Volume 6, Issue 5 n March 7, 2011

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
On the cover

The USU’s Human Performance Resource 

Center supports total force fitness 

through initiatives and informationsharing. See page 5 for HPRC’s latest 

Health Tips column.

Photo by Sharon Willis

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.

2 the pulse March 7, 2011

USU says goodbye to finance officer 

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

After more than two decades of 

innovative and dedicated service, 

USU bid a fond farewell recently to a 

finance department icon. 

Jim Wolff, the USU financial services 

officer, retired from the University after 

more than 25 years of service. 

“The nicest thing about being here, 

and something I know I’ll miss, is the 

people I got to work with,” Wolff said. 

“The people here enjoy their work and 

are happy to be here. You just don’t find 

that outside these walls.”

“I got here as a technical sergeant 

in May of 1982,” Wolff said. “Of 

course, financial operations were 

really different then.” 

At that time, all travel for the USU 

was handled by Bolling Air Force Base, 

D.C. Almost all financial paperwork 

was done by hand; there was no College 

and University Financial Systems 

(CUFS) program and the Henry M. 

Jackson Foundation was a two-person 

shop on USU’s ground floor. 

Tech Sgt. Wolff ’s initial stay at USU 

was from 1982 to 1985. Following a 

four-year tour of duty in Holland, he 

returned to the USU in 1989. 

By 1989, the USU had upgraded its 

financial system to the CUFS initiative .

“When I came back to the USU 

several things had been updated,” said 

Mr. Wolff. “But, it wasn’t too difficult of a transition for me because the 

finance model here was modeled after 

the Air Force’s finance model.”

He returned to the USU as Master 

Sergeant and as the senior NCO 

financial services officer in 1991, 

continuing in that role until 1994 

when he retired from the Air Force. 

But, Mr. Wolff didn’t leave his USU 

home. Upon retirement he immediately returned to his “old” office as a 

civilian where he has been ever since. 

“We have grown in incredible 

ways here,” Wolff said. “Back in the 

early days, there was no grant award 

program. There was no Graduate 

School of Nursing. It is just amazing 

how we have grown.”

In 1995, Wolff also helped transition 

in the USU Government Travel Card 

program, the DAI system and dozens of 

other innovations. 

“The best thing about my time 

here is that I was able to help the 

University operate more efficiently, 

improve departmental customer 

service and upgrade the quality 

services we offer our customers,” 

Wolff said. “But for me it has always 

been about the people. Every one 

here is a friend and I can’t think of a 

better assignment.”

Photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Jim Wolff

“The best thing about 

my time here is that 

I was able to help the 

University operate 

more efficiently, 

improve departmental 

customer service and 

upgrade the quality 

services we offer our 

customers.”
Prospective students receive insider’s view

by Ken Frager

MedXellence provides one-of-a-kind opportunity for medical leaders

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine and Ken Frager

The Official USU Newsletter 3

The USU chapter of the Student 

National Medical Association (SNMA) 

hosted the organization’s quarterly 

business meeting in conjunction with 

an undergraduate open house recently, 

welcoming more than 20 prospective 

students from the mid-Atlantic onto 

the campus. Students from Norfolk 

State University in Virginia, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 

Howard University and Towson University, among others, were mentored 

and informed by some of USU’s finest 

medical students during the full-day 

program. Included in the activities was a 

panel discussion about military medical 

education, how to prepare for medical 

school, and strategies for MCAT success.

“Hosting these students allows us to 

‘touch’ them on our own turf, where we 

have their attention and already have their 

interest,” said Navy Capt. (Dr.) Margaret 

Calloway. “We can establish a relationship with them that benefits us even if 

they choose other means of pursuing 

The United States Congress in 1993, 

through a Tri-Service study group 

called the Joint Medical Executive Skills 

Development Group, established the “40 

competencies,” skills deemed essential for 

successful performance as commander 

of a military medical treatment facility 

(MTF). The need to teach these competencies was the basis for establishing 

USU’s MedXellence program in1994.

