Volume 5, Issue 4 n March 15, 2010

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

On the cover

Navy Capt. Tanis Batsel Stewart returns 

the Brigade flag to Brigade Command 

Master Chief Clinton Garrett upon 

assuming command from Army Col. 

John (Jack) Wempe as USU Brigade 

Commander. Batsel Stewart is the 

first of USU’s alumni to return as 

Brigade Commander.

Krulak, Lewin join USU Board

by Ken Frager

Photo by Thomas Balfour

Sharon Willis

Acting Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Ken Frager

Public Affairs Specialist

Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Production Editor

MC1 Chad Hallford

Writer

Christine Creenan

Contributing Writer

Lori Fields

Layout and Design

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 usunewsletter@usuhs.

mil or by calling 301-295-0895.

The USU Board of Regents officially 

added two new members recently. 

General Charles Krulak, who served 

as the 31st Commandant of the Marine 

Corps and as a member of the Joint 

Chiefs of Staff, and Mr. Lawrence 

Lewin, an elected member of the 

Institute of Medicine of the National 

Academies of Science and an executive consultant for a variety of health 

care organizations across the United 

States, were appointed by Secretary of 

Defense Robert M. Gates to serve as 

members of the USU board. 

“We are very pleased to have both 

General Krulak and Mr. Lewin join 

the USU Board of Regents. They 

both bring a wealth of knowledge and 

expertise to the board, and their wideranging experience will prove extremely 

valuable to the university,” said USU 

President Charles L. Rice, M.D.

The former Commandant of the 

United States Marine Corps, Krulak 

currently serves as an executive 

consultant and a member of the board 

of directors for the Union Pacific 

Corporation in Omaha, Neb., and the 

Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold 

Corporation in Phoenix, Ariz. Krulak 

was vice chairman, head of corporate development and acquisitions, 

and chief administrative officer of 

the MBNA America Bank, and chairman and chief executive officer of the 

MBNA Europe Bank, Ltd.

Founder of The Lewin group, a 

health care management and consulting firm, he was the firm’s president 

and chief executive officer from 

1970 through 1999. Lewin serves 

on a number of corporate boards, 

including H&Q Healthcare and Life 

Sciences funds and Intermountain 

Healthcare. Mr. Lewin previously 

served on the Department of Defense 

Task Force on the Future of Military 

Health Care. 

U.S. Surgeon General Vice Adm. Regina Benjamin and other members of the USU 

Board, toured the National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center. The tour included a 

demonstration of the Sim Center’s hand-immersive crichothyroidotomy virtual lab.

Photo by Thomas Balfour
March 15, 2010 3

Change of Command brings alumna home 

by Ken Frager

With the passing of the Brigade flag 

from the Army to the Navy, Capt. Tanis 

Batsel Stewart, MC, USN, took the 

helm of the Brigade for the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences in February. 

The two-time USU graduate – 

having completed her medical degree 

in 1993 and her Masters in Public 

Health in 2000 – will officially report 

in June. 

Captain Batsel Stewart succeeds Col. 

Jack Wempe, who transferred to his 

new assignment at the Department of 

Defense Medical Examination Review 

Board in Colorado. 

“Captain Batsel Stewart brings a 

wealth of knowledge, experience and 

leadership to USU,” said USU President Charles L. Rice, M.D.. “It is 

only fitting that she come back to the 

University as the first USU alumna to 

serve as Brigade Commander.” 

“I really feel like I am coming 

home,” said Batsel Stewart, who is 

trained in general medicine and as a 

preventive medicine officer. “I loved 

USU as a student and I am looking 

forward to the camaraderie and 

collegiality of the academic environment. I am excited to re-connect 

with friends and work closely with 

the students.” 

Batsel Stewart said her most 

memorable time as a student was 

during her sub-internship in plastic 

surgery where she focused on wound 

closure and reconstruction. 

