VOLUME 3, ISSUE 14 WWW.USUHS.MIL AUG. 25, 2008 

USU Newsletter 

Scrubbing Up for S2M2..........4 
 I want to extend my welcome to the USU School 

of Medicine Class of 2012 and entering graduate 

students. 

 Welcome to 

USU, to the National Capital Area 

and to the study of 

medicine and biomedical sciences. I 

know you have 

worked hard and 

long to get here 

and you and your 

families are justifiably proud of this 

accomplishment. 

We at the university 

are also proud of 

you. 

 For the School of 

Medicine (SOM), 

almost 2,000 applicants competed for 

less than 200 positions in your class. 

We often tell others how accomplished you are: 

your average MCAT is 30 and your average GPA is 

3.53. A number of you have Master’s degrees, two 

of you have earned law degrees and one of you has 

a Doctorate in Pharmacology. You hail from all 

across the country: 22% from the Northeast; 41% 

from the South; 9% from the Midwest and 28% from 

the West; 33 members of your class are from minority groups. More than half of you do not have prior 

service and those of you who have served have 

done so as active duty officers, active duty enlisted, 

prior active duty enlisted; 21 of you are service academy graduates, 22 were direct ROTC graduates and 

four of you were reservists. 

 You are joining a group of highly distinguished 

individuals. Among USU alumni are Major General 

Tom Travis (’86), the commander of the 79th Medical Wing at Lackland AFB, Texas; Rear Admiral Sandra Kweder, U.S. Public Health Service (’84), Deputy 

Director, Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug 

Evaluation and Research with the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration; Captain (select) Paul Kane, U.S. 

Navy (’92), Force Surgeon, Combined Joint Task 

Force-Horn of Africa, in Djibouti; Brigadier General 

Joe Caravalho, U.S. Army (’83), and Colonel John 

Powell, U.S. Army (’86), who are leading medical 

efforts in Iraq as the Surgeon, Multinational ForceIraq/Multinational Corps-Iraq, and Chief of Staff for 

Health Affairs, Multinational Security and Transition 

Command-Iraq, respectively. More USU alumni 

have been assigned to the White House Medical 

Unit than from any other medical school in the 

United States. 

 Additionally, this year, there are 64 graduate students entering the SOM Graduate programs in the 

three interdisciplinary programs, Medical and Clinical Psychology, and the Department of Preventive 

Medicine and Biometrics. Of these 64 graduate students, there are 34 entering Ph.D. students and 30 

Master’s students, including U.S. citizens as well as 

students from Italy, Canada, Peru and Brazil. This 

year’s class has 35 military students from various 

branches of the uniformed services. 

 You have undertaken an extraordinary mission at 

an extraordinary time. Military and public health 

medicine are at the forefront of much of 21st century 

medicine and biomedical science. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom 

(OIF) have challenged us as never before and the 

Military Health System has risen to these challenges 

by saving more lives than ever before and working 

to restore those wounded warriors to fuller lives 

than ever before. The university is deeply involved 

in addressing the challenges of combat injuries and 

at the same time deeply involved in health promotion, disease prevention, public health, and humanitarian medicine. The university is the focal point for 

cutting edge research and development of health 

care in infectious disease, confronting the issues of 

worldwide epidemics including HIV-AIDS and pandemic influenza. Our faculty also leads biomedicine 

in issues relating to PTSD and TBI as well as fundamental and applied medical science as they relate to 

human health. 

 Recently, the university has stood up a new Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine. 

This Center will extend the collaborations between 

the Department of Defense and the Department of 

Health and Human Services and is based on working closely with the National Institutes of Health. 

 You are also entering USU at a remarkable and 

historic time in military medicine. In 2011 the new 

WRNMMC -- a tri-care facility -- will open on this base. 

The new tertiary care facility will be the flagship of 

military medicine and this campus has been characterized as the model academic health center of the 

21st Century. 

