan chaired and coordinated 

several concurrent student research projects 

pertaining to simulation. 

Future topics he plans to 

investigate include best 

practices for CRNAs versus those of first and second year nurse anesthesia students; reliability of 

assessment tools; and 

ways to diminish stress 

and increase acceptance 

of stimulation usage 

among experienced 

nurse anesthetists. 

 Dr. Bohan completed 

his doctorate of philosophy at the University of 

Wisconsin – Madison 

(UW-Madison), earned 

his master’s of science in 

nursing degree from USU and his bachelor’s degree in nursing 

from UW-Madison. 

USU Assistant Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program 

Awarded AANA Post-Doctoral Fellowship 

By Christine Creenan 

VPE Staff Writer 

Lt Col Kevin Bohan 

 On October 20, 2008, the deputy secretary of defense made a decision regarding 

the future of medical civilian personnel in 

the National Capital Region (NCR) as Base 

Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is implemented and the largest capital infrastructure investment ever made in the Military 

Health System results in two new inpatient 

hospitals, the Walter Reed National Military 

Medical Center and the greatly enlarged 

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. 

 The deputy secretary of defense has 

reviewed the options for civilian staffing of 

military medical facilities in the NCR related 

to the changes mandated by BRAC and has 

decided that civil service employees of military medical facilities under JTF CAPMED 

will be best served by becoming Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, rather 

than continuing to work under service personnel systems. This means that as BRAC is 

implemented and the integration of military health care continues in this region, 

civilian personnel at the new Walter Reed 

National Military Medical Center and the 

new Community Hospital at Fort Belvoir 

will be DoD employees, not Army, Navy, or 

Air Force civilian employees. Phased implementation will include civilians at other 

clinics in the NCR if evaluation shows that 

the change will enhance the effectiveness 

of integrated regional health care delivery, 

and add opportunities for career development. 

 This change will allow for new and 

greatly expanded opportunities for career 

development of civilian personnel and will 

provide for equity and consistency during 

the BRAC-mandated transition period in 

the integrated regional health care system. 

The civilian workforce transition will take 

place in a phased approach over the 

course of the next three years and will be 

guided by the careful deliberations of a 

newly-chartered Joint Task Force CAPMED 

Civilian Human Resource Council (CHRC). 

This council is made up of senior leaders 

from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 

National Naval Medical Center, DeWitt 

Army Community Hospital, the Air Force 

District of Washington and the Joint Task 

Force with support from Army, Navy and 

Air Force civilian subject matter experts. 

 While many details remain to be worked 

out regarding the timing and scope of the 

change, the deputy secretary of defense’s 

decision is an important first step in designing the architecture of the future medical 

civilian workforce in the National Capital 

Region. 

 According to RADM John Mateczun, 

commander, JTF CAPMED, “This decision 

supports our commitment to implement a 

regional approach to military health care 

while caring for the people who provide 

that system of care. It is an example of the 

ways in which our workforce will be positively impacted by the changes occurring in 

the National Capital Region. Taking care of 

our people is critical to our mission of caring for warriors and their families. We need 

the personnel we have in the region today 

to staff the world class facilities of the future 

and we want to provide them the best opportunities available for career development in a premier regional health care system.” 

 Additional information about the transition and the future medical civilian workforce in the NCR will be posted on 

www.JTFCAPMED.mil. 

Decision: Medical Civilian Personnel Transition in the National Capital Region 

Article Courtesy of JTF CAPMED 
PAGE 5 

Learning the Ropes 

Local teens, who envision their futures as physicians and nurses, 

prove it is never too early to start planning for the future. A group of 

30 juniors and seniors from John F. Kennedy High School, in Silver 

Spring, Md., visited the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) earlier this month, to experience life as residents in 

the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Nursing. The teens 

broke into groups and toured the academic health center, learning 

about various medical specialties and even having the opportunity 

to practice clinical skills such as tying suture knots, taking blood 

pressure readings and intravenous catheter insertions (pictured 

left). The event, sponsored by the USU Pediatric Interest Group, 

seemed to enhance student interest in the fields of medicine; many 

participants expressing an eagerness to continue biomedical studies 

and enjoyment for the compliment of activities arranged by the USU 

volunteers. 

 During the summer of 1982, in the wake 

of the presidential directive, Marines went 

ashore at Beirut, Lebanon. Fifteen months 

later, on October 23, 1983, extremist struck 

the first major blow against American 

forces – starting this long war on terrorism. 

On that Sunday morning, a suicide 

bomber drove an explosion-laden truck 

into the headquarters of Battalion Landing 

Team 1/8, destroying the building and killing 241 Marines and corpsmen. 

