USU Newsletter

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 13 WWW.USUHS.MIL August 31, 2009
by MC1 Chad Hallford

Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Patricia McKay assumed responsibilities as Commandant, 

School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 

July 2009.

McKay replaces Air Force Col. (Dr.) 

Kenneth Tashiro, who is now assigned 

to USU’s Department of Military and 

Emergency Medicine.

A USU alum, and no stranger to the 

D.C. beltway, McKay says she looks 

forward to the challenges and opportunities presented as commandant.

“USU was a great opportunity for me 

in my career to take up the level of supervision and still see patients, practice 

surgery at NNMC,” said McKay. 

“The university has really grown since 

I was a student; its mission is much bigger now,” said McKay.

McKay’s eclectic career provides many 

experiences to draw from to help students develop into “military physicians 

and leaders.”

She has a vast range of experiences 

from tropical disease training, to a tour 

with a Marine Air Wing. She also deployed with USNS Comfort and spent 

a year at the prestigious Mayo Clinic, 

for a fellowship in Hand and Upper 

Extremity Surgery.

Her most recent experience was at 

NNMC as orthopedic surgery residency 

director. Initially the Navy orthopedic residency at NNMC, the program 

merged with WRAMC’s in 2007 to 

create the National Capital Consortium 

orthopedic residency. McKay describes 

this experience “as challenging, but rewarding, because of the caliber of people 

involved during the transformation.”

McKay’s primary vision as commandant is to “graduate students - physicians who USU can continue to be 

proud of. Our alumni are known for 

being professional, motivated, and excellent in their specialties,” said McKay.

She avidly looks forward to the 2010 

Commencement.

A Profile in Leadership: Cmdr. (Dr.) Patricia 

McKay, Commandant, SOM

Cmdr. Patricia McKay anticipates differences 

in communication, changing learning methods 

and the availability of information technology 

to be key areas for staff and faculty to master, 

enabling student success.

Bill Bester

Acting Vice President for

 External Affairs and

Managing Editor

Ken Frager

Public Affairs Specialist

Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Production Editor

MC1 Chad Hallford

Layout and Design

Christine Creenan

Contributing Writer

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 bi-weekly on Mondays. The 

deadline for submissions is at 4 

p.m. Friday prior to the publication 

date. Submissions can be sent to 

usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by calling 301 295-0895. 

USU Newsletter

The Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences Class of 2013 

takes the Hippocratic Oath during 

their welcoming ceremony on campus.

(Cover photo:MC1 Chad Hallford)

photo by Tom Balfour

PAGE 2

Israeli Surgeon 

General Visits USU

Israeli Defense Force Surgeon 

General Nachman Ash poses for 

a picture with Dr. Charles L. Rice, 

Uniformed Services University 

president, during a visit to the campus by Israeli Defense Force leaders, 

Aug. 13.

photo by HM2 Michael Oliver
PAGE 3

Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D., 

president of the prestigious Institute 

of Medicine (IOM) of the National 

Academies, will present a lecture on 

the USU campus Sept. 8 as part of the 

National Naval Medical Center -

Walter Reed Army Medical Center - 

USU Integrated Grand Rounds series. 

Dr. Fineberg will present “The Swine 

Flu Situation: 1976 as Applied to Now 

- What to Expect in the Fall” which 

will be held in the Sanford Auditorium, 

Building B, at 3 p.m.

The IOM was chartered in 1970 as 

a component of the National Academy of Sciences. The IOM’s mission 

is to serve as adviser to the nation to 

improve health. The Institute provides unbiased, evidence-based, and 

authoritative information and advice 

concerning health and science policy to 

policy-makers, professionals, leaders in 

every sector of society, and the public 

at large. The IOM works outside the 

framework of government to ensure 

scientifically informed analysis and 

independent guidance. 

Dr. Fineberg previously served as Provost of Harvard University from 1997 

to 2001, following 13 years as Dean of 

the Harvard School of Public Health. 

photo by Tom Balfour

IOM President to Present Integrated Grand Rounds

He has devoted most of his academic 

career to the fields of health policy 

and medical decision making. His past 

research has focused on the process of 

policy development and implementation, assessment of medical technology, 

evaluation and use of vaccines, and dissemination of medical innovations.

