Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way

The Official USU Newsletter

Volume 12, Issue 1 ■ Jan 9, 2017

 www.usuhs.edu
2 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Sharon Holland

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Christopher Austin

Writer and Interim Editor

MC2 Laura Bailey

Writer and Photographer

SSgt. Stephanie Morris, USAF

Writer and Photographer

Sarah Marshall

Contributing Writer and 

Photographer

Tom Balfour

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 is published biweekly on 

Mondays. The deadline for submissions is at 4 p.m. Tuesday prior to the 

publication date. Submissions can be 

sent to christopher.austin.ctr@usuhs.

edu or by calling 301-295-3338.

On the cover

Dr. Richard W. Thomas accepts the 

ceremonial mace from Mr. Peter 

Levine, performing the duties of 

the under secretary of Defense 

for Personnel Readiness, officially 

signifying the transfer of power as 

USU's sixth president, Dec. 9, 2016. 

(Photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris, 

U.S. Air Force)

King, Belen earn Energy and Water 

Management Awards

Cheryl King, director of Facilities; Miguel Belen, chief of the Engineering 

division; and William Ortega-Ortiz, the NSAB installation energy manager, 

hold their 2016 Federal Energy and Water Management awards. (Photo 

Courtesy of the Department of Energy) 

By Sharon Holland

The 2016 Federal Energy 

and Water Management Award 

recipients were presented on Dec. 

7 in Washington, D.C., and two 

Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences employees were 

among the honorees.

Cheryl King, director of 

Facilities, and Miguel Belen, chief 

of the Engineering division, were 

among the Navy and Marine Corps 

winners of the award. 

The Federal Energy Management 

Program, run by the U.S. Department 

of Energy, in conjunction with the 

Interagency Energy Management 

Task Force, sponsors the annual 

Federal Energy and Water 

Management Awards. The awards 

recognize individuals, groups, 

and agencies for their outstanding 

contributions in the areas of energy 

efficiency, water conservation, and 

the use of advanced and renewable 

energy technologies at federal 

facilities.

Awardees are selected for 

outstanding achievements in 

energy and water efficiency and 

conservation, renewable energy 

implementation, sustainable practices 

for high-performance buildings, 

and fleet and transportation 

management.

King and Belen were selected for 

the award as part of a team from 

Naval Support Activity Bethesda for 

their design and implementation of 

a comprehensive base-wide energy 

efficiency/retrofit project, improving 

the exterior lighting systems and 

enhancing steam trap performance 

and safety across the Walter Reed 

National Military Medical Center 

campus. Other team members 

included William O. Ortega-Ortiz, 

the installation energy manager, 

Navy Lt. j.g. Quintrell Mazant, 

construction manager. King served 

as the USU liaison on the team, and 

Belen was the WRNMMC liaison at 

the time the project took place.

“I couldn’t be more proud, it is 

very well deserved. Cheryl can add it 

to her long list of accomplishments 

as a great way to end her dedicated 

service to our University,” said Arta 

Mahboubi, assistant vice president 

for administration. King will be 

retiring at the end of December. 
3 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

'I used to be a wounded warrior'

Panel discussion sheds light on advancements, challenges in military medicine

A recent panel discussion at the Association of Military Surgeons of the United 

States meeting highlighted advancements in military treatment, and challenges 

in caring for, wounded warriors. From left to right: Dr. Rory Cooper, retired 

Army Col. Greg Gadson, retired Navy Cmdr. Larry Miller, and USU's retired 

Army Col. (Dr.) Paul Pasquina. (Photo by Sarah Marshall)

By Sarah Marshall

Retired Army Col. Greg Gadson 

lost both of his legs in 2007 after 

being injured by an improvised 

explosive device in Iraq. Through 

lots of hope, support from his 

community, and advancements 

in military medicine, he made a 

successful recovery and returned 

to active duty. He later became 

garrison commander of Fort Belvoir, 

Virginia in 2012, making him the 

first double amputee to lead a major 

Army installation.

During a panel discussion at 

a recent annual Association of 

Military Surgeons of the United 

States meeting, Gadson shared his 

journey, the challenges he faced, 

and his perspective on the care he 

received that he attributes to his 

successes. The panel also included 

Rory Cooper, Ph.D., who suffered a 

spinal cord injury while serving in 

the military, as well as retired Army 

Col. (Dr.) Paul Pasquina, professor 

and chair of the Department of 

Rehabilitation at the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU), and retired Navy 

Cmdr. Larry Miller, a physician 

assistant at a veterans affairs hospital 

in Tampa, Florida. Navy Capt. Walter 

Greenhalgh, director of the National 

Intrepid Center of Excellence, 

moderated the discussion.

