Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

2010 Report
Table of Contents

 President’s Letter Page 1

 The USU Story Page 2

 School of Medicine Page 4

 Graduate Programs Page 6

 Graduate School of Nursing Page 8

 Field Exercises Page 10

 Research Page 12

 The Campus Community Page 18

 The Future Page 22

 Leadership Page 25
President’s Letter

Students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 

(USU) are pursuing a mission greater than medicine alone. They 

are learning the art of healing in uniformed service. Innovation in 

scholarship is needed to educate these officers for responsibilities that 

reach far beyond the conventional roles of medicine.

USU is a place where students gain the knowledge to practice 

medicine anywhere in the world, the skills to treat some of the most 

extreme physical and mental wounds, and the confidence to be a 

leader under the most extraordinary conditions.

More than just “medicine as usual,” our University blends old 

traditions with new methods to cultivate the sophisticated doctors, 

dentists, nurses and scientists needed in military medicine. These 

professionals carry out the University hallmark of caring for those in 

harm’s way at duty stations on the front lines, on the home front and in 

nearly every other place around the world.

This lofty charge has guided the University from its very beginning nearly four decades ago and remains at the 

forefront of every University pursuit, even as work to improve how we care for our wounded servicemembers 

is under way.

To best serve the fighting force, the University is finding creative ways to mobilize education, research and 

patient care every day. Today’s efforts focus on psychological and behavioral health initiatives. The breadth 

and depth of these pursuits are far-reaching because USU is committed to advancing the kind of science that 

improves the human condition—body and mind.

And this work has never been more important than it is right now. 

Rising numbers of servicemembers are suffering the debilitating effects of trauma, and healing these wounds is a 

top priority for USU and the Department of Defense at large. 

The University is taking comprehensive steps toward finding better solutions for the identification, treatment and 

prevention of emotional wounds. On campus, students in every program are being taught contemporary ways of 

advancing modern medicine, and they are practicing these methods at treatment facilities around the world.

At our research centers, investigators are exploring ways to combat injuries, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, 

traumatic brain injury, depression, stress and many others. The multidisciplinary teams are examining these 

disorders from every angle, and they are finding cutting-edge solutions to begin healing these complex injuries. 

In the military culture, our University leadership is finding ways to reduce the stigma of reporting psychological 

problems, and is working to increase the accessibility of quality care.

Through all of this important work, USU is joining the rest of the military in its march toward mental well-being. 

This report highlights some of the most significant advances, along with the dynamic people and programs that 

make USU a special place.

1

Charles L. Rice, M.D.
T

housands are drawn to the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences (USU) each 

year. Educators, students and researchers alike 

are inspired by the University’s mission of 

learning to care for those in harm’s way. 

And the University reaches out to the world. Its 

graduates have carried out important duties in 

treatment facilities at home and on the front lines, 

in major foreign cities, and in developing 

countries—wherever duty calls. 

The University was the brainchild of Rep. F. Edward 

Hébert, who proposed the establishment of a “West 

Point for military medicine” early in his career. He 

wanted to build an institution where students could 

learn to practice extraordinary medicine under 

difficult circumstances and heal wounds largely 

unseen in civilian practice. His dream became a 

reality years later when President Richard Nixon 

signed a bill chartering USU in 1972.

After laying the foundation for this new way of 

educating uniformed physicians, the Louisiana 

Democrat said, “When my service ends and I

look back over the milestones of my career, I want 

most of all to be remembered for the military 

medical school.”

The Hébert idea took form in the rented space 

above a Peoples Drugstore and a branch of the 

State National Bank in Bethesda, Md. In these 

modest quarters, University pioneers established a 

framework of academic rigor and unique learning 

opportunities that became a USU tradition. This 

model of scholarship guided the University, even as 

its scope and mission broadened over time. 

In the early days, one of the first orders of business 

for University leaders was finding a permanent 

home for the campus community. The original Board 

of Regents chose a parcel of land on the grounds 

of the National Naval Medical Center, across the 

street from the National Institutes of Health. This 

central location, in the middle of a vibrant scientific 

community, gave faculty and students unparalleled 

opportunities to collaborate with leading scientists. 

These partnerships deepened USU’s already 

significant research footprint, and they continue

to shape modern medicine today.

The inclusion of a Graduate School of Nursing in 

1993 was another milestone for the University. 

Policymakers expanded USU’s reach because they 

understood the important role military nurses play 

in uniformed health care. 

The founding dean and nurse pathfinder, Faye 

Abdellah, Ed.D., best summed up the need for this 

addition. “Civilian colleges of nursing can prepare 

nurses for the military, but they cannot prepare 

military nurses,” she said.

The Department of Defense 

was left with a dwindling 

medical corps when the 

physician draft and Berry 

Plan ended. Policymakers 

had to find alternative ways 

to care for servicemembers 

and their families. 

Rep. F. Edward Hébert 

introduced the idea of a “West 

Point for military medicine” 

as a way to maintain allvolunteer uniformed services. 

At this University, government 

employees would provide the 

unique education needed to care 

for injured troops. 

The Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences was chartered by an act of 

Congress and signed into law by President 

Richard Nixon in 1972.

The University’s first administration and 

faculty began laying the groundwork to 

prepare students for the challenges of 

military medicine in the rented space above 

a Peoples Drugstore and a branch of the 

State National Bank, as well as in other 

temporary locations.

The USU Story

2
In less than two decades, USU has graduated more 

than 470 advanced practice nurses ready for duty 

anywhere American troops go. These professionals 

take on a variety of leadership roles in the military 

and public health systems. 

Army Lieutenant Colonel Sandra McNaughton (‘00) 

is one example of the school’s outstanding alumni. 

The family nurse practitioner was among a select 

group of female medical professionals forming a 

Special Forces team in Afghanistan. These nurses 

and medics cared for local women and children 

at forward operating bases, often under very 

difficult conditions.

“This experience validated the long hours of training 

family nurse practitioners receive,” McNaughton 

said. “At the same time, it profoundly affected my 

view of the world and the military.”

From the beginning, signature curricula have 

been used in both the medical and graduate 

nursing schools to broadly educate students for 

the challenges of military medicine. Over the 

years, programs have been added—and trademark 

exercises have been expanded—to encourage an 

even more dynamic learning environment. 

Today, students travel far beyond the University’s 

corridors to gain the knowledge and skills to 

practice medicine around the world. Coursework 

such as clinical rotations at prominent treatment 

facilities gives students opportunities to experience 

the responsibilities that lay ahead.

A medical student, Air Force Second Lieutenant 

Eric Meyer, for example, completed part of his 

training in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at 

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. 

While there, he was able to put a face to the 

medicine learned on campus grounds. Meyer 

spent four weeks caring for badly injured soldiers 

returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Servicemembers are people with ambition and a 

lot of motivation,” he said. “When you see them get 

injured, you want to do everything you can to heal 

them and get them back on track.” 

This meaningful interaction and others like it are 

trademark USU experiences. No other American 

university is so keenly focused on providing the 

education needed to care for uniformed personnel. 

The University’s rigorous education and one-of-a-kind

experience prepare graduates to triage and treat the 

most devastating wounds of modern battle, perform 

breakthrough scientific research and lead amid 

challenging conditions of war and humanitarian crisis.

A vision of excellence in 

military medicine guides the 

University, where students 

learn innovative lessons that 

provide the foundation 

for caring for those in 

uniformed service. 

The Graduate Nursing School 

is a leader among peers. The 

school’s distinguished alumni, 

such as Army Lieutenant 

Colonel Sandra McNaughton 

(’00), carry out important 

duties across the globe. 

McNaughton demonstrated 

strong professional knowledge 

at various forward operating 

bases while providing care in 

Afghanistan in 2008.

The University expanded 

significantly in 1993 with 

the addition of a Graduate 

School of Nursing. “Civilian 

colleges of nursing can 

prepare nurses for the 

military, but they cannot 

prepare military nurses,” 

said founding dean 

Faye Abdellah, Ed.D.

USU’s charter class graduated in 1980. 

These 29 officers were the first to receive 

the school’s unique education and blazed 

a trail for thousands to follow. 

The original Board of 

Regents found a permanent 

home for the University on 

the grounds of the National 

Naval Medical Center, near 

Washington, D.C., and 

across the street from the 

National Institutes of Health.

3
4

Inspiring Heritage

University students pursue a deeper understanding of

military medicine across time by recalling the 

experiences of servicemembers past. History lessons 

are an integral part of the School of Medicine 

curriculum, bringing to life the stories of battlefield 

medicine and educating students about their 

medical heritage. 

Faculty members in the Department of Medical 

History take on this innovative teaching. Through 

words and vivid wartime iconography, lecturers 

describe accounts of triumph and struggle in 

uniformed health care. They also provide some insight 

about the social conditions shaping medicine.

“There are many surrounding factors reaching 

beyond the physician and patient, and these 

conditions are always in the process of change,” said 

Senior Vice President and Department of Medical 

History Professor Dale Smith, Ph.D. “History is the 

study of how this change happens.” 

This knowledge cultivates better uniformed 

physicians, who examine the present-day challenges 

of military medicine by interpreting events of the past. 

“Understanding history does not allow us to predict 

the future,” Smith said. “But it does keep us from 

being surprised.”

Smith and his mentor, Robert Joy, M.D., are pioneers 

of this modern teaching method. Few medical schools 

have history departments, and USU’s is the nation’s 

only history department with a military-centric focus.

Joy became interested in military history early in 

his career. “It dawned on me that in the medical 

history literature, there 

was very little military 

medicine history,” he 

said. “It was blindingly 

obvious, and it had 

been for years, that 

in the military history 

literature, there was 

almost no military 

medical history.”

