Volume 9, Issue 11 n June 23, 2014

www.usuhs.edu

The Official USU Newsletter

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

The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman 

of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Sgt. 

Maj. Bryan Battaglia spoke at the Uniformed 

Services University, June 13. Read more 

about his visit on page 5.

Photo by MC2 Brittney Cannady

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 June 23, 2014

USU awarded grant from Jonas Center for 

Nursing and Veteran Healthcare

by Sharon Holland, managing editor

 As part of the national effort to 

address the shortage of nursing 

faculty and the number of advanced 

practice nurses providing direct 

patient care, the Jonas Center for 

Nursing and Veterans Healthcare 

has awarded a $70,000 grant to the 

Uniformed Services University to 

advance the scholarly work of five 

individual research doctoral students and two scholar teams of 10 

Doctor of Nursing Practice students 

at the university’s Daniel K. Inouye 

Graduate School of Nursing

 The seven USU scholarships are 

among the 300 bestowed to future 

nurse educators and leaders at 

110 schools this year by the Jonas 

Center. The university’s awards are 

part of the Center’s Jonas Veterans 

Healthcare Program which supports nurses pursuing PhDs and 

DNPs, the terminal degrees in the 

nursing field.

 In 2011, the Institute of Medicine 

issued its “Future of Nursing Report” that recommended doubling 

“the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020 to add to the cadre 

of nurse faculty and researchers.” 

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing also issued a report 

showing that 2013 saw the lowest 

enrollment increase in professional 

registered nurse programs in the 

past five years, attributed primarily 

to a shortage of qualified faculty.

 “The call for more nurses – and 

thus the faculty to prepare them – 

is massive. Healthcare in America 

has never been more complex, 

yet tens of thousands of would-be 

nurses are turned away from the 

profession each year,” said Donald 

Jonas, co-founder of the Jonas Center. “We’ve stepped up the pace and 

expanded our programs to meet 

this need.”

 “We are excited that this grant will 

allow our school to enhance the research and scholarly inquiry of uniformed nurse officers who will serve 

as future military health leaders, 

educators and advanced practice 

clinicians,” said Dr. Carol Romano, 

associate dean for academic affairs 

in the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate 

School of Nursing.

 Students who will benefit from 

the Jonas Center grant to USU 

include: PhD students Navy Lt. 

Commanders William Danchanko, 

John Litchfield and Lalon Kasuke; Air Force Majors Jacqueline 

Killian and Laurie Migliore; Army 

DNP students on Scholar Team 1 

based at Madigan Army Medical 

Center in Tacoma, Wash., including Majors Audry Torres, Imshin 

Kim; Captains Jeremy Mahoney, 

Elizabeth Poindexter, Jeffery Quan 

and Jeffrey Negard; and Air Force 

students on Scholar Team 2 based 

at Wilford Hall Medical Center 

in San Antonio, Texas, including 

Captains Michael Allen and Alexander Kats; Maj. Jenifer Prosser along 

with 1st Lt. Ameshia Stewart, who 

is assigned to David Grant U.S. Air 

Force Medical Center at Travis Air 

Force Base, Calif.

 “The Daniel K. Inouye Graduate 

School of Nursing is very pleased 

that this grant will support the 

scholarship of future military nurse 

educators and leaders who will 

advance nursing science and the expansion of evidence-based practice 

for military and veterans’ health 

care,” said Dr. Ada Sue Hinshaw, 

dean of the Graduate School of 

Nursing.
3 the pulse June 23, 2014

Education Day features nationally recognized scholars

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Student achievement was the central focus at the Uniformed Services 

University’s 7th Annual Education 

Day with talks and group discussions emphasizing this year’s theme, 

“Judging Success in Education in 

Health Professions,” June 12.

 Dr. Klara Papp, a nationally recognized assessment expert, was among 

the event’s keynote speakers. She 

discussed a recent initiative undertaken by Case Western Reserve 

University to transform education 

and evaluation at CWRU’s medical 

school. 

