USU Newsletter 

VOLUME 2,ISSUE 3 WWW.USUHS.MIL FEB. 12,2007 

New Board of Regents Member 

In This Issue 

MHS Conference.....................2 

New CHE Director....................3 

Modern medical care to 

Afghans ....................................4 

Triple Threat.............................5 

Anchor and Caduceus.............5 

Patient Safety Manager’s 

Course.......................................6 

USU News Briefs...................7 

Calendar of Events...........Back

See Page 3, for more information 
USU Newsletter 

Editorial Staff 

Carol R. Scheman 

Vice President for 

External Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. 

André Nicholson 

Editor 

Mass Communications 

Specialist 

Seaman 

Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer 

 

Mass Communications 

Specialist 

Seaman 

Jeffrey Hopkins 

Staff Writer 

Marla Wright 

Webmaster 

Publishing 

USU Duplicating Office

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 biweekly on Mondays 

and deadline for submission is Friday at 4 

p.m. Submissions can 

be sent to usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or call 

301-295-3925. 

PAGE 2 

 More than 3,000 military medical professionals 

from around the world gathered at the 2007 Military Health System Annual Conference, Jan. 29 – 

Feb. 1 in Washington, D.C., to learn about the 

new strategic plan that will shape the future of 

the Military Health System. 

 Dr. Charles Rice, USU president, along with 

other MHS leaders, took the opportunity to address members of the conference about USU being recognized as The Model 21st Century Academic Health Center. 

 “The U.S. academic health center is an enormously successful institutional model,” he said. 

“With the BRAC/Integration process underway, 

the Military Health System has the opportunity to 

create the model academic health center for the 

nation by bringing together education, research 

and especially clinical research, joining in partnerships with the National Institutes of Health.” 

 Senior DoD leaders Dr. David S.C. Chu, under 

secretary of defense for Personnel Readiness and 

Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary 

of defense for Health Affairs and director of TRICARE Management Activity (TMA), were also in 

attendance and thanked the men and women of 

the MHS who preserve the health of service members and their families. 

 The conference was hosted by Dr. Winkenwerder, Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy 

director of TMA, and the Surgeons General of the 

Army, Navy and Air Force, and serves as a forum 

for Department of Defense health care professionals and their civilian counterparts to discuss issues, 

new programs and initiatives that affect health 

care delivery to 9.1 million TRICARE beneficiaries. 

This year’s conference theme was Transforming 

Strategy into Action: Partners in Excellence. 

 The focus of the conference was the MHS strategic plan and the initiatives that will help shape 

military medicine in the future. Some future initiatives that Dr. Winkenwerder addressed included 

transforming San Antonio, Texas into a “City of 

Military Medicine,” creation of a medical education 

and training campus, revamping the U.S. Army 

Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, 

and development of a joint DoD/Veteran Affairs 

electronic inpatient medical record. He went on to 

say that the strategic plan is the roadmap for helping military medical professionals meet even 

greater challenges in the years ahead. 

 The conference featured 90 breakout sessions 

centered on implementing the strategic plan and 

plenary sessions featuring senior DoD leadership 

and subject matter experts. More than 200 government and corporate exhibitors from around 

the country set up displays demonstrating innovative products and services related to healthcare 

management and medical supply services. The 

MHS conference is held annually in Washington, 

D.C. 

USU President addresses health 

leaders at MHS conference 

By TSgt. André Nicholson 

NCOIC, Office of External Affairs 
PAGE 3 

 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ (USU) Continuing Education for Health Professionals (CHE) department recently welcomed a new Senior Executive Director. 

 CAPT Jaime Luke, NC, USN, is the new Senior Director for CHE 

succeeding CAPT Jane Mead, NC, USN, who was assigned to the 

Naval Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, D.C., in December. 

 “I’m very excited to be here,” said Luke. “I’ve been interested in 

coming to USU for a number of years as I enjoy working in the education arena.” 

 Luke was formerly assigned to the Naval Medical Education and 

Training Command (now called the Navy Medicine Manpower, 

Personnel, Training and Education Command), where she was in 

charge of the Continuing Medical Education program and head of 

the Full-Time Outservice Graduate Medical Education program. In 

previous assignments, she was the clinical educator for nine outpatient clinics at the National Naval Medical Center and was in charge 

of their Breast Care Center. 

 “At CHE, I hope to further develop and expand our educational 

outreach to DOD’s healthcare providers,” said Luke. “Our department sponsors top quality continuing education for health professionals, which ultimately supports patient care.” 