Dr. Fineberg helped found and served 

as president of the Society for Medical Decision Making and also served as 

consultant to the World Health Organization. At the Institute of Medicine, he 

has chaired and served on a number of 

panels dealing with health policy issues, 

ranging from AIDS to new medical 

technology. He also served as a member 

of the Public Health Council of Massachusetts (1976-1979), as chairman of 

the Health Care Technology Study Section of the National Center for Health 

Services Research (1982-1985), and as 

president of the Association of Schools 

of Public Health (1995-1996). 

Dr. Fineberg is co-author of the books 

Clinical Decision Analysis, Innovators in Physician Education, and The 

Epidemic that Never Was, an analysis 

of the controversial federal immunization program against swine flu in 1976. 

He has co-edited several books on such 

diverse topics as AIDS prevention, 

vaccine safety, and understanding risk 

in society. He has also authored numerous articles published in professional 

journals. Dr. Fineberg is the recipient 

of several honorary degrees and the 

Joseph W. Mountin Prize from the US 

Centers for Disease Control. He earned 

his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from 

Harvard University. 

USU alumnus named new VP

Dr. Jeffrey Longacre, USU’s new VP for International Affairs and Affiliations, talks to Maj. Gen. Philip 

Volpe, deputy commander, Joint Task Force-Medical National Capital Region at the Class of 2013 

Welcoming Ceremony, Aug. 20. 

Jeffrey L. Longacre, MD, was recently selected as the new Vice 

President for International Affairs and Affiliations. Dr. Longacre, a 

USU class of 1986 graduate, is an associate professor of Pediatrics and 

former vice chair of the department, and served most recently as the 

Special Assistant to the USU President for BRAC/Integration. In 

that capacity, he served as a liaison to the Joint Task Force-Medical, 

National Capital Region, to ensure that the university is included and 

appropriately involved in the establishment of the new Walter Reed 

National Military Medical Center.

Dr. Longacre replaces Dr. Emmanuel Cassimatis, who left USU 

earlier this summer to become president and chief executive officer 

of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. 

As Vice President, Dr. Longacre will be responsible for forming 

relationships with military treatment facilities and military medical 

systems worldwide.

Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, official photo
PAGE 4

New Medical Students Welcomed to Campus

photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

by Staff Sgt. Matt Rosine

The F. Edward Hebért School of Medicine (SOM) officially 

presented its newest students during the Class of 2013 Welcoming Ceremony, Aug. 20.

Dr. Larry Laughlin, dean of the SOM, administered the Hippocratic Oath to the 171 uniformed officers, closing with his 

customary, “Welcome to the study of medicine.”

Army Lt. Gen. David Huntoon, Jr., Director of the Army 

Staff, addressed the assembly in the heat of the day, following 

the administration of the Hippocratic Oath. 

Referring to the outdoor temperature, General Huntoon jokingly remarked, “I think I heard ‘I do solemnly sweat’ in that oath.”

He went on to congratulate the students for the extraordinary 

work they have already done and the work they will do while 

at USU. He praised the university’s faculty as being world class, 

noting that their past accomplishments will make the students’ 

accomplishments that much better in the coming years.

Huntoon also congratulated the students for raising their 

hands during a time of war. 

The Class of 2013 is comprised of 45 women and 126 men. 

While all of the students have received their bachelor’s degrees, 20 

have earned master’s degrees, one a Juris Doctorate, and one holds 

a Ph.D. in Chemistry. Additionally, 62 students have previous 

military experience – 20 were active-duty officers; four had prior 

active duty as officers; two were active-duty enlisted; 11 had prior 

active duty as enlisted personnel; 11 were 2009 service academy 

graduates; and 14 were graduates from ROTC programs.

by André Nicholson

Although they didn’t take lessons on the White House lawn, 

more than 40 high school students took part in the “Presidential Classroom” that was hosted by the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) this summer.