 Papp and her colleagues revamped 

the program after discovering Case 

students weren’t retaining important 

information across learning blocks. 

To fix this knowledge gap, the 

university implemented cumulative 

assessments that spiraled older content into new benchmarks. Under 

this model, students could no longer 

“cram and then forget” because 

previously taught information would 

resurface again and again.

 “Our goal was to keep students 

learning 24-7, not just right before 

an exam,” said Papp, who now works 

as the Dean for Assessment at Penn 

State College of Medicine. 

 Although CWRU’s program 

changes were successful, research 

to evaluate the efficacy of program 

standards in medical education 

is lacking, according to Dr. John 

Boulet, the Associate Vice President 

for Research and Data Resources at 

the Foundation for Advancement of 

International Medical Education and 

Research. 

 Boulet, who delivered the final 

keynote talk at USU’s Education 

Day, championed the importance of 

building a research body to identify 

best practices in medical education. 

This will raise standards and reduce 

costly and dangerous medical errors, 

he said.

 Later, Boulet expanded on the value of self-evaluation during an Education Day panel discussion moderated by Dr. Arthur Kellermann, dean 

of the F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine. The panel also featured 

Papp and USU faculty members, 

Navy Cmdr. Anthony Artino and Dr. 

Paul Hemmer.

 “Education Day is the perfect opportunity for all faculty members to 

step away from their busy lives and 

think deeply about the basic assumptions that underlie our teaching and 

assessment practices. In particular, 

our expert speakers challenged us 

to reconsider how we assess our 

trainees. These assessment practices 

impact how our students behave and 

ultimately if and how they learn to 

become leaders in the health professions,” said Artino.

Education Day at the Uniformed Services University included keynote speakers from leading universities 

and research centers.

Photo by Thomas Balfour
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter The Official USU Newsletter 4

A new leadership team emerges in the School of Medicine

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 The Dean’s Office at the F. Edward 

Hébert School of Medicine at the 

Uniformed Services University has 

promoted or welcomed eight senior 

leaders since the beginning of 2014. 

Although some were recruited from 

outside organizations, and others 

have been at USU for several years, 

all of them were selected because they 

bring vision, intelligence and experience to “America’s Medical School.”

 Dr. Brian Reamy, a retired Air Force 

colonel and long-time USU faculty 

member, was recently promoted to 

Senior Associate Dean for Academic 

Affairs. In this role, Reamy oversees 

Faculty Affairs, Student Affairs, and 

the Office of Medical Education and 

Curriculum.

 “Assuming the position of Senior 

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is both tremendously exciting 

and humbling. I am excited because 

it gives me a chance to shape the 

outstanding education programs of 

the School of Medicine to optimize 

the preparation of our students for 

their medical practice in the 21st

century Military Health System. I am 

humbled by the incredible privilege 

and responsibility that I have been 

given to serve USU in this role,” said 

Reamy.

 Army Col. (Dr.) Lisa Moores, another seasoned USU administrator, 

has been confirmed as the school’s 

Associate Dean of Students. She 

previously held the position in an acting capacity, and for six years prior, 

Moores also served as the Assistant 

Dean for Clinical Sciences. 

 “I love what I do at USU because I 

get to be an advocate for the incredible students who come to our medical 

school,” said Moores. “As a graduate, 

I’ve already experienced many of the 

challenges they’ll encounter while 

navigating our rigorous program. My 

goal is to support them academically, 

professionally and personally so they 

can become exceptional uniformed 

physicians once they graduate.”

 Other USU alumni have returned 

as senior SoM leaders as well. Army 

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Brigilda Teneza and Air 

Force Col. (Dr.) Jessica Servey have 

assumed respective positions as the 

SoM Commandant and Assistant 

Dean for Faculty Development. 