MedXellence is an actively managed 

course with a continuously updated 

curriculum. “We take real-life situations, 

turn them into unfolding case studies 

and build upon the existing skills and 

experiences of participants to formulate 

workable solutions to different scenarios,” 

said Galen Barbour, MD, director of the 

Health Services Administration program 

in the USU Department of Preventive 

Medicine and Biometrics, under which 

the MedXellence program falls.

a military medical education like the 

Health Professions Scholarship Program.”

Dr. Yvonne Renee (Lee) Bright (SoM 

‘89) spoke to the students about her 

experiences at USU, along with her Navy 

medicine career, reminding attendees 

that they had the opportunity to not 

only gain an incredibly valuable education, but to give something back to their 

country and community. “My military 

career ended almost a decade ago, which 

allowed me to pursue private practice 

near my family in Southern Maryland. I 

don’t regret even for a day the path that 

I have followed,” said Dr. Bright.

The SNMA was founded in 1964 

by students at Howard University 

College of Medicine and Meharry 

Medical College. According to the 

SNMA website, it is the oldest and 

largest student organization representing the needs and interests of medical 

students of color. Today there are 

more than 6,000 members nationwide. 

The USU chapter hopes to make the 

open house an annual event.

“We provide structured tools, 

concepts and strategies to help ensure 

success for MTF and MHS leaders,” said 

Dr. Barbour. “Over the course of our 

development we have restructured and 

updated not just our curriculum, but the 

way we get information out to participants.” Courses are offered five times 

each year at Armed Forces Recreation 

Centers around the world. While there 

is no tuition for attending, the student’s 

command is required to fund travel and 

per diem expenses. 

The MedXellence course uses interrelated modules that emphasize learning 

through web-based course pre-work, 

classroom lectures, workshops, an 

interwoven case study and small group 

educational activities. 

The five-day course is intended for 

senior MHS executives typically from the 

O-4/O-6 ranks. The hands-on interactive 

nature of the course make the participants’ own experiences critical to the 

learning process. Students are expected 

to exercise leadership, actively participate in course discussions and provide 

mentorship and followership skills.

“We keep up to date with modern 

technological advances and many of the 

people teaching this course are involved 

in the overall strategic planning of the 

MHS,” Dr. Barbour said. “Our students 

hear information from those who lived 

it. They gain a real understanding of 

leadership and success, and they graduate as problem solvers.” 

The next MedXellence program will 

be held April 3 - 8 in Lake Buena Vista, 

Fla. Prospective students are encouraged to make arrangements to attend 

the course as soon as possible. Applications can be submitted online at http://

medxellence.usuhs.mil.

Photo by Ken Frager

Second-year medical students Ens. Christine Soohoo (PHS) and Ens. Camille Costan-Toth 

(Navy) answer questions from some of the visiting prospective students.
4 the pulse March 7, 2011

The Pulse Spotlight

Name: 

Verna M. Hill 

Duty title: 

Supervisory Financial Management 

Analyst for the Budget Division in Financial 

and Manpower Management.

How long have you been at the USU?

I came to USU in February 1989. I started 

as a Manpower Technician for the Henry 

M. Jackson Foundation. I became a Federal 

employee in 1991. It is hard to believe that 

22 years have passed so quickly.

What brought you to USU? 

I had a friend that worked in Civilian 

Human Resources and she mentioned 

to me that Financial and Manpower 

Management was in the process of hiring 

another position in Budget. I had always 

worked for private industry, so I was a 

little scared. Things went very well.

What is your favorite part of the USU?

At USU you get to meet lots of nice and 

wonderful people. Some I have talked to on 

the telephone many times but have never 

met. They are more than happy to help if 

you need information or assistance. You 

just need to ask the right questions. USU 

has been great to me. I want to say thank 

you to everyone!

What would you pass on to people 

new to the USU?

USU is a wonderful place to work. 

The location is great and it has lovely 

landscaping. When you come here do the 

best job that you can and enjoy each day.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Alumni fill interim leadership roles

by MC1 Chad Hallford and Ken Frager

While the USU Norman M. Rich 

Department of Surgery reviews applicants 

to fill the department chair left vacant 

with the passing of Army Col. (Dr.) David 

Burris in late 2010, Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) 

Patricia McKay (SoM ‘93) has stepped 

away from the School of Medicine 

Commandant post to serve in an interim 

role. Another USU graduate, Navy Cmdr. 

