Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences 

WWW.USUHS.MIL APRIL 3, 2006 

Schinski to lead USU in BRAC Integration 

Patience for parking garage construction 

USU Newsletter 

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 

In This Issue 

Integration...................1 

Parking construction....1 

President’s Open Door 

Program......................2 

Branding, what is it?.....3 

Women’s History..........3 

Alumni in the News.......4 

USU Recognition..........5 

The Iditarod Race.........6 

Alumni Reunion...........7 

USU Briefs...................8 

Letter from the editor....9 

Calendar of Events...Back 

By Tech Sgt. André Nicholson 

NCOIC 

Office of External Affairs 

 If you have parked in the 

underground garage within 

the past few months, you may 

have noticed the blocked off 

sections or felt the frustration 

of trying to find a parking 

space. 

 Many might be wondering 

how much longer the garage 

will be under renovation and 

when the actual construction 

is being done. The answer to 

those questions and several 

others came from the people 

overseeing the project. 

 According to the USU Director of Facilities, Cheryl King, 

and Civil Structural Engineer 

Todd Cunningham, with Naval Facilities, the purpose of 

the project, which began in 

December 2005, is to repair 

areas that have deteriorated 

concrete slabs and supporting 

joists. 

 After demolition began, it 

became apparent that the 

steel reinforcement in the concrete was not up to code requirements, according to Mr. 

Cunningham. Specifically, 

there was less than two inches 

covering the reinforcing steel 

bars as required. 

Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences 

By Tech. Sgt. André Nicholson 

NCOIC, Office of External Affairs 

 

 The Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) has partnered with Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), and Malcolm Grow Air Force Medical Center (MGMC) 

to integrate military medicine in the National 

Capital Area (NCA). The University is poised to 

be the academic health center for this newly 

integrated world-class facility. 

 USU’s President, Charles L. Rice, M.D., recently appointed Vernon Schinski, Ph.D., USU’s 

Vice President of Teaching and Research Support, as the “Special Assistant to the President 

for BRAC Integration.” 

 “Dr. Schinski is not only an expert in military 

research and education, he is also one of the 

university’s most knowledgeable leaders,” Dr. 

Rice said. “He is tasked, along with several 

members who have been appointed to various 

sub-committees, to lead the University’s efforts, 

coordinate the work of other USU administrators, and lead this ongoing and complex task 

of moving from BRAC to integration.” 

 “I am confident, with his leadership, our 

University is well positioned to become one of 

the nation’s leading academic health centers 

to support the newly formed Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC),” Dr. 

Rice said. 

 The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure 

(BRAC) recommendations became law in November 2005, requiring the integration of 

medical services in the NCA by 2011. 

 As part of that integration WRAMC and 

NNMC have been charged with creating one 

world-class medical center located in Bethesda, 

to be known as Walter Reed National Military 

Medical Center. 

 According to NCA leadership the facility will 

focus on providing the highest quality of care, 

graduate medical education and clinical research while serving as a worldwide military 

referral center. 

 Several decision-making bodies have been 

formed to oversee the NCA Integration vision, 

and leaders within the NCA have established 

the Office of Integration. That group, which is 

led by senior representatives from both NNMC 

and WRAMC, is responsible for developing an 

integration plan for the medical treatment 

facilities. 

 “USU has a critical role in the successful integration as the academic health center focal 

point for this venture,” Dr. Rice added. “But in 

order to do that we must be actively involved 

as the BRAC process proceeds.” 

See PARKING, page 7 

Photo courtesy of USU Facilities 

Above is a photo of the steel 

corrosion discovered in the 

parking garage. 

WWW.USUHS.MIL APRIL 10, 2006 

Inaugural Issue 
Dr. Charles L. Rice , USU President 

PAGE 2 

 President’s Open Door Program

available for all USU members 

Office of the 

President 

USU Newsletter 

Editorial Staff 

Carol R. Scheman 

Vice President 

Office of External 

Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. 

 André Nicholson 

Editor 

Journalist 3rd 

Class 

Kory Kepner 

Staff Writer 

Sharon Willis 

Director, Alumni 

Affairs and 

Contributing Writer 

Marla Wright 

Webmaster 

Production: 

Editorial content is 

edited, prepared 

and provided by 

the USU Office of 

External Affairs 

unless otherwise 

indicated. The 

Newsletter staff 

may include or 

exclude articles 

based upon news 

value, impact on 

the university and 

space availability. 

Submissions: 

The USU Newsletter will be published bi-weekly 

on Mondays and 

deadline for submission is Friday 

at 4 p.m. Submissions can be sent 

to 

www.usunewslett

er@usuhs.mil or 

call 301-295-3925. 

 The Open Door Program has 

been created for all members of the 

Uniformed Services University (USU): 

faculty, staff and students, to bring 

issues to my attention and I welcome 

those inputs. 

 USU is an extraordinary institution 

and I am deeply impressed by the 

commitment, integrity and imagination of the members of our community. Each of us become experts at 

our jobs and we all develop ideas 

and opinions about our work and 

our workplace. While I know there 

are many mechanisms in place for 

open communication, and I am committed to helping maximize all of 

them, I have inaugurated an "Open 

Door Policy" to provide an additional, user friendly option to allow 

members of this community to bring 

issues to my attention. 