 On the morning of July 23, I attended a ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol led by the 

leadership of the House and Senate, joined by DoD 

Secretary Robert Gates, many members of Congress 

and the former Secretary of Sate and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell. Particularly moving were remarks from two veterans of the famed Buffalo Division. This ceremony, 

“Marching Forward,” commemorated the 60th anniversary of the integration of the United States 

Armed Forces. Sixty years is both a moment ago 

and a very long time ago but today’s Armed Forces 

are the most representative organization in the 

United States. The university continues to strive to 

reflect this diversity and it is these men and women 

and their families for whom you will care whether 

you are serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force or U.S. 

Public Health Service: there is no higher calling. 

 Welcome to the USU and to this great mission: 

learning to care for those in harm’s way. 

PAGE 2 

Carol R. Scheman 

Vice President for 

External Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. 

André Nicholson 

Editor 

MC2 Jeff Hopkins 

Assistant Editor 

Christine Creenan 

Copy Editor 

Marla Wright 

Webmaster 

Publishing 

USU Duplicating Office

Production: 

Editorial content is 

edited, prepared and 

provided by the USU 

Office of External Affairs unless otherwise 

indicated. The Newsletter staff may include 

or exclude articles 

based upon news 

value, impact on the 

university and space 

availability. 

Submissions: 

The USU Newsletter 

will be published biweekly on Mondays 

and deadline for submission is Friday at 4 

p.m. Submissions can 

be sent to usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by 

calling 301-295-3925. 

Cover photo by: 

Jessica Dinneen

In This Issue: 

 

Dr. Rice...........................2 

Community Affairs.....3 

NCAMSC Accredited..3 

S2M2...............................4 

Combat Action............4 

CAPT Schor...................5 

2d Lt Bonneau............5 

Travel Card..................5 

Cancer Research.........6 

Radiation Findings.....6 

Psych. Trauma..............6 

JTF CapMed..................7 

Dates to Remember...7 

University President Welcomes Incoming Students 

Dr. Charles L. Rice 
PAGE 3 

A Shining Reality for Simulation 

 The Uniformed Services University’s National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center has been awarded accreditation by 

the American College of Surgeons’ Program for Accreditation of Education Institutes. The ACS cited the Sim Center’s faculty, 

programs, simulators and leadership as key elements in its award of accreditation. Above from left to right are the Sim Center’s directors, Dr. Gil Muniz, Dr. Mark Bowyer, CAPT Joseph Lopreiato, MC, USN, Dr. Alan Liu, and Ms. Amy Risdal. 

Photo courtesy of NCAMSC 

USU 

A Traditional Academic University with a Unique Focus 

 In earlier articles, I’ve written on what I’ve learned about the 

university. I’d now like to share some sources of information I’ve 

discovered in the local community. 

 The Regional Services Office provides me an electronic copy of 

the East County Intercom, a monthly newsletter full of upcoming 

events in, and information about, Montgomery County. Examples 

are: 

 - 2008 Solar Care Derby – Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 

noon. Those interested in participating should contact the Department of Environmental Protection at 240-777-7700, or email 

askdep@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

 - The Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center will begin 

daytime and evening English for Speakers of Other Languages 

classes for adults Sept. 9. For more information, call 240-777-

8400. 

 - Senior SmarTrip Card – Beginning July 1, the new Metro Senior 

SmarTrip Card became available to the general public. Seniors 

age 65 and up may now present the new card to Ride On and 

Metro operators and ride free anytime. 

 Another great source of information is The Partnerships EBulletin for Montgomery County. Filled with information about the county, this publication provides 

a section entitled “Special Opportunities”. These 

vary from after-school programs for children K-6, 

free information immigration workshops, cultural 

festivals, teen summer art shows, and information 

about the free wireless internet access now available in downtown Bethesda, to name a few. To 

subscribe visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov, 

click on “eSubscription” and select partnerships. 

 As I provide you with my means of information about the local 

community, I continue to ask for your assistance. If there are 

events, occurrences, news of interest within your department, 

please let me know. I can only be one place at a time, and can 

only speak with so many people in a day, so I need to rely on you. 