 Aside from being responsible for CHE with oversight of six continuing education accreditations, her new duties also include responsibility for the Military Training Network and co-chairing of 

the DOD Veterans Administration (VA) Health Executive 

Council for Continuing Education and Training workgroup, 

which has developed an infrastructure for sharing educational opportunities between 

the VA and DOD agencies. 

 “This is an exciting time to be 

assigned to USU,” said Luke. 

“There are many changes underway within the Military 

Health System, increasing the 

need for education and training.” 

 Luke said that continuing education significantly assists healthcare providers in advancing their 

practice and increasing their abilities in providing patient care. 

 “In the end, it’s the increase in a patient’s wellness that’s the most 

important,” said Luke. “In addition, continuing education directly 

supports the readiness of our military members. Because of increased availability of quality continuing education, healthcare providers are more prepared to take care of troops that are in harm’s 

way and that’s an important piece of our department.” 

 Luke’s husband is a USU alumnus who earned his medical degree in 1996 and also received his Masters in Public Health with a 

certificate in Tropical Medicine. 

USU’s new Senior Director for CHE 

By MCSN Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer, Office of External Affairs 

The Honorable Everett Alvarez, Jr., J.D., Board of Regents (BOR) chair (left), and Charles L. Rice, M.D., USU president (right), congratulate C. Thomas Yarington, Jr., M.D., as a new BOR member during the Feb. 5 BOR meeting. Dr. Yarington is currently engaged

in a consultant practice in Otolaryngology and Medical Management. He retired from the Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., in 1997 where he served as head of Otolaryngology, and later chief of surgery. He is also a retired U.S. Air Force 

brigadier general. 

USU’s newest BOR member 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

CAPT Jaime Luke, USN, 

Senior Director CHE 
PAGE 4 

 Lt. Col. Bruce Schoneboom left a piece of himself in Afghanistan when he returned to Fort Benning from that war-torn country this week. 

 That's not to say he won't enjoy the homecoming party he 

planned to throw when he arrived back in Bethesda, Md., on Friday night. 

 But any observer could tell after a brief conversation that the 

experienced nurse anesthetist, who for the past year commanded 

an Army field hospital on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, is more 

focused on what he left behind than what lies ahead. 

 "Sure, I'd go back again," said the 48-year-old officer, who, 

while attached to Fort Benning's 14th Combat Support Hospital 

throughout 2006, ran the hospital at Forward Operating Base 

Salerno, home to a 10th Mountain Division brigade. 

 It's obvious that Schoneboom, a faculty member at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, has 

empathy for the patients he and his team treated during his deployment. 

 A quick visit to the blog he maintained for the past year will 

show that love for the Afghan people. 

 Schoneboom was among dozens of soldiers who, through the 

Professional Filler System were assigned to the 14th a year ago 

last month, returned from Afghanistan earlier this week. On Friday, they were awaiting transportation to their home bases. 

 "I'll be partying with friends sometime tonight," Schoneboom 

said. 

 It was the first deployment for the 21-year Army veteran. 

 "Some of the folks I worked with every day at the medical 

school had made two and three deployments," he said. "It was my 

turn." 

 Though the 14th was stationed at the giant Bagram Airfield, it 

operated several small field hospitals throughout the country, 

including the one at FOB Salerno, which is on the outskirts of 

Khowst, a city of almost 300,000. 

 It was there that Schoneboom, a native of Independence, Mo., 

and his staff of 38 surgeons, registered nurses, lab and X-ray technicians tended not only to wounded coalition soldiers, which fortunately were at a minimum, but to locals throughout nearby 

communities, many of whom lived in squalor. 

 "Early on, it became apparent that there simply would not be 

work enough if we treated only injured U.S. soldiers," Schoneboom said. 

 Figures compiled by the 14th CSH staff show that 80 percent of 

their patient load was made up of Afghan nationals. 

 "In many respects, Afghanistan is worse than any third world 

country," said Schoneboom, who scheduled monthly visits to remote villages throughout the eastern part of the country. 

 Most live in homes made of mud, with no water and no electricity. What heat there is -- and this is winter in that part of the 

world -- is supplied by kerosene or burning wood. 

 In fact, burns caused by carelessness are one of the main problems Army doctors treat. 

 "That and mine injuries," said Schoneboom. "This country has 

between 20 and 40 million land mines planted." He reemphasized the word "million." 

 Amputations were commonplace. And their dental health? 

"Terrible!" he said. 

 "The life expectancy of Afghans is relatively short," he said. "To 

improve those numbers, they must eliminate poverty and provide 

more security for the people." 

 Some people, like the nomadic Kuchis, have never seen doctors. 

 "There were times that we felt more like missionaries than anything else," he said. 