 

 This program is not meant to replace the Brigade Open Door Policy, 

DOD hotline, the Faculty Senate, 

various committee meetings, discussions with colleagues, subordinates 

and supervisors (formal and informal), or any other existing methods 

of reporting, but rather to provide an 

alternative. In fact, it is of the utmost 

importance that we all commit ourselves to strengthen these methods. 

While the chores of meetings and 

the courage to be candid with our 

peers may be time and energy consuming, they are the foundation of 

our academic community. 

 Nevertheless, I understand that in 

an organization this large and this 

complex, it is unrealistic for me to 

expect people to simply "come 

through my door informally" to bring 

me information. 

 Further, I understand that even if 

people were to "come through my 

door," they might be reluctant to tell 

me some things in such a "face-toface" setting. Clearly each of these 

factors limits my access to potentially 

important information. 

 I intend this program to compensate for those limits by providing 

members of the USU community 

with an efficient, effective, and "safe" 

environment to bring me information they believe I should have in 

order to properly evaluate and improve operations of the university. 

 The actual program uses software 

licensed and maintained (at a cost 

that is below that of a desktop computer) by EthicsPoint, a company 

dedicated to providing a safe reporting environment for universities and 

public corporations. By using it, the 

USU community can electronically 

send information to me at a time 

convenient to them without making 

an appointment or finding me in the 

halls or dining area. Additionally, my 

staff or I can request and receive 

additional information so I can provide users with a thoughtful response thru a confidential e-mail. If 

the person using the system believes 

it’s necessary, they can even choose 

to remain anonymous. 

 Please use this new tool to let me 

know what we are doing well and 

who is doing it, what we are doing 

that you feel could be done better, 

and what we are doing that you feel 

we should not be doing. As always, 

whenever appropriate, I encourage 

you to report information through 

your management chain, or to one 

of the other offices available within 

the university prior to using this program. 

How to file a report by phone: 

 Call the toll free number, 1-866-

294-9317, available 24 hours a day. 

You will speak with a compliance 

specialist who will collect your information, and process your report 

through the system. 

 Once you have completed your 

report, the compliance specialist will 

issue you a user name that will allow 

you to return to the system and 

monitor progress. 

 How to file a report using a USU 

computer: 

1. First go to the USU website at 

www.usuhs.mil and click on the 

“Open Door Program” link on the 

bottom left. 

2. Click on the button marked "Click 

here to file a report." 

 a. From here users are automatically redirected to a secure server 

maintained by EthicsPoint. 

 b. Follow directions on the site. 

3. Choose only one of the categories 

available when submitting a report. 

 a. What are we doing right, and 

who is doing it? 

 b. Are we doing anything that is 

foolish or wasteful? 

 c. Are we doing anything that 

seems wrong, or in need of correction? 

4. Once you have completed your 

report, you will be issued a user 

name that will allow you to return to 

the system and monitor progress. 

How to file a report using a computer outside of USU: 

 Using any internet service provider you can access this program by 

logging onto http://

www.ethicspoint.com. Click on "File 

a report." 

 At this point, instructions are the 

same as indicated above in items 

three and four. 

 Again, this program is designed 

to be an alternative for you to voice 

your ideas, and I hope to hear from 

anyone who wishes to bring them 

forward. 

Dr. Charles L. Rice , USU President 

Commentary 
PAGE 3 

Women’s History Month...Risks to women around the world 

Branding: What is it and why is it important? 

 When people think of Nike they can probably picture in their 

minds the Nike Swoosh, when they see a Coke can it’s easily identifiable without even seeing the words. It’s all in the brand. 

 Many colleges and universities have an official seal and a separate logo. The seal is typically reserved for formal use while the 

logo is used on all other occasions. 

 The Uniformed Services University currently uses the official 

USU seal, which was created by the Institute of Heraldry, as its 

“brand.” The presentation of the seal has varied with use and is 

often intermingled with other official seals or organizational logos. 

Sizes and fonts vary with personal preference, and there is no 

standardized representation of materials to the public. Additionally, the USU seal loses its detail as image sizes are reduced. 

 A Branding Committee was established to design a logo that 

will represent USU with a professional look while maintaining the 

uniqueness of the university. In the near future you will see guidance on the use of the logo versus the official shield (which is not 

changing) along with pre-developed templates for use in presentations, fliers, posters and even business cards. 

 Our effort is to portray a unique university in a unified manner. 

By JO3 Kory Kepner 

Staff Writer, Office of External Affairs 

 A Dean from the University of Pennsylvania spoke to members of the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health Sciences 

(USU) on the “Risks to women around the 

world’ at USU as part of the Women’s History Month observance. 

 Afaf I. Meleis, Ph.D., who is the Margret 

Bond Simon Dean of Nursing of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and 

a Professor of Nursing and Sociology, spoke 

to the crowd on five risks that women face: 

work, marriage, violence, pregnancy, and a 

lack of resources. She stated that gender 

makes women more vulnerable to these 

risks. 

