The Official USU Newsletter

Volume 5, Issue 15 n November 8, 2010

www.usuhs.mil
On the cover

Second-year medical students from USU 

endured the 26.2-mile Marine Corps 

Marathon in October in support of the 

Wounded Warrior Project. The students 

added weight to their rucksacks based on 

monies donated, carrying between 

37 and 45 pounds each for the trek.

(See story Page 5.)

Photo by Erin Sanders, Baltimore Running Examiner

Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Ken Frager

Public Affairs Specialist

Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Production Editor

MC1 Chad Hallford

Writer

Christine Creenan-Jones

Contributing Writer

Lori Fields

Layout and Design

Production

Editorial content is edited, prepared 

and provided by the USU Office of 

External Affairs unless otherwise 

indicated. The Pulse staff may 

include or exclude articles based 

upon news value, impact on the 

university and space availability.

Submissions

The Pulse will be published 

bi-weekly on Mondays. The 

deadline for submissions is at 4 p.m. 

Tuesday prior to the publication 

date. Submissions can be sent to 

usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by 

calling 301-295-0895.

The five ‘Ws’ of USU curriculum reform

by Air Force Col. (Dr.) Arnyce Pock

2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Like the many U.S. medical schools 

that have taken steps to significantly revise their curricula, the USU 

School of Medicine is in the midst of 

re-designing the way medical students 

are prepared for future careers. The 

impetus for this effort began in June 

2009, with a period of “discovery” 

led by Dean (Dr.) Larry Laughlin. 

Dean Laughlin charged two senior 

faculty leaders (Dr. Louis Pangaro and 

Dr. Alison O’Brien) with the task of 

assembling a faculty-based team to 

review various curricular models and 

formulate the key tenets and goals of a 

revised curriculum. 

Termed “Molecules to Military 

Medicine,” this faculty-led initiative is 

oriented around three guiding principles: integration of the basic sciences 

throughout all four years of the medical 

school curriculum; the importance 

of incorporating early and meaningful patient contact; and, adapting the 

course of instruction to better utilize 

advanced technologies and contemporary learning styles. Taken together, 

these principles are designed to retain 

USU’s existing strengths while incorporating the critical components 

described in the recent Carnegie report 

(aka the “new Flexner Report”).

To achieve these goals, four primary, 

multi-disciplinary committees were 

established: a Pre-Clerkship Advisory 

Committee, a Clerkship Committee, 

a Post-Clerkship Committee, and an 

Assessment Committee. In turn, the 

committees are assisted by a team of 

seven Task Forces and four Support 

Groups. The senior chair of each of the 

primary committees along with Drs. 

O’Brien (Faculty Director for the Basic 

Sciences), Pangaro (Faculty Director, for the Clinical domains) and Col. 

(Dr.) Arnyce Pock (Director of the 

newly-established Office of Curriculum Reform), comprise the Curriculum 

Reform Steering Committee. The Steering Committee, in consultation with the 

Curriculum Reform Advisory Committee, is tasked with developing a comprehensive plan for curricular reform 

which will be presented to the Dean for 

final review and approval. 

The committees are comprised of 

basic scientists, practicing clinicians 

and medical students, all of whom are 

actively engaged in this effort. This is 

important as the School of Medicine is 

committed to having the revised curriculum in place by August 2011. Among 

the many revisions being formulated 

are plans to:

•	 Teach the basic elements of biochemistry, anatomy, pathology,

microbiology, human context in

medicine, medical ethics, etc., in a

series of integrated units vs. the traditional use of stand-alone courses.

•	 Condense the traditional, pre-clerkship period from 2 years to approximately 16 months.

•	 Integrate key aspects of the basic

sciences throughout each of the core

clinical clerkships.

•	 Increase utilization of case-based

learning, with much of the teaching

to be accomplished in small groups

vs. large lecture halls.

•	 Revise and more fully integrate

essential elements of the military

unique curriculum into each of the

multi-disciplinary modules.

•	 Combine the traditional ‘core’ clerkships into three 16-week blocks, with

Air Force Col (Dr.) Arnyce Pock

Continued to page 3
November 8, 2010 3

CDHAM Pandemic Response Program in Kenya

by Charles Beadling, M.D.

Members of the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences 

Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM) 

recently participated in a workshop, 

including a conference and table top 

exercise that explored the effects of 

an influenza epidemic, in Mombasa, 

Kenya, August 23-27. Navy Cmdr. 

(Dr.) Carlos Williams, director 

of Education and Civil-Military 

Medicine, led the team from CDHAM 

to facilitate the workshop.