 In addition to frequent convoy missions into the Afghan countryside, Schoneboom also facilitated the opening of an Afghan 

National Wing at the hospital where hundreds of Afghans have 

received medical treatment ranging from minor ailments to major 

trauma surgery. 

 "It's all on space-available basis," he said. "But we usually have 

time to treat the people." 

 He said that several of "the warfighters from the 10th" have 

returned to Salerno after a mission, praising the medical team for 

their outreach programs in remote villages. "They've said that because of the friendships they have built up with our folks, they are 

willing to provide valuable intelligence about where to find the 

Taliban," he said. 

 The same week that the entire 200-soldier-strong 14th CSH, 

including the Salerno contingent, returned to Fort Benning, the 

soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, learned that 

their tours have been extended. 

Army team takes modern 

medical care to Afghans

By Mick Walsh 

Staff Writer, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer 

 The Radiological Systems Performance 

Evaluation Course (RSPEC) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) recently graduated its 

100th student, Jan. 19. 

 RSPEC is a two-week course provided 

by the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, that provides an introduction to three basic x-ray machines: 

medical; dental; and fluoroscope. Parts of 

the course make use of USU facilities, and 

make use of the National Naval Medical 

Center’s x-ray facilities for hands-on training. 

 The course also provides education in 

survey techniques to ensure safe and effective use of these systems, shielding design, and reporting procedures. 

 RSPEC provides the 72-hour training 

requirement for level-one x-ray surveyor 

certification from the Navy Environmental 

Health Center. 

 The course was founded in April,1998, 

and is available to enlisted and commissioned personnel from the Navy, Army, Air 

Force, and Public Health Service, as well as 

civilian government employees. It is supported by several USU, AFRRI and NNMC 

staff. 

 RSPEC is taught as needed, and has 

occurred as few times as once a year, to as 

many as once quarterly. 

 The course is scheduled to take place 

two more times this year, with classes in 

May and July. 

100th Student 

Graduates from 

RSPEC Course 

By MCSN Jeff Hopkins 

Staff Writer, Office of External Affairs 

Courtesy of online publication 
PAGE 5 

 A Publications Assistant for the Administrative Support Division 

(ASD) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 

(USU) placed first in the High Mountain Coffee 10K (HMC10K) road 

race Jan. 28, in Williamsfield, Manchester, Jamaica. 

 Edmund Burke, a lifelong runner, has participated in the 

HMC10K twice previously, and has placed first each time, finishing 

his latest attempt in 32 minutes and 20 seconds, beating 249 other 

participants to the finish line. 

 Burke says he first ran the HMC10K in 1999, when a friend asked 

him to run the race in his place. 

 “One of my teammates had finished fifth at the Olympic trials, 

and had been invited down,” Burke said. “The following year he 

wasn’t able to do it, so he sent me down instead.” 

 Burke finished first in the race, and then didn’t hear from the 

race officials again until 2006, when he says he was accidentally 

asked to return to Jamaica and race again. 

 “I didn’t hear from the race for several years, until they inadvertently called me,” Burke said. “I said ‘Ok, I’ll come down,’ so I went 

down and won. Because I’d won they invited me back this year.” 

 Burke said the officials asked him to return because they wanted 

someone who could provide competition for their best runners, but 

not blow them away. 

 “They were looking for someone who could possibly win the 

race, but also to give their best some competition. It’s been a great 

experience,” Burke said. 

 Burke received a trophy and a small amount of money as prizes, 

but said he valued the experience more than the physical rewards. 

 “Just the hospitality alone is nice,” Burke said. “They were very 

kind, very friendly; it’s a wonderful experience, it’s one of the highlights of my whole career, getting a chance to run in these races.” 

 Of competitive running, Burke said it’s not the conditions in 

which one races, but the physical condition of the runner. 

 “This course is particularly difficult, because it’s up and down a 

mountain, and it’s run at about 3:30 in the afternoon, so it’s about 

87 degrees with very high humidity,” Burke said. “It’s a very tough 

course, but it’s not a matter of cold, heat, flats or hills, it’s a matter of 

training, what kind of shape you’re in. If you’re able to run some 

good interval work a good few times a week, then you should be in 

pretty good shape for whatever comes your way. 

 Burke says he tends to participate in about one run per month, 

in anything from 5Ks to marathons. 

 “Right now I’m training for a marathon, and I’m in shape to get 

in shape. A few more short intervals at an intense pace. Basically it’s 

just intense training year in year out.”

Triple threat: USU staff 

member wins third 10K 

By MCSN Jeff Hopkins 

Staff Writer, Office of External Affairs 

The 13th and 17th Surgeons General of the United States (Retired Dr. C. Everett Koop, VADM, USPHS; Retired VADM, USPHS 

Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS) with the Future of the Commissioned Corps - USPHS ensigns and students from USU - enjoy the Anchor and Caduceus Dinner. 

