Volume 9, Issue 12• July 7 , 2014 www.usuhs.edu

The Official USU Newsletter

Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way
On the cover

Commencement for the Army Postgraduate 

Dental School at Schofield Barracks was 

held onboard the USS Missouri in Honolulu, 

June 19. Read more about other university 

Postgraduate Dental College graduation 

ceremonies on page 4.

Photo courtesy of the Postgraduate Dental College

Sharon Holland

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Gwendolyn Smalls

Chief, Media Affairs

Master Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson

NCOIC of VPE and Deputy Chief, 

Media Affairs

Christine Creenan-Jones

Editor and Layout Design

MC2 Brittney Cannady

Writer and Photographer

MC3 Laura Bailey

Writer and Photographer

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 

christine.creenan-jones@usuhs.edu 

or by calling 301-295-3338.

2 the pulse July 7, 2014

SoM launches Enlisted to Medical 

Degree Preparatory Program

by Sharon Holland, managing editor

 Enlisted service members in 

the Air Force and Army now 

have an opportunity to prepare 

for future careers as uniformed 

physicians thanks to a new 

program headquartered at the 

F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine.

 The “Enlisted to Medical 

Degree Preparatory Program,” 

or EMDP2, is a 24-month 

program for highly-qualified 

enlisted service members interested in a career as a military 

doctor. Candidates will attend 

school full-time at the George 

Mason University-Prince William campus in Manassas, Va., 

to prepare them to apply to 

medical school, while remaining on active duty. 

 Candidates must possess a 

baccalaureate degree from an 

accredited academic institution 

with a minimum of a 3.2 grade 

point average and meet service 

requirements for commissioning.

 The inaugural EMDP2 class, 

up to 10 students, will report to 

USU at the end of July to begin 

the program, which will include full-time medical school 

preparatory coursework in a 

traditional classroom setting 

at GMU-PW, structured prehealth advising, formal Medical 

College Admission Test preparation, dedicated faculty and 

peer mentoring at USU, and 

integrated clinical exposure. 

Students completing the program successfully will qualify 

to apply to most U.S. medical 

schools.

 “We are thrilled to be launching the Enlisted to Medical 

Degree Preparatory Program 

at the Uniformed Services 

University and excited to be 

partnering with George Mason University-Prince William 

campus for this new educational endeavor. We have had fantastic support from the services 

and by the many who wish for 

this program to succeed,” said 

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Aaron Saguil, 

associate dean for Admissions 

and Recruitment at the Hébert 

School of Medicine. “With the 

EMDP2, we will be able to even 

better recognize the talent that 

exists within our enlisted – the 

professional backbone of the 

military – and provide them 

an opportunity to continue 

their aspirations to become 

physician-leaders in the rapidly 

evolving Military Health System.”
3 the pulse July 7, 2014

USU bids bittersweet farewell to living legend Ada Sue Hinshaw

by MC3 Laura Bailey, writer

 Nursing scholars and military 

leaders from across the country 

joined faculty, students and staff 

at the Uniformed Services University to bid a formal farewell to 

the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate 

School of Nursing Dean Dr. Ada 

Sue Hinshaw during a scholarship and recognition symposium 

held in her honor, June 27. 

 The symposium recognized 

Hinshaw’s many accomplishments with several presentations 

from accomplished health care 

leaders, including a keynote talk 

by Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan, 

chief of the Army Nurse Corps. 

 “Since you became the dean in 

2008, you’ve created new positions, you’ve improved the quality of our academic programs 

and you’ve improved the quality 

of our instructors. You listened 

to us in the DoD and what our 

challenges were and you saw the 

challenges as opportunities in 

nursing and for nursing research. 

The leaders you produced here 

are not only advanced practice 

nurses, you are also producing 

our leaders, our senior leaders 

for all of our three services, and 

we could not do that without 

you,” said Keenan. “In 2011, 

you combined the Navy nursing 

anesthesia program with the GSN 

anesthesia program to provide an 

overall comprehensive program. 

This program ranked number 

five in the nation and that includes civilian programs as well. 