The week-long event was remarkable in three ways: the team hosting the 

exercise, the participants, and the historic 

context surrounding the workshop. 

The visibility of subject matter 

experts from Kenya and other African 

nations to highlight the building of 

capacity in Partner Nations was a key 

feature in the event. In addition to 

CDHAM staff, facilitators included 

other DoD personnel from the U.S. 

Africa Command, representatives 

from the U.S. Agency for International Development and members of 

a Non-Governmental Organization 

(NGO), the International Medical 

Corps. It was an excellent example of 

the synergy possible when complementary strengths of different groups are 

applied through interagency and civilmilitary partnerships. This “whole of 

society” approach is included in current 

DoD guidance.

The participants of the workshop 

also represented the whole of Kenyan 

society. Military and civilian government leaders, including the director of the Kenyan National Disaster 

Operations Center, worked alongside 

NGOs such as the Kenyan Red Cross. 

One of the workshop’s primary objectives was to identify steps to help 

Kenya better prepare for future disasters, and on the last day participants 

read a list of more than 30 such steps. 

The workshop provided an excellent 

opportunity to build relationships 

between agencies that would likely 

not have otherwise formed, and that 

will lead to future collaborations. 

The Constitution and government 

in Kenya had been handed down by 

the British when independence was 

granted nearly fifty years ago. This 

contributed to the outbreak of domestic violence in Kenya several years ago 

that almost destroyed the country. That 

threat led to the development of a trulyKenyan Constitution, which included 

diverse ethnic groups and a new form 

of government. The new Constitution 

was signed into effect on August 27, 

2010, and senior Kenyan leaders each 

swore an oath to it. CDHAM’s workshop 

concluded on a new national holiday, 

amidst the country’s celebration. 

“Being able to share that day with 

our Kenyan partners was truly an honor 

and a privilege,” said Charles Beadling, 

M.D., director of CDHAM.

CDHAM will participate in a 

number of upcoming workshops in 

countries throughout Africa, as part of 

the Disaster Planning and Preparedness 

Program and the Pandemic Response 

Program, executed in partnership with 

U.S. Africa Command. The goal is 

regional stability through sustainable 

capacity-building, ultimately increasing 

U.S. national security. 

“It is a tremendous opportunity 

for USU students and faculty to 

participate in these Medical Stability 

Operations,” Beadling said.

each block containing two related

disciplines plus a week of combined,

comprehensive assessments.

•	 The post-clerkship period will also

provide an opportunity for a “Capstone Project.” Due to the extensive

resources involved in implementing

a project of this type, the Capstone

Project will be phased in over a

period of time, with initial participation likely to be offered to students

with strong academic standings.

•	 There are also plans to expand the

traditional Bushmaster and Kerkesner

Field exercises, so that MS-I, MS-II,

and MS-IV students, along with

selected members from the Graduate

School of Nursing, actively engage

in a truly combined field exercise.

Further details will be included in 

future editions of “The Pulse,” however 

readers are encouraged to visit the 

Curriculum Reform website (http://

www.usuhs.mil/curriculumreform), 

which includes an increasing array of 

related information. 

A successful curriculum reform effort 

requires the active support of the entire 

USU family, so any ideas, comments or 

suggestions can be sent directly to Col. 

Pock at arnyce.pock@usuhs.mil.

Continued from page 2

Curriculum Reform
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

The Pulse Spotlight: Multi-discipline Laboratory team 

by MC1 Chad Hallford

The MDL team has a wide range of 

responsibilities centered on the coordination and support of student teaching. 

Through five distinct program areas, 

staff members are available for logistical, 

technical or instructional support in the 

areas of anatomical sciences, examination grading, classroom and laboratory 

support, and student teaching.

The MDL team has members as 

junior as five months to as senior as 

28 years. Some have prior experience 

within USU, the DoD, or the Federal 

Service. “Length of service doesn’t 

matter as much with this team 

because they perform well together 

to make sure that all needs are met,” 

said George Harriss, MDL director. 

“They are focused, committed and 

dedicated.”

Various attractors brought this team 

together initially, but these professionals 

enjoy working with the people of USU - 

interacting and working as a University 

team. They also treasure the opportunities available for learning - from on-thejob to additional academic classes. 

Several of the team commented that it is 

where they do much of their work that 

they enjoy the most - in the Anatomical 

Teaching Laboratory.

Across the team, the advice was to 

“learn, learn, learn,” and to take advantage of the many training opportunities 

available to USU staff and families. Some 

also suggested the best way to really learn 

is to ask often, and speak your mind to 

those who can create change to help.

This motivated team excels for the 

University in their words simply “because 

we work ‘together’ as a team,” said Harriss.