“I recall working with a patient 

with metastatic cancer who was 

pretty badly disfigured following 

surgery. We were able to help this 

patient improve their quality of life 

by even moderately improving their 

sense of beauty. That one experience 

reminded me why my I chose the 

path that I had, but I never anticipated ending up back at USU. It is 

quite a thrill.”

Most recently as the Director, Emergency Preparedness and 

Contingency Support, Navy Bureau 

of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), 

in Washington, D.C, Captain 

Batsel Stewart was responsible 

for implementing a coordinated, 

comprehensive strategy to guide 

Navy Medicine’s emergency management and public health emergency 

preparedness and response efforts. 

She also had responsibility for 

sourcing Navy medical personnel in 

support of contingency operations, 

humanitarian assistance and disaster 

response efforts worldwide, including the Navy’s response in support of 

the Haitian earthquake.

 A former Navy line officer, 

Captain Batsel Stewart is board certified in General Preventive Medicine 

and Public Health. She holds a 

certificate in Tropical Medicine and 

Hygiene from USU, and a master’s 

certificate in Homeland Defense 

from the University of Colorado, in 

Colorado Springs. 

Prior to arriving at BUMED, 

Captain Batsel Stewart served in 

a variety of operational, research, 

policy development and leadership assignments, including Senior 

Medical Officer, Regional Support 

Group, Mayport, Florida; Surface 

Warfare Medical Department Officer, 

USS Spruance (DD-963); Global 

Emerging Infections Surveillance 

and Response System Program 

Coordinator for South America 

while attached to the Naval Medical 

Research Center Detachment, Lima, 

Peru; Chief of Preventive Medicine, 

and deputy for the Joint Pandemic 

Influenza Team, U.S. Northern 

Command, Peterson Air Force Base, 

Colo.; and Chief of Force Protection and Force Health Protection and 

Head of Preventive Medicine Policy 

and Programs, BUMED.

Army Col. Jack Wempe is awarded the 

Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his 

contributions as USU Brigade Commander. 

Wempe transferred to the Department of 

Defense Medical Examination Review Board.

Photo by HM1 M. Oliver, USN
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Service member of the year named

by Staff MC1 Chad Hallford

A Department of Military and 

Emergency Medicine (MEM) Sailor 

was selected as “2009 USU Service 

Member of the Year.” Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Daniel Freeland of 

MEM’s Human Performance Laboratory (HPL), was recognized as Service 

Member of the Quarter in the fourth 

quarter of 2009.

“HM2 Freeland quickly joined 

our ranks and proved himself to be a 

team player. A motivated Sailor, he 

identified, through his own assessment, areas or programs within the 

Brigade (not just Navy Division) that 

needed assistance or attention and 

stepped up to the plate to provide 

advice, leadership, and expertise,” 

said Brigade Command Master Chief 

Clinton Garrett. “Without a doubt, 

he will well represent the Brigade 

and University as Service Member of 

the Year.”

The selection process for service 

member of the year includes facing a 

board of senior enlisted leaders who 

ask the nominees a series of questions 

ranging from general military knowledge to current events. However, 

much of the selection criteria is based 

on the nominees’ contributions and 

achievements. 

Freeland arrived at the University, 

a Fleet Marine Force Warfare-qualified Sailor, after a tour as a preventive medicine petty officer. While on 

his tour, he maintained more than 

a 95 percent readiness status for his 

Marines, while providing medical 

services for nearly 1,100 Marines, 

allowing these Marines to be deployed 

at a moment’s notice. 

Freeland is essential to many of the 

University’s core training functions. 

During Operation Kerkesner, he 

mentored more than 175 first-year 

medical students and was responsible for their tactical movement and 

extract training. 