With the theme, “I used to be 

a wounded warrior,” the panel 

focused on the importance of 

providing quality care not just from 

the point of injury, but throughout 

the continuum of care, for both 

wounded warriors and their families. 

The panelists discussed some of the 

challenges wounded warriors and 

providers face, while highlighting 

advancements in military medicine.

Gadson said he liked the panel’s 

theme, because he doesn’t like to 

think of himself as a “wounded 

warrior.” 

“I am a warrior, and I was 

wounded. That was almost 10 

years ago, and I am not continually 

wounded,” he said.

After being injured, there were 

significant implications associated 

with having lost both legs above 

the knee, while also suffering organ 

shut down, and severe damage to his 

right arm, he said. However, he was 

able to overcome these challenges, 

and transition back to active duty. 

He stayed on for an additional seven 

years, was promoted, and served 

as director of an Army wounded 

warrior program. Advancements 

in care and technology in the 

military, he said, allowed him, and 

many others, to survive battlefield 

injuries that were never survivable 

in previous wars.

“The bar has been raised in our 

medical community,” he said.

But that’s just the beginning of 

the journey, Gadson added. It’s 

important to continue not only 

making sure service members 

survive battlefield injuries, but also 

have a quality of life.

“We have a great responsibility 

to our nation to make sure that our 

veterans and our families, who have 

paid significant sacrifice, can still 

pursue their dreams,” he said.

Pasquina agreed, noting the 

military has achieved historic 

survival rates since Sept. 11. “That’s 

just the first step,” he said. 

The goal is to make sure these 

individuals are able to re-integrate 

back into their communities, back 

into active duty, and back into their 

families, he continued.

Continued on pg. 14
4 the pulse Jan 9, 2017 5 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Dr. Richard W. Thomas Installed as Uniformed Services University's 

Sixth President

Dr. Richard W. Thomas (second from the left) applauds a guest speaker during his 

inauguration ceremony on Dec. 9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris, U.S. Air Force)

Faculty from USU and other universities throughout the mid-Atlantic 

region participated in the installation ceremony, Dec. 9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. 

Stephanie Morris, U.S. Air Force)

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense 

for Health Affairs, the Honorable 

Dr. Jonathan Woodson, was a guest 

speaker at Thomas' inauguration, 

(Photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris, 

U.S. Air Force)

Dr. Richard W. Thomas, the sixth president of Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences, addresses the audience at his inauguration. (Photo by 

Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris, U.S. Air Force)

By Sarah Marshall

During a ceremony steeped in 

tradition and academic pageantry, 

Dr. Richard W. Thomas was 

inaugurated as the sixth president of 

the Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences (USU) on 

Dec. 9.

Thomas was officially sworn in as 

the University’s newest president in 

July, succeeding Dr. Charles Rice, 

who served as president from 2005-

2016. Thomas is responsible for 

advising the Assistant Secretary of 

Defense for Health Affairs and the 

four Surgeons Generals on a wide 

array of issues related to graduate 

health professions education and 

health care research.

Thomas said, first and foremost, 

he is committed to life-long service, 

having served as a physician, dentist, 

surgeon, commander, Soldier, 

Army general, and now a university 

president.

“As such, I’m deeply grateful 

for the opportunity to make a 

difference in the lives of so many 

through the leadership of a premier 

federal university,” he said. “A love 

of learning, a longing for discovery, 

a commitment to pursue the truth 

– these are the underpinnings of a 

great university. I find each of these 

here in abundance.”

Thomas also emphasized his 

commitment to enhancing the 

university’s already eminent 

standing as a place where gifted 

scholars focus on research, teaching, 

and mentoring the rising generation 

to become tomorrow’s leaders in 

military medicine.

“This is our mission, and our 

mission is like no other university’s,” 

he said.

Supporting and working with the 

armed forces and their respective 

medical departments, he added, 

USU will lead the way to a new era 

in education, research, and health 

care.

“We are members of the finest 

medical team the world has ever 

seen. We represent the investment 

in trust our nation has made in 

health readiness. That’s exactly as it 

should be,” he said.