The Presidential Classroom hosts week-long programs to address issues such as public policy, national security, science, energy 

technology, journalism and global health. The organization 

was chartered in 1968, with the rise of a strong youth voice in 

American politics. The original pilot programs, sponsored by two 

separate presidential administrations, outgrew their early beginnings and were transferred from the White House to a board of 

directors of prominent educators and citizens. The new organizaAFRRI hosts presidential classroom

tion was named “A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans” 

and is known today as simply “Presidential Classroom.”

Years ago the organization began a Science Technology and 

Public Policy program and as calls went out to several science 

labs around the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia areas, 

AFRRI answered the call and has been a sponsor of the Presidential Classroom for almost 10 years.

“The students gain a better understanding of what our armed 

forces are doing, not necessarily on the baattlefield, but in the lab as 

it relates to science and technology,” said Annabelle Ombac, logistics manager, Presidential Classroom. “Specifically, they learn what 

radiation is, what every common-day items have traces of radioactivity and on a larger scale, what AFRRI is doing with their research 

of large traces of radioactivity so we can be prepared if attacked.” 

Lt. Gen. David Huntoon, Jr., Director of the Army Staff addresses USU’s medical school class of 2013 during the annual welcoming ceremony.
PAGE 5

Award to honor success of female physicians

Courtesy of MHS and developed by Newsletter Staff

The Military Health System (MHS) recently announced its new “Building Stronger Female Physician Leaders in the MHS” 

award. The award is intended to honor outstanding female physicians who have made significant contributions to the practice of 

military medicine and who serve as exemplary role models for others. 

It is one of many innovative initiatives designed to attract female physicians into the MHS, a vital 

need because of increasing numbers of females entering and graduating from medical schools. 

“Female physicians are an integral part of the work of the MHS,” said Ellen Embrey, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. “This award represents MHS’s commitment to honor 

their contributions to military medicine, and an opportunity to motivate the next generation of 

young women physicians.” 

The award will honor one junior leader (pay grades O-3 through O-5) per service and recognize 

one senior (pay grade O-6) MHS-wide leader. Nominees must demonstrate distinctive achievement 

and service in their field of clinical expertise, involvement in enhancing the role of women in medicine by being a positive role model for women of all ages, and service to their communities. Winners 

will be announced formally at the MHS Conference, held in Washington, DC in January 2010.

by Fred W. Baker III

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2009 - Army Spc. Adonnis Anderson 

said he knew the pain was coming. 

After a bomb blew off much of his left forearm in Iraq in 2003, 

nurses came to his room daily to wash out his wounds. He described the treatment as two minutes of torture. They would swab 

the open wound as Anderson gritted his teeth and white-knuckle 

gripped the hospital bed railing. 

“On a [pain] scale of 1 to 10, I’d give it a 15. It hurt really bad,” 

Anderson said. 

But the pain was a necessary evil. After being evacuated from the 

battlefield, Anderson’s new fight was against dangerous infections 

that could destroy his chances of keeping his arm. 

Anderson’s story is not unique. Many soldiers evacuated from 

today’s war zones suffer complex wounds from their injuries.

Bones are broken, and skin is burned or ripped by searing 

shrapnel. Mud, metal and fuel are fused into the wound. Harmful bacteria and other organisms are at work in the troops’ bodies 

before they can be carried from the battlefield. 

For the first time within the Defense Department, military doctors and scientists are working hand in hand to understand and 

improve the treatment of these complex wounds. 

As part of an overarching, interservice combat wound initiative, 

scientists at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology are researching the makeup of complex wounds to help doctors in military 

hospitals better individualize and chart a course of care. 

Dubbed “translational research,” this partnership breaks down 

traditional barriers between the scientists who study the medical 

intricacies of the wounds and the clinicians who provide the care 

for the wounded. Now, each supports the work of the other, basically taking the science from “the bench” to the “bedside.” 

At the core of their work, scientists and doctors hope to discover 

why some wounds heal and others resist treatment. 

Army Col. (Dr.) Alexander Stojadinovic, a USU class of 1991 

alumnus and surgeon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, heads 

the combat wound initiative program. He said that while two wounds 

may look similar, they don’t always react to treatment the same. 