He began compiling 

the literature that would 

bridge this knowledge 

gap. Joy published 

papers and became 

renowned for this new 

genre of storytelling. 

Joy recruited Smith soon after being appointed 

professor and chairman of the Department of Medical 

History. Together, they constructed a curriculum 

designed to cover the complex experiences of 

uniformed health care providers.

Nearly 30 years have passed since Joy and Smith 

began forging this new path in military medical 

history. Their original curriculum remains an important 

component of the learning framework. 

The topics cover the general development of patient 

care, disease and society, with specific lectures on 

the history of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, 

psychiatry and surgery. In order to graduate, 

medical students must complete 31 hours of history 

coursework from ancient medicine to the present. 

For modern USU students, achieving in the present 

means illuminating the past.

School of Medicine

The call to service and pursuit of medicine are joined at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, where students work to become both physicians and officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service. 

Educating students for these dual roles is achieved through unique measures. Students are held to high standards of medical 

scholarship, and they are taught leadership skills in the military training exercises melded into the curriculum. This 

formula produces sophisticated doctors who are ready to perform under difficult circumstances anywhere in the world.

Students attend school year-round in order to meet program benchmarks. This schedule includes 500 extra hours of 

education emphasizing trauma and emergency medicine, infectious diseases and parasitology, the humanities and 

behavioral sciences, and the principles of leadership and teamwork.

This foundation prepares graduates for the challenges of military medicine—whether they are caring for physical or 

emotional wounds, or practicing in treatment facilities in the United States or abroad.

The program also builds the sustaining military medical corps needed for a healthy force. The University has more than 

4,700 School of Medicine alumni. These officers comprise nearly one-quarter of all active-duty military physicians.

The roles that graduates take on personify the importance of the USU mission. Policymakers, groundbreaking 

researchers and senior leaders are among the prestigious alumni shaping world health.

Dale Smith, Ph.D., and Robert Joy, M.D., 

right, are recognized military medical historians. 

Based on the curriculum they developed for USU, 

Smith and Joy have spoken at universities and 

organizations around the world.
5

White House Doctor

Part of what makes University physicians special are the 

patients they serve. Uniformed doctors heal some of 

the world’s bravest and most distinguished men and 

women—the members and leaders of the U.S. military.

Retired Navy Rear Admiral Eleanor “Connie” Mariano (‘81), 

one of USU’s earliest graduates, was among those entrusted 

to care for this important group. Throughout her career, 

she practiced the unique 

brand of medicine learned 

on campus grounds while 

caring for thousands of 

troops, from seamen to 

commanders in chief.

During her career, 

Mariano has experienced 

opportunities known to few. 

She treated servicemembers 

on land and sea, was a 

physician to three U.S. 

presidents and became the 

first female director of the 

White House Medical Unit. 

Caring for the most powerful 

man in the world and the 

1,000 additional people 

who travel through 1600 

Pennsylvania Ave. every day 

was hard work, according to 

Mariano. The days are long, 

the training is intense and 

the working conditions are 

challenging.

“White House medicine is a different kind of battlefield 

medicine,” she said. “But USU and my military career helped 

prepare me for it.” 

The job, though challenging, gave Mariano the opportunity to 

meet the man behind the office.

“You can get pretty intimidated by his stature and celebrity,” 

she said. “But after seeing the president every day for years, 

you get to know him as a private individual. This is the 

special relationship a doctor earns with a patient.”

Mariano recounted many of her work experiences in a 

new book called “The White House Doctor: My Patients 

Were Presidents—A Memoir.” 

“It is an American story of how I, as a Navy dependent 

of parents born in the Philippines, grew up in the United 

States, attended USU and went on to become the president’s 

doctor,” she said.

Call to Service

Diversity is a common thread woven into the School 

of Medicine fabric. Students come to the Maryland 

campus from across the United States and bring 

unique perspectives to the academic environment. 

Some enter with no prior military experience 

while others, like Army Second Lieutenant Victor 

Yu, are veteran servicemembers. The University 

welcomes both types of learners, shaping each 

into skilled uniformed physicians.

Yu, a 1994 United States Military Academy 

graduate, had a variety of experiences before 

matriculating into the School of Medicine Class 

of 2010. He was a platoon leader and twice 

served as a company commander before returning 

to his alma mater as an advanced mechanical 

engineering assistant professor.

While at West Point, Yu adopted the philosophy of 

being a “lifelong learner.” His philosophy led him 

down a new path.

“I gravitated toward military medicine because I 

wanted to be challenged in my career,” Yu said. 

“I knew I wanted to give back to soldiers, so it 

was a natural progression to choose the 

Uniformed Services University.” 

The future radiologist credits the “first-rate” USU 

military and civilian instructors with establishing a 

balanced academic foundation. The combination 

of military leadership training and didactic and 

clinical instruction allows graduates to perform 

both as officers and physicians.

“This school has a lot of additional requirements 

compared to other medical programs,” Yu said. 

“But these experiences prepare us to uphold the 

high standards of excellence in military medicine 

in ways other universities cannot.” 

Army Second Lieutenant Victor Yu describes himself as

“a lifelong learner.”

University alumna Connie Mariano, M.D. 

(’81), wrote about her experiences as the first 

female director of the White House Medical 

Unit in “The White House Doctor.”
6

Celebrating Excellence in Research

Each year during the spring semester, the Graduate 

Programs in the School of Medicine sponsor 

a research colloquium to showcase student 

scholarship and celebrate basic research with a 

lecture by a distinguished guest. These events give 

participants the opportunity to share their work in a 

supportive academic environment.

At the 2010 colloquium, several students presented 

their findings on research topics spanning the 

fields of biomedicine and behavioral health. These 

oral presentations acted as sounding boards for 

intellectual exchange and illustrated the wide range 

of research graduate students are pursuing.

The series of student-facilitated discussions led to the 

John W. Bullard Lecture presented by Stefanie Vogel, 

Ph.D. The former USU faculty member and current 

University of Maryland School of Medicine professor 

described various aspects of macrophage activation 

and regulation. 

“It was an honor to be invited back to USU and give 

the Bullard Lecture. The graduate programs have 

grown so much,” she said. “Spending the day at 

USU provided the opportunity to catch up with old 

friends and colleagues, meet with a wonderful group 

of students, and listen to the exciting work being 

carried out by all who presented talks and posters.”

The Graduate Programs in the biomedical sciences are important components of the School of Medicine architecture. The master and doctoral tracks of study educate students with diverse interests for a breadth of 

career options in academia, public health, industry and government.

The University offers doctoral and master’s degrees in 12 areas of concentration, ranging from emerging infectious 

diseases to preventive medicine and biometrics. Military and civilian students completing coursework in each 

of these disciplines are challenged to find innovative solutions to complex biological problems through dynamic 

scholarship and research.

This vibrant learning model has led to pioneering advances in areas such as cancer biology, cell-to-cell signaling and 

regulation of gene expression. These studies and other breakthrough research illuminate the quality of education that 

graduate students receive at USU.

Graduate Programs

Stephanie Petzing, a graduate student in the Emerging Infectious Diseases 

Graduate Program, is studying a wide range of viruses. 

Jacqueline Surls is a student in USU’s Molecular & Cell Biology Graduate Program.
7

Mentoring Future Researchers

The intellectual backbone of the University is its faculty, 

who articulate the mission clearly and consistently. For 

USU graduate students, faculty members serve as role 

models who point the way to the graduates’ own paths of 

scientific research.

Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the 

Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, guides 

students by demonstrating exceptional ways to advance 

psychotherapy boundaries.

She is transforming current 

understanding about binge eating 

in adolescents by exploring a 

new phenomenon called loss-ofcontrol eating. This experience 

is characterized by the inability 

to regulate how much food is 

consumed. Children with poor 

social interactions often rely on 

this type of eating as a coping 

mechanism. This behavior is linked 

to obesity and excessive weight gain 

in youth and adult populations.

Tanofsky-Kraff is using therapy 

to minimize the occurrence of 

loss-of-control eating behavior 

in adolescents. This intervention, 

which is leading to reduced 

episodes, is successfully preventing 

excess weight gain, according to 

findings of a recent pilot study 

published in the International 

Journal of Eating Disorders.

Her groundbreaking work is receiving wide acclaim within 

the medical community. Tanofsky-Kraff was awarded a 

$1 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and 

Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of 

Health to continue these investigations on a larger scale. 

This research is also making an impact closer to home. 

Tanofsky-Kraff’s dedication has made her more than just a 

teacher. Many of her students consider her a mentor and a 

source of inspiration for their academic pursuits.

“She is very passionate about her work in the field of eating 

disorders and youth,” said Liza Ranzenhofer, M.A., a thirdyear graduate student. “Her enthusiasm is not only visible, 

it is contagious.”

The University and medical community 

have recognized Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, 

Ph.D., for her work regarding loss-ofcontrol eating. She is the recipient of the 

2010 Leonard Award for Excellence in 

Clinical Research.

Dynamic Student Research

Army Captain David Ross has been interested 

in the symbiotic relationship between the mind 

and body for years. His commission into the 

Army followed soon after receiving a degree 

in psychology and learning that the uniformed 

services needed mental health experts.

“I was a part of the ROTC while in college and I 

grew up in a family dedicated to public service,” 

Ross said. “It was important for me to continue this 

family tradition, while still doing something I love.”

The experienced officer came to the Bethesda 

campus with a broad range of skills. Early in his 

military career, he served as a clinic executive officer 

after deploying to Baghdad, Iraq. While in theater, 

Ross performed his duties as a medical platoon 

leader, running an aid station on the front lines. 