The newest member of USU’s 

Board of Regents, and former 

Assistant Secretary of Defense for 

Health Affairs, the Honorable Dr. 

Jonathan Woodson, echoed similar 

sentiments. The guest speaker said, 

"The joint nature of USU’s research, 

programs and curriculum, are what 

spur innovation and enable the 

Military Health System to thrive. 

The university has prepared, and 

will continue to prepare, leaders 

to be successful in an increasingly 

complex world that defines our 

national security concerns and 

evolving health care issues. Thus 

USU has no equal in academia." 

Woodson, who is also director 

of the Institute for Health System 

Innovation and Policy at Boston 

University, went on to explain that 

Thomas embodies the excellence of 

USU, as a “strategic leader who can 

make astute assessments and build 

teams to successfully accomplish 

the [university’s] mission.”

“He possesses the right qualities 

of mind and heart, a sense of fairness 

and a commitment to excellence, 

which is the university’s life blood,” 

Woodson added. “There is no 

better job than preparing future 

generations of critically important 

military leaders. You are the right 

man for the job at the right time.”

Thomas graduated from West 

Virginia University (WVU) in 1981. 

He is a graduate of the WVU School 

of Dentistry and received his Doctor 

of Medicine degree from the WVU 

School of Medicine in 1994. He 

earned a master’s degree in Strategic 

Studies from the U.S. Army War 

College in 2006. He completed his 

internship at Brooke Army Medical 

Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 

and residency in Otolaryngology/

Head and Neck Surgery at Madigan 

Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, 

Washington.

Previously, Thomas held a 

faculty appointment as clinical 

associate professor at the University 

of Washington in Seattle, and 

served as adjunct faculty and staff 

surgeon at the Swedish Medical 

Center in Seattle and American 

Lake Veteran’s Administration 

Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. 

He currently serves as an American 

Academy of Otolaryngology/Head 

and Neck Surgery diplomate, and 

is an American College of Surgeons 

fellow. He is also a member of 

several professional associations, 

including the American Association 

for Physician Leadership, the 

American Dental Association, the 

American Medical Association, 

and the American Academy of Pain 

Medicine.
6 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

New course uses virtual reality to teach 

communication

Students learn to use off-the-shelf smartphone virtual reality headsets to practice public speaking in a class given by 

Navy Capt. (Dr.) Gregory Gorman in the Department of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences. The elective, conceived and organized by F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine Associate Dean Army Col. 

(Dr.) Jeffrey Hutchinson, teaches students communication skills in both old and new media, including oratory and 

radio interviews, podcasts, video, and social media. (Photo by Capt. (Dr.) Gregory Gorman)

By Christopher Austin

A new elective at the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences is teaching students from 

the F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine (SOM) and the Daniel K. 

Inouye Graduate School of Nursing 

(GSN) how to manage modern 

communication like social media, 

video and podcasts. It’s also teaching 

them how to practice traditional 

communication in a non-traditional 

way.

Conceived by Army Col. (Dr.) 

Jeff Hutchinson, associate dean in 

the SOM, “Media Communications 

in Health Care” was offered in 

the fall and will be offered again 

in February. It is a post-clerkship 

elective that aims to improve 

students’ understanding and use 

of the media available to them, 

and improve their skills in public 

speaking. To approach the latter, the 

course made use of virtual reality 

(VR) technology. 

“It’s something I had used before 

with the residents in my program as 

a way to practice public speaking,” 

said Navy Capt. (Dr.) Gregory 

Gorman, associate professor of 

Pediatrics at USU and director of 

the National Capital Consortium 

Pediatrics residency program.

“When they start getting 

invitations to platforms like national 

meetings, they’re naturally anxious 

about it. We would practice where 

they’d present in front of small 

groups. Some of the people the 

speakers would know, others they 

wouldn’t. We’d critique them not 

only on content but also form. But 

that doesn’t give you the awe of 

seeing a room full of a hundredsome people.”

Using an off-the-shelf VR 

headset that works with their 

smartphones, students can access 

an app called VirtualSpeech, which 

puts them in scenarios where they 

can test their public speaking skills, 

like interviews, wedding speeches, 

or small or large presentations.

The app features actors as 

audience members who, during the 

user’s presentation, will reflect the 

attentive, disinterested, or hostile 

audiences that students may find 

during their careers.