Keeping me up-to-date allows me the opportunity of providing 

the local community with information about USU – and helps to 

build on the relationship we have with those communities that 

surround us. 

 To view this edition of East County Intercom on your own, visit 

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/rsc/easto/

Newsletters/2008/August2008/August2008.pdf.

Government, Community Affairs Happenings 

Jan Clark 

By Jan Clark 

Director, Gov’t. and Comm. Affairs 
 For high school students, summer is not usually known for 

professionalism. However, for a few one-week sessions a year, 

professionalism is exactly what CAPT Cynthia Macri, MC, USN, 

demands of her students in the S2M2 Program. 

 The program, celebrating its fifth year, 

opens the reality of the 

medical world to gifted 

and ambitious students 

with diverse backgrounds. Pulling from 

schools across the country and locally in Maryland, Virginia and the 

District of Columbia, 

CAPT Macri explained 

that the diversity of the 

program creates a 

broader learning environment. 

 “There is a need out there,” Macri explains, “for doctors to understand what’s going on in the household. You can become 

judgmental when you work with only one genre of kid.” 

 Representing Science, Service, 

Medicine, and Mentoring, the S2M2 

summer program focuses on diversity 

through peer mentoring. Incoming 

first year USU students and selected 

high school and college students participate and assist in the events as 

mentors. Allison Garney, a 19-year-old 

from Boca Raton, Fla., shared a 

unique perspective as a sophomore 

college student and mentor. She explained that “we have a great mix of 

students. We partnered them up and 

made them mix but they are still really 

gung-ho.” 

 Following a presentation by LCDR 

Jonathan Forsberg, MC, USN, a member of the USU Class of 2001, at the 

Orthopedics Department at Bethesda, 

NNMC, Matt Woodsen of Severna 

Park, Md., explained his personal interest in the program. “I don’t 

want to be a doctor. Instead, I want to work with prosthetics. I 

know the potential. I’m using orthopedics right now.” 

 Woodsen said he was really enjoying the program but included “the overall diversity is pretty low, moderate at best. But, 

they are trying to get better which is a really good sign.” 

PAGE 4 

S2M2 Exposes Diverse Class of Students to Military Medicine 

Story and Photos By Jessica Dinneen 

Assistant to the Office of External Affairs 

S2M2 students experiment with the multiple 

simulations at the National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center as 

part of the S2M2’s tour. 

As part of the S2M2, high school students researched an ailment and prepared a poster board presentation. 

See S2M2, Pg. 7 

Photo courtesy of Health Affairs Badge of Bravery 

 Two members of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), COL Patricia Lillis-Hearne, MC, USA, director 

of USU’s Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, and MAJ Jeffrey Hogue, MSC, USA, operations officer in charge for USU’s 

Military and Emergency Medicine Department, recently received the Army’s Combat Action Badge for their actions in response 

to a suicide bombing near Mosul, Iraq, Dec. 21, 2004. The Combat Action Badge provides special recognition to Soldiers who 

personally engage the enemy, or who are engaged by the enemy, during combat operations. 
PAGE 5 

In an effort to support and evaluate the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences’ (USU) Continuing Health Education training program aboard the USNS Mercy, USU Professor of 

Preventive Medicine, CAPT Kenneth Schor, MC, USN, deployed 

aboard the Mercy for the Pacific Partnership 2008 humanitarian 

mission in the Federated States of Micronesia. 

Selected as head of the CHE effort by Dr. Charles Rice, USU 

president, Schor said he felt privileged to accept the assignment. 

 ‘I’m about the only USU faculty member that has been the senior physician for an amphibious task force,” Schor said. 

The Mercy, one of the Navy’s two hospital ships, is capable of 

supporting both medical and humanitarian assistance needs and 

deployed for a similar mission in Southeast Asia in 2006. 

 During Pacific Promise 2006 deployment, the teams of civilian 

and military personal cared for almost 200,000 patients in Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Republic of the Philippines. 