That is amazing. You transitioned 

the Master of Science in nursing 

degree program to the Doctor of 

Nursing Practice degree. Based 

on the American Association of 

Colleges in Nursing, you advanced a nursing practice from 

an MSN to a doctorate level and 

probably this was one of your biggest challenges. You will have a 

long lasting effect on the GSN. On 

behalf of the surgeon general and 

all of federal nursing – we want 

to say thank you again for all that 

you’ve contributed.”

 Dr. Charles Rice, president of 

USU, also took the podium and 

candidly shared the joys of celebrating Hinshaw’s legacy and her 

new journey into retirement.

 “On one hand, I viewed this 

event with great excitement 

because what better way could 

there possibly be to celebrate 

Dean Hinshaw’s tenure here as 

the dean of the Daniel K. Inouye 

Graduate School of Nursing than 

with a day filled with scholarship 

– because after all, scholarship 

and nursing is what her career 

has been all about,” said Rice. 

“She has been a pioneer. She’s 

brought great distinction to the 

GSN. I had told her for many 

months that she had much more 

time that she could contribute 

to the GSN at the university, but 

she has been steadfast and has 

reminded me often that she came 

here with the promise of three 

years as her commitment to the 

GSN, but it’s been six years now. 

I figured she couldn’t count then, 

so why should she start counting 

now?” he joked. “She is convinced that this is the right time 

for her. It is with great pleasure 

that we celebrate her accomplishments.”

 Rice remembered when he first 

approached Hinshaw about coming to USU. 

 “When I asked Ada Sue to think 

about coming to the university, 

she said, ‘Well I just retired as a 

dean and you know 12 years is 

probably enough,’” Rice said. “I 

said, ‘Let me give you a couple of 

facts about this particular dean 

opportunity. In the first place, 

you won’t have any undergraduate students.’ She said, ‘OK.’ I 

said, ‘Not only do you not have to 

do any fundraising, you’re protected from doing fundraising. 

The third thing is, all your students are full-time and they’re all 

subject to the Uniformed Code of 

Military Justice.’” 

 At the conclusion of his remarks, Rice presented Hinshaw 

with the University Medal in recognition of her vast accomplishments at USU.

 For every word of appreciation Hinshaw received, she had 

multitudes more appreciation to 

give back.

 “Thank God I flunked retirement the first time because I can’t 

tell you how fun it has been,” said 

Hinshaw. “I have to tell you, I 

was set up for success. I had all 

kinds of support. I thank you for 

that because it really made all the 

difference for what we were able 

to do in the school of nursing. 

When I think about it, the people 

who walked this journey with me 

– those of you who are on faculty, 

staff, our students, our FMSC 

group ... each group has just been 

phenomenal to work with and I 

really thank each of you because 

this could not have been done 

without all of us working together. We’ve always been true partners. There’ve been times when 

we’ve agreed, times when we’ve 

disagreed, but we’ve always understood each other and always 

trusted and been able to rely on 

each other. So, there are a lot of 

people in my career that I owe a 

lot to. I thank all of you for coming on this journey with me. This 

is without a doubt, the capstone 

of my career. I won’t forget that. 

Thank you very much.”
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

PDC holds multiple commencement ceremonies

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 June was a monumental 

month for the Postgraduate 

Dental College at the Uniformed Services University 

with five commencement ceremonies taking place across the 

United States over a two-week 

span. The events – held in 

North Carolina, Texas, Hawaii 

and Maryland – celebrated the 

accomplishments of more than 

50 dental officers who earned a 

Master of Science in Oral Biology degree after completing 

rigorous residency programs at 

the Army, Navy and Air Force 

dental schools.

 The 2014 PDC class includes 

dentists with specializations in 

Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Orofacial Pain, 

Periodontics, Prosthodontics 

and Comprehensive Dentistry. 

Six USU students also completed the Tri-Service Orthodontics 

Residency Program. 

 “PDC alumni are bright, 

skilled and forward thinking. They are truly scholarclinicians. Their USU-honed 

abilities contribute significantly 

to the health and readiness of 

our military forces,” said Dr. 