Continued on pg. 12
7 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Mary Maniscalco-Theberge named first ACS Mary Edwards Walker 

Inspiring Women in Surgery Award recipient

Dr. Mary Maniscalco-Theberge is 

the first recipient of the Inspiring 

Women in Surgery Award, chosen 

by the American College of Surgeons' 

Women in Surgery Committee. 

Maniscalco-Theberge is a clinical 

professor in the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences' 

Department of Surgery. (Photo 

Courtesy of Veterans Administration)

By 2nd Lt. Patricia Vu, U.S. Air 

Force

Dr. Mary Maniscalco-Theberge, a 

clinical professor in the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences’ (USU) Walter Reed 

Department of Surgery, became 

the first person to receive the 

Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring 

Women in Surgery Award from 

the American College of Surgeons' 

Women in Surgery Committee.

Maniscalo-Thererge was recognized 

for her notable contributions to the 

advancement of women in the field 

of surgery. The award is named for 

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the first 

female surgeon in the United States 

Army, and the only female recipient 

of the Medal of Honor. After serving 

in the Civil War, Walker committed 

her life to women’s rights in addition 

to being a pioneer for women in 

surgery. The award was presented 

during the annual American College 

of Surgeons Clinical Congress.

As an undergraduate student 

at Old Dominion University, 

Maniscalco-Theberge was not afraid 

to be different. She was a cheerleader, 

an Army cadet and a chemistry 

major. She chose this field of study 

knowing it would allow her to stand 

out among her pre-medical peers—

the majority of whom majored in 

the biological sciences. Even before 

beginning her medical career, “Dr. 

Mary,” as she is affectionately called 

by colleagues and patients, was 

already inspiring women to do more 

and be more. She became the first 

female battalion commander of her 

Army ROTC program. 

After graduating in 1978, 

Maniscalco-Theberge attended Eastern 

Virginia Medical School, where she 

discovered her passion for surgery. 

Regardless of the fact that women 

were often discouraged from 

pursuing a career in surgery during 

the 1970s and 1980s, ManiscalcoTheberge simply wanted to “give 

it a try.” Her determination and 

enthusiasm led to her acceptance 

into a five-year surgical residency 

program at Eisenhower Army 

Medical Center in Fort Gordon, 

Georgia. Once again, she stood 

out — she was the only woman in 

the program. Although she faced 

negative comments such as “the 

only place a woman belongs in the 

operating room is on the table,” the 

thought of withdrawing from the 

program never crossed her mind. 

Throughout her residency training, 

she found strength and support from 

ICU nurses, pathology residents and 

family medicine residents. 

Despite the cruel remarks 

from male colleagues on top of 

being submersed in an already 

physically and mentally demanding 

environment, Maniscalco-Theberge 

has been able to shed positive light 

on her experiences. She emphasizes 

that everyone in the workplace 

has something to offer, and that 

it is important to help everyone 

maximize his or her potential 

so that the team can succeed. 

Maniscalco-Theberge leads by 

selfless compassion and example, 

always striving for perfection and 

working hard. She deeply believes 

in doing the right thing and making 

choices that are for the greater good. 

These very views are some of the 

main reasons she enjoyed being in 

the military, and why she continued 

serving in the United States 

Army after fulfilling her service 

requirements for the scholarships 

from ROTC and Health Professions 

Scholarship Programs. For her, the 

military became an instant family, 

striving for a common good. She 

eventually became the first and 

only female chief of Surgery at the 

Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 

Continued on pg. 14
8 the pulse Jan 9, 2017 9 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Students build teamwork at Well-Being program kickoff

Students from the Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences' F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine took part in a well-being program kickoff on 

Nov. 28, 2016. The event saw first- through fourth-year 

students divided into teams made up of members from 

the different Services, and pitted against each other 

in a variety of activities with a focus on improving 

teamwork. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris, U.S. 

Air Force and Sharon Holland)

Army 2nd. Lt. Emad Madha prepares to throw a 

dodgeball.

Inter-Service teams take part in a game of volleyball.

Students in the USU School of Medicine's Well-Being 

program participate in one of several team-building 

challenges.

Air Force 2nd Lt. Lawrence Grey from the class of 2020 attempts to outrun the pitcher 

during a kickball game.

Students in the USU School of Medicine's Well-Being 

program participate in one of several team-building 

challenges.

Students participate in a hopper ball race.