“I saw how the stress of combat can affect people 

in negative ways,” he said. “I knew it did not have 

to be this way.” 

A conviction to help those in need drives his 

current research efforts at USU. The Medical and 

Clinical Psychology student is studying the effects 

deployment has on intimate relationships.

“We are looking at how posttraumatic stress 

disorder impacts marital communication. Past 

research tends to dichotomize conversations into 

either good or bad categories,” Ross said. “We are 

delving much deeper by looking at multiple types 

of marriage communication and coding each 

person’s statement with more specific labels, such 

as acceptance, humor, hostility and withdrawal.” 

The goal of this investigation is to provide military 

medicine with a richer picture of the dynamics 

existing between posttraumatic stress disorder 

and communication. This knowledge could help 

therapists discover new ways to ease transitions 

from the battlefield to the home front. 

“I want to help servicemembers,” Ross said. “Being 

a part of this learning community is the ideal 

academic environment for someone like me.”

Army Captain David Ross is studying the effects of deployment 

on intimate relationships.
8

Healing Body and Mind

The Graduate School of Nursing teaches students 

to care for more than just visible wounds. The 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

program educates advanced practice nurses to 

recognize and treat psychological injuries.

This newest option of study was 

created to address the health 

needs—body and mind—of 

servicemembers and their 

families. A faculty with experience 

in hospital and combat settings 

teach the multipronged 

curriculum. Furthermore, the 

content is continually evaluated 

to ensure the most effective 

methodologies are in place. 

“Our program evolves to keep 

pace with changing scholarship 

and research,” said program 

director Navy Lieutenant 

Commander Pamela Herbig. “We 

let the evidence practice guide the 

instruction to build a maximally effective program.”

Students receive training at top military treatment 

facilities and Veterans Administration hospitals across 

the country. Interacting with field experts and patients 

in clinical settings prepares students for the diverse roles 

they will take on after graduating from the program. 

“I’ve completed two rotations at Walter Reed Army 

Medical Center,” said Air Force First Lieutenant 

Glenn Armstrong, a mental health nursing student. 

“The opportunity to work with servicemembers 

returning from war has been incredible. For me, it 

solidified my decision to become a military nurse.”

Completing student research is another important 

component of the GSN experience. Each program 

weaves research threads into the curriculum. 

Students in the program must pursue investigations 

relevant to their course of study. These investigations 

may span the behavioral health spectrum, from 

developing frameworks of care to discovering 

innovative treatment methods.

“I am looking at the gaps existing in the 

identification, intervention and prevention of alcohol 

dependency across all four services,” Armstrong 

said. “Many servicemembers are battling substance 

abuse issues, especially those with deployment 

experience. Therefore, combating this disease is 

important work and one that requires immediate and 

sustained attention.”

After completing all the benchmarks of the program, 

Armstrong will find himself among a select group 

of peers. 

“Behavioral disorders are very serious wounds that 

can have devastating effects if left untreated,” Herbig 

said. “The prevalence of these injuries demonstrates 

the critical need to keep mental health programs at 

the forefront of our mission.”

Air Force First Lieutenant Glenn 

Armstrong completed several years 

of bedside nursing before enrolling 

in GSN’s Psychiatric Mental Health 

Nurse Practitioner Program. 

Graduate School of Nursing

Uniformed nurses are called upon to care for the wounded, often under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Because their charge reaches beyond 

the traditional nursing role, their body of knowledge and experience must also 

exceed the usual competencies. 

The USU Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) cultivates innovative nurse scientists 

and advanced practice nurses. These professionals harness the lessons they learn 

on the USU campus to skillfully deliver health care in the Military Health System.

Faculty members use a signature curriculum when teaching students the 

fundamentals of advanced practice nursing in the military context. This learning 

framework encompasses operational readiness, clinical decision-making and nursing 

practice in the global environment. Mastering these tenets builds a sound knowledge 

base for USU graduates to practice their craft in a broad range of settings. 

The GSN offers four programs for students pursuing a master’s degree: 

Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified 

Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

An experienced military and civilian faculty teach the program options. The Doctorate in Nursing Science Program, 

like the other tracks of study, blends clinical practice with original nursing research relevant to federal health systems. 

All five GSN programs share the common goal of advancing professional nursing practice and military medicine by 

improving health care for servicemembers, their families and other beneficiaries.

Students in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse 

Practitioner Program confer about their classwork, 

which includes clinical practice, management, 

research and leadership.
9

Nursing Amid Chaos

Often USU alumni find themselves far removed from 

traditional hospital settings, providing care thousands of feet 

in the air or practicing miles from shore. 

Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Williams’ (’99) 

challenge was delivering health care in a country devastated 

by a massive natural disaster. The Nurse Anesthesia 

Program alumnus was deployed to Haiti just days after a 

7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation, 

killing thousands and injuring many more.

“We arrived at our compound and found hundreds of people 

just waiting for medical care,” Williams said. “We used a 

small area to put up our tents, one for the operating room 

and one to sleep in.”

The already dire working conditions were complicated by 

the lack of available medical supplies. A plane carrying 

the medical team’s equipment was diverted to Florida and 

grounded for two days. 

They made progress despite the difficult circumstances. 

“We completed five patient cases the first day 

and six the second,” Williams said. “This was 

actually pretty remarkable since I did not have 

an anesthesia machine that worked.”

Williams administered medication intravenously 

until supplies arrived. By the time the equipment 

finally reached their compound, Williams and the 

rest of the surgical team had moved the operating 

room from the tent dispensary into a nearby 

building and set up a 20-bed inpatient unit.

“After just three days, almost all of the waiting 

patients were treated and a great organization 

developed,” he said. 

With a sound infrastructure in place, the team 

was able to see more than 1,000 patients and 

perform 39 surgeries by the end of the week. 

“Some of the cases we treated included major 

scalp lacerations, open wounds too large to 

close, multiple foot injuries, amputations due to 

gangrene and burn injuries,” Williams said. 

During classes on the USU campus, graduate nursing 

students learn valuable lessons in restoring order in 

emergency situations, according to Williams.

“The University gave me the foundation for my career and for 

being able to handle the conditions in Haiti,” he said. “My 

education and 10 years of experience in the field gave me the 

assurance I could manage anything that came my way.” 

Medicine With a Mission

Army Captain Laurie Kwolek, a GSN student, has 

experienced much diversity throughout her career 

in the uniformed services. A 21-year veteran, she 

enlisted shortly after graduating from high school. 

Kwolek carried out the responsibilities of a bedside 

nurse early in her military career. She went on 

to fill many additional duties before receiving an 

undergraduate degree in nursing and re-entering 

service as a commissioned officer.

This new leadership role strengthened Kwolek’s 

dedication to military medicine and her 

commitment to education. She continued 

delivering health care around the world, this time 

as a medical-surgical nurse. It was during this 

time that Kwolek set her sights on receiving an 

advanced degree from USU.

“I applied to this University because I knew I 

would be able to connect with the faculty,” she 

said. “Many of them have experienced the same 

working conditions as me, and they are able to 

lend a unique insider’s perspective on some of the 

challenges accompanying uniformed nursing.”

Kwolek has completed nearly half of the Family 

Nurse Practitioner Program requirements and is 

on course to graduate in 2011. She admits the 

curriculum is rigorous, but says the rewards of 

learning in a joint service environment are bountiful.

“The instructors do more than just teach students 

how to answer questions on a chalkboard,” 

Kwolek said. “They do a fantastic job of holistically 

educating us for a broad range of situations.”

Her ability to adapt to new environments was 

tested during a recent clinical rotation at the 

Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia. Kwolek 

gained insider knowledge about the Marine Corps’ 

culture while treating injured candidates going 

through basic military training.

“This experience gave me a whole new 

appreciation for all of the services,” she said. “I was 

exposed to a new mind-set. You don’t learn this 

kind of lesson from a book or in a classroom.” 

USU alumni deployed to Haiti 

shortly after a 7.0-magnitude 

earthquake struck the island 

of Hispaniola. 

Army Captain Laurie Kwolek savors the “insider perspective” 

she receives in her classes at USU.
10

Antietam Road March

The Antietam Road March has been a longstanding 

USU tradition. Started as a way for students to break 

in their combat boots, the event has become a 

vital component of the military studies curriculum. 

Now, USU students navigate the historic Civil War 

battlefield to experience an important part of their 

heritage and gain a richer understanding of military 

medicine throughout history. 

The battlefield-turned-classroom, home to the 

bloodiest single day in American history, is the 

birthplace of 

modern combat 

evacuation. 

During the 

fight, physicians 

pioneered 

a system of 

caring for mass 

casualties and 

evacuating 

the wounded. 

This brought 

some order 

to battlefield 

medicine and 

shaped the 

way injured 

warfighters are 

managed today. 

Knowing the 

roots of combat 

casualty care 

is an important 

lesson for 

USU students, 

according to Air 

Force Lieutenant 

Colonel Sheila 

Robinson, former 

Department of Military and Emergency Medicine 

Military Studies course director. Many graduates 

have served on the front lines and in other austere 

environments, and University events like the fivemile march across Antietam National Battlefield 

in Maryland help prepare today’s officers for the 

extraordinary roles they will fulfill.

“We’re attempting to give students a sense of 

not only the strategies used during Antietam, but 

also how this battle significantly influenced the 

development of our modern-day medical system,” 

Robinson said. “Hopefully, this experience will 

encourage USU students to think strategically and 

resourcefully when they assume leadership positions 

during times of conflict.”

Field Exercises

Much of the USU experience happens beyond classroom walls. In fact, some of the most meaningful instruction takes place on real and simulated battlefields that have become an important part of University learning. The 

Antietam Road March and Operations Kerkesner and Bushmaster are innovative learning platforms that immerse 

students in combat-like settings. These environments imbue USU students with the confidence to practice good 

medicine in challenging environments.