Patrick Sculley, executive dean 

of the PDC. “Being a part of the 

PDC graduations is a memorable experience. Each graduation is unique in its own right, 

reflecting the traditions of the 

respective service, the supporting installation, and the dental 

specialties of the graduates. 

However, all are consistent in 

paying homage to the accomplishments of the graduates and 

the support of faculty members, family and friends. It is 

an exhilarating experience to 

participate in such joyous and 

meaningful events.”

 Sculley presided over the PDC 

ceremonies with USU President 

Dr. Charles Rice and Board of 

Regents Chairman Dr. Ronald 

Blanck. They were joined by 

health care experts from across 

the Military Health System, 

including Navy Rear Adm. 

Stephen Pachuta, who delivered 

the keynote address for the Naval Postgraduate Dental School.

 “Be proud of our accomplishments. You earned your place 

at today’s ceremony. You have 

achieved a very significant milestone,” he said. 

 Pachuta, the Chief of the Navy 

Dental Corps, also encouraged the PDC graduates to be 

the mentor they wanted during residency, work hard to 

foster strong relationships and 

maintain a keen focus on the 

main mission before ending his 

speech on a wistful note.

 “Good luck to each of you 

as you embark on a new and 

exciting journey. I would gladly 

change places with any of you 

for the opportunity to do it all 

over again,” he said.

Photo by MC3 Laura Bailey

Students from the F. Edward 

Hébert School of Medicine 

participate in a Dive Lab 

exercise at the Naval Support 

Activity Bethesda pool to 

experience the physiological 

effects cold water has on the 

human body, June 20.

USU students plunge 

into studies
5 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

ETI spurs innovation, enhances learning at USU

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Like all health science programs, the curriculum 

at the Uniformed Services University covers expansive, highly-technical benchmarks. In order to keep 

learners engaged, USU delivers its content through 

exciting mediums, many of which are developed by 

the Education & Technology Innovation Support 

Office, or ETI. 

 The office has partnered with USU’s faculty to 

incorporate innovative technologies and instructional techniques into courses to advance learning 

objectives for both classroom and distance learning 

environments since 2006.

 One recent project even took a creative, subhuman turn when Dr. Catherine Ling, an assistant 

professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School 

of Nursing, collaborated with ETI to integrate 

zombie apocalypse animation into her course, 

Population Health and Epidemiology in Advanced 

Practice. 

 In Ling’s class, the zombie apocalypse was fodder 

for classroom discussions about the use of population health models and theories. Students had to 

plan interventions using these theories and models 

while considering factors like the role social and 

popular media play in forming provider assumptions and biases about largely unstudied or misunderstood populations. The zombie animations 

created by ETI were essential to the background 

understanding of these models.

 In the end, Ling’s creative approach to education 

paid off.

 “The overwhelming student response has been 

very positive, and ETI has been an integral partner 

for developing creative approaches to engagement,” said Ling, who based this assignment 

around scenarios developed by the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Strategic 

Command.

 Others at USU have also championed the merits 

of ETI, including Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Justin Woodson, an associate professor at the F. Edward Hébert 

School of Medicine. In May, he invited ETI experts 

to participate in Operation Bushmaster, so they 

could provide objective feedback on ways to improve USU’s capstone field exercise.

 “The ETI has provided invaluable contributions 

to the Military Contingency Medicine/Bushmaster course over the 

last several years 

in the form of curriculum development 

and evaluation. They 

have helped me build 

new online products 

for the students and 

faculty training program as well as new 

curriculum evaluation 

instruments which 

have proven invaluable to the evolution 

of the program. They 

are in the field expertly 

observing faculty and 

student learning and 

teaching dynamics at 

times and locations 

that are impractical for me and my staff, consequently seeing things that I cannot otherwise see. 

The improvements we’ve made to this program are 

too numerous to mention, but there is no question 

that ETI has facilitated a raising of the academic 

bar for these programs,” said Woodson.

 Raising the bar at USU was the impetus behind 

the establishment of ETI in the first place. The 

university has always sought ways to improve 

education, and for the past eight years, ETI has 

spurred major innovation across USU’s departments and schools.