 “USU is a unique institution offering 

medical education to the 21st century 

military and has given so much to 

me in my own professional career. It 

is an honor to work with dedicated 

and exceptional faculty, staff and 

students. My goal as commandant 

is to help students understand the 

importance of professionalism, integrity and military core values and to 

instill among them a deeper sense of 

purpose that extends beyond USU,” 

said Teneza. 

 Army Col. (Dr.) Jeffrey Hutchinson, 

a West Point graduate and the former 

Chief of Adolescent Medicine at 

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, is the school’s new Chief 

Diversity Officer and Associate Dean 

for Clinical Affairs.

 As the CDO, Hutchinson is working to promote SoM programs and 

policies that encourage diversity and 

inclusivity. In his role as associate 

dean, he’ll foster stronger partnerships with the School’s national 

training sites, including WRNMMC, 

Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital, 

Malcolm Grow Medical Center, and 

other major military treatment facilities nationwide that host and teach 

SoM students. 

 Army Col. (Dr.) Mark Kortepeter, 

the Associate Dean for Research; 

Navy Capt. (Dr.) Jerri Curtis, the Designated Institutional Official for the 

National Capitol Consortium and the 

School’s Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education; and Dr. Greg 

Mueller, acting Associate Dean for 

Graduate Education, round out the 

new additions to the SoM’s leadership team. 

 “With these additions, the School of 

Medicine is positioned to build on the 

strong foundation laid by their predecessors,” said Dr. Arthur Kellermann, 

dean of the SoM. “They are following a long line of great leaders who 

gave the citizens of the United States 

one of the most innovative, productive and unique medical schools in 

the world. I’m extremely confident 

that this talented group will live up 

to USU’s leadership legacy and take 

‘America’s Medical School’ to new 

heights.” 

Dean Ada Sue Hinshaw 

Scholarship and Recognition Symposium

Friday, June 27 

Sanford Auditorium
5 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

NCDMPH hosting national workshop

Article courtesy of NCDMPH

 The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public 

Health at the Uniformed Services University is hosting the 2014 Learning in Disaster Health Workshop, or 

LDH ’14, at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club in Fort Myer, 

Va., Sept. 9-10. No-cost registration is currently open at 

ncdmph.usuhs.edu.

 “We are excited to hold our second workshop that 

seeks to address the needs of disaster education and 

training in the health sector,” said NCDMPH acting 

Director Dr. Kenneth Schor.

 The workshop aims to foster an academic forum by focusing on the following objectives: exploring concepts of 

adult learning in the context of disaster health; highlighting the implications of the latest research and practice 

for disaster health learning and performance while identifying key areas for future research; presenting a unique 

opportunity for collaboration among disaster health, human resource development and adult education professionals; and identify potential solutions for maximizing 

learning in a resource constrained environment.

 A diverse group of presenters from universities, organizations, and all levels of government will discuss topics 

such as disaster behavioral health and inter-professional 

disaster education practices. The conference will also 

include sessions on cognitive science and adult learning 

and resilience building at the neighborhood level. 

 Furthermore, the event will have ample networking 

opportunities, which includes the “Showcase of Practice: 

A Roundtable Networking Session.” During this roundtable, attendees can learn about ongoing research and 

practice from a variety of professionals. 

 Lastly, the workshop will also include a poster sessions 

featuring research and contributions to the field of disaster medicine and public health. 

 For more information about agenda content, registration and the poster session, please contact NCDMPH 

Project Associate Kelly Gulley at kelly.gulley.ctr@usuhs.

edu.

USU welcomes Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

by MC2 Brittney Cannady, writer and photographer

 The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan 

Battaglia was the speaker for an open 

forum at the Uniformed Services 

University, June 13.

 In his role as SEAC, Battaglia acts as 

the key military advisor on all matters 

involving the joint and combined total 

force integration of enlisted personnel.

