The Official USU Newsletter

Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way

Volume 11, Issue 9 n June 13, 2016

www.usuhs.edu
2 the pulse June 13, 2016

On the cover

Sharon Holland

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Christopher Austin

Writer and Interim Editor

MC3 Laura Bailey

Writer and Photographer

Tom Balfour

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 is published biweekly on 

Mondays. The deadline for submissions 

is at 4 p.m. Tuesday prior to the publication date. Submissions can be sent to 

christopher.austin.ctr@usuhs.edu or by 

calling 301-295-3338.

Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., assistant 

commandant of the U.S. Marine 

Corps, delivers the commencement 

address to USU's graduating class of 

2016. See story on pg. 5. (Photo by 

Tom Balfour)

‘Invisible Wounds of War’ 

Now Visible

Scientists have discovered a 

unique pattern of scarring in the 

brains of deceased service members 

who were exposed to blast injury 

that differs from those exposed to 

other types of head injury. This new 

research was published online June 

9 in Lancet Neurology, “Characterization of Interface Astroglial Scarring in the Human Brain after Blast 

Exposure: a Post-mortem Case Series.” 

“Our findings revealed those with 

blast exposure showed a distinct and 

previously unseen pattern of scarring, which involved the portion of 

brain tissue immediately beneath 

the superficial lining of the cerebral cortex – the junction between 

the gray and white matter – and the 

vital structures that are adjacent to 

the cavities within the brain that 

are filled with cerebrospinal fluid. 

Those areas of the brain, damaged 

by blast, suggest that they may be 

correlated with the symptoms displayed by those who sustained a 

traumatic brain injury, or TBI,” said 

Dr. Daniel Perl, study senior author 

and professor of neuropathology at 

the Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences (USU). “This 

scarring pattern also suggests the 

brain has attempted to repair brain 

damage from a blast injury.”

To better understand these blast 

brain injuries, researchers from 

USU, the Department of Defense 

Joint Pathology Center and the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine, examined brain tissue specimens derived from deceased service 

members, who had been exposed to 

a high explosive blast injury and had 

suffered several persistent symptoms. The researchers examined the 

brain tissues from five service members with remote blast exposures, as 

well as brain tissues of three service 

members who died shortly after 

severe blast exposures. They also 

compared these results with brain 

tissues from civilian (non-military) 

cases, including five with remote 

impact TBIs, and three cases with 

no history of a TBI.

“This changes the earlier paradigm of ‘battle injury’ and demonstrates unique and specific biological changes in brains due to these 

injuries,” said Perl, who also serves 

as director of USU’s Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine TBI Brain Tissue Repository.

Military members sustaining a 

TBI have often reported suffering 

from persistent post-concussive 

symptoms, which include a mixture 

of both neurologic and behavioral 

disturbances.

“These can include problems 

such as headaches, difficulty concentrating, sleep disorders, memory 

problems, depression and anxiety. 

Despite these prominent symptoms, 

conventional neuroimaging for 

mild TBIs typically has not allowed 

providers to “see” brain abnormalities, leading this to be considered 

the “invisible wound,” said Perl. 

“This publication sheds some 

light, for the first time, into the nature of the persistent behavioral/ 

neurologic issues being reported 

in numerous service members who 

have been exposed to high explosives. It will certainly stimulate important further research and change 

how we think about these problems. 

DOD, through the Military Health 

System, is at the cutting edge of research dedicated to caring for our 

troops, and I hope that these findings will point the way into devising 

more rational approaches to their 

diagnosis, prevention and treatment,” Perl said.

By Sharon Holland and Sarah Marshall

continued on pg. 7
3 the pulse June 13, 2016

Admissions Assistant Diana 

Romero, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) 

Office of Recruitment and Admissions, and Program Support Assistant Melisa Rodrick-Thomson, Department of Medicine, Cardiology 

Division, were recently recognized 

as the Senior and Junior USU employees of the quarter, respectively.

Romero’s nomination for University Senior Employee of the Quarter 

was based on, “her commitment to 

excellence of service to the University community,” said Sheena Ferrell, Recruitment and Admissions 

administrative officer.