Graduate School of Nursing students participate in 

the Antietam Road March, an important part of 

USU’s military studies curriculum.

Each student receives the name of an Antietam warrior before the march begins. 

Here, students are informed of their Civil War soldier’s fate.
11

Operation Bushmaster

Explosions shatter the silence and thick clouds of smoke fill 

the night sky. Moments later, harrowing pleas of “wounded” 

troops pierce the darkness.

This handcrafted war zone is a training ground for nursing 

and fourth-year medical students and the final examination 

for the Military and Contingency Medicine course known as 

Operation Bushmaster. 

The five-day test is highly 

interactive, intense and far different 

from traditional pencil-and-paper 

assessments. At Bushmaster, 

students explain how to triage 

the combat-injured—and prove 

they have the skill and judgment 

to practice military medicine 

on a mock battlefield under the 

watchful eyes of USU instructors.

The patients, played by first-year 

medical students, sustain physical 

wounds, such as chemical burns 

and impalements created by 

University moulage artists, and 

psychological injuries, ranging 

from depression to posttraumatic 

stress disorder. Much of the 

primary and specialized care 

occurs at forward operating bases 

that students built and must secure.

From wound identification to 

patient evacuation, students are 

graded in this unique test of skill 

and character. The ability to perform effectively at Bushmaster 

is a requirement for graduation, according to Army Lieutenant 

Colonel Clifford Lutz, assistant professor in the Department of

Military and Emergency Medicine.

“Our students shoulder heavier responsibilities than most,” 

Lutz said. “Operation Bushmaster gives them the real-world 

experience needed to be leaders and healers wherever duty 

calls. This piece of the curriculum is an important part of 

what separates USU from other American universities, and 

our graduates from other health care professionals.”

Operation Kerkesner

Knowledge gained from University textbooks 

is not enough to take on the responsibilities of 

military medicine. Leadership skills are needed to 

succeed in these environments, and field exercises 

like Operation Kerkesner teach students valuable 

lessons in command.

The five-day simulation exercise, at a military 

training base in Pennsylvania, closely replicates 

field conditions, right down to the tents that serve 

as living quarters for first-year medical students. 

Amid rugged terrain, students learn to operate 

effectively under intense and dangerous conditions 

by developing unique skills, which allow them to 

take charge and practice medicine in tumultuous 

environments, including caring for injured 

servicemembers while under enemy attack. The 

exercise also offers search-and-rescue training and 

team-building events.

“For those of us who have had no prior combat 

experience, getting a taste of tactical movements 

and combat situations exposes us to what it’s 

really like to serve as military doctors downrange,” 

said Air Force Second Lieutenant Samantha Wang. 

Operation Bushmaster is an intensive 

five-day test of the military and medical 

knowledge of fourth-year students.

First-year USU students, above and below, must prove their 

teamwork skills and physical prowess at Operation Kerkesner

in Pennsylvania.
Battle-Ready Technology

Neurological assessment technology typically 

administered across several hospital departments 

has recently been condensed into a comprehensive 

system that fits inside a book bag. This engineering 

breakthrough is revolutionizing the way behavioral 

health professionals are exploring 

neurological disorders around 

the world.

The ruggedized pieces—a 

skull cap, projector, amplifier 

and computer—can be 

transported anywhere that 

American troops go. This means 

clinicians at field stations in 

Iraq, for example, will have 

the capability to measure brain 

activity on battlefields and send 

this information to specialists 

at the world’s most advanced 

hospitals—all in real time. 

“The Army isn’t staying home, 

and this technology follows 

patients,” said Paul Rapp, Ph.D., 

one of the key figures in the 

development of this portable 

gear and director of USU’s 

Traumatic Injury Research 

Program. “Our idea was to put 

everything from neurology and 

psychiatry into one box.”

Assessment and diagnostic tools, individual 

patient histories, and a fully functional 

electroencephalogram are part of the integrated 

system. A common syntax controls all commands to 

increase the system’s usability and flexibility for use 

beyond combat care.

“The support of civilian medicine in Third World 

countries is becoming an important role for the 

Department of Defense,” Rapp said. “If we do our 

jobs properly, this technology will have legs beyond 

field operations.”

However, connecting providers with patients who are 

thousands of miles apart is just one of the system’s 

advantages. With further research, Rapp believes the 

new technology, combined with a complex series 

of algorithms, could predict which head-trauma 

patients will experience late-onset conditions such as 

posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. 

This capability represents a major advancement 

in the field. Many individuals with mild traumatic 

brain injuries often show no signs of distress in the 

immediate post-injury period, but problems surface 

months or years later.

Studying the subtle brain synchronization deficiencies 

during the asymptomatic periods could provide 

valuable insight into the progression of neurological 

disorders and help identify “at-risk” patients, said 

Rapp, whose research is congressionally funded.

“In psychology, the professionals are called in 

after the catastrophe,” he said. “If we can bring 

quantitative assessment and a predictive capacity to 

the practice of neurology and psychiatry, perhaps we 

can begin fixing things before they fall apart.”

Research Excellence

The USU School of Medicine’s research 

program was recognized as one of the 

best in the country, according to a 2010 

survey by U.S. News & World Report. 

The magazine surveyed 146 programs 

and evaluated schools on various factors, 

including peer reviews, student selectivity, 

faculty resources and level of research activity.

“It is a great honor to be ranked alongside national 

leaders in research education,” said Larry Laughlin, 

M.D., Ph.D., dean of the medical school. “USU is 

committed to fostering an environment where research 

thrives and important discoveries are made.” 

Visionary military and public health-relevant research 

is at the center of all University investigations. 

USU is the only institution on the list with such a 

concentrated mission.

Research

12

Paul Rapp, Ph.D., director of 

USU’s Traumatic Injury Research 

Program, standing, tests a new 

brain monitoring system that can 

be used on the battlefield. Its 

durability makes the system ideal 

for military medics in remote 

locations, such as Iraq and 

Afghanistan.

University researchers are tackling the complicated science of finding innovative solutions to complex psychological wounds. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought public attention to these military programs, notably the 

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, which is conducting the largest study of mental health among military personnel 

ever undertaken; the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, which is working to reduce suicide rates among 

servicemembers; the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine and the Traumatic Injury Research Program, 

which are seeking to understand and improve traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder. In 2010, 

“U.S. News & World Report” named the USU School of Medicine’s research program one of the best in the nation.
Innovative Treatments for

Prevention of Suicide

Marjan Holloway, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department 

of Medical and Clinical Psychology, is working to reduce 

suicide rates among military populations. This important 

Army-funded research addresses the rising numbers of 

servicemembers taking their own lives.

Holloway’s clinical research centers on the needs of 

servicemembers who are hospitalized because of suicide 

ideation or suicide-attempt behavior. She is developing 

and empirically testing cognitive behavioral psychotherapy 

interventions targeted directly at suicide behavior. 

“I take treatments that are considered best practices or

evidence-based and adapt them for usage within a military 

population,” she said. Holloway’s approach is novel. 

Presently, a standard scientific approach for the treatment of 

suicidal individuals does not exist. Holloway hopes to change 

this. Currently, she and fellow committee members on the 

Defense Health Board Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide 

in the Armed Forces are compiling a list of recommendations 

to address the management of suicide behavior within the 

Department of Defense. 

Holloway is breaking ground on another front as well. The 

clinical interventions being tested are directly targeting 

suicide behavior instead of solely treating one or more 

psychiatric diagnoses. This shift from the traditional paradigm 

emphasizes a more focused and directive approach to 

providing care for suicidal individuals. 

“The needs of suicidal individuals have been neglected 

for many years by clinicians and researchers and deserve 

immediate attention,” Holloway said. “We hope that our 

designed interventions can teach suicidal individuals to no 

longer consider suicide as the only option.” 

13

Making Breakthroughs

Developing drug treatments for the Ebola virus has 

long been considered slow and difficult science. 

Advancements have been made, but complete 

protection against the disease has evaded modern 

medicine—until now. 

Thomas Geisbert, Ph.D., a USU (’00) pathology 

graduate, has accomplished the near impossible. 

He is close to finding a cure for the emerging 

disease that causes uncontrollable bleeding and 

death in almost everyone it infects. 

In laboratory studies, Geisbert’s specially designed 

serum containing siRNAs stopped the virus from 

replicating and allowed the immune system to 

fight the disease. Each of the protected subjects 

made a full recovery, and Geisbert made a 

significant breakthrough. 

“We were stunned. I’ve been working with the virus 

for my whole career—23 or 24 years—and we’ve 

had some mild successes where maybe we could 

go up to 50 percent protection,” he said. “But I was 

really shocked that we got complete protection.”

Geisbert’s work is important progress against 

Ebola, as well as other hemorrhagic diseases such 

as Marburg, Lassa and Crimean-Congo fever. The 

same therapy will likely advance recovery for 

several different infectious diseases because it 

stops a virus from spreading.

A victory against the Ebola virus and other 

diseases has not slowed Geisbert’s determination. 

He wants to develop a preventive vaccine and 

a post-exposure treatment that can be used in 

humans who may not have access to the antidote 

immediately following infection. 

“We showed complete protection against the 

Ebola-Zaire virus when we initiated treatment 

beginning 30 minutes after a high-dose exposure,” 

Geisbert said. “But can we begin treatment at 

24 hours or 48 hours after exposure?” 

This answer may be the beginning to a final cure 

and the end to a frightening viral killer.

Researchers are close to a cure for the deadly Ebola virus, 

photographed by Thomas Geisbert, Ph.D. (’00).