 The forum was one of several 

leadership briefs coordinated by the 

USU brigade to bolster professional 

development for civilian and military 

faculty and staff at the university. 

Those in attendance had the opportunity to hear the SEAC share the DoD’s 

goals as it forges ahead through fiscal 

constraints and the evolving technology available to young service members.

 “Part of the challenge of today’s 

military is bridging the gap between 

traditions of the past and technology,” 

Battaglia said. “As members of our 

profession, our job is to prevent and 

deter in order to do what we can to be 

proactive and use ingenuity to get the 

mission completed.”

 Battaglia also talked about fine tuning transition programs for veterans 

and their families.

 “At some point we’re all going to 

transition from the military. It’s inevitable and some don’t make it,” Battaglia said. “The first role of the NCO is 

to teach personnel to train and equip 

them for their job, the second role as 

NCO is preparing them to separate.” 

 After noticing service members 

were still struggling to shift to civilian life even after participating in 

DoD-sponsored transition courses, 

a revamped program for the more 

tech-savvy service members of today’s 

armed forces was created. The course 

features a virtual curriculum available 

to veterans and their spouses. The 

DoD is also offering pre-separation 

counseling, financial planning support and a job search skills building 

workshop.

 “We made it more compatible for 

21st century service members with 

three available paths to guide personnel into becoming business owners, 

higher education or reentering the 

workforce,” Battaglia said. “When you 

reintegrate back into society, we want 

you to be extremely successful.” 

Photo by MC2 Brittney Cannady

The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 

Staff, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan 

Battaglia is presented a token of 

appreciation from Master Chief 

Patrick Hyde, the Senior Enlisted 

Leader at the Uniformed Services 

University.
6 the pulse June 23, 2014

DHA director speaks at PMB graduation

by MC3 Laura Bailey, writer and photographer

 More than 40 students at the Uniformed Services University received 

their diplomas during the Department 

of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics graduation ceremony, June 19. 

 The keynote speaker, Air Force Lt. 

Gen. (Dr.) Douglas Robb, director of 

the Defense Health Agency at Defense 

Health Headquarters in Falls Church, 

Va., spoke candidly to the class of 

2014 about their future careers in 

public health. 

 “I want to drive home one big theme 

for you today,” said Robb. “Public 

service and public health only work 

effectively when you have the public’s 

trust. You have chosen a life’s calling 

– promoting and sustaining health. 

That is a purpose-driven, inspired 

choice regardless of where you work. 

It’s a noble calling. But, the fact is, you 

have chosen to pursue this path while 

in service to your country.”

 This choice, however, comes with 

great responsibility, according to 

Robb. 

 “Your sacrifices are greater. Your 

obligations are greater. And the 

impact that you will have on the world 

around you is greater,” said Robb. 

“Public health is the first line of defense for this country. In the military, 

it is literally the first line of defense.” 

 Historically, public health experts 

have made a huge impact in human 

health but new challenges are likely to 

arise, according to Robb.

 “Over the last 13 years, the public health and preventive medicine 

experts in service to our forces, and 

those of our allies devised strategies 

that led to the lowest disease, nonbattle injury rate in the history of warfare,” said Robb. “The story of public 

health’s achievements in wartime over 

the last 13 years is an achievement for 

the medical history books. And it’s an 

achievement that has been preceded 

by years, decades of scientific discovery. Learning what threats exist in every corner of the globe; learning what 

medical conditions cannot be wellmanaged in austere environments; 

and then applying what we know to 

prevent it from happening. That work 

continues and our understanding of 

the threats to those we may have to 

send in harm’s way never end and our 

expertise and training will be called 

upon time and time again.”

 As each member of the class of 2014 

embarks on their new journey as a 

public health care professional, they 

must be prepared for anything, anytime, anywhere, Robb added. 

 “One day, one of you may be enjoying your tour in Japan, serving with 

our forces in the Pacific and the next 

day, you will be asked to begin measuring radiation exposure to all of the 

naval forces afloat in the Sea of Japan 

because of a nuclear plant meltdown 

caused by a tsunami,” said Robb. 