 “In addition to the many years of researching women’s situations, my practice 

as a nurse, my life experience as a woman, 

though privileged with educational opportunities, I will never claim to know through 

first-hand experience what it is like to be 

abused, harassed or violated. I can look at 

these experiences from an outsider’s perspective and, somewhat, an insider’s position and understand and relate to these 

experiences,” Dr. Meleis said. 

 The first risk Dr. Meleis spoke about was 

work, mainly that women’s work is devalued around the world. She stated that men 

go to work and are considered the breadwinners whereas women stay at home, 

take care of the family and crops, but this is 

not considered work in most countries. 

 “Women’s jobs are considered care giving, not actual work,” said Dr. Meleis. 

“Nursing is care giving. ” 

 She stated that the problem lies in the 

nature and definition of what is considered 

work and that there are limited studies in 

the hazards of women’s work. 

 “Women are self-employed or are in 

unpaid labor which causes women to be 

considered unproductive by economists 

and development experts,” she said. 

 The second major risk to women is marriage according to Dr. Meleis. She said it is a 

worldwide phenomenon that women are 

defined by marriage, and are always under 

enormous pressure to ‘be found’ by a husband. 

 Women are violated and killed because 

marriage may bring things such as bridal 

burning in India, abuse and battering by 

husband and in-laws, and the burden of 

caring for in-laws. 

 She stated that violence is the third major risk because there are laws that actually 

condone and support domestic violence 

under the pretense that this is a family matter and there is a social pressure that forbids women from disclosing and reporting 

violence. In some countries it is unacceptable for a woman to disclose information 

about being raped and in other countries a 

woman who has a child out of wedlock 

can be subjected to stoning. 

 Dr. Meleis said that the fourth risk to 

women is pregnancy. Some of these risks 

are due to: unintended and unwanted 

pregnancies; high risk of maternal mortality 

in Africa; and prejudices against women 

who choose to give birth to daughters. 

 The lack of resources is the fifth risk 

women face 

around the world, 

she said. Health 

care is one of the 

major resource 

problems because 

of issues with distance, transportation, length of 

wait, availability of 

personnel, cost of 

medicine, cost of 

transportation, 

and the many 

other responsibilities women have. 

 There are structural and policy factors that can reduce 

these risks and make the world safe for 

women such as changing conceptual 

framework, developing explicit policies to 

value caring, redefining work, microfinancing for women, making women’s 

health a part of foreign policy, being vigilant, and education. 

 Dr. Meleis is also the director of the 

School’s World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Leadership. Prior to coming to the 

University of Pennsylvania, she was a professor on the faculty at the University of 

California Los Angeles and the University of 

California San Francisco for 34 years. She is 

a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia; a member of the Institute of Medicine; Trustee of the National Health Museum and serves on the board for several 

other organizations. 

Dr. Afaf Meleis 

NEW USU LOGO USU SEAL 

News 
PAGE 4 

Field hospital taking on littlest 

patients in Afghanistan 

Alumni 

in the News

By Anita Powell 

Stars and Stripes 

 FORWARD OPERATING BASE 

SALERNO, Afghanistan — An 

Army field hospital seems an 

unlikely place to find seriously ill 

children. 

 But, a new partnership between Salerno Hospital and the 

local ministry of health has transformed the tiny tent hospital into 

something of a pediatric intensive 

care unit. 

 Through the new program, 

which is just weeks old and does 

not have a name, the hospital 

treats patients whose cases local 

doctors have determined to be 

too difficult or intensive. The hospital’s doctors also work with local 

doctors to teach them how to 

treat such cases in the future. 

 So far, in three weeks, all three 

cases have been children, said Lt. 

Col. Bruce Schoneboom, detachment commander for the 14th 

Combat Support Hospital at 

Salerno. 

 That was “a little unexpected,” 

said Schoneboom, a nurse anesthetist. “Nobody told us we’d be 

taking care of so many kids.” 

 Schoneboom said doctors have 

treated a range of severe and 

difficult ailments, including a hereditary blood disorder that 

causes massive engorgement of 

the spleen and severe burns that 

require skin grafts. The staff at the 

hospital say the unusual experience has touched them deeply. 

 “We get a real sense of satisfaction,” said Maj. Elizabeth Vinson, a 

registered nurse. “We actually get 

to see the benefits of our work.” 

 Patients and their families seem 

equally pleased with the care, 

which is provided for free. 

 “They treated us very well,” said 

18-year-old Anwar Khan, who sat 

by the bedside of his nephew, 

Arsala, 5, who was grumpily convalescing after surgery on his 

enlarged bladder. 

 Initially, the family took Arsala 

to a local doctor, but later 

“decided to take him to the American hospital because of the better 

treatment,” said Khan, who is 

studying to be a doctor. 

 For local doctors, Schoneboom 

said, the partnership offers an 

opportunity to improve their 

medical skills. 

 “They’re very professional and 

they’re very caring and they’re 

very willing to learn,” Schoneboom said. “But they just do not 

have the specialized skills my doctors and nurses have.” 

 Dr. Bashir Ahmadazai, a Pakistan-trained doctor from Logar 

province who works at the clinic 

as a translator, said local doctors 

have learned much from the partnership. 