Photo by Cathy Brown 

Surgeons General meet USU students at Anchor and Caduceus Dinner 
PAGE 6 

 Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel from throughout the Department of Defense’s (DOD) healthcare environment gathered at 

the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) during the first week of February to participate in the Basic Patient 

Safety Manager’s course. The one-week course, through a mix of hands-on exercises and lecture, teaches students how to conduct 

patient-safety investigations, as well as the use of the software related to the investigations, including medication errors and dataanalysis. Although it is a DOD center for Education and Research in Patient Safety, it operates under the auspices of the university. 

Photo by MCSN Jeff Hopkins 

USU host to Basic Patient Safety Manager’s course 

 Frequently travelers ask whether they are automatically entitled 

to an exemption of hotel taxes while performing Temporary Duty 

(TDY.) Unfortunately there is no nationwide exemption of hotel or 

rental car taxes for Federal travelers. Some cities may offer an exemption to travelers who present an individual Government Travel 

Card as the form of payment, but this is strictly up to that particular 

municipality or state. Below are three mandatory DOD travel policies that some travelers have been forgetting: 

1. Mandatory Use of the Government Travel Card (GTC)

 All government travel cardholders must use the card for their official travel expenses such as lodging, rental car, and transportation. 

It is not required for payment of tips, parking, or meals. This is an 

excerpt from the DOD Financial Management Regulation, Vol. 9 

Chapter 3. “Unless otherwise exempted, all DoD personnel are required to use the government sponsored, contractor-issued travel 

charge card for all expenses arising from official government travel. 

Although a traveler may be required to use the government travel 

charge card, failure to do so shall not be a basis for refusing to reimburse the traveler for otherwise appropriate charges. Such failure, 

however, may subject the traveler to appropriate administrative or 

disciplinary action.” DoD mandates that any employee or service 

member who travels on official funded TDY three or more times per 

year, must obtain a travel card. If you already have a card and travel 

at least once every 12 months, your account will be kept open. 

2. Mandatory Use of the Government Contracted Travel Office

 The following is from the Joint Travel Regulation: 

“It is DoD mandatory policy that travelers use available Contracted 

Travel Offices (CTO) to arrange official travel, including transportation and rental cars. Commands/units are expected to take appropriate disciplinary action when travelers and/or Approving Officials fail 

to follow the regulations concerning CTO use. ” Carlson Wagonlit 

(CWT) is the contracted Department of Defense Travel Agency supporting the University, and must be used when making all official 

travel arrangements. Attached is some CWT information from the 

University's Administrative Services Division (ASD) who handles the 

issuing of University travel orders and administering CWT support to 

University personnel. 

3. Mandatory Use of Split Disbursement

 If you are a government travel cardholder and have a balance 

owed on your card when you file your voucher, you must use the 

Split Disbursement option for payment of the amount owed the 

bank. Enter the amount owed in block 1 of the DD 1351-2 Travel 

Voucher. If you do not owe anything when you file, or have already 

sent in your full payment, then enter $0.00 in the Split Disbursement 

block. If a traveler submits a travel voucher with $0.00 in the Split 

Disbursement block, and it is determined that there is an outstanding balance on the traveler's travel card, then the travel 

voucher will be returned to the traveler for correction. 

Please feel free to contact me if you do not understand the above, 

but please do not contact me to ask for an exception to the above, 

as there are no exceptions to these mandatory policies. 

DOD travel policies 
PAGE 7 

New Assistant Dean Appointed 

 LTC(P) Lisa Moores, MC, USA, has been selected as the fourth 

assistant dean for Clinical Sciences. LTC(P) Moores is well known 

throughout the USU community, the WRAMC community and all 

of military medicine. 

USU Inclement Weather Notification 

 The current operating status of USU during inclement weather 

can be obtained by calling the USU Inclement weather phone 

number (301) 295-3039 for a recording by, or checking the USU 

website homepage at www.usuhs.mil.

African American History Month 

 February marks the 81st annual observance of African American History Month. The national theme for this year's observance 

is "From Slavery to Freedom: The Story of Africans in the Americas." African American History Month is a great opportunity for 

all personnel to reflect on the contributions and achievements of 

African Americans to our nation. There are more than 68,471 

active duty, 10,183 Reserve, and 22,915 Civil Service African 

American personnel who proudly serve our nation. 

Farewell Gathering 

 There will be a farewell gathering to honor HMCM Smith, USN 

(BDE) for his service to USU as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Feb. 15 

at 11:30 a.m. in Lecture Room C. All are invited to attend. 