The training program, which is a part of the CHE Department 

at USU, is designed to provide Continuing Medical Education and 

Continuing Nursing Education credits to all doctors and nurses 

aboard the hospital ship. With more 

than 15,000 patient contacts and 

1,000 medical personal aboard, 75 

percent is US military, 12-14 are partner nations including India, Australia 

and New Zealand, and three NGO’s 

such as Operation Smile, Project 

HOPE, and International Medical 

Teams are aboard. 

In one day, according to Schor, 

the hospital and its community based 

clinic sites treat more than 1,800 patients, repair 12 pieces of equipment 

saving $70,000, fix the TB lab at the 

main hospital, and work on the rehabilitation and construction of four 

sites. 

“I am supporting the preventative medicine partnership effort with 

this country” Schor said. “This is a huge problem and my colleagues and I are hoping to improve their disease tracking. Something that can have a national impact.” 

Preventive Medicine Faculty Member Deploys with USNS Mercy 

By Jessica Dinneen 

Assistant to the Office of External Affairs 

CAPT Kenneth Schor, MC, 

USN, presents a session on 

collaborative care from his 

deployment aboard the 

USNS Mercy. 

 It is hard for 2d Lt Michelle Bonneau, 

USAF, a member of the USU Class of 2011, 

to say exactly where she is from. 

 Being an Army brat for most of her life, 

Europe is her best description of a hometown. It is much easier, however, to describe where the 21-year-old is bound. 

 A graduate from the Air Force Academy, 

Bonneau says she knew she wanted to be 

a doctor in high school, watching her assistant soccer coach and former Army flight 

surgeon care for her injured teammates. 

“He was just the go-to guy,” she explained, 

“whenever someone would go down, no 

one would move until he ran out there. He 

was the starting factor for me.” 

 USU was an obvious choice for Bonneau. The traditional curriculum and 

unique multi-service atmosphere at USU 

appealed to Bonneau’s desire to make the 

military her career. “It’s more of a collective 

group effort, as opposed to an individual 

effort,” she clarified. “We have a group attitude of cooperate to graduate. I don’t see 

people with their uniform anymore.” 

 Beyond the academics, Bonneau elaborated, there is a feeling of comradery not 

found at most medical schools. 

 “We have a collective goal of serving in 

the military and treating the same troops,” 

she said. “The campus and the school 

spend so much of its time and effort incorporating, not only the students, but also 

the family of the students. It’s the military 

family idea.” 

 Bonneau is pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology, but maintains 

an interest in family practice. 

 “What drew me 

to OB-GYN,” she 

said, “is that it has 

both primary care 

and secondary 

care. It’s the best 

of both worlds.” 

 Finishing her 

first year, Bonneau describes 

her time at USU as “pretty run of the mill in 

a good way.” 

 With aspirations for continuing in military medicine and deploying, Bonneau’s 

future will be anything but boring. 

2d Lt Michelle Bonneau, 

USAF 

SOM Class of 2011 

Student Profile: 2d Lt Michelle Bonneau, USAF 

By Jessica Dinneen 

Assistant to the Office of External Affairs 

 On January 15, 2008 the Department of Defense awarded the 

next DoD Travel Charge Card contract to Citibank. 

 Under this award, current DoD travel charge cards issued by 

Bank of America will close at midnight EST on Nov.29, and the 

new travel cards issued by Citi will open at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 30. 

 So, what should cardholders do to make sure their account 

transfer and official travel continues without interruption? 

 - If you have an open Bank of America travel card account you 

should receive a new Citi card sometime during the period of 

Aug. 31t – Sept.15. Cards will be issued by Citi to travelers with 

active and deactivated accounts at Bank of America, but if the 

accounts are closed, Citi will not issue cards. 

 - When you receive your new Citi card, you must verify receipt 

directly with Citi either by phone or on-line. If you have a credit 

balance on your account with Bank of America, make sure you 

call the bank at 800-472-1424 for a refund. After conversion, 

Bank of America is required to return all 

unclaimed credit balances to the comptroller of the state of residence of the cardholder. 

 - If traveling during the change, carry both 

cards. You may have to reserve your room 

with your BofA card and then pay for it with your Citi card. 