The USU School of Medicine's Well-Being program kickoff winning team 

displays its cast iron trophy, presented by Dean Dr. Art Kellermann.
10 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Student selected for Henry Jackson Foundation Graduate Student 

Fellowship in the Medical Sciences Award

Lisa Shank, a Ph.D. graduate student 

at the Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences, has been 

selected as this year's recipient of the 

Graduate Student Fellowship in the 

Medical Sciences Award for 2016-

2017 from the HJF. (Courtesy Photo)

By Christopher Austin

Lisa Shank, a graduate student at 

the Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences (USU), has 

been selected as this year’s recipient 

of the Graduate Student Fellowship 

in the Medical Sciences Award 

for 2016-2017 from the Henry 

M. Jackson Foundation for the 

Advancement of Military Medicine 

(HJF).

A fourth-year doctoral student 

in the medical psychology program 

in the Department of Medical and 

Clinical Psychology at the F. Edward 

Hébert School of Medicine (SOM), 

Shank received the award based on 

her dissertation research examining 

the relations that exist among loss of 

control eating (LOC), inflammation, 

and metabolic syndrome in youth 

with and without obesity.

The primary hypothesis of Shank’s 

research is that youth with LOC will 

have a larger increase and prolonged 

elevation of salivary markers of 

inflammation in response to stress 

compared to youth without LOC. 

Another hypothesis is that the 

inflammatory response to stress 

will at least partially explain the 

relationship between LOC and 

components of the metabolic 

syndrome. 

“Kids with loss of control eating 

are at increased risk for weight and 

fat gain. Independent of weight and 

fat mass, they are also at increased 

risk for metabolic syndrome and 

have increased markers of chronic 

inflammation,” Shank said. "It 

seems like something about them 

is putting them at increased risk 

for adverse health outcomes above 

and beyond weight, and there’s 

evidence to suggest that stress plays 

a role in both LOC and these health 

outcomes.”

For her research study, Shank 

presents subjects, ages 12-17, with 

a cognitive stressor and measures 

salivary markers of inflammation 

once before and six times after the 

stressor is completed. A session with 

a single subject lasts around three 

and a half hours. 

The stressor is a working memory 

test where subjects are read a series 

of numbers and instructed to 

respond with the sum of each pair 

of numbers read to them. The rate at 

which the numbers are read to them 

speeds up, and the subjects are told 

that they are being recorded and 

judged. Seven times over the course 

of the experiment, synthetic swabs 

are put under the subject’s tongues 

for five minute periods. These swabs 

are later examined to determine 

the concentration of inflammatory 

markers present.

“I’m really interested in salivary 

markers of inflammation because 

they’re so new, and you tend to see 

changes in these pro-inflammatory 

cytokines before you see them in the 

blood,” Shank said. “It’s potentially a 

more useful, innovative biomarker, 

but only a few studies have used 

these with respect to acute stress, 

so it’s a new field. That was an 

interesting part of the experiments.”

Dr. Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, a 

professor in the Department of 

Medical and Clinical Psychology 

in the SOM and Shank’s research 

advisor and mentor, hopes that 

Shank's research can help bring 

an understanding to how obesity 

and disordered eating impact the 

physical and psychological health 

of military children, so that the best 

treatments and preventive measures 

can be taken in the future.

“Lisa is doing very important 

work that will help Service members' 

children,” Tanofsky-Kraff said. 

“Obesity and eating disturbance 

are prevalent among these youth 

and may be associated with more 

medical and psychological problems 

than for civilian children."

The award comes with a stipend 

from HJF, along with travel aid, 

which will allow Shank to travel to 

the Society for Behavioral Medicine 

Continued on pg. 12
11 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Varpio earns prestigious Diana Forsythe 

Award

Dr. Lara Varpio, an associate 

professor in the Department of 

Medicine at USU, received this 

year's Diana Forsythe Award from 

the American Medical Informatics 

Association. (Courtesy Photo)

By Sharon Holland

Dr. Lara Varpio, an associate 

professor in the Department of 

Medicine at the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences 

and a faculty member in USU’s 

Health Professions Education 

program, was presented the 2016 

Diana Forsythe Award by the 

American Medical Informatics 

Association (AMIA).

Varpio earned the award for her 

paper, “Building the Patient’s Story,” 

that studied how electronic health 

records impact patient care.

The Diana Forsythe Award honors 

either a peer-reviewed AMIA paper 

published in the Proceedings of 

the Annual Symposium or a peerreviewed article published in the 

Journal of the American Medical 

Informatics Association or other 

journals publishing medical 

informatics-related content that 

best exemplifies the spirit and 

scholarship of Diana Forsythe’s work 

at the intersection of informatics and 

social sciences. Dr. Diana Forsythe 

was a leading anthropologist of 

science, technology, and work, and 

particularly in the field of artificial 

intelligence.