“We were perplexed. Why, when you close one [wound] it heals 

uneventfully, and when you close the other it has a complication 

that impairs healing? When by all criteria that we traditionally use 

you would have expected it to heal,” Stojadinovic said. 

Since early 2008, Stojadinovic has spearheaded efforts to merge 

the actions of military and private hospitals to address complex 

wound care. 

He now has a staff of Army and Navy doctors that operates out 

of Walter Reed’s Military Advanced Training Center. They deliver 

all of the needed specialists to the patients to collaborate on care. 

“The nature of battlefield wounds today is complex. These are 

difficult medical problems that really challenge our creativity, 

our knowledge base and bring to bear teams,” Stojadinovic said. 

“There’s no single individual that can address all the problems that 

result from blast injuries.” 

When Stojadinovic decided to add a research arm to his program, he did not have to look far. The Armed Forces Institute of 

Pathology sits right in his back yard, situated on the same complex 

as Walter Reed. 

About a year ago, Stojadinovic began talking with officials at the 

institute about research that can help doctors decide how to treat 

a wound and determine when it can be closed without further risk 

of infection. Many wounded troops are forced to endure several 

additional operations solely to remove infection. According to 

officials at the institute, the average soldier with complex wounds 

takes nine trips to the operating room. 

Using troops enrolled in clinical trials at Walter Reed, doctors provide the scientists with wound fluids, blood and tissue that otherwise would be discarded. Scientists at the institute study the wound 

and provide feedback to the attending physicians. Scientists also 

study metal and other fragments that are taken from the wounds. 

Depending on the study, scientists work to determine the number of bacteria in the sample, and characterize them genetically. 

The degree of bacterial contamination in a wound affects how it 

heals. Providing doctors with the number and type of bacteria 

allows them to avoid treatments that won’t work and target treatments that will. 

Doctors, Scientists Team Up to Improve Wound Care
Soldiers’ dress right, dress for future success

PAGE 6

photo courtesy of www.army.mil

by C. Todd Lopez

Army News Service

Out with the old, in with the blue. 

The Army has made it official; the green 

service uniform, which has defined the 

service since the mid-1950s, is on the 

outs.

In place of the green uniform will 

be a variation of the blue uniform, 

something many Soldiers already own. 

Official word on the new “Army Service 

Uniform,” or ASU, was released Aug. 20 

in a message to all Army activities. The 

message defines the wear policy and the 

“bridging” strategy for transition to the 

new uniform.

“It’s a culmination of transformation 

efforts that started in 2004,” said Sgt. 

Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston 

of the new ASU. “We had three ‘Class 

A’ style uniforms, all the same style 

jacket, with just a different color -- the 

policies on how we wore accoutrements 

on them were different. We asked the 

question -- if we wear one only, which 

would it be? And the blue uniform was 

the most popular of the three.”

The new ASU coat, similar to the 

existing blue coat, will be made of a 

wrinkle-resistant material and will have 

a more “athletic” cut. 

Other changes to the uniform include authorization of a combat service identification badge to recognize 

combat service, overseas service bars 

authorized on the jacket sleeve for both 

enlisted Soldiers and officers, the wear 

of distinctive unit insignia on the shoulder loops of the blue coat for enlisted 

Soldiers, authorizing paratroopers to 

wear the black jump boots with the blue 

ASU, and the decision to transition to a 

new short sleeve and long sleeve white 

shirt with shoulder loops.

It is also permissible for enlisted Soldiers to wear both overseas service bars 

and service stripes on the new blue ASU 

coat. Officers and Soldiers in the grade 

of corporal and above will additionally wear a gold braid on their slacks to 

indicate leadership roles.

For more information on the Army 

uniform change, please visit www.army.

mil/asu/faq.html.

by MC1 Chad Hallford

Users of mobile computing devices and removable storage 

media at USU may soon be getting an upgrade. 

Mandated by the Secretary of Defense, various categories 

of sensitive unclassified data stored on DoD network assets 

that are not National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2 

compliant will be forced to become compliant.

“Any mobile device, used within the DoD, must be encrypted. This includes laptops, PDAs, BlackBerrys, to name a few,” 

said Joel Robertson, USU information assurance manager. 