 “We are so impressed,” he said 

in English. “Many of the serious 

problems have been treated very 

well here.” 

 But the partnership has also 

caused some heartache. 

 For two weeks, 26-year-old 

Zainab sat by her daughter’s side, 

watching her tiny, frowning face 

and the third-degree burns that 

covered her arms, legs and chest. 

 A month ago, a pot of cooking 

oil toppled over 1-year-old Malala, 

covering almost 30 percent of her 

body. Her parents rushed her to 

the local hospital, where doctors 

determined that her injuries, 

which would require multiple skin 

grafts, were beyond their scope. 

They referred her to Salerno Hospital. 

 During Malala’s stay, hospital 

staff doted on her constantly. 

 “She’s our baby,” said Vinson 

one day last week, tenderly rearranging Malala’s bandaged limbs. 

“It’ll be a sad day when she 

leaves.” 

 Two days later, Malala died in 

her sleep of unrelated causes. 

Doctors believe she may have 

choked on the contents of her 

feeding tube. She was to be discharged the next day. 

 “We were very shocked by 

that,” Schoneboom said. “She was 

supposed to go home today. She 

was doing great. She was doing 

absolutely great. We were all very 

upset.” 

 Her parents, he said, were gracious through their grief. 

 “At the very last minute, as 

they were walking out, they were 

appreciative,” he said. 

 He said the hospital staff will 

work through the tragedy to help 

more patients. 

 “Part of who you are as an 

American is to make a difference,” 

he said. 

Courtesy photo 

Lt. Col. Bruce Schoneboom 

(left), a nurse anesthetist 

(2000 Neuroscience), recently took command from 

fellow USU alum Lt. Col. (Dr.) 

David W. Barber (1994). 

Barber, an orthopedic surgeon who commanded the 

249th General Hospital, 

Salerno Detachment, for the 

past year. That hospital was 

relieved by Schoneboom’s 

detachment. 

“They’re very 

professional 

and they’re 

very caring 

and they’re 

very willing to 

learn. But they 

just do not 

have the specialized skills 

my doctors 

and nurses 

have.” 

Lt. Col. Bruce 

Schoneboom 

News 
University Spotlights 

PAGE 5 

Faculty Honors/

Awards: 

William H.J. Haffner, M.D., was 

elected president of the Association of Professors of Gynecology 

and Obstetrics. 

Navy Capt. Joseph O. Lopreiato, 

received the 2006 American 

Academy of Pediatrics Outstanding Service Award. 

Louis N. Pangaro, M.D. — The 

Clerkship Directors in Internal 

Medicine Award (CDIM) for 

Outstanding Educational Program Development has been 

renamed the CDIM Louis N. 

Pangaro, M.D., Educational Program Development Award. 

Ryung Suh, M.D., received the 

2006 Leadership Award from 

the American Medical Association. 

George C. Tsokos, M.D., was 

elected to the prestigious rank 

of active member of the Association of American Physicians. 

Robert J. Ursano, M.D., was 

named one of the Best Doctors 

in America by The Best Doctors 

in America organization. 

Publications: 

Michael Feuerstein, Ph.D., and 

Patricia Findley, Ph.D., published “The Cancer Survivor’s 

Guide.” 

Promotions: 

The following Army personnel 

were recently selected for promotion to Sergeant First Class 

(E-7): Staff Sgts. Kevin Hayes, 

Shon McManus, Malisha Palmer, 

and Cliffton Williams. 

Hails and Farewells: 

Air Force Col. Melissa Fries, retired March 30; Navy Capt. John 

Pomerville, retired March 30; 

Navy Capt. Terry Puckett, departed for Bureau of Medicine 

and Surgery March 31; Army 

Master Sgt. Everett Byre, retired 

April 6 

Recognition 

New or competitively renewed faculty grants 

Principal Investigator Grant Title Grant Sponsor Amount

Mitchell, Chad Fieldable In-vivo EPR Biodosimetry DTRA $267,419 

Muldoon, Sheila Genetic Testing for Malignant Hyperthermia University of Pittsburgh 

MC 

$10,691 

Anders, Juanita Optimization of Light Therapy Parameters for Translation to Treatment of Human Acute Spinal Cord 

Injury 

Photothera $25,000 

Bowyer, Mark Scientific Educational Validation Study of Rapid 

Fire/Sma (CRADA) 

Verefi Technologies, Inc. $20,000 

Liu, Alan A Hybrid Simulator for Intracranial Hematoma 

Training 

Verefi Technologies, 

Inc. 

$50,057 

Namboodiri, Aryan Acetate Supplementation as Therapeutic Approach 

to Canavan’s Disease 

Jacob’s Cure $25,000 

Cantilena, Louis Phase I Resource Center (PIRC) NCCAM $2,498,571 

 In the Department of Radiology Lt. Cmdr. Chad Mitchell has received funding for a new program on technologies to evaluate radiation exposure. He will examine electron paramagnetic resonance 

changes in tooth enamel using new dosimetry equipment to evaluate 

levels of radiation exposure. 