10 Week PFT/PFA/APFT Notice 

 The Army APFT, Navy PRT, and Air Force APFT will be conducted at 7 a.m. and noon on the following dates: April 3, 5, 10, 

12, and 17 for all faculty, staff, and students (excluding SOM). 

Naval personnel must complete the Health Risk Assessment questionnaire by Feb. 9, and a Physical Health Assessment annually; 

Navy weigh-ins must be conducted between 10 days and 24 

hours 

rior to the Navy PRT. For more info, contact SFC Abrams, USA 

(MEM) at (301) 295-8207. 

Blue Angels Enlisted Applications 

 The Navy is currently soliciting for applications for the Navy 

Flight Demonstration Squadron. For those interested in applying, 

applications must be postmarked by April 1 for enlisted personnel 

and April 30 for officers. For more information, go to the 

NAVADMIN for officers at http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/

rdonlyres/5E1274B9-C733-450A-A2A2-4D018A44D022/0/

NAV07023.txt or the NAVADMIN for enlisted at http://

www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/B0CC1345-7646-4A44-A685-

AC817E11EA90/0/NAV07022.txt. 

2006 Linda Strangio Editor’s Award 

 Maureen Hood, MS, RN, and Hugh Scott, MS, are the winners 

of the 2006 Linda Strangio Editor’s Award for the article 

“Introduction to picture archive and communication system,” 

which appeared in the Sept. 2006 issue of the Journal of Radiology Nursing (JRN) this award is named in honor of Linda Strangio, past editor of Images (former name of the JRN), for her contributions to the ARNA and radiology nursing. It is the belief of 

the Editorial Board of JRN that the article best portrayed the true 

meaning of the radiology nursing profession. The award will be 

pressented at the ARNA Annual Business Meeting on March 5, in 

Seattle, WA. 

Radiology and Radiological Sciences Professor elected as President 

 The Radiology Research Alliance elected Lorraine G. Shapeero, 

M.D., Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, president of its organization. In addition, Dr. Shapeero received two 

awards from the Radiology Research Alliance for her outstanding 

leadership and contributions. Dr. Shapeero is also editor of Research Initiatives in Radiology and the Radiological Sciences, the 

first compendium on national and international research programs in radiology and the radiological sciences. 

Department Chair has electronic medical journal article published 

 James Smirniotopoulos, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, and professor of Radiology, Neurology, and Biomedical Informatics, has electronically published a 

medical article titled “MR and CT imaging of 24 pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXA) and a review of the literature.” The article 

will also be published in the Neuroradiology Journal later this 

year. Dr. Smirniotopoulos’ article can be viewed at http://

dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00234-006-0191-z.

USU News Briefs 

Today in 

History: 

Air Force: 

 1959: Strategic Air Command retires its last B-36 Peacemaker to become an all-jet bomber force. 

Navy: 

 1976: Capt. Fran McKee becomes the Navy's first woman line officer selected for promotion to 

the rank of rear admiral. 

Army: 

 2001: Army boxers carded 25 tournament points by winning eight gold and one silver in the 10 

contested weight classes in the Armed Forces Boxing Championship. 
USU Calendar of Events 

11 12 

LRC Training Classes 

PubMed Basics 

6p.m. - 7p.m. 

LRC 

“Sensig of Lys 63-linked 

polyubiquitination is a 

key event in NF-kB 

activation” 

Lecture Room C

11:30a.m. - 1p.m.

13 14 

Mechanisms of striatal 

injury in neonatal 

hypoxic-ischemic 

encephalopathy 

3:30p.m.

Lecture Room A 

15 

LRC Training Classes 

EndNote Basics 

6p.m. - 7p.m. 

LRC

16 17 

18 19 20 21 

LRC Training Classes 

Creating Alerts 

Noon - 1p.m. 

LRC 

Sugar, Sperm and 

STD’: The Role of 

Gaqlectin-3 in Semen 

3:30p.m.

Lecture Room A 

22 

LRC Training Classes 

EndNote Basics 

Noon - 1p.m. 

LRC 

LRC Training Classes 

Creating Alerts 

6p.m. - 7p.m. 

LRC 

23 24 

25 26 27 28 

“Molecular Machinery 

for the Transport of 

Neurotransmitter 

Receptors at 

Synapses” 

3:30p.m.

Lecture Room A 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 

LRC Training Classes 

EndNote Basics 

Noon - 1p.m. 

LRC 

8 

LRC Training Classes 

PubMed Basics 

Noon - 1p.m. 

LRC

9 10 

February

March

Happy

Valentine Day