According to Ferrell, Romero 

created and maintained a database 

which tracked details for 1,200 

school of medicine applicant admissions committee reviews. She also 

reviewed and processed more than 

900 applications for the School of 

Medicine over this past recruitment 

cycle.

Romero also supports the activities of the Admissions Office by 

attending Hispanic recruitment 

events at conferences, colleges and 

universities. 

Ferrell explained that recently 

Romero provided “a great service” 

to the office by translating an information pamphlet from English to 

Spanish. The pamphlet contained 

information about the School of 

Medicine, the Graduate Program 

and the Health Professions Scholarship Program.

“The potential impact of this version of the publication significantly 

contributes to the university’s goal 

of improved diversity,” Ferrell said.

Romero has worked at USU for 

just more than seven years.

Rodrick-Thomson’s nomination 

for University Junior Employee of 

the Quarter was also based on “her 

commitment to excellence of service to the University community,” 

according to Dr. Louis Pangaro, Department of Medicine professor and 

chair.

Rodrick-Thompson provides administrative support for intra- and 

extramural grants, totaling more 

than $1 million. She also works 

closely with division research assistants, post-docs, Henry M. Jackson 

Foundation special projects personnel and other USU support agencies to oversee budget expenditures 

to ensure appropriate supplies and 

material are purchased, accounted 

for, and available to support the division’s research mission.

“Ms. Rodrick-Thompson is an exceptional administrative assistant,” 

Pangaro said. “She carries out her 

responsibilities with accuracy and 

speed, and she is always willing to 

learn new tasks and take on additional responsibilities.”

In the new “unity of effort” with 

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, she has taken on the 

task of coordinating a new Genetic 

Arrhythmia Clinic.

During her department’s most recent administrative support shortages, Rodrick-Thompson stepped 

up, picking up additional grants 

management tasks, coordinating 

base and computer system access 

for new laboratory personnel, and 

working to resolve laboratory supply delivery issues.

Pangaro highlighted her as, “a 

problem-solver who succeeds in all 

of her duties.”

Rodrick-Thompson has worked 

at USU for 13 years.

Romero, Rodrick-Thomson Awarded 

Employees of the Quarter

By Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris

Diana Romero, an admissions assistant in the USU Office of Recruitment 

and Admissions, was recognized as 

the senior employee of the quarter. 

(Photo by Tom Balfour)

Melissa Rodrick-Thomson, program 

support assistant in the Department 

of Medicine, Cardiology Division, is 

the junior employee of the quarter. 

(Photo by Tom Balfour)
4 the pulse June 13, 2016 5 the pulse June 13, 2016

More than 360 uniformed professionals received their well-deserved 

medical, graduate nursing, and 

biomedical science, public health 

and clinical psychology degrees on 

May 21 – Armed Forces Day – at 

the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) 

37th commencement exercise at the 

Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. 

Gen. John M. Paxton, Jr., assistant 

commandant of the U.S. Marine 

Corps, the second highest ranking 

officer in the Marine Corps, was the 

featured commencement speaker. 

“We are honored to be on your 

team and we desperately need you 

on our team because you will take 

us into future centuries, you will 

keep this great nation alive, you will 

bring Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and 

Marines back to lead productive 

lives whether it’s inside or outside 

of the military,” said Paxton. “I am 

extremely proud of all of you. I congratulate you on all of your academic and medical accomplishments. 

"I challenge you to continue to 

learn. I challenge you to continue to 

train. I continue to challenge you to 

be the best you can be because we 

need you," Paxton said. "Congratulations. Semper fidelis.”

During one of the nation’s most 

unique graduation ceremonies, students entered the Hall to “Pomp and 

Circumstance” performed by “The 

President’s Own” U.S. Marine Corps 

Band. The graduates, a mix of military and civilian students, walked 

across the stage wearing their academic regalia. They received their 

diplomas and medical student graduates returned to recite their respective service commissioning oaths 

and receive promotion to their next 

rank. 