Freeland also played a vital role in 

the University’s Basic Life Support 

(BLS) classes, instructing more than 

AFRRI receives historic landmark designation

Jack Touhy (right), executive 

director of the American Nuclear 

Society, and Army Col. Donald 

Hall, deputy director of the Armed 

Forces Radiobiology Research 

Institute, unveiled a bronze plaque 

designating the Institute a nuclear 

historic landmark. “This plaque 

marks 50 years of important research 

in the field of radiobiology,” said 

Touhy, addressing AFRRI employees 

and guests last month. Such 

research, he said, is important to 

providing a sound scientific basis 

for decisions critical to protecting 

the public and to advancing nuclear 

technology. AFRRI is among some 

70 sites and facilities that have been 

recognized by the Society. 

Photo by HM1 M. Oliver, USN

400 personnel in life-saving skills. He 

is also Advanced Cardiovascular Life 

Support certified. 

Freeland was assigned as safety 

officer for the 2009 Combined MultiAgency Mass Casualty Exercise for 

the National Capital Region. During 

the event, held at National Naval 

Medical Center last fall, Freeland 

helped to triage 50 patients with 

multiple injuries. 

Freeland has supported the research 

of HPL, including three heat stress 

tests, two maximum stress tests and 

one step test. 

In his free time, Freeland is 

working towards his Bachelor of Arts 

in Psychology. 

“HM2 Freeland has been a 

wonderful addition to the HPL,” said 

Stacey Zeno, HPL research assistant. “Between his corpsmen skills, 

recruiting, and administering heat 

tolerance tests, Freeland has become 

an invaluable member of our team.”
March 15, 2010 5

Rodrick, Rodriguez named USU Junior,

Senior Employees of the Quarter

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine 

The USU recently named two of its 

outstanding civilians as the Junior and 

Senior Employees of the Quarter. 

Melisa L. Rodrick, a program 

support assistant with the Department 

of Medicine was named the Junior 

Employee of the Quarter. 

Harrison Rodriguez, an information technology specialist with Civilian Human Resources was named the 

Senior Employee of the Quarter. 

These awards were based on the 

recipients’ outstanding support and 

excellent service of the USU mission. 

Rodrick, who has been at the University for five years, has become a handson expert with the administrative actions 

and procedures for a wide-range of 

departments. Her in-depth knowledge in 

financial management, research administration and logistics has allowed her to 

help improve the operational efficiency 

of the Department of Medicine. 

Rodrick’s administrative prowess 

has also made her a valuable asset to 

her direct supervisors. When potential problems arise, Melisa seizes the 

initiative to solve these issues and is 

able to quickly and effectively coordinate with different departments and 

subject matter experts to help provide 

her leadership with valuable information and insight. This allows leadership 

to make good, well-informed decisions 

quickly and effectively. 

Despite the important highpressure assignments that she handles 

on a regular basis, Rodrick makes 

these tasks as part of her regular 

routine. As this “cool-headed” 

professional deals with the various 

personalities, missions and the inevitable changes, she keeps the mission 

moving forward and helps maintain 

on-time work schedules while coordinating updates and changes between 

all working parties. 

While excelling in the professional 

environment, Rodrick has also set 

and achieved her own goals for selfadvancement, taking many training 

courses and seminars at USU to help 

further her personal development. 

“Melisa has not had the benefit of 

the mentorship, guidance, and education that many of us here take for 

granted. If anything, she has had to 

deal with peers who have questioned 

her attempts to better herself and her 

daughter, Stacia, urging her to set lower 

goals, or no goals at all,” said Dr. Don 

Sellitti, research associate professor for 

the Department of Medicine. “In spite 

of this pressure, Melisa has persevered, 

seeking out opportunities for advancement here at USU. 

Rodriguez, who has been with the 

University for more than nine years, 

works diligently and expertly as the 

department’s information technology 

specialist. He fully supports the development and implementation of information technology programs, as well as 

resolving questions and concerns with 

hardware, software and communications. Rodriquez also provides assistance to department management and 

senior leaders in planning and executing the Department of Defense’s and the 

CHR’s policies, plans and programs. 