 The Defense Travel Management office is programming DTS to 

add fields for the new Citi card. Cardholders will not have to add 

their new Citi account information in DTS. This information will 

be populated from a Citi file that will be provided to the DTMO 

and uploaded into DTS. 

 Updates will be provided via e-mail and the National Naval 

Medical Center’s Journal. For questions contact either Jim Wolff 

at 295-3353, jwolff@usuhs.mil or James Bruce at 295-3496, 

jbruce@usuhs.mil. 

DoD Unveils New Government Travel Card 
PAGE 6 

 The Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Collaborative 

Undergraduate Historically Black College And University Student 

Summer Training Program was awarded by the Department of 

Defense, United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) to the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences’ (USU) Center for Prostate Disease Research 

(CPDR) and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) collaborative team. 

 A successful collaborative effort between Dr. Shiv Srivastava, 

Department of Surgery, USU/CPDR and Dr. Deepak Kumar, UDC, 

provides a great opportunity for talented students to take part in 

the new Prostate Cancer Training Program that is conducted during their summer break. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have a diverse student body with a majority of students classified as minorities. Health Disparities such as the higher 

incidence of prostate disease among African American men that 

have been the focus of the CPDR research team are increasingly 

being addressed in various diseases including prostate cancer. So 

what better way to increase awareness of such trends and move 

towards a cure than to: 

 - Recruit and encourage highly qualified undergraduate trainees 

by providing them with a stimulating and intellectual environment that promotes state-of -the art training and education in 

prostate cancer research. 

 - Motivate young researchers, who may contribute to prostate 

cancer research centers at HBCUs. 

 - Ensure that the new generation of biomedical scientists is properly trained to continue the fight against prostate cancer. 

 At the Uniformed Services University’s Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR), the four selected summer students from 

UDC are paired with one of the faculty members of USU, and focus on specific research projects in basic science and database 

research. There are goals and objectives for both mentors and 

students. Students are actively involved in the program through 

progressive research, regular lab meetings, seminars and personal 

discussions with faculty members, staff and fellow students. Research findings are presented by the students, at the end of the 

summer experience aiming scientific publications. The National 

Conference Award provides a unique opportunity for gifted students in a leading institution of the prostate cancer field. 

CPDR Receives Prostate Cancer Research Internship Grant 

 Lynn Lawry, MD, MSPH, MSC, director of Research and Education for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ (USU) Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance 

Medicine is the senior author of a manuscript titled, “Association 

Between Combatant Status and Sexual Violence and Health and 

Mental Health in Post-Conflict Liberia.” 

 The article is published in the Aug. 13 issue of the Journal of 

the American Medical Association. 

 “This study is important because it brings attention to certain 

vulnerable groups who are currently underserved, specifically excombatants who make up 30 percent of 3.2 million people,” said 

Dr. Lawry. “We hope these findings will be used to help the Liberian Ministry of Health in writing their mental health policy.” 

 Dr. Lawry and a team of researchers surveyed a population of 

1,666 adults aged 18 or older over a three week period in May 

2008. The researchers used a cross-sectional, population based, 

multistage survey to study mental health predictors including Major Depressive Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, social functioning, exposure to sexual violence, and health and mental 

health needs in the Liberian combatant population. 

 According to the findings, more than 40 percent of the Liberian 

household population showed symptom criteria for MDD and 44 

percent showed symptoms of PTSD. Out of the third of the surveyed population that served time as a combatant, one third of 

the adult males experienced sexual violence compared to 7.4 percent of men who did not serve in the fighting forces. 

 As a general category, 57 percent of combatants overall demonstrated characteristics of PTSD as compared with 37 percent of 

non-combatants. 

 The study also showed that male former combatants who did 

not experience sexual violence were almost half as likely to demonstrate symptoms of PTSD as though that did not experience 

sexual violence. 

 The study also considered the role of gender, concluding that 

male combatants who reported sexual violence had worse mental 

health outcomes than females with reported sexual violence. 