 “Education in the health professions is undergoing more change than has been seen in fifty years 

and free standing professional schools are at a 

disadvantage without expertise in curricular design 

and pedagogical methods. ETI gives our faculty 

access to widely experienced experts in these 

areas and so facilitates exploration of new teaching methods and technologies. ETI has helped us 

flip class rooms, standardize curricular materials 

across clinical teaching sites, provide continuing 

education to specialist in Central Command and 

encourage faculty development in education. They 

are our own force multipliers,” said Dale Smith, 

professor of Military Medicine and History, who 

also serves as the acting director of ETI.
USU Family Medicine Interest Group to receive AAFP 

Program of Excellence Award

by Sharon Holland, managing editor

 The Uniformed Services 

University’s Family Medicine 

Interest Group was recently 

selected as one of 10 programs 

nationally to receive the American 

Academy of Family Physicians’ 

Program of Excellence Award. 

This marks the second time the 

USU group has been selected for 

the honor. 

 The FMIG Program of 

Excellence Award recognizes 

family medicine interest groups 

for their efforts to stimulate 

interest in family medicine and 

family medicine programming. 

The award is presented annually 

to 10 groups that exhibit 

exemplary efforts in community 

outreach/patient advocacy, 

family medicine advocacy, and 

infrastructure and student 

involvement/student retention. 

Recipients of the award are 

acknowledged during the opening 

session at the AAFP National 

Conference of Family Medicine 

Residents and Medical Students, 

which will be held on Aug. 8 in St. 

Louis. 

 “Maj. (Dr.) Christopher Bunt, 

the faculty advisor, and Air Force 

2nd Lt. Brooke Pati, the student 

leader, deserve great credit as well 

as all of the student co-leaders 

and members who have done so 

much community service over 

the past year,” said Navy Capt. 

(Dr.) Mark Stephens, chair of 

the F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine Department of Family 

Medicine at USU. In 2008, 

Stephens, along with student 

leader 2nd Lt. Brooke Sciuto, 

helped USU’s FMIG earn the 

prestigious award.

 “Attracting medical students to 

the specialty of family medicine is 

critical to answer the ongoing and 

worsening primary care physician 

shortage,” said Dr. Clif Knight, 

vice president of education at 

the AAFP. “Excellent FMIGs 

such as these award winners 

are an important component in 

these efforts. They’re essential 

to helping medical students 

understand the professional 

challenge and satisfaction of 

being a family physician.” 

Former LRC director named Librarian Emeritus

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Janice Muller, former director of the James A. 

Zimble Learning Resource Center, was named 

Librarian Emeritus at the Uniformed Services 

University by President Charles Rice, June 30. 

 This rare and prestigious honor is given to 

individuals who demonstrate superior service at 

the LRC and USU. Muller distinguished herself 

through noteworthy accomplishments over a 30-

year span that included growing USU’s digital 

collection to an impressive 15,000 unique titles. 

She also led an initiative to improve the design, 

usability and performance of the LRC website 

while promoting the use of mobile devices, 

tablets and smart phones as learning platforms 

before her retirement in 2012.

 “New mediums are needed to engage young 

minds. The LRC, under the directorship of Ms. 

Janice Muller, helped lead the way at USU with 

modern technology that speaks to our students’ 

interests, preferences and learning modalities. 

For this reason, and many others, it was a great 

honor for me to bestow the title, Librarian 

Emeritus, upon Ms. Muller and also present her 

with USU’s Exceptional Service Award,” said 

Rice.

 

Like the Librarian Emeritus honor, the 

Exceptional Service Award was given to Muller 

because she profoundly influenced the mission 

at USU through her work in the LRC. 

Janice Muller, former director of the James A. Zimble 

Learning Resource Center, was named Librarian 

Emeritus by USU President Charles Rice, June 30. Muller 

was also given the university’s Exceptional Service Award.

Photo by Thomas Balfour

6 the pulse July 7, 2014
7 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Service Member of the Quarter: HN Kayla Bristow

by MC3 Laura Bailey, writer and photographer

 Hospital Corpsman Kayla 

Bristow, a surgical technician for 

the Veterinary Surgical Department at the Uniformed Services 

University, was selected as the 

Service Member of the Quarter 

recently. 