“Dr. Varpio is conducting groundbreaking, theory-driven research that 

is informed by multiple disciplines. 

Her winning this award is consistent 

with the spirit and scholarship of 

Dr. Forsythe's work that bridged the 

fields of informatics and the social 

sciences,” said Dr. Steve Durning, 

director of the Health Professions 

Education degree program at USU.

CDP Offers ‘Summer Institute’ for Future Military Behavioral Health Providers 

By Courtesy Article

The Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences’ 

Center for Deployment Psychology 

(CDP) is seeking psychology 

or counseling students for their 

“Summer Institute,” June 19-23, 

2017.

Nearly 2.8 million U.S. Service 

members have deployed in support 

of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Although most military members 

have acclimated well since returning, 

a number of them experience 

behavioral health problems, such 

as post-traumatic stress disorder 

(PTSD), depression, traumatic 

brain injury (TBI), insomnia, 

chronic pain or substance abuse. A 

significant need exists for behavioral 

health providers to be trained well in 

military psychology. However, some 

graduate psychology students who 

are interested in this specialization 

may not feel adequately prepared to 

succeed as a pre-doctoral intern at 

a military treatment facility. Others 

may not be aware of the unique 

opportunities afforded by a career 

in military behavioral health.

The Center will host its third 

iteration of “The Summer Institute: 

Preparing for a Military-Focused 

Career,” to raise awareness of 

military psychology careers and 

increase students’ competitiveness 

for military internships. 

“Psychologists caring for service 

members, veterans and their 

families are faced with unique 

issues and challenges. We hope that 

this course helps to prepare these 

students to be successful as interns 

and professional psychologists 

working with this population,” said 

Dr. Paula Domenici, director of 

civilian training programs for CDP. 

Applicants must be U.S. 

citizens enrolled in an American 

Psychological Associationaccredited doctoral program in 

clinical psychology or counseling 

as a second, third, or fourth-year 

student at the time of application 

to be eligible for the program. 

Additionally, students must be 

applying for a military clinical 

internship beginning in 2018 or 

2019. Deadline for applications is 

January 13, 2017. 
12 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Virtual reality, continued from pg. 6

“I didn’t even know the app 

existed, which provided a very 

surreal experience in preparing and 

practicing presentations,” said Air 

Force 2nd Lt. Helal Syed, a USU 

class of 2017 medical student who 

took the course. “I wish I had known 

about it earlier, since fourth-year 

rotations generally involve giving 

presentations.”

The benefit of using the 

technology is that it gets students 

exposed to performing for large 

groups of people. The best way to 

get them comfortable with public 

speaking is to desensitize them to it, 

Hutchinson believes.

“The main thing we wanted the 

students to get was an increased 

level of comfort; it is impossible 

to become a media expert in a 

one-month elective,” he said. “We 

wanted to get them exposed to 

all different kinds of media from 

social to lecturing to small group 

communication. “

Hutchinson designed the course 

because he noticed that there are 

different levels of proficiency in 

communication among health 

professionals. He knew from his 

own personal experience that some 

situations are easier than others, but 

professionals must be prepared to 

communicate effectively when the 

need arises. 

Every student has their own 

strengths coming into public 

speaking, but they also have a lot 

to learn in regards to conveying 

their points, Gorman said. Classical 

techniques in communication are 

still relevant today and the students 

enjoyed learning them, he said.

Hutchinson gathered together 

eight instructors, each for a different 

aspect of communication, to teach 

the course. Gorman focused on 

public speaking. Other areas of 

focus included video presentations, 

non-verbal communication, first 

impressions, one-on-one conversations, 

and even phone conversations. 

Early in their careers, military 

health care professionals are expected 

to be teachers, Gorman said. They 

must be able to communicate not just 

with patients, but with small groups 

during rounds, with large department 

groups and over the phone. 

“[The course] was extremely 

helpful for me personally as I know 

that my time with patients will 

be limited in a clinic setting, and 

getting a message across in a way 

that the patient understands is all 

the more important,” said Air Force 

Capt. Stephanie Doane, a Family 

Health Nurse Practitioner student 

at the GSN. “I think that even 

though I may not be able to make 

a professional video or podcast yet, 

I have the resources and contacts to 

help me put together a message for 

patients, fellow staff and peers in the 

future.”