 Dr. Sheila Muldoon, in the Department of Anesthesiology, received a subcontract from the University of Pittsburgh to provide genetic testing for malignant hyperthermia. Malignant hyperthermia is a 

disease of the skeletal muscle intercellular calcium concentrations that 

can be life threatening situations when these patients are exposed to 

volatile anesthetic. 

 Dr. Juanita Anders from the Department of Anatomy, Physiology 

and Genetics received a grant to optimize light therapy as a treatment 

of acute spinal cord injury. Her research will establish a specific set of 

laser light parameters that will translate to effective treatment of human acute spinal cord injury. 

 Col. Mark Bowyer, from the Department of Surgery and the Simulation Center, developed a CRADA with Verefi Technologies, Inc., to 

compare two virtual reality laparoscopic simulators. Skills for minimally invasive surgery are difficult to acquire and Dr. Bowyer is assessing computer-based simulation training as a feasible means to acquire 

these skills and may prove to be superior to conventional training 

approaches. 

 Another CRADA with Verefi Technologies, Inc., was developed by 

Dr. Alan Liu, in the Department of Surgery and the Simulation Center, 

to build a simulator for training medical professionals in methods of 

relieving intracranial pressure. 

 Intracranial pressure due to battlefield injuries is a growing problem for the military and if, left untreated, is life threatening. Dr. Liu is 

developing a simulator that will allow an individual to be trained in 

treatment of intracranial hematomas using a virtual computer environment. 

 In the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Dr. Aryan 

Namboodiri received a grant from the Jacob’s Cure Foundation to 

look at acetate supplementation as a therapeutic approach to Canavan’s Disease. To date, he and others have shown that this genetic 

disease has associated low acetate levels which may have a role in the 

defective myelin synthesis. 

 He believes that infants born with this disease are normal at birth 

but once myelin synthesis accelerates after birth, the genetic manifestations begin. In this grant he will supplement the diet of an animal 

model of Canavan’s Disease with acetate to define whether the supplementation prevents the development of the disease. 

 Finally, Dr. Louis Cantilena, in the Department of Medicine, 

received a contract from the National Center for Complementary and 

Alternative Medicine with the objective of establishing infrastructure 

for a Phase I Resource Center to conduct early phase clinical trials for 

NCCAM-sponsored botanical dietary supplement materials. 
PAGE 6 

Air Force doctor finishes 

Iditarod with flourish

Alumni 

Featured in the 

News 

By Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown 

3rd Communications Squadron 

 NOME, Alaska — After finishing 

last year’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race, 

Maj. (Dr) Thomas Knolmayer, USU 

class of 1994, said it would be his 

one and only running of the 1,150 

mile race across Alaska’s wilderness. But anyone who knows the 

38-year-old surgeon stationed at 

Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 

knew better. 

 After getting the blessing from 

his wife, Tina, the major threw his 

name in the hat to compete in the 

2006 race. 

 “I still had all the dogs and they 

can’t just sit around doing nothing,” he said, referring to his kennel of 21 Alaskan Huskies. 

 After a good training season of 

running the sled dogs for three to 

four hours, four to five nights a 

week, Doctor Knolmayer felt good 

about the team this year. 

 “The dogs are running strong 

and I have a lot more experience 

going into this year’s race,” Doctor 

Knolmayer said. He was also fortunate to have a co-worker, Lt. Col. 

(Dr.) Michelle Prevost (‘ ), running half his team with him after 

work, cutting his training time in 

half. 

 Having one of his strongest 

dogs healthy this year also helped. 

Last year, Tomahawk, a 7-year-old 

lead dog, was injured two weeks 

before the Iditarod and had to sit 

out, but this year he was raring to 

go. 

 With an upcoming assignment 

and having to leave Alaska, Doctor Knolmayer said he knew this 

would be his last Iditarod. That 

made this year’s race just that 

much more special. 

 That wasn’t the only thing that 

made it special. This year he ran 

with a bigger purpose -- a 10-yearold girl with cancer was cheering 

him on. 

 Katie Powell, the daughter of 

Senior Master Sgt Chris Powell, a 

KC-10 Extender boom operator at 

Travis Air Force Base, Calif., has 

Ewing’s Sarcoma, a bone cancer. 

Her mother told USU alumnus Col. 

(Dr.) Peter Chenaille 

(1983), chief of pediatric oncology at 

David Grant Air 

Force Medical Center at Travis and Katie’s doctor, that they 

were thinking of 

taking Katie to see 

the start of the Iditarod because of 

Katie’s love for Huskies. Doctor 

Chenaille emailed 

Knolmayer to see if 

he would be able to 

show Katie his dogs 

if the folks at Travis 

could get her up to 

Alaska. Doctor Knolmayer readily 

agreed, saying “The 

answer to your question is not 

only yes, but I would be honored 

to spend some time with this girl.” 

 Doctor Chenaille then led efforts to take up a collection in the 

pediatrics clinic to help pay some 

of the family’s expenses. Through 

the generosity of the clinic and 

several units at Travis, she fulfilled 

her dream of meeting an Iditarod 

musher and his team of sled dogs. 

Doctor Knolmayer spent several 

days with Katie and her family. 