Rodriguez provides full technical 

support to staff and customers. His 

advanced technical know-how and 

operational savvy have made him a vital 

part of the department’s daily operations and mission efficiency. 

Rodriguez has also made several 

highly specialized contributions to the 

CHR and USU, including his work 

with NSPS. He was a critical part of 

USU’s successful conversion to TMA 

and the National Security Personnel System. This conversion directly 

impacted not only his department, 

but the entire USU community. Due 

to his countless man-hours and heavy 

overtime workload, the conversion was 

a seamless success for its users. 

In fact, over the past two years Rodriguez’ involvement with NSPS has only 

been increasing. One of the fundamental 

tasks has been to visit NSPS employees at their work site to assist with data 

assessments into the system. He has 

also served as the pay pool panel’s IT 

data administrator. Rodriguez has also 

directly assisted several rating officials 

and senior leaders in the correct rating 

changes involved within the system. 

The consummate professional, 

Rodriguez has received several 

Melisa L. Rodrick Harrison Rodriguez

Continued to page 6

Photo by Thomas Balfour Photo by Sgt. Matthew Rosine
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Continued from page 5

Rodrick, Rodriguez 

comments from customers for his 

courteous and helpful attitude despite 

heavy workloads and unexpected 

projects that require his expertise. The 

unexpected AD general pay increase 

(GPI) and the AD group bonus for 

the School of Medicine are a couple of 

examples of major projects that were 

successfully completed on time due to 

Rodriguez’s work ethics, commitment 

and teamwork.

“He continues to respond to the 

ongoing needs in the CHR community. His patience, kindness, and 

prompt response to our needs have 

helped the HR Specialists accomplish 

our mission and has made working 

with him a pleasure. He is sought 

after as a successful problem solver,” 

said Theresa Spriggs, CHR training 

officer. “Mr. Rodriguez’s performance 

denotes commitment, dedication and 

ability in abundance. He possesses 

the talent and proficiency to provide 

the excellent customer service this 

University needs to succeed.”

As the Spring season arrives at USU, 

so do the Canada Geese that share the 

campus with faculty, students and staff. 

This annual migration also presents 

a unique potential safety hazard for the 

USU community. 

In late March and early April, 

especially in this area, the geese will be 

selecting nesting sites and laying eggs. 

During this period of their reproductive cycle the geese can and will become 

very defensive and overly aggressive if 

their nests are disturbed, or if they feel 

the nest is threatened.

In the past, some people at USU 

have been attacked and injured by 

geese trying to defend these nests or 

their goslings. 

Should any geese happen to make 

a nest in the public areas of the USU 

campus, to include the courtyard, 

Migration may bring safety hazards

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

walkways, planters or shrubs, the 

Environmental Health and Safety office 

is reminding people to give them plenty 

of space and avoid confrontation. 

“We just wanted to remind people 

about the very real safety hazards 

here,” said John Pomerville, the assistant vice president for Environmental Health and Safety. “In past years, 

a few of our coworkers have had 

unfavorable encounters with geese at 

Graduate program Open House draws an interested crowd

More than 50 prospective doctoral program graduate students visited the USU 

campus on March 1 to tour, interview and learn more about opportunities 

available at the University. Dr. Johnan Kaleeba, Department of Microbiology and 

Immunology, enjoyed a more informal conversation with two prospective students 

during the wine and cheese party to close the days activities.

Photo by Ken Frager

this time of year. With a little awareness and mutual respect, the geese 

can nest undisturbed, no one gets 

injured and we can all safely share 

our beautiful campus.” 

If these nests should develop and 

become a problem on campus, an 

animal control specialist will be 

notified. If it is necessary, the nest 

will then be humanely relocated to a 

better location. 