Marjan Holloway, Ph.D., is studying ways to reduce suicide rates among servicemembers.
Research

Addressing the Complexity of 

Psychological Wounds

Finding innovative solutions to complex 

psychological wounds is one of the greatest 

challenges for USU investigators today. Researchers 

are taking on this complicated science at many 

University centers, and their findings are driving 

recovery efforts in new directions. Two USU entities 

are at the vanguard of such research: the Center for 

Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM) 

and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS).

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been called the 

“signature wound” of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. 

Recent data validates the severity of these injuries. 

More than 1.4 million Americans sustain TBIs 

annually, and many of these are servicemembers 

wounded in combat.

Compounding this grim statistic is the frequent onset 

of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following 

a brain-injury diagnosis, especially among troops 

returning from in-theater operations. 

Understanding and improving these conditions is at 

the core of every pursuit at CNRM. Researchers are 

crossing boundaries 

and disciplines to 

move discoveries 

from the center’s 

laboratories to the 

patients’ bedside.

Army Colonel 

Michael Roy, 

M.D., is one of the 

center’s investigators 

exploring novel 

techniques for 

combating TBI 

and PTSD.

He is measuring the 

brain’s reaction to 

various emotional 

stimuli, including 

fear and anxiety, through advanced imaging 

technology at the National Institutes of Health. 

Understanding how the brain reacts to these 

emotions may lead to the identification of biological 

predictors of PTSD—a disorder with behavioral and 

physiological consequences.

“It is important that we find 

better ways to address issues 

such as TBI and PTSD,” Roy said. 

“We send servicemembers into 

harm’s way, and they deserve the 

best treatment available.”

As Roy’s diagnostic and imaging 

research moves forward, 

other center investigators 

are advancing TBI and PTSD 

treatment in different ways.

Army Colonel Paul Pasquina, M.D. 

(’91), chief of the Department of 

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation 

at the National Naval Medical 

Center and the Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center, is part of 

the CNRM’s rehabilitation and 

evaluation team.

He and a team of clinicians and researchers are 

trying to better understand the effects of TBI on 

physical and emotional function, as well as their 

impact on quality of life. The group is also exploring 

novel treatment strategies to help promote brain 

repair in an effort to improve cognitive function. 

Projects are under way that evaluate the use of 

computer-based rehabilitation tools, specifically 

designed to stimulate various domains of cognitive 

function, such as memory, attention and problemsolving. In addition, advanced tools are being used 

to evaluate and treat common persistent symptoms of 

TBI, including dizziness, headache and memory loss.

“It is not uncommon for servicemembers with TBI 

to also have other significant injuries, such as limb 

loss, paralysis and vision or hearing impairment,” 

Pasquina said. “Providing optimal care for these 

individuals with complex injuries requires the 

development of creative strategies that employ the 

expertise of multiple different disciplines.” 

His group is working with therapists, engineers and 

architects to explore innovative options for creating 

“barrier-free” environments as well as using robotics 

and assistive technology to enhance independence 

and community re-integration. They hope by 

expanding the scope of research beyond traditional 

medicine and developing new collaborations 

through the center, novel solutions will be 

developed to address critical challenges currently 

facing war casualties and their families.

14

Army Colonel Paul Pasquina, M.D.

(’91), is seeking to better understand 

the effects of brain injury.

The Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative 

Medicine participated in the 2010 Brain Injury 

Awareness Day on Capitol Hill.
Understanding Migraine 

The common neurovascular disorder called migraine is a 

very painful type of headache. Migraine sufferers often feel a 

throbbing pain on one side of their 

head and experience symptoms 

such as nausea, vomiting and 

sensitivity to light or sound. 

Traditionally, migraine has been 

thought of as an episodic, albeit 

disabling, disorder without any 

long-term consequences. Ann 

Scher, Ph.D., associate professor of 

epidemiology in the Department 

of Preventive Medicine and 

Biometrics, is challenging this 

conventional thinking. She is 

working to understand the possible 

relationship between migraine 

headaches and the development 

of vascular disease in later life. 

Scher is concentrating on the less 

common “migraine with aura” 

to determine how the brain is affected by the disorder. The 

migraine aura is a transient neurological disturbance—

usually visual—that acts as a warning signal that a migraine is 

coming. About one-third of people with migraines experience 

these neurological symptoms. According to Scher’s 

findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical 

Association, these migraines can be linked to stroke-like 

lesions in the cerebellum.

“The story of this research is still unfolding,” she said. 

“Through follow-on studies, we are hoping to gain a deeper 

understanding of how lifetime migraine affects the older brain 

and the clinical implications, if any, of these lesions.”

The research, funded by the U.S. Army and CNRM, is also 

informing the understanding of traumatic brain injury. Scher 

is presently examining posttraumatic and post-deployment 

headache disorders in recently deployed servicemembers. 

Her investigations aim to identify biomarkers for the diagnosis 

and prevalence of chronic headache following an injury and 

determine how posttraumatic headaches differ from “regular” 

headaches or migraine in terms of symptoms or natural history.

“Headache can really affect troop function. For this reason, 

the Department of Defense is advancing this research,” 

Scher said. “I am interested in this line of work because 

migraine is so common, because it can have a dramatic 

impact on people their entire life, and because the disorder 

is fascinating in its manifestations. The goal of all of my 

investigations is to improve the lives of migraine and other 

chronic headache sufferers.”

Ann Scher, Ph.D., is advancing headache 

research on many fronts. 

15

Army Colonel Donald Hall, deputy director of the Armed Forces 

Radiobiology Research Institute, and Jack Touhy, executive 

director of the American Nuclear Society, unveil a bronze plaque 

designating the institute a nuclear historic landmark.

Institute Named Nuclear 

Historic Landmark

The American Nuclear Society has designated the 

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute 

at USU as a historic landmark. The designation 

memorializes the institute’s outstanding 

accomplishments for nearly five decades.

The groundbreaking science that earned the 

institute this unique distinction has spanned 

many disciplines of medicine. In the beginning, 

the institute focused on understanding the effects 

of ionizing radiation. Later, its investigations 

tackled new research areas and crossed into new 

disciplines, leading to pioneering advancements 

in understanding the biological effects of nuclear 

weapons, identifying cancer markers and 

developing biodosimetry standards and tools.

Next year, the institute will celebrate another 

achievement—50 years of innovation and 

discovery. This anniversary will honor the 

institution’s significant contributions to national 

defense and medical progress.
Research

Center for the Study

Of Traumatic Stress

Military personnel often work under 

stressful circumstances that can affect 

an entire family. Exposure to traumatic 

events, such as war, natural disaster and 

other extreme conditions, leaves indelible 

impressions on the human psyche. 

The Center for the Study of Traumatic 

Stress (CSTS) is one of the USU groups 

working to improve military resilience 

by advancing trauma knowledge and 

care through research, education 

and consultation.

Although the breadth and depth of CSTS’s 

efforts are vast, much of the current focus 

is on understanding and preventing the 

growing suicide rate occurring in the uniformed 

services. The National Institute of Mental Health 

awarded a team, led by CSTS, an unprecedented 

$50 million to stem the rising numbers of 

servicemembers taking their own lives.

Robert Ursano, M.D., the center’s director and 

chairman of the USU Department of Psychiatry, 

is at the helm of this research. He and a team 

of experts from across the country are looking 

at suicide from every angle, including the 

identification of early risk factors. 

The research will inform prevention, because “in 

order to understand suicide, you have to understand 

what came before it,” 

Ursano said.

The research team 

is getting a clearer 

picture of suicide by 

analyzing existing 

data and conducting 

new research. Part 

of the study includes 

examining the history 

of soldiers who have 

committed suicide to identify risk and resilience 

factors for this tragic outcome. New surveys, which 

will be administered to active-duty servicemembers 

and all military recruits entering service in the 

coming years, will provide information on the 

prevalence of suicide-related behavior and risk

and protective factors. 

Information generated from this research will be 

matched with previously collected data generated 

from soldiers who attempted or committed suicide 

to identify demographic similarities 

between the groups. 

All of these strategies aim to find 

ways to reverse the suicide trend and 

more wholly care for military families, 

according to researchers.

“This in-depth study of Army personnel 

will undoubtedly allow us to better 

understand the many factors that 

surround suicide and mental health so 

we can begin identifying measures to 

prevent suicide,” Ursano said.

Robert Ursano, M.D., director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress 

and chairman of the USU Department of Psychiatry, leads the largest study of 

mental health among military personnel ever undertaken. 

16

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress

A n n uA l R e p o R T 2 0 0 9
17

Fighting Substance Abuse

As in the civilian population, substance abuse and 

dependence take an enormous toll on military personnel 

and their families. As part of a broader effort to care for 

America’s fighting force, investigators at USU are conducting 

research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and 

the Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Program, to 

understand, treat and prevent these disorders.

Frances Gabbay, Ph.D., faculty member in the Department 

of Psychiatry and scientist in the Center for the Study of 

Traumatic Stress, uses event-related potentials to study 

individual differences in brain function that may contribute to 

substance abuse vulnerability and resilience.

Gabbay and her colleagues in the Clinical Psychophysiology 

and Psychopharmacology Laboratory developed a battery 

of tasks that invoke cognitive processes implicated in the 

development of substance abuse. The event-related potentials, 

recorded while 

research participants 

perform these tasks, 

reflect processes 

involved in the 

valuation of rewards 

and penalties, 

response to novel or 

distracting events, 

and inhibition of 

pre-potent behavior.

The team seeks to 

identify aspects 

of these cognitive 

processes that differ 

between groups of 

individuals at high 

and low risk for substance-related disorders. The research 

could help scientists better understand the pathophysiology 

of these disorders and ultimately may lead to advancements 

in treatment and prevention. 