She was also the major’s personal 

guest at the start of this year’s 

Iditarod after riding with him on 

the sled during his last training 

run that lasted more than an 

hour. 

 “The sled ride was great,” Katie 

said. “It lasted a long time, but 

seemed like it was only a few minutes.” 

 Since she had to head home 

the Monday after the start, she 

planned on using the Internet to 

track the major’s progress. 

 “I’ll keep track of him on the 

computer,” she said. 

 The race is a mental and physical challenge. The mushers face 

sleep deprivation and have to 

spend a large amount of time caring for the dogs. 

 “When I stop at a checkpoint 

for several hours, I may get 45 

minutes of sleep after spending 

several hours taking care of the 

dogs” Doctor Knolmayer said. “If 

we stop twice a day that ends up 

being two 45-minute naps.” 

 Besides the lack of sleep, extreme weather also takes its toll 

when the teams face temperatures as warm as 40 degrees and 

as cold as 45 below zero. The 

warmer temperatures are hard on 

the dogs and can reduce a dog’s 

ability to pull long distances, to 

sitting during daylight hours waiting for the cooler temperatures of 

the dark Alaska night. 

 Alaskan Huskies have the almost unbelievable ability to withstand temperatures of 45 degrees 

below zero for days on end with 

little affect. Doctor Knolmayer was 

also thrilled when the temperatures were well below zero. 

 “It’s much easier on the team. 

They feel great and just want to 

keep going,” he said. 

 Trail hazards also make the race 

a challenge. Stumps in the trail 

and sharp turns can send a 

musher into the trees; being on 

ice in high winds is also a risk. 

 “At one point, the wind was 

sending the sled and the dogs 

sideways across the ice. All I could 

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown 

Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Knolmayer and his dog team 

head to the finish line of the 2006 Iditarod Sled 

Dog Race, March 17 in Nome, Alaska. Doctor Knolmayer finished the 1,150-mile race across Alaska in 

11 days, 22 hours and 13 minutes. It was 47 hours 

faster than his time last year. 

“When I stop 

at a checkpoint for several hours, I 

may get 45 

minutes of 

sleep after 

spending several hours taking care of 

the dogs. If 

we stop twice 

a day that 

ends up being two 45-

minute naps.” 

Maj. (Dr.) 

Thomas 

Knolmayer 

See IDITAROD, page 7 

Feature 
By Sharon Willis 

Director, Alumni Affairs 

 More than 200 USU graduates and faculty members joined 

President Charles L. Rice recently for events he hosted at the annual Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians (USAFP) 

and the Uniformed Services Pediatrics Seminar (USPS) meetings in 

early March. 

 Dr. Rice met with more than 100 members of the university 

community in Chicago at the USAFP meeting March 5, where he 

introduced himself and outlined his vision for the future of the 

university. He was later joined by USU’s Family Medicine Department Chair, Air Force Col. (Dr.) Brian Reamy and Maj. (Dr.) Pamela 

Williams, family medicine clerkship director, to present an award 

for Outstanding Family Medicine Clerkship Preceptor to Lt. Cmdr. 

(Dr.) James Keck (1998). Keck is assigned to the family medicine 

department at the Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, Fla., and was receiving the award for the second consecutive year. 

 In Portsmouth, Va., Dr. Rice and approximately 130 pediatricians with ties to the university gathered for dinner at the Renaissance Waterfront hotel March 13. Rice again discussed his vision 

for the future of the university, and USU’s role as the academic 

medical center for the new Walter Reed National Military Medical 

Center. Dr. Ildy Katona, USU’s chair of pediatrics addressed the 

audience as well regarding issues and changes in military pediatrics. 

 Dr. Rice will travel to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., later this 

month to meet with USU alumni and faculty at David Grant Medical Center. 

PAGE 7 

 The American Concrete Institute requires 

the steel be covered by 

at least two inches of 

concrete. At two 

inches the expected 

life of the structure is 64 years. At one inch covering the expected 

life drops to 40 years. After demolishing some of the worst areas 

of the slab, it was found that the concrete cover was well under 

one inch. 

 “The steel reinforcing bars should be covered by at least two 

inches of concrete to prevent rusting,” Mr. Cunningham said. 

“Concrete neutralizes any acids that might corrode the steel. This 

concrete protection is diminished due to contaminated run-off 

from the road, especially calcium chloride, which is used to de-ice 

roads. The steel expands as it rusts, which cracks the concrete. As 

the cracks grow, more steel is exposed to run-off, and the rate of 

corrosion increases.” 

 The other problem that was identified is that the quantity of 

steel utilized was less than what is required to limit cracking. Reinforcing steel carries the tensile load of the beam; the steel 

stretches slightly under the tension, and this elongation causes 

the concrete to crack. Although there is adequate steel to support 

the gravity loads, extra steel must be included to limit the elongation and control cracking. 

 The repairs are a lengthy and noisy process, so to decrease the 

amount of noise from jack hammering and drilling, the majority of 

the work is being done from 5:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., according to 

Ms. King. The work is being done in phases and there are several 

phases that still need to be completed. Phase one dealt with those 

areas in the garage identified as requiring immediate attention. 

Documentation has been completed for the next phase and has 

been submitted for funding. 

