Volume 9, Issue 7 n April 21, 2014

www.usuhs.edu

The Official USU Newsletter

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

First-year students at the 

F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine participated in the 

White Coat Ceremony, April 

11. See page 6 to learn 

more about the White 

Coat Ceremony.

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

MC3 Laura Bailey

Writer

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 April 21, 2014

“Live Our Values” every day, all year long: 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Article courtesy of VPE

 Sexual Assault Awareness 

Month is recognized across the 

country by civilian and military 

communities in April. Although 

the issue is important year 

round, now is a great time to 

build on the existing momentum to fight sexual violence and 

ensure all civilians and servicemembers are treated appropriately.

 “Dignity and respect for your 

fellow human beings, whether 

it’s a wingman, battle buddy, 

shipmate or civilian, is the 

basis of all of our services core 

values,” said Air Force Col. 

Kevin Glasz, Uniformed Service University of the Health 

Sciences brigade commander. 

“You have to work and aspire 

to always do what’s right, to 

ensure our team can always 

complete the mission with excellence in an environment free 

from assault, discrimination, 

harassment or any of these 

sorts of things.”

 The 2014 Sexual Assault 

Awareness Month is themed, 

“Live Our Values: Step Up to 

Stop Sexual Harassment.” The 

Department of Defense defines 

sexual assault as intentional 

sexual contact, characterized 

by use of force, physical threat, 

abuse of authority, or when 

the victim does not or cannot 

consent. 

 Members of USU can “step 

up” against these crimes by 

intervening when appropriate, 

reporting crimes and supporting sexual assault victims. 

Doing so will prevent the degradation of military readiness 

and the subversion of good will. 

It can also expedite the healing 

process for victims of sexual 

assault.

 “Sexual assault is everyone’s 

problem. It has a negative ef- fect on productivity and creates 

liability for damages. Working together and combining 

resources should make a difference in eliminating this 

plague,” said Patricia Burke, 

USU’s Equal Employment Opportunity director and the point 

of contact for any questions or 

complaints regarding sexual 

harrasment or assault at USU 

military or civilian. “Each person has a responsibility for the 

health and well-being of one 

another, a culture in which we 

show self-respect and mutual 

respect.”

 “As a young airman, I had 

a commander touch me inappropriately and it really shook 

my faith in my leadership 

because nobody in my chain of 

command had the courage to 

stop it,” said Air Force Senior 

Master Sgt. Bonnie J. Sanchez, USU’s Air Force element 

senior enlisted advisor and 

clinical and preventive services 

superintendent. “That is why I 

like this theme, ‘Live Our Core 

Values.’ We have to have put a 

stop to these kinds of actions 

and I think we are headed in 

the right direction. We have 

come worlds away from when I 

first joined the Air Force, now 

we are talking about it, wearing 

the badges, providing resources 

and making the end of these 

crimes a priority. It’s a bonus 

when leaders are actively involved in solving the problem.”

 “People thrive at work when 

they feel safe and respected. 

That’s why USU has a zero 

tolerance policy when it comes 

to sexual harassment,” said 

USU President Charles Rice. 

“If you’re a victim, please speak 

out. Ms. Patricia Burke is 

available for counsel, and the 

rest of USU’s leadership team 

is committed to fostering an 

environment that is characterized by mutual respect and one 

that is free of harassment in 

any form.”

 

Photo by MC3 Laura Bailey
3 the pulse April 21, 2014

Countdown to Commencement: A look at the Class of 2014

Navy Ensign Michael “Mitch” Eliason, School of Medicine

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Leadership training is an important part of 

the curriculum at the Uniformed Services University. In order to graduate, USU students 

must demonstrate their ability to thrive during 

intense, high-stakes situations. This ability is 

tested in simulation labs, on hospital wards, 

inside classrooms and during field exercises.

 Although USU spends a lot of time teaching 

leadership skills, many students arrive on campus with years of operational experience. Navy 

Ensign Michael “Mitch” Eliason, a fourth-year 

medical student at the F. Edward Hébert School 

of Medicine, is one of them. 

 By the time he enrolled at USU, Eliason was 

already a seasoned military officer with vast deployment experience. After graduating from the 

U.S. Naval Academy, he joined the line community as a nuclear engineer on a submarine. 

 Back then, Eliason’s home port was Pearl Harbor but his submarine went underway frequently. They were even part of a reconnaissance 

mission with a Navy Seal team that deployed to 

the Western Pacific, where his fleet took part in 

reconnaissance missions throughout Asia.

 “Deploying with the Seal team was a lot of fun. 

We pulled into some really neat ports and did 

a lot of interesting work,” Eliason said. “During that time, I also got the opportunity to work 

with enlisted sailors, who taught me a lot about 

leadership.”

 The lessons stuck. After his sea duty ended, 

Eliason returned to the Naval Academy as a 

faculty member and taught leadership and ethics courses to midshipmen while taking college 

classes himself. 

 By this time, Eliason was ready to pursue a 

career in military medicine but needed to finish 

up a few supplemental science courses before 

coming to USU. Once complete, Eliason threw 

himself into medical school, where he’s distinguished himself through strong leadership once 

again.