(Dr.) Lisa Pearse (SoM ‘91), from the 

Department of Preventive Medicine and 

Biometrics, fills in as interim School of 

Medicine Commandant.

“As department chair, my responsibilities are different,” said Cmdr. 

McKay. “While student education is 

the primary mission, research also is a 

major focus. And while as Commandant I interacted with the entire 

student population, my focus now is 

predominantly with students who are 

considering a career in surgery.”

According to Cmdr. McKay, the new 

permanent chair will have the opportunity to build on the strong foundation created by the past surgery chairs, 

Dr. Norman Rich (1977-2002) and 

Dr. Burris (2002-2010). “The department has a wonderful staff of clinical 

and research personnel who are eager 

to meet the challenges of curriculum 

reform and continue the USU mission,” 

said Cmdr. McKay.

“For me personally, this has been a 

wonderful opportunity to learn more 

about operations behind the scenes. 

As a former medical student and as 

commandant, there are many aspects of 

the University for which I did not have 

an understanding. As a clinical chair, I 

have the privilege to facilitate the development of our students, those interested 

in a career in surgery and those who 

pass through surgery as part of their 

overall training. Furthermore, I have 

had the opportunity to witness and add 

to the tremendous research endeavors 

being undertaken here,” said McKay.

“The most important obstacle as 

an interim chair is remembering that 

I will be turning over the department 

to another chair sometime in the near 

future. I really have to consider carefully 

the direction we take and be sure that 

we move forward in a way that will 

make the transition to a new, permanent chair smooth.”

As interim commandant, Cmdr. Pearse 

faces her own challenges. “The greatest challenge thus far has been getting to 

know the students. I am outnumbered 

about 600 to 1. More than providing 

them an example of great leadership, I am 

responsible for providing guidance. This 

requires me to become more personalized, and involved in knowing my 

students. I am excited to shape the future 

of military medicine and be a positive 

influence for these up and coming 

medical leaders,” said Cmdr. Pearse.

Photo by Thomas Balfour Photo by Thomas Balfour

Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Patricia McKay Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Lisa Pearse
The Official USU Newsletter 5

Photo by Ken Frager

HPRC Health Tips

The Human Performance 

Resource Center Health Tips is a 

new column intended to provide the 

USU community with information to 

help develop and maintain a healthy 

lifestyle. Check out the HPRC website 

at: http://humanperformancere

sourcecenter.org.

Make a plan to accomplish 

your goals

Like many others, as the New 

Year’s ball dropped, you probably 

made promises that this will be the 

year of self-improvement and that 

this will be the year you succeed. 

Then May arrives, and you are still 

at square one with your resolution. 

It’s easy to make a resolution, 

and much harder to stick to it. 

Like with many things, making a 

plan may be the best bet. The old 

adage rings true: “Those that fail 

to plan, plan to fail.” 

Be realistic. Be honest with 

yourself. Push yourself, but don’t 

make your goal so difficult that 

you give up early on. Start with 

something that you can stick with, 

be consistent, and gradually move 

on to something more challenging. 

Be specific. Try establishing 

something you can quantify or 

check off each day. No matter if 

your goal is something small or 

something grand, account for all 

efforts made towards the larger goal. 

Write everything down. Make 

note of the good and not-so-good 

days. Writing things down reminds 

you that you’re on a mission and 

are actively pursuing it. It can also 

help you identify areas where you 

may need help. 

Post for all to see. Place this 

plan where it is easily visible so 

you don’t forget that you’re pursuing a goal and where others who 

are close to you can see it. That 

way they can support you and hold 

you accountable for your actions.

Navy Cmdr. René Hernandez 

was among the three finalists for the 

2011 Joy Bright Hancock Leadership 

(JBH) Award senior officer category, 

which annually honors the visionary 

leadership of service members whose 

ideals and dedication foster a positive 

working environment for reinforcing and furthering the integration of 

women into the Navy. 