Photo by Thomas Balfour
March 15, 2010 7

Briefs

Mark your calendar for 

Education Day 2010

USU will sponsor Education Day, 

June 25, 2010. The theme, “Obstacles 

and Opportunities in Curriculum 

Change,” was chosen to showcase the 

experience of the USU faculty in teaching learners across the spectrum of 

health science education.

Deadlines are:

n Submission of poster or demonstration 

abstracts, midnight, April 16, 2010

n Nominations for Innovation in Teaching Award, midnight, April 16, 2010

n Participation and presentation, 

midnight, June 18, 2010

 Authors whose abstracts are 

accepted and Teaching Award nominees 

will be notified around May 1, 2010. 

Additional information will be available 

in future issues of The Pulse and on the 

USU Web site.

Faculty senate members

needed:

The USU Faculty Senate is looking 

for faculty volunteers to fill upcoming 

faculty senate positions in the upcoming year. 

The Faculty Senate is a representative body providing the faculty a way 

to participate in the governance of 

the university. 

The senate is an advisor to the president of the university and may pass 

resolutions and recommendations on 

issues such as education, research and 

faculty welfare. 

The following positions will be open 

this coming year:

n Three positions representing the 

clinical department

n Four positions representing the basic 

science departments

n Secretary of the Faculty Senate 

n President Pro-tempore of the 

Faculty Senate. In accordance with 

the USU constitution, this year’s 

selection must be from the basic 

science department. 

The deadline for candidacy 

nomination is May 10 and elections 

will be held in June. 

Faculty interested in filling one of 

these positions should contact their 

current Faculty Senate representative or a member of the Elections and 

Nominations committee. 

Professional activities: 

The Department of Defense and 

USU policy requires that all employees, both military and civilian, receive 

approval for engaging in any activity outside their work environment, 

which involves their professional 

expertise or government occupation, 

and involves compensation.

This approval is required prior to 

engaging in the activity. 

In order to get approval, any 

employee can complete a USUHS 

Form 1004. This completed form 

must be approved and signed by each 

department chair or activity head. 

These forms are available in the 

General Counsel’s office or online at 

the USU OGC Web site.

Completed forms must be turned 

in to the General Counsel’s office. 

The form will be routed to the appropriate dean, brigade commander or 

USUHS president. 

Once processing is completed, a 

copy of the approved form will be 

returned to the employee for the 

employee’s records. 

2010 Antietam Medical 

Staff March:

The Department of Military and 

Emergency Medicine will conduct the 

Antietam Medical Staff Walk at the 

Antietam National Battlefield on April 

29, 2010. The Medical Staff Walk, a 

component of Military Medical Field 

Studies, is designed to give the student 

an appreciation of how historical 

lessons learned have shaped modern 

and future military medicine. This 

year’s medical walk will retrace a Civil 

War casualty’s evacuation route from 

the battlefield to supporting hospitals 

within the area, highlighting military 

medical lessons learned along the way.

Using Computer Resources: 

Security incidents continue to be a 

drain to limited USU Information Assurance manpower. The following highlight 

current DoD policy and best practices:

Personnel must not install selfcoded or non-licensed software on 

network resources; add, remove, 

configure, or attempt to modify 

USU computer operating systems 

or programs; move audio/visual or 

network cables, computers or attempt 

to connect personal computers to the 

network including MDL and lecture 

hall spaces; connect personal devices 

except for those previously authorized by UIS; download pornographic 

material and store or display offensive material, such as racist literature, 

sexually harassing or obscene language 

or material; store or process classified 

information on any USU system.

Personnel must not permit 

unauthorized individuals access to a 

government-owned or governmentoperated system or program; access 

online gambling, games and social 

engineering sites.

Helpdesk Closure: 

The UIS helpdesk is closed for training on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. 

During this time, you can leave a 

voicemail message at 295-9800, utilize 

the HEAT Self Service (http://www.

usuhs.mil/uis/forms/trouble.html), or 

email help@usuhs.mil. 

If an emergency should arise, please 

call 295-9870.