“Your expertise may be called upon 

to brief an installation commander, a 

U.S. ambassador or a foreign leader. 

Or, you might be stationed here in the 

United States, and suddenly a service 

member just returning from Kuwait 

presents with symptoms that look like 

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome 

– or MERS – just the third diagnosed 

case in the United States. And you are 

contacting not just your hospital commander, but also Army Public Health 

Command, the Centers for Disease 

Control, and state and local authorities that need to know. Hypothetical? 

No. These are real life situations that 

have happened.”

 Robb closed his keynote address 

by talking about how the future of 

public health is in the hands of today’s 

graduates.

 “Today, there are public health 

threats that could destabilize nations 

and societies – environmental threats; 

infectious disease threats; and other 

health threats that emerge from unstable societies,” said Robb. “Whether 

we are talking about the public health 

consequences from climate change, 

HIV rates in developing countries, 

or a hundred other potential health 

scenarios, the security threats from 

health catastrophes can lead to 

spillover effects on societies that are 

harder to contain and just as disruptive as armed conflicts themselves. In 

your newly anointed role as a public 

health professional, you are given a 

voice and a perspective on how to address these global health challenges. 

And your voice needs to be heard.”

 “You will walk away today with 

a master’s degree in public health, 

health policy, tropical medicine or for 

a few of you, a PhD in environmental 

health. That degree is an important 

credential,” said Robb. “You worked 

hard for it. You earned it. But that degree – when it sits on a frame on the 

wall in your office – is also something 

bigger. It says, ‘trust me.’ It says, “I 

am a scientist. I understand what can 

protect health and prevent disease. I 

understand data. I understand what 

happens when people fail to understand science.’”

 This trust is to be upheld by each 

graduate, even in difficult times, said 

Robb.

 “Things will go wrong in our world. 

Mistakes will be made. This is a 

human enterprise in which we are engaged. Things will have been dumped 

in the ground decades ago that we just 

discover. Air, water, food – could all 

be compromised in ways that were 

unanticipated. We know that. But 

your job will be to tell the truth. To 

clearly articulate what is known and 

what is unknown. What the consequences of action and inaction will be. 

There will be moments that test your 

resolve. There will be leaders, senior 

to you, who will not like what you 

have to say. But our long-term success 

as a military health system; our longterm viability as an indispensable element of the fighting force is our ability 

to tell hard truths; to acknowledge if 

things are going the wrong way, and 

to turn them around,” he said.
7 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

The Sevens: Developing military health care leaders

by MC3 Laura Bailey, writer and photographer

 The Uniformed Services University is like a factory with industrial 

strength machines in the form of 

the F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine, Daniel K. Inouye Graduate 

School of Nursing and the Postgraduate Dental College. It is through these 

platforms that USU produces hundreds of military health care leaders 

every year. 

 Academics and military training are 

what shape these students into the 

next generation of America’s health 

care leaders, but it takes manpower 

to support this transformation and to 

operate and maintain USU’s rigorous, year-round schedule. The staff 

and faculty make up the moving parts 

of USU. Among these moving parts 

are perhaps USU’s best kept secret, 

the senior enlisted advisers or “the 

Sevens.” 

 “We are the senior enlisted advisors who provide military guidance 

to USU students,” said Army Sgt. 

1st Class Joseph A. Mickles, a senior 

enlisted advisor at USU. “I just call us 

the Sevens because we’re all E-7s.” 

 Each branch of service has its own 

senior enlisted advisor to assist their 

company commanders in all matters 

relating to the professional development of USU students, especially 

military guidance. 

 “They are a lot of help,” said Air 

Force 2nd Lt. Jeremy Brenneman, 

a student at the F. Edward Hébert 

School of Medicine, class of 2017. 