 Extremist have attacked our nation, at 

home and aboard, numerous times since 

that faithful day in Beirut. Their aim has 

always been the same – to kill as many 

innocent Americans as possible. The attacks of 11 September 2001 changed our 

nation forever, and our president has resolved that this nation will not stand idle 

while murderous terrorist plan their next 

strike. Marines will continue to take the 

fight to the enemy – hitting them on their 

own turf, crushing them when they show 

themselves, and finding them where they 

hide. 

 Only a few Americans choose the dangerous, but necessary work of fighting our 

nation’s enemies. When our chapter of 

history is written, it will be the saga of a 

selfless generation of Marines who were 

willing to stand up 

and fight for our 

nation; to defend 

those who could not 

defend themselves; 

to thrive on the 

hardship and sacrifice expected of an 

elite warrior class; to 

march to the sound 

of the guns; and to 

ably shoulder the 

legacy of those Marines who have 

gone before. 

 On the 233rd

birthday, first remember those who 

have served and 

those “angles” who 

have fallen – our 

reputation was built 

on their sacrifices. 

Remember our families; they are the 

unsung hero’s whose support and dedication allow us to answers our nation’s call. 

Finally, to all Marines and sailors, know that 

I am proud of you and what you do. Your 

successes on the battlefield have only 

added to our illustrious history. Lieutenant 

General Victor H. “Brute” Krulak said it best 

when he wrote, “... the United States does 

not need a Marine Corps... the United 

States wants a Marine Corps.” Your Actions 

in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the 

globe are at the core of why American 

loves her Marines. 

 Happy Birthday Marines! 

Birthday Message from Commandant, Marine Corps 

Courtesy of James T. Conway 

General, U.S. Marine Corps 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

Photo by Christine Creenan 

HMC Rodrigo Foronda, HM3 Gregory Curtis and CPT Sean Lynch 

shared the honor of cutting the cake and reading the birthday 

message from Gen. James Conway during a university celebration honoring the Marine Corps. 

USU 

A Traditional Academic University with a Unique 

Focus 
PAGE 6 

Courtesy Photo 

Members of USU staff, students and faculty recently participated in the 

33rd annual Marine Corps Marathon held Oct. 26. The race started at 

the Arlington National Cemetery and took runners through scenic paths 

that showcased various memorials and landmarks throughout Arlington, Va. and Washington, D.C. before ending at the Marine Corps War 

Memorial. Among the participants who ran the marathon were (left to 

right:) HM2 Tinsae Tekleab, HM3 Chephren Dialino and FC2 Adam 

Race. 

Marine Corps Marathon 

 The proof was in the pudding, or in Ms. Lenora Hamlette’s 

case—the chili. As the victor of the Combined Federal Campaign’s 

(CFC) culinary showdown, Hamlette won over the taste buds of 

hungry chili lovers at the 

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) with a dish 

she calls “not too hot, yet 

zesty and just right.” 

 Down the assembly 

line tasters went, trying 

one dish after the next, 

and finally casting their 

ballot for the best of the 

bunch. In true democratic form, Hamlette was 

named “Chili President of 

USU” because hers was 

the most delectable version, fetching the most votes, and 

in many cases, second helpings. 

 Besides satisfying the palates of 

many discriminating tongues, 

each dish served up a most valuable ingredient: dough. The competition raised more than $400 for 

the CFC, which aims to promote 

philanthropy in the workplace. 

 “Being given the opportunity to 

participate in such an event was 

an honor,” said Hamlette. “The 

CFC is an important fundraiser 

associated with agencies that affect the lives of many people in 

need of all types of assistance.” 

 Though Hamlette easily reveals 

the virtues of charity, she was 

tightlipped about the secret ingredient that gives her Mexican stew 

its rich and authentic flavor. In 

this case, ignorance is delicious bliss. 

Tasty Competition Provides Relief to Those in Need 

By Christine Creenan 

VPE Staff Writer 

CPT Sean Tyler (left) and HM2 Careese 

Charles (right) present ‘Chili President’ 

Lenora Hamlette (center) with a Target 

gift card for her award winning chili 

recipe. 

SGT Jamie-Lea Donnelly, CFC 

volunteer, serves chili to hungry tasters. 

 Maj Sarah Page, M.D., was presented 

with the American College of Obstetrics 

and Gynecologists National Medical Student Recruitment Award for 2008. Page 

won the award for the contributions she 

made during the fiscal year 2007. 

 The Medical Student Recruitment Award 

is given annually to a physician who has 

actively recruited medical students into the 

specialty of OB-GYN. This recruitment can 

be one or more of the following: organization or participation in local or national 

programs, providing educational opportunities, enthusiasm for the specialty, mentoring medical students, speaking to medical 

students at local or national meetings, participation in medical student interest 

groups and other recruitment opportunities. 

