Volume 6, Issue 18 n November 28, 2011

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
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

Anne Allnutt

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 The Official USU Newsletter

On the cover

Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric 

Schoomaker (left) and USU President (Dr.) 

Charles L. Rice (right) pose with British 

Army Col. Michael O’Dwyer, the great-great 

grandson of Maj. (Dr.) Walter Reed. Col. 

O’Dwyer was in town for the dedication of 

the Walter Reed National Military 

Medical Center. (See story page 3)

Photo by Sharon Willis

Retired Army Col. 

Norman M. Rich, MD, 

the USU Department 

of Surgery’s namesake 

and current deputy 

chair, was recently 

awarded the prestigious 

Master’s Medal from 

the Worshipful Society 

of Apothecaries of 

London. 

“The Master (of the 

Society) has a one-year 

appointment as the 

leader of the organization,” said Dr. Rich. 

“The Master presents 

the medal, which 

dates back to 1180, to 

someone that they feel 

went above and beyond 

their duties.” 

To many in the 

Society of Apothecaries, Dr. Rich’s recognition is no surprise. 

“Professor Norman Rich is well 

known to many of us as a great 

supporter of the Society, with particular reference to our diploma in Medical 

Care of Catastrophes,” said Mr. Andrew 

Wallington Smith, the Registrar of the 

Apothecaries of London in the citation 

of Dr. Rich’s award. “He has been an 

examiner since the diploma’s inception 

in 1992 and is a deputy convener. In that 

context he has enabled us to offer the 

examination to candidates in the United 

States of America and has worked 

tirelessly to ensure that the diploma is 

known to the U.S. Armed Services – and 

has helped materially in the practical 

aspects of the examination process.”

Dr. Rich has a well documented 

professional history with the Society. In 

2001, Dr. Rich was the first non-British 

citizen to join the Society after the 

city of London changed its rules for 

membership. In fact, his work and 

study of the history of Gen. Henry 

Shrapnel has been an ongoing project 

for more than 45 years. This investigation with the Society has led Dr. Rich to 

many places, including the Forrester’s 

Arm at Littlehampton, England and to 

the National Archives, Ottawa, Canada. 

But, this award is not an accomplishment of Dr. Rich alone. “From the 

standpoint of the University, this is part 

of an ongoing effort,” Dr. Rich said. 

Specifically, Dr. Rich cited the emphasis of civilians in the military and the 

broad mix of medical specialties USU 

provides and the part the University 

plays in teaching its British colleagues. 

The citation for the Master’s Medal 

was presented by Professor Sir Colin 

Berry prior to the award ceremony.

Adding a touch of humor, Dr. Rich 

noted that as a final benefit of this 

award, as a citizen and apothecary of 

London, he now has the right to drive 

sheep across London Bridge. Who else 

at USU can do that?

Surgery Department Namesake 

Awarded Prestigious Master’s Medal

By Staff Sgt Matthew Rosine

Retired Army Col. (Dr.) Norman Rich accepts the Master’s 

Medal of the Society of Apothecaries from Professor Sir 

Colin Berry.

Courtesy photo
November 28, 2011 3

Army Capt. Steven G. Brewer is a 

clinical psychology student at USU. 

Like most USU students, behind him 

there is a spouse and a family that 

is making a difference, while also 

supporting the student.

Michelle McIntyre-Brewer is 

no different. A military spouse 

and mother, she also is founder 

of Soldier’s List, which since 2003 

has supported high-risk service 

members and their families. 

Soldier’s List has sent tens of 

thousands of care packages around 

the world, providing critical medical 

relief and education to military 

families about their rights and 

responsibilities within Tricare and 

other offered services. 

Recently, McIntyre-Brewer and 

her family were invited to a Presidential ceremony at the White 

House, where she was awarded the 

Citizens Medal for going above and 

beyond on behalf of troops and 

their families.

“This was quite a surprise and a 

wonderful recognition for what we do 

with Soldier’s List,” said McIntyre-Brewer 

from her home, where she cares for 

two children, Lorelei and Cavan, whom 

White House Honors USU Spouse

By Ken Frager

they adopted from China. “We are 

providing much needed advocacy 

for military families who may need 

support but they don’t know where to 

go for help.”

McIntyre-Brewer said that her 

father was a career Air Force officer 

who always encouraged giving 

back. “Steven and I really wanted to 

continue that belief with our family, 

and we also wanted to do something 

to honor Rory, our child who died 

as an infant, and Lorelei, who was 

born with special needs that require 

constant care,” she said. “And our 

10 year old son also requires special 

services, so we have had to work 

through many challenges to get 

what we need, and we can share 

some things that we have learned 

with others.”