Graduates from USU’s F. Edward 

Hébert School of Medicine include: 

•	 166 Doctor of Medicine degrees 

•	 1 Doctor of Public Health degree 

•	 16 Doctor of Philosophy in Basic Science degrees 

•	 8 Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology degrees 

•	 8 Master of Health Administration and Policy degrees 

•	 21 Master of Public Health degrees 

•	 9 Master of Science in Public 

Health degrees 

•	 1 Master of Science degree 

•	 3 Master of Tropical Medicine 

and Hygiene degrees 

The Daniel K. Inouye Graduate 

School of Nursing at USU will confer: 

•	 1 Master of Science in Nursing 

degree 

•	 45 Doctor of Nursing Practice 

degrees 

•	 7 Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science degrees 

The Postgraduate Dental College 

will confer during ceremonies this 

month: 

•	 66 Master of Science in Oral Biology Degrees

USU Celebrates 2016 Commencement

By MC3 Laura Bailey

More than 360 uniformed professionals received their medical, graduate nursing, dental and biomedical science, public health and clinical psychology degrees on May 21at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution 

Hall in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Tom Balfour)
6 the pulse June 13, 2016

From Gen. John J. Pershing’s dentures to Civil War soldiers’ colons to 

the floor of an Air Force emergency 

room in Iraq, the collections at the 

National Museum of Health and 

Medicine live up to their reputation 

as some of the world’s most interesting specimens for research in military medicine and surgery. The site 

of many field trips, it also made a 

unique classroom recently for students in the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences 

(USU) Graduate School of Nursing 

(GSN).

More than 20 students in the 

GSN’s Family Nurse Practitioner 

(FNP) and Women’s Health Nurse 

Practitioner (WHNP) programs 

made the three-mile trek to the museum, located in Silver Spring, Md., 

as part of their “Advanced Diagnosis 

and Management in Obstetrics/Embryology” course, May 25.

The museum was founded by U.S. 

Army Surgeon General William A. 

Hammond as the Army Medical 

Museum in 1862 during the American Civil War as a repository for 

specimens of “morbid anatomy” 

along with foreign bodies and projectiles that had been removed from 

casualties. Photographs and information were also cataloged and the 

collection grew dramatically over 

the years. In the late 1800s and early 

1900s, the museum staff engaged in 

research, including yellow fever and 

typhoid fever. In the 1940s, the museum’s research was largely focused 

on pathology, and the organization 

became an element of the Armed 

Forces Institute of Pathology, changing its name to the National Museum of Health and Medicine in 1989. 

The museum relocated in 2011 to its 

current location at the U.S. Army 

Garrison-Forest Glen near USU’s 

Val G. Hemming Simulation Center 

as part of the closure of Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center. It recently 

became a part of the Defense Health 

Agency.

The NMHM’s collections now 

consist of more than 25 million 

objects, including 12,000 items of 

medical equipment, an archive of 

historic medical documents, collections related to neuroanatomy and 

developmental anatomy, 5,000 skeletal specimens and 8,000 preserved 

organs.

Air Force Lt. Col. Jennifer Korkosz, assistant professor and deputy 

director of the WHNP program, 

came up with the idea of incorporating those into the classroom as 

an innovative way for the students 

to learn embryology. 

“For a change of pace, we headed over to the National Museum 

of Health and Medicine to explore. 

We started with an informative 

presentation about medical illustrations and details about how the 

Carnegie embryology models were 

created. The Carnegie models are 

the premier 3D illustrations of embryological development that show 

us how changes take place in the 

growth and development of human 

embryos. By seeing the models, it 

helps make concepts come together 

and make much more sense. We got 

to see and examine a few examples 

from the collection and learn about 

the painstaking process through 

which they were developed,” said 

By Sharon Holland

National Museum of Health and Medicine Becomes Unique 

Classroom for GSN Students

Liz Lockett, collections manager, Human Developmental Anatomy Center, 

National Museum of Health and Medicine, offered a brief lecture on the 

Carnegie Collection and normal human development, to a group of students 

from the "Advanced Diagnosis and Management in Obstetrics/Embryology" class from the the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 