“We are also examining and completing encryption for the 

desktops and workstations.”

A completely encrypted hard drive ensures that a loss of the 

asset in question, be it fixed or mobile, does not compromise 

the safety or integrity of the information stored on the device.

“USU is implementing this requirement to help protect 

the data and the device. This action is in the best interest for 

researchers and others who have Health Insurance Portability 

and Accountabilty Act data, personally identifiable information, or other sensitive unclassified data,” said Robertson.

“The encryption runs in the background, so the user won’t 

see any of the process, nor will it interfere with their activities. 

It is designed to be seamless.”

Many users may already be familiar with the policies and requirements to encrypt and/or digitally sign e-mails. If anyone 

has concerns over protecting data during transmission or at 

rest, review information from the UIS website or contact the 

UIS helpdesk.

Technology Watch: Encryption
Helpdesk Closure: The UIS helpdesk is closed for training on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. During this time, you 

can leave a voicemail message at 295-9800, utilize the HEAT 

Self Service (http://www.usuhs.mil/uis/forms/trouble.html), 

or email help@usuhs.mil. If an emergency should arise, please 

call 295-9870.

Personal Exercise/Fitness Areas: Physical Fitness training should be conducted in designated areas. The only authorized space for PT within the university is room G060. 

All other spaces within the university are not authorized for 

exercise or fitness, with the exception of the Student Community Lounge area during specified PFT testing dates/

times. Indoor PT is also authorized on base at the Comfort 

Zone Complex, or CZC, in building 23. The CZC hours of 

operation are Monday – Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 

on weekends and holidays from are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

PFT/PFA/APFT Fall 2009: The Fall 2009 Physical 

Fitness Test for all services is scheduled for Oct. 13-15 and 

20-22, 2009 at 0700 and 1200. Plan accordingly as all physical 

fitness testing, height, weight, and body fat measurements will 

be conducted at USU. No exceptions. If there are any questions please contact your service specific fitness coordinators 

- Air Force contact Tech. Sgt. Troyann Ernle at 295-3281; 

Navy contact IT3 Robert Grounds at 295-9800 or HM1 Joe 

Monsivais at 295-1479; and Army contact Staff Sgt. David 

Rogers at 295-3720. 

Proper Use of Computer Resources: Security incidents 

continue to be a drain to limited USU Information Assurance 

manpower. The following highlight current DoD policy and 

best practices: Personnel must not install self-coded or non-licensed software on network resources; add, remove, configure, 

or attempt to modify USU computer operating systems or programs; move audio/visual or network cables, computers or attempt to connect personal computers to the network including 

MDL and lecture hall spaces; connect personal devices except 

for those previously authorized by UIS; download pornographic material and store or display offensive material, such as racist 

literature, sexually harassing or obscene language or material; 

store or process classified information on any USU system; 

permit unauthorized individuals access to a government-owned 

or government-operated system or program; access online gambling, games and social engineering sites.

Military Awards Nominations: The next military awards 

panel will convene September 29. Nomination packages will 

be due through the chain of command no later than September 22. Any award with higher precedence than the Defense 

Meritorious Service Medal must be submitted 150 days prior 

to presentation. Please provide a signed copy as well as an 

electronic version to Air Force Tech. Sgt. Louella Campbell 

at (301) 295-1515 or lcampbell@usuhs.mil or HM2 Sylvia 

McBee at (301) 295-3423 or Sylvia.mcbee@usuhs.mil.

USU Briefs

Name the Newsletter... 

Thanks to all who have submitted suggestions 

over the last few weeks to rename the USU 

Newsletter. We have received dozens of responses and now need to consider all of the suggestions. Watch for our decision in early September. Thanks for your participation and for your 

continued support and readership.

The USU Newsletter Staff

PAGE 7

Caption contest

Test your skills and write the best caption for this photo to win this edition’s gift 

certificate for a free large coffee and doughnut courtesy of William III. Submit 

your caption in writing to the office B1009, or to USUNewsletter@usuhs.mil. 

The best caption wins and the top three, as judged by the USU Newsletter staff, 

will be printed in the next edition.

photo by MC1 Chad Hallford