The Citizens Medal is the nation’s 

second-highest civilian honor. It 

was established in 1969 to recognize American citizens who have 

performed exemplary deeds of 

service for their country or their 

fellow citizens.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta cut the ribbon Nov. 10, officially dedicating the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center 

in Bethesda, Maryland. Among those on hand for the dedication ceremony was Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen and 

British Army Col. Michael O’Dwyer, the great-great grandson of Maj. (Dr.) Walter Reed.

Dedication of the New 

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

The Brewer family (l-r), Cavan, Michele, Lorelei 

and Steven outside the White House prior to 

their meeting with President Obama.

Courtesy photo

Photo by Sharon Willis
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Things go wrong in 

operating rooms every 

day. Doctors’ blades slip, 

poor communication 

leads to complications, 

patients receive too much 

anesthesia – the list is 

endless.

These results can 

also be deadly, except 

on Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) 

Shad Deering’s tables at 

USU’s National Capital 

Area Medical Simulation Center (SimCenter) 

in Silver Spring. In his 

operating rooms, everyone gets second and third 

chances.

A flat line or too much 

bleeding here simply 

means USU’s up-andcoming medical students 

need more practice. With 

the push of a button and 

a little reprogramming, 

patients at the SimCenter 

– computerized mannequins and specialized task 

trainers – are ready for 

round two.

“Our simulators respond to treatment the way real patients do, except 

there are no serious consequences if 

things go awry,” said Deering, who 

came onboard recently as the center’s 

new director of the human patient 

simulator division. “That’s why the 

SimCenter is a good place to make 

mistakes and learn from them, so we 

can perform better in hospitals – where 

it matters most.”

It’s also a place to learn important 

fundamentals like surgical technique 

and teamwork in multidisciplinary 

settings. Honing these skills, under 

the watchful eyes of seasoned 

instructors like Deering, a USU 

alumnus himself, has proven longterm benefits.

“Simulation education is a very 

dynamic, hands-on way of learning 

important concepts. It can also lead to 

better, safer patient care, according to 

recent data,” he said. “Training students 

with this technology, therefore, is not 

only an effective learning modality, but 

it’s also the right thing to do.”

Deering’s advocacy is also his life’s 

work. The experienced obstetrician is a simulation pioneer, responsible for the creation of systems like 

the Mobile Obstetric Emergencies 

Simulator, or MOES.

The MOES, patented and licensed 

by the U.S. Army, is a full-size birthing 

mannequin complete with a standardized curriculum. The comprehensive 

package is currently being used in 

every hospital with a labor and delivery 

ward across the Military Health System 

which includes hospitals in 14 countries 

and 41 states.

Like the technology available at 

the USU SimCenter, MOES provides 

SimCenter Offers Dynamic Training

by Christine Creenan-Jones

emergency training for medical professionals without real-life collateral damage.

“Textbooks alone don’t give individuals and teams the confidence they need 

to perform well under stress,” Deering 

said. “Lots of experience does, and that’s 

what simulation training provides.”

With access to one of the nation’s 

most advanced simulation centers, that’s 

exactly what USU students get. The 

campus community spends more than 

300,000 hours inside the SimCenter 

every year, with each student completing at least 40 simulated experiences 

before graduation.

“Education here at USU is truly 

cutting-edge because of places like the 

SimCenter. I know this from my own 

personal experience as a former medical 

student, current faculty member and 

simulation expert,” Deering said. “At 

USU, there is no such thing as an 

inexperienced graduate.”

Courtesy photo
November 28, 2011 5

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.

Stay active and reduce stress

Stressed out? Try getting more 

exercise, and you may find your 

high blood pressure dropping along 

with your stress level.

Many who suffer from a lot of 

stress also have high blood pressure 

and do not exercise. People who 

practice some form of activity or 

exercise benefit from less stress associated with personal, family and 

work situations. Reducing stress 

will improve your health. Exercise 

helps improve your stress tolerance 

and also can strengthen your cardiovascular system, increase endorphin 

levels and keep you mentally focused. 

Bike rides, power walking and yoga are 

some of the many inexpensive, timeefficient ways to improve your general 

fitness and reduce stress.

A simple tip to reduce your risk of 

colon cancer:

Eat more whole grains and 

cereals to reduce colon 

cancer risk.

A recent review of 25 studies revealed that a diet high in fiber—particularly fiber from whole grains and cereals—could reduce the risk of colorectal 

cancer. Consuming three servings of 

fiber per day (about 90 grams) is beneficial for reducing cancer risk. 