(USU) Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) May 25, 2016. (National Museum 

of Health and Medicine photo by Matthew Breitbart/Released)

continued on pg 9
7 the pulse June 13, 2016

Wounds of War, continued from pg. 2

Other members of the research 

team include co-lead authors Sharon Shively, M.D., research assistant 

professor in USU’s Department of 

Pathology and USU contract employee of the Henry M. Jackson 

Foundation for the Advancement of 

Military Medicine; Iren HorkayneSzakaly, M.D., neuropathologist and 

neuromuscular pathologist, Joint 

Pathology Center, Defense Health 

Agency; Robert V. Jones, M.D., senior neuropathologist, Joint Pathology Center, Defense Health Agency; 

James P. Kelly, M.D., professor of 

Neurosurgery and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Colorado 

School of Medicine; and Regina 

C. Armstrong, M.D., professor of 

Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, and director of USU’s Center 

for Neuroscience and Regenerative 

Medicine at USU. 

Funding for the study was provided by the Defense Health Program.

Director of the Health Services 

Administration Division, Dr. Tracy 

Koehlmoos of the F. Edward Hebert 

School of Medicine (SOM) at Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU), was awarded the Department of the Navy 

Civilian Meritorious Service Medal 

by the U.S. Marine Corps.

The award was based on her 

achievements as the special assistant to the assistant commandant 

of the Marine Corps in 2013 when 

she moved back to the U.S. from 

Jakarta, Indonesia, after the death 

of her husband, Army Col. Rand 

Koehlmoos.

In her role, she traveled to 

Afghanistan where she reviewed 

combat operations health systems. 

Koehlmoos followed the wounded warrior from the battlefield in 

Afghanistan to Landstuhl Regional 

Medical Center in Germany, the 

Walter Reed National Military 

Medical Center in Bethesda and 

finally to rehabilitation centers like 

the National Intrepid Center of 

Excellence.

“I conducted analysis of key 

issues from deployed healthcare 

providers and their Marine Leaders,” Koehlmoos said. “For example, 

there was a considerable urgency 

about the imminent demise of an 

electronic medical records system. 

Because of my efforts in awareness 

building, the Marine Corps reversed its decision and the program 

was secured.”

Koehlmoos’ career is tied to 

several accomplishments in the 

DOD as it continues to evolve to 

meet new priorities like regenerative medicine, complex allograph 

transplant, traumatic brain injury, 

tactical athlete development and 

more. 

“I am just happy that General 

Paxton and the Marine Corps felt 

highly enough about me to put in 

the time and effort to honor me for 

my service to them,” Koehlmoos 

said. “It was such a growth experience and it definitely prepared me 

to lead the work I am now doing at 

USU.”

Koehlmoos Awarded Navy Medal

By Christopher Austin

Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, 

presents Dr. Tracey Koehlmoos with the certificate for the Navy Civilian 

Meritorious Service Medal. (Photo by Tom Balfour)
8 the pulse June 13, 2016

U.S. Public Health Service Capt. 

Susan Orsega was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral, becoming 

the first graduate of the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) Daniel K. Inouye 

Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) 

to do so. Orsega is a 2001 graduate 

of the GSN’s nurse practitioner program.

The announcement came from 

U.S. Surgeon General Vice Adm. 

Vivek Murthy, who also appointed 

Orsega as the new Nurse Chief Professional Officer for the U.S. Public 

Health Service. As such, she will 

provide guidance and advice to the 

Surgeon General and administrative committees on matters such as 

recruitment, retention, and career 

development for officers within the 

nurse category. 

Orsega is assigned as a senior 

program management consultant 

officer to the Department of Health 

and Human Services. She works at 

the National Institute of Allergy and 

Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the 

National Institutes of Health. In this 

role, she serves as the lead program 

officer responsible for an international South African HIV research 

program, a partnership between 

NIAID, the Department of Defense 

and the South African National 

Defense Force involving 6,000 patients and 120 South African staff. 

She also plays a similar role with the 

Mali Africa NIAID TB-HIV project. She has traveled extensively to 

both African sites providing leadership, mentorship, training and site 

research operation guidance to the 

clinical staff. 

“We are proud of Susan’s many 

NIAID achievements and her work 

in global health research,” said GSN 

Dean Dr. Carol Romano. “She remains active with the GSN and we 

look forward to our continued partnership.”