 Page single-handedly put together the 

curriculum for the three workshops in New 

Orleans. She spent her free time helping to 

work out the logistics for the workshops 

done at USU during 2007 and helped keep 

costs down on the skills workshop with 

donations. Page 

assisted with the 

medical student 

course for two years 

and will help moderate again in 2008. 

Some of the things 

she’s done is set up 

the student interest 

group meetings at 

USU, and spoke with 

medical students at 

the annual clinical meeting in San Diego 

about military residency programs. 

USU Staff Member Presented National Award from 

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 

MC2 (SW) Jason Turner 

Staff Writer 

Dr. Rajiv Gala presents Maj Sarah Page 

with the award. 
Army Physical Health Assessments: The USU medical clinic will 

now schedule Army PHAs, starting Nov. 12 from 6:30 to 7:15 a.m. 

Call the USU medical clinic at 295-3630 to schedule your appointment. 

Helpdesk Closure: The UIS helpdesk will be closed for training on 

Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. During this time, you can leave a 

voicemail message at 295-9800 or utilize the HEAT Self Service 

(http://www.usuhs.mil/uis/forms/trouble.html), or send an email 

to help@usuhs.mil. If an emergency should arise, please call 295-

9870. 

Enlisted Holiday Party: The Enlisted Social Committee (ESC) has 

organized an enlisted holiday party on Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. The 

holiday will be celebrated at the American Legion. More information will follow. The points of contact for this event are SGT Donnelly, USA (UMS) at jdonnelly@usuhs.mil or 295-3386 and HM2 

Charles, USN (EHS) at ccharles@usuhs.mil or 295-9451. 

 

PFT/PFA/APFT Spring 2009: The spring 2009 Physical Fitness Test 

for all services is projected for April 7-9 and 14-16. Plan accordingly. If there are any questions, please contact your service specific fitness coordinators: Air Force contact, (T)Sgt Ernle at 295-

3281; Navy contact, FC2 Race at 295-9637; and Army contact, 

SSG Rogers at 295-3720. 

2008 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): The USU CFC season is 

open until Dec. 15 and there are plenty of wonderful charities that 

can use your help. If you would like to make a difference by making a donation to the CFC but don't know how or who to speak 

to, email either MSgt Stephen Huntington (CFC keyworker manager) at shuntington@usuhs.mil or CPT Sean Tyler (CFC campaign 

manager) at sean.tyler@usuhs.mil. Either person will be able to 

get you the information you need. If you are still on the fence 

about donating, but don't know what charities are out there, 

please take a look at the 2008 Catalog of Caring which has close 

to 4,000 charities to choose from. Remember, you can make a big 

impact for less than the cost of a cup of coffee because "One dollar a day goes a long way, when you give a chance to those in 

need, by voting for the CFC!" For more info about the CFC you 

can visit or contact the USU CFC committee at USUCFC@usuhs.mil 

Learning Resource Center (LRC) Course: A Microsoft Excel 2007: 

Level 1 course will be taught on Nov 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 

p.m. in the LRC computer lab. This course is intended for individuals who want to gain basic knowledge of working on Microsoft 

Excel 2007. It will provide you with the basic concepts required to 

create, edit, format and print basic Microsoft Office Excel 2007 

worksheets and workbooks. All federal USU and AFRRI civilian 

employees are eligible to attend. Registrations will be accepted 

on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information please contact Cory Edwards or Theresa Spriggs at (301) 295-0679. 

Toastmaster’s Meeting: USU Toastmaster will hold its next meeting 

Nov. 26 in room A2053 from noon to 1 p.m. If you want to develop better speaking and presentation skills; learn to think quickly 

and clearly on your feet; or build strong leadership abilities in a 

supportive environment, then Toastmasters is for you. 

USU Briefs 

PAGE 7 

Rules

When: The contest runs until Dec. 15, 2008 

How Much: $1 per guess 

How Many: You can guess as many times as 

you want 

Winner: Closest guess to actual total 

(without going over) wins the jar of 

M&M’s, along with the bag on top. The 

winner will be announced Dec. 15. 

 

 Hey, come here! Why don’t you 

guess how many of us are in 

this jar? 

Ummmm, 1,2,3,4... I 

don’t know man, 

that’s hard?!? 

Tie Breaker: 

Persons tied will be asked to guess how many M&M’s 

are in small bag on top of the jar. 

USU CFC Guess How Many 

 M&M’s Contest 

All proceeds will be donated to the CFC general fund. Thanks for supporting the CFC! 
UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY 

of the Health Sciences