Yoga lowers blood pressure

Yoga isn’t just for flexibility. It can 

make you calm and relaxed, helping to 

lower your blood pressure.

Practiced for many centuries around 

the world, yoga has several benefits to 

the human body, one of which is that it 

helps reduce your blood pressure. Performing yoga asanas (poses) requires focus on your body’s movements rather 

than on your otherwise busy life. By 

switching your thoughts to a present 

(or “mindful”) state, you are better able 

to achieve calmness and relaxation, 

which has been shown to help lower 

your heart rate and blood pressure. 

Exercise safely in the cold

If you exercise in the cold, consider 

these tips from the American Council 

of Exercise (ACE; Exercising in the 

Cold) to stay safe. Check how cold 

it is before you go out, and do not 

exercise if the conditions are too extreme. Be sure to dress warmly (keep 

your head, hands, and feet warm) and 

dress in layers that can trap insulating 

dry air near your skin. In addition, 

avoid blowing air into your gloves 

and mittens because it will add moisture, which will cause your hands to 

be colder. 

If you enjoy reading the HPRC 

Health Tips you can find more by 

“liking” the Human Performance 

Resource Center on Facebook.

Celebrating Nurse Practitioners

USU recognized the more 

than 225 nurse practitioner 

alumni and the nurse practitioner field as a whole with the 

traditional cake and celebration 

during National Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 13-19. Nurse 

practitioners are advanced 

practice registered nurses who 

are able to assess, diagnose, treat 

and prescribe medications to 

their patients.

The first nurse practitioner 

program was started in 1965, 

with the first Master’s degree 

program beginning in 1967. 

USU initiated its Family Nurse 

Practitioner program in 1993 

and granted the first Psychiatric 

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degrees in 2010.

Photo by Ken Frager
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Some people might say that the scalpel saves more lives than the brush. 

But, for one medical illustrator and 

animator at the SimCenter, that may 

not be true. 

Betsy Weissbrod is in a class of artist 

that provides a unique look into the 

medical world. 

“The main project we are working on 

is creating 3-D surgical animations in 

addition to traditional 2-D illustrations 

that will supplement a teaching curriculum focused on deploying surgeons,” 

said the 2010 graduate of the Johns 

Hopkins University’s Art as Applied to 

Medicine program. “These break down 

the steps of common surgeries that a 

surgeon could be faced with once down 

range. We also try to provide tips and 

tricks along with common pitfalls that 

will aid in the increased success of the 

procedures covered.”

Currently, Betsy is working on the 

steps of a craniectomy, the pathologies of sub- and epidural hematomas, 

and how to place two types of ICP 

microsensors. 

There are also plans to cover many 

other procedures, including amputations and fasciotomies. These illustrations for classes will be 

provided in a pre-deployment 

setting for medical professionals. 

They also will eventually be made 

available both online and through 

mobile applications. 

And new advances in technology are 

definitely an asset for Betsy. 

“New technology definitely provides 

artists with a vast array of new tools we 

can utilize to create our works. I absolutely love working with 3-D software,” 

she said. “I also utilize new medical 

and scientific imaging techniques and 

software to view reference material in 

different programs.” 

But the technology she uses never 

takes away from the art she creates. 

“Please note that technology 

provides new tools, but new tools do 

not necessarily equate with effective 

illustrations,” she said. “It is the artist 

who must use those tools effectively 

to clearly convey the 

teaching point 

of the 

illustrations 

they are 

creating. 

Often times the 

simplest solution 

is the best solution. 

I still very much enjoy 

creating illustrations using 

pencil and paper or pen 

and ink.” 

And her work is already 

having a positive impact. 

In just over a year’s time, 

Weissbrod has created six 

animations in 2-D and 

3-D, 11 storyboards, more 

than 130 3-D models, and 

more than 115 2-D “traditional” illustrations for 

books and journals. 

In fact, many of these 

illustrations and animations 

are currently being utilized 

in several different academic 

courses from the new USU 

Introduction to Clinical 

Medicine (ICM) course to 

the American College of 

Surgeons - Advanced Surgical Skills for 

Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) course.

And while her skilled hands have made 

her a success, for Betsy the best part of 

her work is to know she is making a difference both today and in the future.

“I enjoy being a part of something 

that is bigger than me. Here, I have the 

privilege to work with amazing people 

who are brilliant leaders in their professions,” she said. “I sincerely hope the 

teaching products I create for the SimCenter will help medical students and 

professionals learn, retain and apply the 

concepts and skills we teach to save and 

improve the lives of others.” 