First Graduate School of Nursing Alum Chosen for Flag Rank

By Sharon Holland

Polly A. Saddler returned to the 

Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences (USU) campus May 31 as the University’s new 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

(EEO) Manager.

Saddler is a Navy veteran formerly assigned as a health services management specialist at Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center from 1995-

2001. She spent the next six years 

in the Department of Psychiatry at 

USU serving as a health services 

management specialist, where she 

managed the department’s thirdand fourth-year programs, and as 

the military EEO representative.

Following her military career, 

Saddler served as a military human 

resources manager and EEO specialist at the Joint Task Force National Capital Region for five years, 

and as an EEO specialist at the Defense Health Agency for the past 

three years.

Saddler will oversee the EEO 

program, advise University leadership about specific concerns and 

ensure that we are in compliance 

with federal EEO laws. In addition, 

she will assist all civilian employees 

in discriminatory matters that have 

to deal with a workplace issue and 

oversee EEO training for employees. 

USU Welcomes New EEO Manager

By Sharon Holland

Polly A. Saddler is the new USU 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Manager. (Photo by Tom Balfour)

U.S. Public Health Service Rear Adm. 

Susan Orsega. (Courtesy Photo)
9 the pulse June 13, 2016

"Educating nursing and medical students and other trainees has 

been part of the museum's mission 

since 1862, so we're glad to be able 

to continue that mission today with 

USU students," said Andrea Schierkolk, NMHM public programs 

manager. "Connecting our research 

collections to current educational 

activities helps position the museum to support future research in 

many areas of concern to military 

medicine."

"One of the best things about being at USU is the opportunity to interact with a variety of military clinicians. Lt. Col. Korkosz, like many of 

our military faculty, helps keeps our 

curriculum fresh because she brings 

recent, relevant 

clinical experiences with her, 

but these faculty also energize 

the community 

with new ideas 

and help create 

novel learning 

experiences for 

USU students,” 

said Dr. Diane 

Seibert, interim associate 

dean for academic affairs in the GSN. “Innovative instructional approaches like 

taking the students on field trips, 

often make lasting impressions because these experiences spark curiosity and directly connect the real 

world to the learning experience, 

enhancing student learning.” 

Thomas Darling, M.D., Ph.D., 

chair of USU’s F. Edward Hébert 

School of Medicine dermatology 

department, was recently selected to 

chair the Dermatology Foundation’s 

2016 Medical and Scientific Committee.

Darling has served as a member 

of the Medical and Scientific Committee for more than three years. 

The committee consists of clinicians 

and scientists from a number of U.S. 

universities throughout the country. They evaluate and rank research 

award applications for Dermatology 

Foundation funding each year using 

the NIH grant review procedure to 

identify promising and innovative 

investigators to advance dermatology research and improve patient 

care.

"I really enjoy working on this 

committee and the grant applications we review because it's about 

the future of dermatology. We take 

the review of award applications 

very seriously. It's so important for 

developing research careers and advancing knowledge about the skin 

and skin diseases. It's exciting to see 

the high quality of the science being 

proposed, and how well qualified 

these budding investigators are.”

Darling was selected for his outstanding knowledge, research experience and his ability to identify 

applicants with clear potential to 

advance the dermatology specialty.

"This committee is such an outstanding group. The variety of backgrounds, experience, and science 

that we represent leads to discussion 

that really enables us to dissect and 

examine the great things about each 

application,” Darling said. “As chair, 

I hope to maintain the high standards and great examples that have 

been set in previous years."

Darling Named Chair of Dermatology Foundation 

Committee

By Sharon Holland

Museum, continued from pg. 6

Students from USU's GSN Family Nurse Practitioner and 

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner programs used the collections at the National Museum of Health and Medicine 

as an embryology lesson recently. (Courtesy photo)

Dr. Thomas Darling, chair of USU's 

F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine 

dermatology department. (Photo by 

Tom Balfour)
10 the pulse June 13, 2016

Final Frame

Navy Ensign Kayla Torrez-Chang, a first-year Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences medical student, plays her harp for fellow students, faculty 

and staff members during the quarterly Apollo Society Open Mic at USU, June 

8. Torrez Chang has been playing the harp for 21 years and this particular harp 

since she was eight years old. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Morris)