USU Researcher Links Combatant Status, Sexual Violence, Psychological Trauma 

 Internationally recognized radiobiology 

experts shared their latest research findings 

with an audience of more than 60 at the 

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) annual Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation (MEIR) Scientific Course. 

 “The course focused on research about 

the medical effects of ionizing radiation to 

help clinicians, health physicists, and medical planners preserve troop health in the 

face of radiological/nuclear terrorism or 

warfare,” said MEIR Course Director Col L. 

Andrew Huff, USAF, MC, SFS. 

 The 23 presenters were from 13 civilian 

and federal U.S. academic, research, and 

emergency response organizations as well 

as from the World Health Organization’s 

Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network and from the 

joint Japan-U.S. Radiation Effects Research 

Foundation. Attendees represented the 

U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Public 

Health Service as well as the Canadian and 

the United Kingdom military organizations. 

 Speakers addressed topics that included 

assessments of the current worldwide nuclear and radiological threat, emergency 

response practices, medical treatment protocols, and findings from long-term studies 

of exposures including those in Hiroshima 

and Nagasaki in 1945 and Chernobyl in 

1986. Research updates included radiation 

dose assessment methods, development of 

radioprotectants, radiation countermeasure 

development strategies, and cancer risk in 

radiation-exposed populations. 

 In addition to this five-day course, AFRRI 

conducts the standard two and a half-day 

MEIR course in 12 to 18 venues each year, 

primarily for military medical providers at 

military bases in the United States and 

abroad. “These postgraduate-level training 

courses,” said Huff, “enhance Department 

of Defense preparedness for nuclear/

radiological disaster both for maintaining 

military readiness and assisting when 

needed in support of civilian authorities in 

a federal response.” 

AFRRI Researchers Share Latest Radiation Effects Findings 

USU 

A Traditional Academic University with a Unique Focus 
Sept. 2 : MILPO New Hours of Operation - Starting the Sept. 2, the 

Military Personnel Office (C 1016) will be open at 7:30 a.m., but 

will be closed during the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

(Tuesdays only). Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 

MILPO will continue to be open during normal working hours 

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Sept. 21 : 2008 Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride for Kids— 

Attention MOTORCYCLE enthusiasts! The Baltimore/Washington 

“Ride for Kids” road ride is set for Sunday, Sept. 21, starting at the 

mall in Columbia, Md. Donations for the ride (minimum $35.00 

donation per bike) will benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 9:15 a.m. The 

police-escorted ride through scenic countryside starts at 9:30 a.m., 

rain or shine. Riders on all makes and models are welcome. After 

the ride, stay for the Celebration of Life program to hear from the 

local children we help. Award presentations will honor the highest fundraisers and distribution of premiums will follow. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Inc., is a federally-recognized nonprofit charitable organization. Their missions are to discover the 

cause of and cure for childhood brain tumors by supporting medical research, aid in the early detection of children's brain tumors in 

order to improve the quality of life of children. For more information contact CDR Rene Hernandez at 295-9635, or email at rhernandez@usuhs.mil. You can also log onto: www.pbtfus.org/

rideforkids/calendar/2008/baltimorewashington08.html.

Sept. 28 : Navy Five-Miler— The 2008 Navy Five-Miler will be held 

Sept. 28 in downtown D.C. FC2 Adam Race will be heading up a 

team from the university. The course is mostly flat and good for 

beginning runners. For more information, visit 

www.navy5miler.com. Contact FC2 Race at 295-9637 or email 

him at arace@usuhs.mil to join the university’s team. 

Oct. 10 - 13 : U.S. 49th Armed Forces Open Chess Championship - 

National Naval Medical Center will be the site event for the 2008 

Armed Forces Open Chess Championship, which will take place 

on Oct. 10-13 (Columbus Day Weekend) at 8 a.m. in the Galley of 

the National Naval Medical Center. The tournament is open to all 

Active Duty, Reservists, Military Retirees, Cadets, Midshipmen, and 

ROTC personnel who have a USCF Membership. Please enter in 

advance by sending an e-mail to Erick.Toribio@med.Navy.Mil. 