“We all know Cmdr. Hernandez 

as an extremely well-respected and 

highly-regarded military officer and 

role model,” said Navy Capt. (Dr.) 

Tanis Batsel Stewart, USU Brigade 

Commander. “With more than 90 

nominees originially submitted, it is 

rewarding to know the panel reviewing these award packages recognized 

the same strengths, deliberating over 

the three finalists for a full week before 

selecting the winner.”

“I was completely blown away and 

humbled when I found out that I had 

been nominated,” said Cmdr. Hernandez. “And to find out that the person 

nominating me was one of our medical 

students, Navy Ensign Jeffrey Fennelly, 

made it even that much more meaningful. I am very honored to have been 

nominated and the fact that I was 

considered among the select in the 

Navy certainly is appreciated.”

According to Ensign Fennelly, Cmdr. 

Hernandez is one of those people 

who performs her job so well and so 

smoothly, while garnering little praise 

or attention, who is very deserving of 

this recognition. 

“When I first read about the 

award in a Navy-wide message in 

December, I knew Cmdr. Hernandez 

would be perfect for it,” said Ensign 

Fennelly. “She is the leader of approximately 60 female medical students -- 

most with no prior Navy experience. 

Because she is such a humble, mildmannered leader, few people know 

of her Ph.D. in Neuroscience or her 

membership in the Women Diver’s 

Hall of Fame. It was a real privilege to 

get to know Dr. Hernandez and her 

career better. Like most people in the 

Undersea Medicine community, she 

‘flies below the radar’ and deserves to 

be recognized for an excellent career. 

I hope she gets nominated (and wins) 

next year!”

Established in 1987, the Joy Bright 

Hancock Leadership Awards recognize inspirational leadership of Navy 

service members on active or reserve 

duty. The JBH Awards are co-sponsored 

by the Sea Service Leadership Association (SSLA) and the Military Officers 

Association of America (MOAA).

USU Navy Company Commander 

among honorees for leadership award

by Ken Frager

Navy Cmdr. René Hernandez teaches part of the cold water survival 

course for first-year medical students.
Telework support defined

by Dennis Stutz

6 the pulse March 7, 2011

Recently there have been many 

requests for additional universityprovided laptops for the sole purpose of 

supporting telework plans. The Office of 

the CIO is a strong supporter of telework 

and continues to work to improve 

USU telework capabilities to the greatest extent possible, e.g. VPN upgrades, 

migration of various applications to 

online environments, and the introduction of laptops as part of the University’s 

standard computer hardware configurations. Faculty and staff who opted 

for laptops and were approved by their 

department chairs during the last two 

hardware refresh cycles probably already 

have all of the equipment on-hand to 

support a telework plan. Those that 

opted for or were only approved for 

desktops may not have all of the equipment required. Unfortunately, the Office 

of the CIO is not funded to replace 

existing desktops that are not at end of 

life (EOL) with new laptops in order 

to accommodate a change of telework 

status. Desktops are replaced approximately every 4 years and anyone with a 

desktop serial number beginning with 

0407M (about 300 users) is scheduled to 

have their system replaced in the April/

May 2011 timeframe. Please use this 

opportunity to assess your individual 

telework requirements. 

In light of new legislation and DoD 

emphasis on encouraging telework, 

the Office of the CIO will work with 

the University administration on 

interim steps and a POM-14 proposal 

for an increase in laptop purchases to 

expand telework options even further. 

In the meantime, the following URL 

(http://www.usuhs.mil/helpdesk/

policies.html) is where you can 

find a summary of provided USU 

telework support.

The OCIO will continue to 

provide updates and notification of 

changes to the university community. If you have any problems, Mr. 

Dennis Stutz, Director, Customer 

Service, is acting as an ombudsman 

to help communicate issues. He can 

be contacted at (301) 295-9560 or 

dstutz@usuhs.mil. 

Ori takes senior employee honors to Southwest campus

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Leeann Ori, the administrative officer in the Office of the 

Senior Vice President for University 

Programs (Southern Region), located 

in San Antonio, was named Senior 

Employee of the Quarter.