Congressman Patrick Kennedy 

visits USU campus

USU President Receives SECDEF Award, 

Inducted into Military Order

Patrick J. Kennedy, a member of Congress from Rhode 

Island, visited the USU campus recently to learn about 

the progress being made in the field of regenerative 

medicine for the treatment of auto-immune disorders 

and cancers. Kennedy, in his eighth term representing 

Rhode Island, is the son of the late Senator Edward 

Kennedy (Mass.). Along with a tour of the campus, 

Kennedy met with representatives of the Center for 

Neurosciences and Regenerative Medicine and members 

of the university leadership.

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

Photo by Tom Balfour

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) President Dr. Charles L. Rice was recently awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service for his seven 

months performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 

Health Affairs, and the Order of Military Medical Merit for outstanding support of the Army Medical Department. 

The Exceptional Civilian Service award was presented to Rice, who 

was surrounded by staff members from both USU and Health Affairs, 

by Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford L. 

Stanley in a surprise ceremony held in Stanley’s Pentagon office. 

“While serving as the Department’s senior health official, Dr. Rice 

spearheaded efforts to improve the most significant warfighter care 

issues, including strengthening the psychological health of our total 

force, educating leaders on suicide risk factors, and promoting evidencebased practices to improve early identification and management of posttraumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries,” read the award citation.

Rice held the post from March until September 2010.

In a separate ceremony, Rice was inducted into the Order of Military 

Medical Merit by Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker. 

The Order of Military Medical Merit is a unique, private organization 

founded by the Commanding General of U.S. Army Health Services 

Command in April 1982 to recognize excellence and promote fellowship and esprit de corps among Army Medical Department (AMEDD) 

personnel. Membership in the Order Continued to page 6

by Sharon Willis

Front row - Daniel K. Jackson, Yolanda Bobbitt, Ron Rivenburgh and George Harriss(Director). Back 

row - Christopher Moore, Marcus Henry, Megan Fitzgerald, Sean Coppie and Joseph B. Prendergrast.
November 8, 2010 5

Marching for a cause

by Ken Frager

The Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences participated on 

a number of levels in the 35th Annual 

Marine Corps Marathon. From medical 

care providers, to volunteers to participants, USU was well represented in 

what has been called “The People’s 

Marathon.” But one group of secondyear medical students decided that their 

participation in the marathon meant 

more than challenging themselves to 

reach new milestones or supporting an 

exceptional event. 

According to Army 2nd Lt. 

Andrew Oh, “We wanted to find a 

way to do something medically- and 

mission-relevant to demonstrate our 

support for injured service members, 

those who we will be taking care of in 

the near future, but we wanted to help 

them in a different way.”

Oh, a prior-service infantryman, used 

to ruck march the Boston Marathon 

with his ROTC students at the University of Massachusetts. Gathering his 

USU classmates into a team of 13, the 

group decided to march the Marine 

Corps Marathon and raise money for the 

Wounded Warrior Project, adding one 

pound of weight to their ruck sacks for 

every $20 raised. Ultimately the group 

raised more than $10,000 and carried 

between 35 and 45 pounds each for the 

entire 26.2 mile course.

“I was too tired to appreciate what 

we did the day of the Marathon,” said 

Army 2nd Lt. Jason Beachler, a first-time 

marathoner. “After sleeping on it, I was 

Photo by Ken Frager

more proud of us than I thought I’d be. 

We did something few have ever done 

and most would never attempt. We raised 

a ton of money for a great cause and we 

had to earn every step. I never considered 

running a marathon until I experienced 

that atmosphere. I don’t plan on ever 

rucking it again, but I would definitely run 

that event in the future.”

Those sentiments were shared by 

Navy Ens. Christina Blum. “It was 

awesome! I think at different points 

before the marathon we all questioned 

how we were going to complete 26.2 

miles, especially as the weight we had 

to carry kept growing as we raised more 

money. But once we got there it was 

game time, and the excitement from 

the crowd was really motivating. We 

received a lot of encouragement from 

the spectators, the other runners and the 

Marines lining the course, so we really 

had no other option but to finish.”

According to Oh, he doesn’t anticipate a repeat performance for the 

36th Marine Corps Marathon because 

the team will be off working on their 

respective residencies, so logistically it 

won’t be possible. But he added, “Maybe 

the up and coming first-year students 

will take the baton and start a tradition.” 

Other USU team members were: 

2nd Lt. Daniel Hiles, 2nd Lt. Ilya 

Latyshenko, Ens. Rudy Schmiedecke, 

2nd Lt. Ian Rymer, 2nd Lt. Joshua 

Fenderson, Ens. Matthew Willett, Ens. 