Illustrating the SimCenter Future

By Staff Sgt Matthew Rosine

A sampling of works created by Betsy Weissbrod, a medical illustrator at USU’s National Capital 

Area Medical Simulation Center.
November 28, 2011 7

The OCIO is currently working on 

the following items and wanted to bring 

you up to date on our progress.

1. NEW USU ONLY .MIL CIRCUIT 

ESTABLISHED - The University has been moved off of Navy’s 

(WRNMMC) .mil circuit. This has 

been planned for some time in order 

to meet both the requirements for 

our ATO (Authorization to Operate) as well as Navy’s. This allows 

us to have a dedicated circuit that 

does not rely on others to maintain 

or dictate usage. There were some 

initial routing problems with the 

DNS in terms of filtering Army and 

Navy locations on 3-4 Nov; much of 

that is resolved. We will continue 

to address any isolated individual 

issues as they are discovered.

2. DOD 411 DIRECTORY AVAILABLE - A reminder that the DoD 

411 directories are available on-line 

and instructions to set them up for 

use with GroupWise and/or Outlook can be found at: 

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

documentation/LDAPDoD411AddressGW.docx (GroupWise)

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

documentation/LDAPDoD411OutlookInstructions.pdf 

(Outlook)

These directories are available 

for you to use to locate other 

members of the DoD community 

via email.

3. CELLULAR EXPANSION COMING TO USU - Contracts have 

been awarded to deploy a five band 

cellular expansion throughout the 

university. Once the project is 

complete it will allow you to make 

cell calls from nearly anywhere in 

the University to include the parking garage. Network Operations & 

Communications (NOC) is currently working with the vendor on a 

deployment schedule. We expect to 

be completed within six months.

4. USU MIGRATING FROM 

GROUPWISE TO GOOGLE - A 

recent agreement between USU 

and Google Inc. will make Google 

e-mail and other applications available at USU by February 2012. The 

arrangement gives the USU community access to an online suite of 

communication and collaboration 

tools, called Google Apps for Government. These tools include Gmail 

(e-mail with 25 GB of storage per 

account), integrated chat, calendaring, contacts and applications for 

document, forms, presentation and 

spreadsheet production.

Google Web-based Google Docs, 

which allows documents to be uploaded or created online. The word 

processing and spreadsheet program 

makes it possible for users to collaborate online in real time, keeping a 

record of individual edits and document versions. Google Apps does not 

require users to install separate software. NOTE: This suite of applications 

will NOT replace Microsoft Office, but 

will instead augment it, providing a 

tool for rapid document collaboration 

without the tedious “check-in/checkout” process.

The USU-branded Gmail accounts 

also offer users considerable advantages. USU Gmail accounts will not 

be subject to the university’s previous 

60-day e-mail retention policy, saving 

faculty and students the inconvenience 

of moving e-mail that they wish to save 

beyond 60-days to a personal e-mail 

account or to their hard drive. The 

additional storage space also means 

that users will spend less time deleting 

e-mail to stay within quota.

Google Apps has been adopted by 

many universities across the country. 

Anticipate additional information and 

training in the Dec/Jan time frame as 

the OCIO project team works with 

Google on deployment timelines.

Technology Update

By Dennis Stutz

Briefs

Nominations being accepted for 

annual USU research awards

The Leonard and Wu Awards for 

Excellence in Research recognize faculty 

members and AFRRI scientists who, in 

the estimation of their peers, have made 

the most significant published scientific 

contribution to translational/clinical 

and basic biomedical research respectively, during the past three years. 

The Wu award recognizes excellence 

in the Basics Sciences and the Leonard 

award excellence in the translational 

and Clinical Sciences.

Any Uniformed Services University 

faculty member, staff, or student may 

submit nominations for the Awards. 

The nominee must be either a member 

of the full-time faculty or an AFRRI 

scientist at the University. The nomination should include:

• Brief statement outlining the significance of the published research. 

This research should have been 

published (a) within the last three 

years, (b) while the nominee has 

been at the University and (c) the 

nominee should be first or senior 

author on the paper. The nomination letter should be signed by the 

person submitting the nomination.

• A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae and a copy of the selected 

paper (Published after January 

2008) upon which the nomination 

is based. 

The closing date for nominations is 

Monday, January 30, 2012.

Neuroscience Open House and 

Poster Session

The Neuroscience Program will 

host its 21st annual Open House and 

Poster Session on Thursday, December 1, 2011, beginning at 3:30 in the 

USU dining room. Soft drinks and light 

refreshments will be available.