“Leeann consistently has provided 

selfless service and tireless efforts in 

support of the many ordinary and 

extraordinary activities of USU’s southern site,” said retired Maj. Gen. Patrick 

Sculley, DDS, MA, Senior Vice President for University Programs. “At the 

same time, her contributions in support 

of the Bethesda campus allow us to 

operate in a very cohesive manner.”

Mrs. Ori, who began her USU 

career in the External Affairs office in 

Bethesda, has been with the southern office for 19 months. A diligent 

professional, her value to the USU is 

seen in her support for a myriad of 

important programs. 

She recently supported the USU 

Board of Regents (BoR) off-site held 

in San Antonio, planning and coordinating tours and briefings between 12 

different major Department of Defense 

health activities, including the Center 

for Battlefield Health and Trauma, the 

Institute for Surgical Research and the 

Center for the Intrepid. In the process, 

Mrs. Ori orchestrated the participation 

of six different flag officers, two SES 

leaders and a wide variety of senior 

staff officers. 

Additionally, Mrs. Ori maintained 

the highest professional standards in 

her continuing efforts impacting the 

new Air Force and Navy Postgraduate Dental Schools. Specifically, she 

coordinated with senior leaders to facilitate and process the faculty appointments in accordance with sensitive BoR 

timelines. Mrs. Ori also has assisted 

the Army Dental Graduate Education 

Advisor in developing the documentation supporting the establishment of 

the Army Postgraduate Dental School. 

Mrs. Ori serves as a subject matter 

expert concerning the Defense Travel 

System and travel management for 

the BoR’s academic subcommittee. 

Additionally she serves as a liaison for 

the University at the largest health education recruitment conference in the state 

of Texas, known as the “Texas Swing.” 

“In every endeavor, Ms. Ori’s attention to detail, professional demeanor 

and engaging personality allow her to 

represent the University in the very 

best manner,” said Maj. Gen. Sculley. 

“She is a most positive reflection on 

this office and the University and I 

personally couldn’t be more pleased 

with her selection.”

Editors Note: There were no 

junior employees nominated during 

this period.

Courtesy Photo
Briefs

Inclement weather policy

During the upcoming winter season, 

USU will remain open for business 

except for certain situations such as 

inclement weather. 

If the operating status of the University changes, it will be updated on the 

University’s home page, www.usuhs.mil. 

This page will be updated immediately if the operating status changes. 

In addition to the Web page, a 

broadcast to the USU community via 

email and recorded phone message 

will be available. 

To access this information by phone, 

call (301) 295-3039. 

In some cases, such as inclement 

weather, USU’s status will be made available via television. All USU students, 

military, faculty and essential personnel 

are encouraged to check to the University’s Web site regularly to stay aware of 

the current operating procedures. 

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 self-coded 

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 NOC; 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, dates or times.

Helpdesk Closure 

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

During this time, you can leave a 

voicemail message at 295-9800, utilize 

the HEAT Self Service (http://www.

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

email help@usuhs.mil. 

If an emergency should arise, please 

call 295-9870.

Exercise/Fitness Areas 

Physical Fitness training should be 

conducted in designated areas. 

The only authorized space for PT 

within the university is room G060. 

The campus’ Student Community 

Lounge area is also authorized, 

but only during specified PFT dates 

or times.

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 USU 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 USU 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. 

The Official USU Newsletter 7

 The USU Merit Review 

Committee is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2012 USU 

Intramural Research Funding.

Applications may be submitted for Pilot, Standard and 

Exploratory grant funding. New 

or revised applications will be 

accepted. Competing continuations are no longer funded. These 

applications are for basic, clinical 

or behavioral research.

Projects will be evaluated for 

demonstrated relevance to military 

concerns and/or are specific to the 

USU mission.

Eligibility for funding from the 

University’s intramural program is 

restricted to USU-billeted civilian 

and uniformed faculty members 

with full, associate or assistant 

professor titles.

Late applications will not be 

accepted and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applications must be submitted 

by June 17, 2011. 

For additional information: 

http://www.usuhs.mil/research/

intramuralfunds.html or contact 

the Office of Research at 

(301) 295-3303.

Funding Applications