 Although completing the construction in a timely manner is 

important, “the safety of our university family is always top priority,” said Mary Dix, Vice President for Administration and Management. 

PARKING, Continued from page 1 

Photos Courtesy of 

USU Facilities 

Structural damage as 

seen here was found 

throughout the parking garage. 

USU President hosts grads, faculty at annual meetings 

do was crawl on my hands and knees trying to get control of the sled and team,” the 

doctor said. 

 Even with all the challenges of the Iditarod trail, Doctor Knolmayer set his goals 

high and found a way to succeed. After 

finishing the race last year with a respectable time of 13 days and 22 hours, he 

knew he could lead his team to a better 

finish this year. 

 So, as usual, Doctor Knolmayer set what 

seemed to be a goal impossible to meet: 

finish the race in less than 12 days. Waiting 

in Nome, his wife and the rest of his supporters tracked his progress online and 

estimated a Friday finish around 4 p.m., a 

finish that would be two hours short of his 

goal. 

 Doctor Knolmayer crossed the finish line 

at 1:10 pm., meeting his goal of a finish 

under 12 days by just one hour. It was a 

finish that was 47 hours better than last 

year. 

 After all the pomp and circumstance of 

the race, greeting his wife and 15-monthold son, Zane, and getting the dogs bedded down, the major finished one last task. 

He posed under the arches at the finish line 

with a poster that said, “We did it for you, 

Katie Powell!” 

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown 

Doctor Knolmayer poses after finishing the 

2006 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Katie Powell, 

the girl in the message, is the 10-year-old 

daughter of SMSgt. Chris Powell of Travis 

Air Force Base, Calif. 

IDITAROD, Continued from page 6 

News 
PAGE 8 

 USU’s Center for Health Disparities Research and 

Education will host the 2nd Annual National Minority Health Month Program, April 12, from 9 to 10 

a.m. in the USU Cafeteria. The guest speaker is Randall W. Maxey, M.D., Ph.D., Past President of the National Medical Association. Dr. Maxey is a nephrologist and national leader in health care disparities. 

 The Center is comprised of a diverse and engaged 

staff with a mission to promote health-related 

change and ultimately reduce health disparities. For 

more information about the center visit: 

www.usuchd.org/. 

Minority Health Month Program

 Briefs 

Briefs 

 Each year, the USU Faculty Senate sponsors the 

David Packard Lecture series. This year’s address will 

be given by David Rutstein, M.D., Capt., U.S. Public 

Health Service (USPHS) and he will speak on, 

“Interagency Collaboration During Public Health 

Emergencies: A New Paradigm.” 

 Captain Rutstein will draw on his personal experiences following the Indonesian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, during which there was close collaboration between the USPHS and the Department of 

Defense. 

 The Packard Lecture is April 20 at 4 p.m. in Lecture Room D, Building C. There will be a reception 

before the lecture starting at 3 p.m. outside the lecture room. 

Packard Lecture 

 Linda Spitzer, Chief, Reference and Interlibrary Loan, in the James A. Zimble Learning 

Resource Center showcases the “Avian Flu: 

Pandemic Watch” display. Avian Influenza 

(commonly known as Bird Flu) is caused by a 

virus that occurs naturally in birds. The H5N1 

virus (or Avian Flu) is highly contagious 

among birds. While this virus does not normally affect humans, cases of the virus have 

been reported. For more information on the 

virus visit: 

http://www.lrc.usuhs.mil/guide/avianinfluen

za.htm. 

 The USU community is encouraged to 

stop by and take a look at the display as well 

as utilize some of the many resources available in the LRC such as: Remote Computer 

Services (RCS), PubMed and EndNote classes 

which are presented monthly. 

 A new exhibit series, "Researcher of the 

Month" will debut in May. 

Avian Flu display 

 The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (SOM) 

Class of 2009 is hosting this year’s Dining-In at the 

Wyndham Hotel in Washington D.C., April 21. The 

event is open to military students, faculty, and staff in 

the SOM and Graduate School of Nursing. Tickets 

are now on sale during lunch in front of the cafeteria. Dress is Service/Mess Dress. 

USU’s 29th Annual Dining-In

 The Bank of America government travel cardholders at USU have achieved zero pay delinquency 

status for the 11th straight month. This is an exemplary accomplishment within the Department of 

Defense, and reflects well on the leadership and 

cardholders at USU. 

Government Travel Card

 USU will be emphasizing the National Capital 

Area Integration on its BLOG. The web address has 

changed to http://cim.usuhs.mil/ncainfo/. 

BRAC Information Update

 The annual Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences’ Research Week is May 16 -18. The 

theme for this year’s event is “Global Public Health: 

The Changing Role of Military Medicine.” All USU 

faculty, staff and students are invited to register and 

submit abstracts on the Research Day website: 

http://www.usuresearchday.hjf.org/. The closing 

date for submitting abstracts is April 17, 2006. 

 Dr. Alan Leshner, Chief Executive Officer for the 

American Association for the Advancement of Science, will be the Plenary Speaker May 18 at 

3:30p.m. Visit the website for a detailed list of activities. 