“With everything we have going on 

academically it is difficult to stay in 

touch with the military aspect that is 

critical to our training here.”

 The Sevens, all experienced service 

members, share their military acumen to bridge the knowledge gap that 

exists within some members of USU’s 

student body. 

 “A majority of students coming to 

USU will have zero military background experience,” said Air Force 

Master Sgt. Leanne Donathan, a senior enlisted advisor at USU. “Many 

of them are coming here from civilian 

universities and are immediately put 

into a uniform without a full understanding of military requirements. 

That’s where the Sevens come into 

play.” 

 Conducting formations and inspections, providing guidance to students 

on military policies, instructions and 

regulations, and providing a positive example of the credibility and 

capabilities of the non-commissioned 

officer corps are just some of the 

ways that the sevens help to produce 

America’s next generation of military 

medical leaders. 

 “Our job is to make sure that students are within dress and appearance standards, they know customs 

and courtesies and professionalism,” 

said Donathan. “Basically, while students have their academics that they 

have to concentrate on – we also are 

here to make sure that they are conforming and abiding by the standards 

of each military service.” 

 While academics are USU’s main 

focus, the sevens are dedicated to the 

transformation of students into military leaders. Students who have never 

been in the military before undergo a 

basic overhaul once they begin their 

education at USU. A crash course 

in officer training introduces new 

students to their new roles as military 

officers. Simple things like how to 

dress and even how to write an e-mail 

must be aligned with how the military 

operates, according to Mickles. 

 “We have to instill that military 

mindset into them,” he said. “For 

instance, I get a lot of them that start 

out their e-mails to me with ‘Dear Sgt. 

Mickles,’ and I tell them this isn’t a 

love letter. Just Sgt. 1st Class Mickles 

is fine.” 

 Instilling a military mindset into 

the students isn’t about tearing them 

down. To the Sevens – it’s about 

helping the students put their best 

foot forward. 

 “We want USU students to succeed 

both as medical and military officers 

when they leave here,” said Donathan. “We want them to be confident 

and knowledgeable about their role in 

the military because when they graduate they will be representing USU 

and the Department of Defense.” 

 While military training is of great 

importance, the Sevens also provide 

medical instruction based on their 

years of practical, where-the-rubbermeets-the-road experiences in the 

field. The Sevens take an active role 

in preparing students to participate in 

Operation Bushmaster, FTX 101 and 

the Antietam Road March.

 “We’re actually out there with the 

students during these exercises,” 

said Mickles, who served as a combat 

medic during three deployments to 

Iraq. “I can tell them ‘hey I’m going 

to teach you how to do this IV (intravenous), but here’s my experience 

because I’ve done plenty of them 

and I’ve done them under duress 

and combat.’ It gives students an 

understanding that the NCOs aren’t 

just there to get stuff out of a drawer 

or hand them sutures. NCOs know a 

lot of what they – as medical doctors 

and nurses – now know. Knowing 

what skills your people have is just 

part of being a good leader. Medical instruction is a way to familiarize 

new-to-the-military students with the 

different jobs of the enlisted that will 

be working for them in the future.” 

 “The senior enlisted advisors serve 

a vital component of USU’s mission,” 

said Dr. Charles L. Rice, president 

of USU. “They are actively engaging 

on a day-to-day basis with students 

and developing the next generation 

of military medical leaders. Their 

expertise, not only in the military – 

but also in the medical field – is an 

invaluable asset to our students who 

are now or will be shaping the future 

of America’s healthcare and medical 

research platforms.”
Final Frame

Photo by MC2 Brittney Cannady

Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Jeffrey Clark, director of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (left), 

Army Pfc. Dennis Aguilar, a veterinarian technician at USU (center), and Army Lt. Col. James Koterski, 

director of USU’s Biomedical Instrumentation Center (right), participate in a traditional cake-cutting 

ceremony in celebration of the Army’s 239th birthday, June 13.