According to Gabbay, behavioral therapies may be more 

effective if individual differences in brain function, such as 

those her team is studying, are considered.

Further, the research may lead to better pharmacotherapies 

for addiction. “If we identify an aspect of brain function 

that is associated with vulnerability, efforts to develop new 

drug therapies can target neural systems in the brain that are 

known to support that function,” she said.

In addition, Gabbay noted, “Articulating markers of risk for 

addiction would allow clinicians and military commanders to 

identify those at risk and intervene before problems arise.”

Frances Gabbay, Ph.D., uses advanced electrophysiological 

techniques to measure the brain’s response to various stimuli 

while research participants perform cognitive tasks.

Research Week

Faculty and student investigations at USU have led 

to breakthrough discoveries across the disciplines. 

This dynamic work is showcased during Research 

Week, an annual symposium that includes poster 

presentations, panel discussions and guest speakers.

Celebrating research excellence and developing 

partnerships are the primary goals of Research 

Week. Record numbers of investigators from each 

school and department participated in the 2010 

event, making it the largest and most successful 

Research Week in USU’s history.

The 340 projects on display demonstrated USU’s 

special role in civilian, public health and military 

research initiatives. The highlighted work also 

captured the diverse interests of University 

investigators and provided many opportunities for 

collaboration across traditional boundaries.

“At USU, we encourage people with different 

backgrounds to talk and think collectively,” 

said Steven Kaminsky, Ph.D., vice president for 

research. “This type of lateral communication is 

what really changes fields. In order to move the 

science forward, we bring our community together 

through University events like Research Week.”

John Pesce, Ph.D., deputy head of Vaccines and Medical 

Countermeasures at the Naval Medical Research Center, 

offered career advice during Research Week.

Leonard Shultz, Ph.D., professor at The Jackson Laboratory in 

Bar Harbor, Maine, presented the Postdoctoral Fellows Lecture.
18

At the Head of the Class

Stephen Cozza, M.D., a professor in the 

Department of Psychiatry and associate director of 

the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, was 

recently named a “Top Doctor” in Washingtonian 

magazine’s annual survey.

The award is the result of more than 1,000 

peer reviews completed by local physicians. 

Professionals from across the national capital 

region were asked various 

questions, including who 

they would recommend if 

a family member needed 

medical assistance.

Cozza was selected in both 

the adult and pediatric 

psychiatry categories.

“It’s a tremendous honor to 

be recognized by others in 

the medical field,” he said. 

“Serving military families 

is important work, and 

I’m proud these efforts are 

being highlighted in the 

community.”

Among those efforts is 

the recent launch of the 

“Courage to Care, Courage

to Talk” campaign. 

The hospital-based program 

was designed to reverse 

the negative effects that deployments can have 

on military families by jump-starting effective 

communication in the hospital and at home. 

Providers and family members are given literature 

and other resources that help facilitate meaningful 

dialogue about war injuries.

“Research tells us that military children and families 

are generally strong and resilient. We also know that 

military families and communities face challenges 

their civilian counterparts do not,” Cozza said. “Our 

goal with Courage to Care, Courage to Talk was not 

to create additional work for medical professionals 

and care teams, but to offer a resource that families 

would find useful.” 

Alumni Celebrate Strength

Of Troops Through Art

Artwork by several USU graduates was featured 

in a public display called “Wounded in Action: 

An Art Exhibition of Orthopaedic Advancements.” 

The showcase, sponsored by the Academy of 

Orthopaedic Surgeons, celebrated the strength 

and spirit of injured troops, wounded civilians 

and their families, as well as the commitment of 

the orthopedic surgeons who assist them on their 

journey to recovery.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Beardmore (’95), 

Army Colonel James Ficke (’87), Navy Commander 

and USU Commandant Patricia McKay (’93) and 

Air Force Colonel Damian Rispoli (’92) were among 

University graduates contributing original pieces to 

the Capitol Hill exhibit.

“The artwork captures memorable moments or 

feelings that can be difficult or impossible to express 

with words,” McKay said. “Seeing the exhibit 

and reading the artists’ stories helped to put the 

experience of war into a broader context and has 

enhanced my understanding of the perspective of 

others who have felt the profound impact of war.”

“Things That We Carry,” 

by Air Force Colonel Damian 

Rispoli, M.D. (’92), was awarded 

a Best of Show, Orthopaedic 

Surgeon ribbon during an art 

exhibit on Capitol Hill. 

Each year, Washingtonian magazine 

publishes a list of the area’s “Top 

Doctors.” Stephen Cozza, M.D., 

was named one of the Washington, 

D.C. area’s best in the adult and 

pediatric psychiatry categories. 

Cozza is a professor in the USU 

Department of Psychiatry and 

associate director of the Center for 

the Study of Traumatic Stress.

The Campus Community

The atmosphere is cooperative and collegial as USU students come from all three military services and the Public Health Service. Along with military and civilian faculty and staff, this results in a unique campus community. 

Military and civilians alike are invited to attend courses offered by the Center for Deployment Psychology, while the 

Department of Preventive Medicine brings Snakes Alive! for first- and second-year medical students.
19

Commencement

Commencement, a time for celebration at USU, is the 

culmination of years of education and training that place 

University graduates among the skilled professional cadre 

leading the way in military medicine.

Before taking on their responsibilities, each is reminded of 

the important duties that lay before them. General James 

Amos, then-assistant commandant, now commandant, 

of the United States Marine Corps, helped sharpen each 

graduate’s focus on the mission while delivering the 2010 

commencement address.

“Your role as caregivers in our military health system 

demonstrates your commitment to serve,” he said. “That 

commitment includes a willingness and ability to take on 

what I consider to be an almost biblical responsibility.

“Providing exceptional clinical medicine is only part of your 

responsibility,” Amos continued. “You are a sense of hope for 

our servicemembers and their families.”

More than 200 individuals completed the transition from medical and nursing students to 

uniformed officers in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service.

General James Amos, then-assistant commandant and now commandant of 

the United States Marine Corps, addressed students and guests during the 

2010 USU commencement.

The Living Classroom

The Department of Preventive Medicine brings 

classroom lessons to life with the Snakes Alive! 

program. Anacondas, rattlesnakes, cobras 

and many other dangerous serpents visit the 

University each year, accompanied by snake 

expert Bruce Shwedick.

Shwedick and these slithering creatures give 

first- and second-year medical students valuable 

information about a unique aspect of health care. 

Poisonous snakes are found in the same remote 

locations as deployed U.S. troops and can pose a 

threat to fighting forces. The saw-scaled viper, for 

example, is found in the hillside terrain of Iraq. 

The creatures can harm military members and 

therefore are important case studies for future 

USU physicians and nurses.

“Caregivers will need to be medical investigators,” 

Shwedick said. “Based on the symptoms, they will 

have to treat their patients accurately.” 

Snake expert Bruce Shwedick demonstrates the proper way to 

hold a boa.
20

The Campus Community

Center for Deployment Psychology

USU’s Center for Deployment Psychology is 

shaping the way professionals care for wounded 

servicemembers by teaching providers the most 

current approaches in medicine and evidence-based 

science. These methods help ensure the fighting 

force receives exceptional mental health care.

Experts from the center discuss a broad range 

of topics at its training sites, with much of the 

coursework converging on identifying and healing 

the deployment-related psychological wounds 

common among military families.

The center’s internationally recognized experts 

explore posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, 

brain injuries and other complex wounds through 

innovative teaching methods. The instructors share 

David Riggs, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Deployment Psychology, 

is an internationally recognized expert on trauma care. He teaches military 

and civilian mental health care providers how to identify and treat deploymentrelated injuries.

50 may | JUne 2010 Maryland life

&

Why the USU iS

a medical School 

like no other

Story by Chr iSt ine Creenan n n n photography by m ike morgan

USU students simulate 

military medicine in 

Operation Bushmaster.

050-053.BattleReady.MJ10.indd 50 5/3/10 11:33 AM

their knowledge to advance contemporary triage 

procedures and engage students in experiential 

activities designed to hone provider-patient dynamics. 

Course content is also tailored to meet the needs 

of civilian caregivers who attend the training 

sessions. Many mental health care providers in more 

traditional hospital settings have little exposure 

to military culture and benefit from a broader 

education, said David Riggs, Ph.D., the center’s 

executive director. Attendees receive instruction 

about life in uniform to more fully understand the 

patients they treat.

“Part of our goal at the center is to improve the 

way providers help people feel better. The other 

part of our goal is to keep the military functioning 

at a high level through healthy troops,” Riggs said. 

“Deployment-related injuries affect more than just 

individual servicemembers, and that is something 

we try to convey to every course participant.”

USU Featured in ‘Maryland Life’

USU’s one-of-a-kind academic program was the 

focus of a story appearing in “Maryland Life” 

magazine. The article, featured in the March/April 

2010 issue, followed students on their journey into 

military medicine—from the simulated battlefields 

where students learn the methods of combat care 

(below) to the unique roles 

that university alumni take 

on following graduation 

from the nation’s only 

federal school of medicine 

and graduate nursing.
21

Army Second Lieutenants James Winegarner, left, and Michael Chamberlin, 

both fourth-year medical students, traveled to Tanzania to climb 

Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Reaching Greater Heights

Spring break was a welcome departure from the rigors 

of medical school for Army Second Lieutenants James 

Winegarner and Michael Chamberlin, who faced a different 

kind of challenge as they set their sights high—very high—on 

accomplishing another significant goal.