Both Hutchinson and Gorman 

agree that social media, another 

subject addressed in the class, 

is also important to modern 

communication for military 

medical professionals. It’s used in 

communicating with patients, other 

medical professionals, and can be 

used to publish research so that it 

gets more exposure.

Medical Sciences Award, continued from pg. 10

Conference in San Diego, California 

in March. 

Originally from Thorton, 

Pennsylvania, Shank went to 

the Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology for a Bachelor of Science 

degree in Management Science in 

2008. After deciding that research 

was her passion, she attended Drexel 

University to attain her Master 

of Science in Psychology in 2013. 

At Drexel, she studied under Dr. 

Michael Lowe, focusing on hedonic 

hunger and obesity in young adults. 

The same year she graduated, Shank 

came to USU to pursue her doctoral 

degree in medical psychology.

“My time at USU has been 

fantastic, and I've really appreciated 

how great the students and faculty 

have been here. They've been 

incredibly supportive of me and my 

career, and have only encouraged 

and facilitated me at every step of 

the way,” Shank said. “I definitely 

owe a lot to them.”
13 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

NeuroDRIVE: An adjunctive intervention for 

traumatic brain injury

A Service member demonstrates 

NeuroDRIVE. The rehabilitation 

platform is designed to address 

psychological challenges faced by 

individuals who drive following 

traumatic brain injuries. (Courtesy 

Photo)

By Mikelle D. Smith, DCoE Public 

Affairs

In a society that often requires 

a motor vehicle for completing 

daily tasks, being able to drive can 

promote independence. However, 

a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can 

interfere with the skills critical for 

attentive driving. Clinicians have 

developed an immersive virtual 

reality program that aims to restore 

confidence to those with TBI 

injuries and help them get back on 

the road. 

The program, Neurocognitive 

Driving Rehabilitation in Virtual 

Environments (NeuroDRIVE), is a 

rehabilitation platform designed to 

address the psychological challenges 

often faced by individuals who 

drive following TBI, according to a 

presentation at the Defense Centers 

of Excellence for Psychological 

Health and Traumatic Brain Injury 

Summit on Sept. 15.

NeuroDRIVE provides an 

immersive, engaging, and safe 

environment for rehabilitation 

and training in a wide range of 

skills relevant to driving, said the 

presenters.

“We expect that the enhanced 

ecological validity, engagement, and 

complexity that NeuroDRIVE offers 

will benefit real-world driving skills 

and general cognitive abilities,” said 

presenter Army Capt. Brian Guise, 

who is pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical 

psychology at the Uniformed 

Services University for the Health 

Sciences (USU). 

“We developed this from a 

neuropsychological perspective,” 

said Brian Brandler, a research 

associate in the Ettenhofer 

Laboratory for Neurocognitive 

Research in USU’s Department of 

Medical Psychology. “It has all the 

standard things that are in a car, 

but in a virtual environment.” The 

testing gear includes a steering 

wheel, gauges, and rear- and sideview mirrors. “It does not feel like 

virtual reality.” 

One participant in the 

NeuroDRIVE program praised it 

for helping him change his driving 

pattern. 

“When I returned from 

deployment, I really struggled with 

acclimating to defensive driving, 

because it was so different than 

how I was programmed to drive,” 

they said. “But after finishing these 

sessions, I get back into my car a lot 

calmer and prepared to drive safely 

again.” 

NeuroDRIVE incorporates 

scenarios related to visual reaction, 

cognition, and physical motor skills 

as they relate to perceived speed, 

peripheral vision, hazard detection, 

divided and selective attentiveness, 

foot and leg responses, hand and arm 

responses, and contrast sensitivity.

Participants receive six 

90-minute sessions over the course 

of four weeks. These sessions 

evaluate the individual’s driving 

and cognitive skills such as working 

memory and ability to control speed, 

maintain lane position and follow 

the rules of the road. In addition 

to virtual training, participants 

receive one-on-one feedback from 

providers. 

“Computer and examiner guidance 

are both available throughout the 

platform,” said Dr. Shawn Nelson 

Schmitt, a neuropsychology 

postdoctoral fellow at USU. “We 

want to have a human element of 

professionals trained to engage in 

virtual environments. They provide 

ways to improve from session to 

session, and a print-out from a 

computer can’t give participants that 

feedback.”