Maya Solomon, 2nd Lt. Zachary Bevis, 

and 2nd Lt. John Fletcher.

More than 40 USU representatives participated in the recent Army 

10-Miler, Marine Corps Marathon 

and the Marine Corps 10K in 

Washington, DC. 

Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Rupa Dainer 

(SoM ’95) ran her first marathon as a 

member of the “Run to Honor” team. 

“My husband signed me up to run while 

I was in Afghanistan,” laughed Dainer, a 

pediatric anesthesiologist. “I told him I 

had started running for exercise and one 

of his Naval Academy classmates needed 

another member for his team...which 

honors fallen Naval Academy grads. 

I thought he was kidding, but I made 

him agree to support me by taking care 

of our children while I trained. It was a 

great experience.”

Air Force 2nd Lt. John Trentini, 

an M.D./Ph.D. student, volunteered 

to provide post-race massage for the 

athletes. “I am interested in sports 

medicine so giving sports massage after 

a big race is a great opportunity to get 

hands-on experience with hundreds of 

people. Post-race massage is one of the 

highlights of running a marathon for 

a runner, so providing this service was 

extremely rewarding.”

Edmund Burke, a program support 

specialist in USU’s Administrative 

Support Division and a competitive 

runner, finished second in his age group 

in the Army 10-Miler for the second 

straight year. “When I race, I’m in total 

control and my body is on high alert 

as I outpace some competitors while 

hunting others. I prepare for this game 

every day, for the better the preparation, the better the results (in theory). 

No matter how a race goes, I enjoy the 

camaraderie of all the like-minded 

zealots drawn to the same event, and 

I give thanks for the feeling of being 

coarsely alive. People of all abilities 

(especially wounded warriors in wheelchairs or running on prosthetic limbs) 

participate - and they really inspire me. 

They’re the real story.” 

Events bring out 

USU Support

by Ken Frager
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Sim Center celebrates decade of service

The National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center opened its doors to the USU community 

for tours recently in celebration of the Center’s tenth anniversary. Center staff demonstrated 

the full scope of training and education resources to the dozens of visitors who visited 

throughout the day. Shown here, staff in the Surgical and Medical Skills Laboratory 

demonstrate their full-scale operating/emergency room mock-up and mannequin simulators 

to provide highly realistic scenarios for surgical and emergency medicine training.

Photo by Tom Balfour

Navy’s 235th

Navy Cmdr. Rene Hernandéz (Ph.D.), 

as the oldest Sailor present, along with 

Information Systems Technician Seaman 

Apprentice Alex Board, the youngest Sailor 

present, cut the Navy birthday cake as 

part of a Naval tradition. University Sailors 

gathered and celebrated the 235th Navy 

Birthday with Shipmates past, present or 

honorary, Navy families and the University 

family October 13. 

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

USU Research funding 

by Ken Frager

Continuing a steady upward trend 

that began almost a decade ago, a 

recent survey from the National Science 

Foundation identified the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) as experiencing the 

most dramatic growth in federally 

financed research and development 

expenditures over the last five years.

An article in the Chronicle of Higher 

Education recently listed the top 100 

institutions in the category based 

on total dollars, which placed USU 

in the 84th position. But the USU’s 

total funding over the last five years 

has improved by 32 positions in the 

rankings, the greatest increase among 

the top 100 institutions.

“This growth is directly attributable 

to the hard work and concerted efforts 

of our faculty and staff, in our clinical, 

translational and basic science research 

efforts,” said Steve Kaminsky, PhD, 

USU’s vice president for Research. 

“It demonstrates once again that our 

exceptional teams across departments 

are competing very well for projects 

from many sponsors, including the 

National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Congressionally 

Directed Medical Research Programs, 

Defense Threat Reduction Agency 

and others. We are not basing our 

research on one source, but in fact, we 

are very effective across the board.”

Continued from page 4

SECDEF Award

denotes distinguished service which is 

recognized by the senior leadership of 

the AMEDD.

“Dr. Rice has been a strong voice 

for the highest quality and most 

mission-focused medical and nursing 

education for our Army personnel during his tenure as President of 

USU,” said Schoomaker. “Throughout this protracted armed conflict, his 

efforts to keep the school strong and to 

ensure that we have a robust force of 

new physicians, superb graduate-level 

nurses and other health specialists have 

been very much appreciated by my 

colleagues and me in Army Medicine. 