The duo traveled halfway around the world to conquer 

Mount Kilimanjaro—the tallest freestanding mountain in 

Africa. One week after their ascent began, and nearly 20,000 

feet later, the USU students claimed victory at the summit of 

Uhuru Peak.

“This climb was, at least in my mind, a capstone event and 

symbolic of medical school itself,” Winegarner said. “It was 

seven very difficult days of nonstop physical exertion with the 

added effects of altitude and cold weather. The feelings we 

had when we reached the summit were very similar to how University Counseling Center we felt [later] walking across the stage at graduation.”

Maintaining a positive learning environment 

begins with a healthy student body. To that end, 

USU provides a comprehensive array of care at 

the University Counseling Center.

Clinicians at the center practice evidence-based 

care when treating behavioral health concerns 

such as anxiety, depression and relationship 

difficulties. This framework gives patients the 

resources to work through challenging problems.

“It takes a lot of courage to ask for help,” said 

Public Health Service Lieutenant Jeffrey Goodie, 

Ph.D., a clinical health psychologist at the center. 

“Treatment can be a powerful tool, and one that 

allows our students to maintain healthy lifestyles so 

they are able to keep their focus on academics.”

Goodie and others on the counseling team share 

space with medical officers in the University 

Family Health Center. This collocation integrates 

the once separate fields of mental health and 

primary care, and gives students easy access to a 

diverse group of health professionals. 

Bridging these fields is an important evolution for 

health care, according to the counseling center’s 

staff. “This collaborative model is more effective 

and less stigmatizing for those seeking help,” said 

Charles Privitera, M.D., director of University 

Counseling Services. 

Further, the close proximity of professionals from 

each practice gives staff members increased 

opportunities to more fully address the spectrum 

of patient wellness. 

Army Major David Cabrera, Ph.D., left, one of the caregivers 

at the University Counseling Center, offers services to ensure 

military students, faculty, staff and their families stay healthy in 

mind and spirit.
22

The Future

Universities across the nation are sounding calls for education reform and USU is no exception. Faculty members 

from the medical and nursing schools are developing innovative methods that enhance the student experience 

while unlocking the mysteries of medicine.

These efforts will poise University graduates to take on new health challenges in a rapidly changing world, while 

maintaining the trademark military focus that has made USU indispensible for three decades.

The School of Medicine: 

Curriculum Reform 

Early in the 20th century, teacher Abraham Flexner 

inspired a movement that reformed medical 

education in the United States. His model became 

the paradigm at universities across the nation. This 

scholarship, although revolutionary at the time, has 

remained static over the years, even as medicine and 

society changed.

A century later, Flexner’s ideas are undergoing a 

dramatic evolution at USU, where the medical 

school is joining its peers in finding better teaching 

methods in a modern era.

A group of faculty committees, led by Alison 

O’Brien, Ph.D., chair of the Department of 

Microbiology and Immunology, and Louis Pangaro, 

M.D., chair of the Department of Medicine, is 

overhauling USU’s complex program. The panels 

are finding ways to incorporate new objectives and 

improve existing learning standards, while cultivating 

the skilled doctors needed in military medicine.

“We are developing a structure that gives our 

students a deeper understanding of the mechanisms 

that underpin basic science,” O’Brien said. “This 

support will create a richer, more 

meaningful experience and foster 

better thinkers and evaluators 

among our student body.”

The new program departs 

from compartmentalized 

educational frameworks in which 

departments design their curricula 

independent from one another. Instead, 

it creates a closer link between the basic 

and clinical sciences throughout all four 

years. Students will learn about sciences 

that form the foundation of medicine, 

primarily through case studies of human 

body systems and sustained clinical 

experiences beginning in the early years 

 of medical school. 

“Keeping students away from real responsibilities 

for patients for their first two years is old-fashioned,” 

Pangaro said. “We’d like our students to begin their 

clerkships halfway through the second year in order 

to give them real experiences earlier on.”

Furthermore, 

O’Brien and 

Pangaro believe that 

increasing students’ 

exposure to 

patients in hospital 

settings will help 

aspiring physicians 

develop a deeper 

commitment to 

patients. Through 

an emphasis on 

the importance 

of humanism in 

medicine, the 

reform leaders are 

building effective 

communication 

techniques into the 

revised curriculum. 

Continued self-education is equally important, they 

said. The updated program will include a senior 

thesis demonstrating each student’s ability to thrive 

in places beyond campus.

“We all want our physicians to be lifelong learners,” 

Pangaro said. “They must be able to raise important 

questions and find solutions on their own.” 

The five-year reform process will result in a program 

with many changes, but O’Brien and Pangaro insist 

that benchmarks and traditions will persist. Future 

graduating physicians will continue to have the 

same unique military training. This important part of 

the USU legacy will be central to the newly adopted 

program, they said. 

“USU is military medicine, and we want to continue 

attracting the best students,” Pangaro said. “Staying 

on the cutting edge of education is a most effective 

way to do this.”

Louis Pangaro, M.D., and Alison O’Brien, Ph.D., 

are leading USU’s curriculum-reform effort.
23

Postgraduate Dental College

The University entered a new frontier in education with the

2010 opening of a Postgraduate Dental College. This 

expansion adds an important dimension to the University’s 

architecture and gives 

military medicine a 

new team of USU 

experts.

The college, which 

offers a full range 

of postgraduate 

dental education, 

has Navy and Air 

Force schools that 

focus on providing 

education to health 

care practitioners who 

deliver specialized 

dental medicine.

The Navy-sponsored 

school is the 

most expansive, 

offering master’s 

degree programs 

in comprehensive 

dentistry, periodontics, 

prosthodontics, 

endodontics and 

orofacial pain.

“These programs 

allow our dentists 

to demonstrate their 

advanced skill level 

and provide patients 

the very best care,” said Navy Captain Robert Taft, D.D.S., 

M.S., dean of the Naval Postgraduate Dental School. 

The Air Force-sponsored school offers one master’s degree in 

comprehensive dentistry. Although more narrowly focused, the 

program has a strong growth potential under the USU banner.

 (continued on page 24)

Navy Captain Robert Taft, D.D.S., M.S., discusses patient 

treatment with Lieutenant Laleh Abdolazadeh of the 

National Naval Medical Center.

Graduate School of Nursing: 

Raising the Bar

Nurses have played an important role in U.S. 

military operations from the birth of our country. 

Today, more is expected from advanced practice 

nurses in military and civilian settings alike. 

Their knowledge and responsibilities have been 

amplified in important ways. 

In recognition of these expanding roles, the 

American Association of Colleges of Nursing 

member institutions voted to increase the level 

of preparation necessary for advanced nursing 

practice from the master’s degree to the doctorate 

level by the year 2015. 

To meet this goal, USU is working to convert its 

four master’s programs into a Doctor of Nursing 

Practice degree. This reconstruction will place 

the University’s future graduates among the most 

highly educated professionals in the field.

“We are raising our educational standards because 

health care is becoming increasingly complex,” 

said Diane Padden, Ph.D., assistant professor and 

chair of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Task Force 

at USU. “The ability to find innovative solutions 

to challenging problems begins with proper 

education and training.” 

Translating research into evidence-based practice 

is at the heart of the new curriculum. Adapting 

innovative methodologies for use in all areas 

of care promotes better patient outcomes and 

develops the professional leadership needed to 

catalyze positive change.

“It’s not enough to be an expert clinician at the 

individual level,” Padden said. “Our graduates 

must be able to look at entire systems and find 

ways to improve models of care.”

The inclusion of a capstone project is the 

benchmark of the new program. This project will 

demonstrate the students’ ability to bring research 

from bench to bedside, evaluate practice, and 

improve health care and patient outcomes. 

“Our graduates will be among the leaders in 

military health care,” Padden said. “This new 

academic credential more accurately reflects 

their ability to make important differences in the 

military health care system.”

A panel of Graduate School of Nursing leaders is working to convert 

its four master’s programs into a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
“We are excited about this new partnership and 

thrilled at the opportunity to expand our curriculum 

and possibly grow,” said Air Force Colonel Thomas 

Schneid, D.M.D., M.S., dean of the Air Force 

Postgraduate Dental School.

The Navy and Air Force matriculated the first class 

of USU officers this year at satellite campuses at the 

National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., 

and Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, 

respectively.

The learning experiences at both sites are 

singular—each school harnesses the special needs of 

its parent service—but all programs share important 

similarities that follow USU traditions of excellence. 

For example, students at both schools are taught 

unique tenets of military dentistry, which allows 

them to practice advanced procedures in a broad 

range of settings.

For several students, the University’s dynamic 

training means deploying on a humanitarian mission 

and providing oral care to people in need. Practicing 

in foreign countries under challenging conditions is 

commonplace for military dentists, said the deans 

of both schools. Therefore, readiness training is an 

important part of the program.

“Our students experience learning opportunities 

that don’t exist in civilian universities,” Schneid said.

“These pieces of the curriculum provide the knowledge 

and skills to practice in any military environment.”

The sentiment resonates with Taft as well. The Navy’s 

military-centric programs engage students in distinct 

ways beyond academics alone.

“Our programs teach the leadership aspects of 

military life. Our students will not progress unless 

they are class-one ready,” he said.

Advancing the science of dental medicine is another 

requirement for graduation. The deans believe 

learning and discovery go hand-in-hand and foster a 

collegial environment where research thrives.

Navy and Air Force faculty and students support 

creative breakthroughs in many specialty areas, 

completing laboratory and clinical studies on 

bonding agents, composites, regeneration therapy 

and sleep apnea. 

“Understanding the research process is not enough. 

Students must also contribute to the body of 

scientific knowledge,” said Air Force Colonel Kraig 

Vandewalle, D.D.S., M.S., director of dental research 

at the Air Force Postgraduate Dental School. 