Please include Rank, Name, USCF ID number, current rating and 

branch of service. Come and participate regardless of your chess 

experience. For more information please contact PS3 Erick Toribio 

at (301) 295-5805. 

Oct. 15 – 28 : PFT/PFA/APFT Notice - The Fall 2008 Physical Fitness Test for all services is scheduled for Oct. 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 

and 28 at 7 a.m. and noon. All military personnel are required to 

select the time and date that they will take their test. All Sailors 

must complete the Health Risk Assessment questionnaire and 

Physical Health Assessment annually, and Navy weigh-ins must be 

conducted between 10 days and 24 hours prior to the Physical 

Readiness Test. If there are any questions please contact your 

senior service advisor. 

Dates to Remember 

 Taylor Douglas, a Stone Ridge senior and mentor for the week, 

explained that sometimes students don’t realize the S2MS doesn’t 

just focus on racial diversity. 

 “I was part of the program 2 years ago,” Douglas elaborated. 

“We had a large group from Chicago that year. It was very regionally diverse that year but this week is more racially diverse.” 

 The students and mentors go through physical training exercises, learn to fix cracked bones in orthopedics, and wear casts to 

understand disability difficulties. However, the most unique aspect 

of the students’ experience is USU’s expertise in military medicine. 

 “Any time we give our injured guys, in my mind, is time well 

spent,” explained Forsberg. His presentation included photos of 

real battle wounds to give the students a realistic outlook on military medicine. 

 At a lecture on sports medicine, LTC Kevin DeWeber, MC, USA, 

told the students that “being a doctor is like being the team doctor for the most kick-butt team in the world.” 

 According to Macri, all of the presenters, lecturers and medical 

professionals are volunteers, demonstrating a strong commitment 

to medical education. Dr. Patrice Desvigne-Nickens, a doctor at 

the NIH Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, explained why she volunteered to lead a dissection and study of the heart. 

 “This program is essential because, for medicine, diversity is a 

no brainer,” Desvigne-Nickens said. “Medicine is something we 

have to offer all cultures and students must understand the challenges of that in their chosen profession.” 

 On the final day of the program, the students presented their 

projects to faculty, family and other members of the USU community. As the students gathered before the exhibit began, Macri 

reminded them that it was their turn to teach and “Today, you 

are the doctors.” 

From S2M2, Pg. 4 

PAGE 7 

 Members of the Joint Task force National Capital Region-Medical held a JTF 

CapMed Integration Conference in classrooms at the Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences (USU) July 18 – 25. 

 Conference user groups consisted of 

representatives from clinical services, with 

functional family experts from Graduate 

Medical Education, Healthcare Professional 

Education, Graduate Dental Education, 

various Subject Matter Experts and department heads from the National Naval Medical Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, DeWitt Health Care Network and USU. 

The mission of the partnership is to validate 

space, manning requirements and concept 

of operations for the new hospital at Fort 

Belvoir and the new Walter Reed National 

Military Medical Center. 

 Conference participants reviewed draft 

manning documents, floor plans, space 

requirements and Concept of Operations 

documents. What they found was that 

much has changed since the initial 

CONOPS. Requests for additional manpower and space will need to be reconciled 

within the limitations. Further evaluations 

will be required between user groups between the north and south. 

 Dr. Jeffrey Longacre, director of USU’s 

Medical Education Department, associate 

chair for USU’s Department of Pediatrics 

and JTF CapMed liaison officer, said JTF 

Integration Conference reinforced the importance of quality medical education and 

research in the National Capitol Area’s developing academic environment. 

 “USU leaders from the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Nursing, Department Chairs, and the National Capital 

Consortium have partnered with JTF and 

MTF leaders in order to ensure academic 

excellence and provide outstanding training and research environments for the next 

generation of uniformed healthcare providers,” he said. 

USU Hosts JTF Capital Region-Medical Integration Conference 

By Jan Clark 

Dir., Gov’t. and Community Affairs 
UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY 

of the Health Sciences