Research evaluating NeuroDRIVE 

is presently underway at USU and 

the National Institutes of Health 

Clinical Center. 

The program coordinators have 

identified requirements for future 

participants that they feel will best 

serve the research purposes of 

NeuroDRIVE: Participants must 

be 18 years of age or older; activeduty military, veteran or civilian; 

minimum of 12 weeks post-injury 

prior to initiation into the study; 

possess a current valid driver's 

license or had a license prior to 

their injury; and able to effectively 

manipulate steering wheel and gas 

and brake pedals without adaptive 

equipment.
14 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

'Wounded warrior,' continued from pg. 3

Retired Army Col. (Dr.) Paul 

Pasquina, professor and chair of the 

Department of Rehabilitation at 

USU, is seen on the big screen during 

a panel discussion at a recent annual 

Association of Military Surgeons of 

the United States meeting discussing 

the care for wounded warriors. 

(Photo by Sarah Marshall) 

"We need to be thinking all the 

way along that continuum of care 

from the point of injury, all the 

way through the rest of their lives,” 

Pasquina said.

To put that in perspective, many 

of those serving overseas are under 

age 35, and so if they’re injured, 

they’re going to be living with these 

injuries for the next several decades, 

Pasquina said. 

Generally, those who suffer from 

amputations, or trauma in general, 

are at a higher risk for chronic pain, 

constant skin breakdown, advanced 

arthritis, and other long-term 

effects, he said. Ongoing research 

has allowed providers to understand 

these issues, and allowed the military 

to advance its programs. Some of 

these advancements include robotic 

prosthetics – even one that’s being 

developed that could integrate 

into an individual’s skeleton. These 

strides continue to allow injured 

service members to return to work, 

run marathons, ride a bike with their 

family, or just feel confident picking 

up and playing with their children. 

After retiring from the military, 

Gadson said he’s made it a priority 

to be a part of his community – it 

was his community that helped 

give him hope during his recovery. 

“Hope that I could live a productive 

life, and because of that ... I applied 

to stay on active duty,” he said. 

He aims to continue sharing his 

story, and educating the community 

about these important issues. “That’s 

one of the primary reasons why I’m 

here today,” he said. “I feel very 

privileged and blessed to be able to 

continue to share my perspectives.”

Maniscalo-Theberge, continued from pg. 7

Shortly afterwards, she became an 

active member of the Association of 

Women Surgeons and has been an 

inspiring mentor ever since. 

For Maniscalco-Theberge, 

mentoring is about giving 

back. Unfortunately, during her 

residency training, mentoring and 

nurturing were not part of the 

culture, which had emphasized 

“tough love.” She explains that 

her path would had been easier 

if she had mentors earlier on 

to “pull her back and offer 

different perspectives on shared 

experiences, which are important 

for promoting resilience.” She 

also emphasizes the importance 

of having a mentor to enhance 

networking and career 

development.

Currently, Maniscalco-Theberge 

is the deputy medical inspector for 

Professional Services at the Office 

of the Medical Inspector for the 

Veterans Health Administration 

Central Office in Washington, 

D.C. Like Walker, ManiscalcoTheberge has taken women in 

medicine to new heights with her 

brave and outgoing personality. 

She continues to leave a lasting 

impression on future generations 

of surgeons with her mentorship of 

medical students by emphasizing 

“[finding] what brings you joy,” 

and not compromising because of 

worry over not being able to have 

it all. According to her, “you can 

have it all, it just takes effort...” She 

also states that not doing something 

because of fear would always leave 

you wondering whether you could 

have done it. Her motto from a 

Carole King song is “you’ve got to 

get up every morning with a smile 

on your face, and show the world all 

the love in your heart.” 

“'Dr. Mary’ has led and inspired 

several generations of military 

surgeons over the span of her career. 

Dr. Mary Maniscalco-Theberge, in 

particular, was a mentor to many 

of today’s leading female military 

surgeons. She continues in this role 

through patient care in our Breast 

Care Center and by serving as a 

key liaison to our partners in the 

Veteran’s Health Administration. It 

is a distinct honor and privilege to 

work with her and this distinction is 

well deserved,” said Navy Capt. (Dr.) 

Eric Elster, chair of the USU Walter 

Reed Department of Surgery.
15 the pulse Jan 9, 2017

Final Frame

A delegation from the Fourth Military Medical University, People's Republic of China, paid a visit to USU on Dec. 20, 

2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris, U.S. Air Force)