I have long sought an opportunity to 

formally express our gratitude and the 

awarding of the AMEDD’s Order of 

Military Medical Merit, or O2M3, upon 

the completion of his tenure as the 

leader of the MHS while at the Office of 

the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 

Health Affairs seemed most fitting.” 
November 8, 2010 7

Briefs

Flu Vaccine update

The USU Family Health Center continues to vaccinate all uniformed active 

duty, faculty and staff.

Vaccinations are available while 

supplies last from 0800 to 1200 

and 1300 to 1530 daily, except on 

Tuesday afternoons.

All Tricare-eligible beneficiaries can 

obtain their flu shots or mist at 1245.

These patients include:

All patients ages 2 to 9 years who 

do not fall into another group can 

receive mist

Shots are available for:

Children ages six to 35 months

Children ages 2 years and up

Children ages 9 yrs and up who 

are immuno-compromised

A limited number of vaccinations 

for the USU civilian population will be 

available through the Civilian Occupational Health and Safety Office. The 

specific dates and times have not been 

determined and will be distributed.

For questions or specific concerns 

related to civilian vaccinations, contact 

Andrea Sorrell Eaton at 295-9444. 

New carpool guidance

The USU is currently transitioning to 

the new carpool program and any groups 

who wish to use the carpool garage at 

USU will have to apply to the NSAB.

An authorized carpool group can 

park in any of the spaces 1 thru 41 in 

the carpool area at this time. Once the 

carpool garage is full all other carpool 

groups will have to seek parking in the 

USU garage. 

Drivers who arrive as the only 

member of their carpool group should 

not park in the assigned carpool area 

prior to 9 a.m. These drivers should 

park in the general USU parking areas. 

To legally park in the USU carpool 

area a vehicle must have an L-1 sticker 

on the rear of your vehicle and a 

carpool rearview mirror hanger. 

The carpool area will be open to all 

“L1” and “W” stickers between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m. 

Drivers should also be aware that 

the base police will be enforcing this 

program. The USU Security office will 

assist in enforcing the program. 

Drivers at AFRRI should be aware 

that they are not included in the USU 

carpool program. 

If you have additional questions you 

may contact the USU Security Department at 295-3033. 

Using computer resources 

Security incidents continue to be 

a drain to limited USU Information 

Assurance manpower. The following 

highlight current DoD policy and 

best practices:

Personnel must not install selfcoded or non-licensed software on 

network resources; add, remove, 

configure, or attempt to modify 

USU computer operating systems or 

programs; move audio/visual or network cables, computers or attempt 

to connect personal computers to 

the network including MDL and 

lecture hall spaces; connect personal 

devices except for those previously authorized by UIS; download 

pornographic material and store or 

display offensive material, such as 

racist literature, sexually harassing 

or obscene language or material; 

store or process classified information on any USU system.

Personnel must not permit unauthorized individuals access to a 

government-owned or governmentoperated system or program; access 

online gambling, games and social 

engineering sites.

Common Access Card Renewal

A large number of federal University 

employees will be required to renew 

their Common Access Card (CAC) by 

December 2010.

CAC renewal is extremely 

important to maintain access to DTS 

(Travel) and all DAI (Time keeping/

Procurement) applications.

Appointments at NNMC will fill 

up fast during this time period, and 

Thursdays starting at 7:30 a.m. is the 

only day NNMC will accept walk-ins.

Please note people can renew their 

CAC at any RAPIDS location site. 

Online appointments at convenient 

locations can be made by using the 

following link: http://appointments.

cac.navy.mil/default.aspx. Alternate 

locations can be found at the following 

link: http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/

owa/home.

Contractors must be updated in the 

Contractors Verification System (CVS) 

by the USU Security Department prior 

to issuing or renewing a CAC.

Professional activities

The Department of Defense and USU 

policy requires that all employees, both 

military and civilian, receive approval 

for engaging in any activity outside their 

work environment, which involves their 

professional expertise or government 

occupation, and involves compensation.

This approval is required prior to 

engaging in the activity. 

In order to get approval, any employee 

can complete a USUHS Form 1004. 

This completed form must be approved 

and signed by each department chair or 

activity head. 

These forms are available in the 

General Counsel’s office or online at the 

USU OGC Web site.

Completed forms must be turned in 

to the General Counsel’s office. The form 

will be routed to the appropriate dean, 

brigade commander or USUHS president. 

Once processing is completed, a 

copy of the approved form will be 

returned to the employee for the 

employee’s records. 

ESC meetings

The Enlisted Social Committee 

holds its monthly meetings on the first 

Tuesday of every month.

Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. in the 

cafeteria’s small dining room.

Being a part of the ESC is an excellent way for USU enlisted personnel to 

actively pursue volunteer opportunities at USU.