Research Day

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Andre Nicholson 
PAGE 9 

Look Who’s Talking...

Where is the best place you’ve been on vacation 

or where would you like to go on vacation? 

“Italy has beautiful art and 

great wine. The 

people are 

friendly and 

everyone called 

me ‘stupido 

touristo’ which 

I’m sure means 

handsome 

American.” 

Maj. Stephen 

Lettrich 

Military and 

Emergency 

Medicine 

“I would like to 

go to Germany 

for the World 

Cup. I love 

soccer and I’ve 

heard it’s a 

beautiful country.” 

Julio Gonzalez 

Cafeteria Line 

Cook 

“The best place 

I’ve been to is 

London. The 

British Museum 

had everything 

in the world 

under one 

roof.” 

Claire Wernly 

Graduate 

Student 

 It is with great pleasure that we 

bring you our inaugural issue of the 

USU Newsletter. This publication can 

and will be used to highlight the extraordinary people and work being 

done at the university. 

 Much time and debate has gone 

into this product to ensure it displays a 

professional look while still maintaining the uniqueness that is the 

Uniformed Services University. 

 This newsletter is for every member of USU to use as a tool to 

receive information about what is taking place around the university as well as provide information to our staff so we can recognize 

those people who are much deserving. 

 We welcome constructive criticism of this publication because 

our main objective is to produce a newsletter that reflects the mission of this university, the people who make up the university, and 

the fruits of your labor. 

 We will strive to incorporate as much about individual recognition and accomplishments as possible, but if we don’t know about 

it we can’t include it. Therefore, it’s imperative that you submit 

information in a timely manner and in the most detail possible to 

prevent a misunderstanding. The president, managing editor and 

editor will make the final decision on editorial content. 

 As editor, I truly look forward to hearing from you and receiving 

your input. It’s my hope that you will be pleased with the USU 

Newsletter, which we aim to publish bi-weekly on Monday mornings. 

 You will be able to find the newsletter on news stands around 

the university as well as online at: www.usuhs.mil. Please send 

comments and submissions to: www.usunewsletter@usuhs.mil.

Letter 

from the 

editor 

Air Force Tech. Sgt. André Nicholson 

News 

USU prepares for its 27th Commencement Exercise 

 The 27th USU commencement will be 

held May 20 at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall at 11 a.m. 

The Hall is located in Washington, D.C. at 

18th and D Streets N.W. Doors will open to 

the graduates and their guests at 9:30 a.m. 

 Charles L. Rice, M.D., USU President, will 

preside at his first USU commencement and 

give the “President’s Address.” 

 The USU Graduate School of Nursing 

(GSN), the F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine (SOM) Graduate Program, and 

the SOM M.D. program will present diplomas to 268 graduates. 

 This year’s ceremony has been streamlined and should last approximately two 

hours. Some speeches have been eliminated or shortened, and some award presentations have been eliminated from the 

ceremony but will be presented in other 

venues, including the SOM award ceremony May 12 at 1 p.m. and 

the GSN award ceremony 

May 16, at 4 p.m., both ceremonies will be held in Sanford 

Auditorium. 

 With the exception of the 

students’ “Esprit De Corps” 

awards, which will be presented on stage, 

all student awards will be announced as 

the student crosses the stage to receive 

their diploma. 
USU Calendar of Events 

 3 

Ticket Sales begin 

for the 29th Annual 

Dining-In sponsored by the SOM. 

Last day to register 

for the 5th annual 

Asian Pacific American Federal Career 

Advancement 

Summit 

 

4 

 

5 

Presentation by 

Arnold J. Levine, 

Ph.D., at CPDR, 11 

a.m. 

Toastmasters Meeting at noon in Rm 

A2015 

USU Neuroscience 

Seminar 3:30 in 

Lecture Room A 

 

6 7 8 

9 10 

LRC Training PubMed Basics, noon in 

LRC Computer 

Training Area 

11 

LRC Training - EndNote Basics, noon 

in LRC Training 

Area 

“Exercised-Induced 

Asthma” Lecture, 

noon in Lec. B 

 

12 

2nd annual National Minority 

Health Month program, 9 a.m., sponsored by Center for 

Health Disparities 

 

Toastmasters Meeting, noon at AFRRI 

Small Conference 

Room 

 

13 14 15 

16 17 

Microbiology and 

Immunology Seminar, 11:30 a.m. 

Lecture Room C 

 

18 

Pharmacology 

Seminar, 11:30 a.m. 

Lecture Room C 

 

19 

Admiral 

Madhvendra 

Singh, Chief of 

Naval Staff, of the 

Indian Navy, visit 

20 

USU Packard Lecture, reception at 3 

p.m., lecture starts 

at 4 p.m. in Lec. D 

21 

USU Dining-In, 7-9 

p.m., Wyndham 

Hotel, 

Washington, D.C. 

22 

23/30 24 25 26 

Toastmasters Meeting, noon at AFRRI 

Small Conference 

27 

Antietam Road 

March, Antietam 

Battlefield, MD, 

5 a.m. 

Department of 

Pediatrics Research 

Conference, 9 -10 

a.m., Lec. C 

 

28 29 

APRIL

PAGE 10