 “Receiving this prestigious 

award is a great honor to its selected recipients and recognizes 

those service members who go 

above and beyond – standing out 

among their peers by demonstrating a commitment to excellence in everything they do and 

a dedication to their core values 

and our mission at USU,” said 

Command Master Chief Patrick 

Hyde, USU brigade senior enlisted leader. “Each quarter, service 

members who demonstrate these 

qualities are selected to compete 

against each other for the coveted 

award. Only one service member 

is selected each quarter. HN Bristow was up against some tough 

competition and prevailed.” 

 It takes a certain kind of person 

to attain this level of achievement. Bristow is unique in many 

ways, but one thing in particular 

helps her to stand out among the 

rest, according to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Juan Vega, instructor in USU’s Military and Emergency Medicine department. 

 “Honestly, I would have to say 

that it would be her confidence,” 

said Vega, who is Bristow’s squad 

leader at USU. “It’s not common to see a junior sailor with so 

much confidence in their abilities.”

 But that’s not the only thing she 

has going for her, said Vega. 

 “She has a go-getter attitude 

that stands out among her peers,” 

said Vega. “If she sets a goal she 

tries to achieve it. So far, she has 

accomplished every goal that she 

has set for herself and that we 

have talked about. After accomplishing one goal she moves on 

to achieve another. She’s been 

attending college classes and 

volunteering a lot which really 

shows how dedicated she is. She 

takes the initiative.”

 Challenges are met with a cando attitude that helps her soar to 

great heights, said Vega. He recalls one time in particular when 

her spirit was undaunted by a 

formidable load of college classes. 

 “She was putting in a request 

chit for college classes and she 

had a lot going on – not just here 

at work, but personally as well,” 

said Vega. “She wanted to take 

four college classes at the same 

time. I asked her if she was sure 

about taking on so much and she 

looked at me and said ‘HM1, I’ve 

got this.’” 

 For some, receiving an award 

like this might be an opportunity 

to brag a little or maybe even a 

lot. However, that’s not the case 

for this quarter’s recipient who 

remains humble even when 

thrust into the limelight.

 “It’s about showing people that 

it’s possible,” said Bristow, who 

enjoys volunteering with Habitat 

for Humanity in her spare time. 

“I look up to my leaders for an example of how I should be and I’m 

just trying to emulate that at my 

own level and lead by example. I 

hope this will encourage other junior service members and they’ll 

think if I can do it – then they can 

too.” 

 She credits her success to 

having a few key things in her 

toolbox. They include having a 

connection with others and the 

belief that anything worth doing 

is worth doing well. 

 “My mentors, HM1 (Lisa) Shumaker, Chief (Darryl) Mercado 

and HM1(retired) Althea Jamerson, have been a huge help to 

me this past year,” said Bristow, 

secretary of the Enlisted Social 

Committee at USU. “My roommate has definitely been there for 

me. My friends and family back 

home and my boyfriend – they 

just keep that motivation and 

tell me I can do it. There may be 

disappointments along the way 

or things may not go the way you 

hoped they would, but friends 

and family are great to lean on 

during these times. Find somebody who will help you along the 

way, have a network of people to 

keep you positive and whatever 

you do – do it with passion and 

do it to the best of your ability. 

That’s my credo.”

 Receiving this award doesn’t 

mean she can slow down. Bristow 

is a mover and a shaker, who also 

volunteers weekly at the USO. 

 “My main focus is getting that 

promotion,” said Bristow, who 

is up for advancement this fall. 

“From there, I’m working toward 

getting my bachelor’s degree.” 

She also hpes to be assigned to a 

ship in the future. 

 Winning the Service Member of 

the Quarter could lead to an even 

bigger achievement, according to 

Vega. 

 “This puts her in for Service 

Member of the Year at the end of 

this calendar year so I’m keeping 

my fingers crossed for her,” said 

Vega. “I’m very happy for her and 

I hope she makes it.”
Final Frame

Congratulations to the 2014 graduates of the Postgraduate Dental College at the Uniformed 

Services University.