These investigations offer the promise of innovation 

in a new field while expanding the University’s 

presence in research and practice disciplines that 

benefit servicemembers in profound ways.

“Dental medicine is an important part of military 

medicine,” said Charles Rice, M.D., president of 

USU. “Our new programs create a more complete 

dedication to overall health and wellness for 

servicemembers today and tomorrow.”

The Future

24

Clinical work is an important educational component for Postgraduate Dental 

College students. 
25

Leadership

USU Leadership

President

Charles L. Rice, M.D.

Senior Vice President

Dale C. Smith, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President for University Programs 

Patrick D. Sculley, D.D.S., M.A. 

MG, DC, USA (Ret) 

Vice President for External Affairs

William T. Bester, R.N., M.S.N., NEA-BC

BG, AN, USA (Ret)

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Stephen C. Rice, M.S., FACHE

CAPT, MSC, USN (Ret)

Vice President for Information and 

Educational Technology

Timothy J. Rapp, M.S., RHIA

LTC, MSC, USA (Ret)

Vice President for International Agreements 

and Affiliations

Jeffrey L. Longacre, M.D.

COL, MC, USA (Ret)

Vice President for Research

Steven G. Kaminsky, Ph.D.

Chief of Staff

Robert Thompson, M.S.

COL, MSC, USA (Ret)

General Counsel

John E. Baker, J.D., LL.M.

COL, JA, USA (Ret)

Brigade Commander

Tanis Batsel Stewart, M.D., M.P.H.

CAPT, MC, USN

Assistant to the President for Special Projects

Mary A. Dix, M.S.

Faculty Senate President

Gary G. Wind, M.D.

Director, Armed Forces Radiobiology 

Research Institute

Mark A. Melanson, Ph.D.

COL, MSC, USA

Director, United States Military Cancer Institute

John Potter, M.D.

F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine

Dean

Larry W. Laughlin, M.D., Ph.D.

CAPT, MC, USN (Ret)

Vice Dean

John E. McManigle, M.D.

Col, USAF, MC (Ret)

Acting Commandant

Lisa A. Pearse, M.D.

CDR, MC, USN

Associate Dean for Faculty

Brian V. Reamy, M.D.

Col, USAF, MC (Ret)

Associate Dean for Graduate Education

Eleanor S. Metcalf, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education

Jerri Curtis, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN

Associate Dean for Medical Education

Donna M. Waechter, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Recruitment and Admissions

Margaret Calloway, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN

Associate Dean for Simulation Education

Joseph V. Lopreiato, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN (Ret)

Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Richard M. MacDonald, M.D.

COL, MC, USA (Ret)

Department of Anatomy, Physiology 

and Genetics

Chair: Harvey B. Pollard, M.D., Ph.D.

CAPT, USPHS (Ret)

Department of Anesthesiology

Interim Chair: Dale F. Szpisjak, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular 

Biology

Chair: Teresa M. Dunn, Ph.D.

Department of Biomedical Informatics

Interim Chair: Ronald Gimbel, Ph.D.

CDR, MSC, USN (Ret)
Department of Dermatology

Chair: Leonard B. Sperling, M.D.

COL, MC, USA (Ret)

Department of Family Medicine

Chair: Mark Stephens, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN

Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology

Chair: David S. Krantz, Ph.D.

Department of Medical History

Interim Chair: Trueman W. Sharp, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN

Department of Medicine

Chair: Louis N. Pangaro, M.D.

COL, MC, USA (Ret)

Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Chair: Alison D. O’Brien, Ph.D.

Department of Military and Emergency Medicine

Chair: Trueman Sharp, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN

Department of Neurology

Interim Chair: Geoffrey Ling, M.D.

COL, MC, USA

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Interim Chair: Christopher Zahn, M.D.

Col, USAF, MC

Department of Pathology

Chair: Robert M. Friedman, M.D.

CAPT, USPHS (Ret)

Department of Pediatrics

Chair: Ildy M. Katona, M.D.

CAPT, MC, USN (Ret)

Department of Pharmacology

Chair: Jeffrey M. Harmon, Ph.D.

Department of Preventive Medicine and 

Biometrics

Chair: Gerald V. Quinnan, Jr., M.D.

RADM, USPHS (Ret)

Department of Psychiatry

Chair: Robert J. Ursano, M.D.

Col, USAF, MC (Ret)

Department of Radiation Biology

Chair: Vacant

Department of Radiology and Radiological 

Sciences

Interim Chair: Vincent Ho, M.D.

Department of Surgery

Interim Chair: Patricia L. McKay, M.D.

CDR, MC, USN

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programs

Emerging Infectious Diseases Program

Director: Christopher C. Broder, Ph.D.

Molecular and Cell Biology Program

Director: Mary Lou Cutler, Ph.D.

Neuroscience Program

Interim Director: Sharon L. Juliano, Ph.D.

Graduate School of Nursing

Dean

Ada Sue Hinshaw, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Carol A. Romano, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN

RADM, USPHS (Ret)

Commandant and Assistant Dean for 

Student Affairs

Iluminada Chinneth, MN, ARNP

LTC, AN, USA

Associate Dean for Research

Marguerite Littleton-Kearney, Ph.D, R.N., FAAN

Assistant Dean for Administration, Finance 

and Technology

Ernest L. Hepler, Jr., Ph.D.

COL, MSC, USA (Ret)

Department of Health, Injury and 

Disease Management

Chair: Diane Padden, Ph.D., CRNP

Department of Health Systems, Risk and 

Contingency Management

Chair: Sandra C. Bibb, D.N.Sc., R.N.

CAPT, NC, USN (Ret)

Doctoral Program in Nursing Science

Acting Director: Christine Kasper, Ph.D., R.N.

FAAN, FACSM

Family Nursing Practitioner Program

Director: Diane Seibert, Ph.D., CRNP

26

Leadership
27

Nurse Anesthesia Program

Director: Robert J. Hawkins, DNP, MBA, CRNA

CDR, NC, USN

Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist Program

Director: Linda J. Wanzer, M.S.N., CNOR

COL, AN, USA (Ret)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

Program

Director: Pamela Herbig, PMHSNP-BC

LCDR, NC, USN

Postgraduate Dental College

Interim Executive Dean 

Patrick D. Sculley, D.D.S., M.A.

MG, DC, USA (Ret)

Naval Postgraduate Dental School

Dean: Robert M. Taft, D.D.S.

CAPT, DC, USN

Comprehensive Dentistry

Chair: Vlasta Miksch, D.D.S., M.S.

CAPT, DC, USN

Director: Evan A. Applequist, D.D.S., M.S.

CAPT, DC, USN

Endodontics

Chair: Patricia A. Tordik, D.M.D.

CAPT, DC, USN

Director: Terry D. Webb, D.D.S., M.S.

CDR, DC, USN

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Chair/Director: Kevin R. Torske, D.D.S., M.S.

CAPT, DC, USN

Orofacial Pain

Chair: Steve Hargitai, D.D.S., M.S. 

CDR, DC, USN

Director: John F. Johnson, D.D.S. 

CAPT, DC, USN

Periodontics 

Chair: John H. Mumford, D.M.D., M.S.

CAPT, DC, USN

Director: Ivan Roman, D.D.S., M.S.

CDR, DC, USN

Prosthodontics

Chair: Kathleen S. Kenny, D.D.S., M.S.

CAPT, DC, USN

Director: Curtis Werking, D.D.S., M.S.

CAPT, DC, USN

Air Force Postgraduate Dental School

Dean: Thomas R. Schneid, D.M.D., M.S.

Col, USAF, DC

Comprehensive Dentistry

Director: Grant R. Hartup, D.D.S.

Col, USAF, DC

Tri-Service Orthodontic Residency Program

Chair: Drew W. Fallis, D.D.S., M.S.

Col, USAF, DC

Director: Ray E. Melendez, D.M.D.

LTC, DC, USA

Dental Research

Director: Kraig S. Vandewalle, D.D.S., M.S.

Col, USAF, DC

Board of Regents

Chair

Ronald R. Blanck, D.O.

LTG, MC, USA (Ret)

Members

Otis W. Brawley, M.D.

Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D.

Haile T. Debas, M.D.

Michael M.E. Johns, M.D.

Charles C. Krulak, M.S., GEN, USMC (Ret)

Lawrence S. Lewin, M.B.A.

Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., RADM, USPHS (Ret)

Gail R. Wilensky, Ph.D.

Ex-Officio Members

Charles L. Rice, M.D. 

President of USU

Eric B. Schoomaker, M.D., LTG, MC, USA

Surgeon General of the United States Army

Adam M. Robinson, M.D., VADM, MC, USN

Surgeon General of the United States Navy

Charles B. Green, M.D., Lt Gen, USAF, MC

Surgeon General of the United States Air Force

Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., VADM, USPHS

Surgeon General of the United States
28

This publication was produced by

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.

About the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Located on the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center and across from the National 

Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., USU is the nation’s federal school of medicine and graduate 

school of nursing.

The University educates health care professionals dedicated to career service in the Department 

of Defense and the United States Public Health Service. Medical students are active-duty 

uniformed officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service who are being educated 

to deal with wartime casualties, natural disasters, emerging infectious diseases and other public 

health emergencies.

Of the University’s more than 4,700 physician alumni and more than 470 advanced practice 

nurses, the vast majority serve on active duty and are supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan 

and elsewhere, offering their leadership and expertise.

The University also offers graduate programs in biomedical sciences and public health that are open 

to civilian and military applicants. The programs are committed to excellence in didactic and research 

training. The University has awarded more than 1,000 doctoral and master’s degrees to date.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20814

www.usuhs.mil