 As the class president, Eliason has worked 

hard to foster a feeling of camaraderie among 

his peers while also serving as a liaison between 

them and USU’s leadership. Part of his respon- sibilities as a class officer include meeting with 

Dr. Charles Rice, president of USU, and Dr. Ar- thur Kellermann, dean of the F. Edward Hébert 

School of Medicine, on a monthly basis to discuss matters impacting the Class of 2014. 

 “My interactions with USU’s leadership have 

been great. I get to see the wizard behind the 

curtain, so to speak, which has given me an opportunity to really understand how and why the 

university operates the way it does while still 

advocating for my classmates,” Eliason said. 

 This knowledge has informed Eliason’s leadership, and it’s an experience he’ll carry with him 

after he graduates in May and begins an otolaryngology residency at Naval Medical Center 

Portsmouth in Virginia.

 “I’m excited to graduate but sad to leave the 

great people at USU who’ve provided incredible 

support to me and my family over the past four 

years,” Eliason said. “USU is full of smart, hard- working and fun people. It’s really great to be a 

part of this incredible community.”

Michael “Mitch” Eliason was a Navy line 

officer before enrolling in the F. Edward 

Hébert School of Medicine. 

Courtesy Photo

Uniformed Services University Commencement Exercises

May 17, 2014

10:30 a.m.

Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall 
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

USU research seeks to reverse uptick in global smoking rates

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

The Official USU Newsletter 4

 Dr. David McLeod earned the 2014 Carol Johns 

Medal for his outstanding accomplishments as a 

clinician and academician at the Uniformed Services University, April 8. 

 McLeod was instrumental in establishing USU’s 

Center for Prostate Disease Research, where he 

serves as a co-director and oversees hundreds of 

clinical trials and research programs that combat 

prostate disease and cancer. He has also received 

more than $100 million in Congressional funding that supports wide-ranging, multidisciplinary 

research at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine.

 Furthermore, McLeod trained several generations of USU medical students while serving as 

the chief of Urologic Oncology and director of the 

Urology Residency Program at Walter Reed Army 

Medical Center. 

 These and McLeod’s many other prolific achievements were the basis for his selection as the 

winner of the 2014 Carol Johns Medal, the most 

prestigious award given by USU’s Faculty Senate. 

 “It is such a privilege to be in a position on the 

Faculty Senate to be able to meet people like Dr. 

McLeod, whose career has generated such lasting 

contributions to medical science. Dr. McLeod was 

selected from a robust group of amazing academicians, all of whom deserved the award. I’m honored to have the chance to represent the faculty 

in their award of the Carol Johns Medal to Dr. 

McLeod,” said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Justin Woodson, president of USU’s Faculty Senate.

McLeod earns Carol Johns Medal

by MC3 Brittney Cannady 

Photo by Thomas Balfour

 The prevalence of global smoking is rising despite compelling 

evidence that sustained tobacco 

use has been linked to many 

fatal illnesses. In fact, more than 

443,000 Americans die each year 

from smoking-related disease, including thousands of U.S. troops.

 But new research at the Uniformed Services University aims 

to curb worldwide smoking rates 

through a novel investigation 

using smart phone technology. 

Dr. Andrew Waters, an associate 

professor in the Department of 

Medical and Clinical Psychology 

at the F. Edward Hébert School 

of Medicine, launched an investigation funded by the National 

Cancer Institute called Project 

SMaRT. It looks at the ecology 

of smoking by analyzing how 

participants respond to random 

surveys on specially programmed 

mobile devices that assess mood, 

environment and other stimuli 

that can affect tobacco use and 

cravings. 

 “We want to learn as much 

as possible about why people 

smoke, and the mobile device is a 

great tool for understanding the 

cognitive processes and biases 

associated with tobacco use,” 

said Waters. “It’s user friendly 

and generates a lot of data by 

capturing random, frequent selfreports, all in real time.”

 Unlike traditional, in-person 

laboratory interviews, Waters’ 

method illustrates how smokers 

behave in their natural environments, which may provide valuable insight into what prompts 

tobacco cravings and how to stop 

them for good.

 “Our phones are programmed 

to include cognitive interventions 

that are designed to help people 

overcome the urge to smoke by 

encouraging them to focus on 

something besides cigarettes 

when they’re feeling vulnerable,” 

he said. 

 This process, called attentional 

retraining, may assist with the 

treatment of nicotine addiction, 

but more research is needed to 

determine if it improves smoking 

cessation success. 

 Project SMaRT is part of this 

research. Visit the Laboratory of 

Cognitive Interventions at www.

usuhs.mil/faculty/waters/index.

html to learn more about smoking cessation research at USU.
5 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter The Official USU Newsletter 5

Service member of the year named

by MC3 Brittney Cannady, writer

 Army Staff Sgt. TaMikka 

Lewis was named the 2013 Service Member of the Year at the 

Uniformed Services University 

for her work as the lead academics noncommissioned officer 

in charge in the Department of 

Military Emergency Medicine. 

In this role, Lewis creates lesson 

plans for the military medicine 

curriculum and training for 

more than 700 medical students.

 A natural leader, Lewis is a 

familiar presence at virtually 

every command exercise, from 

the Antietam Road March to 

USU’s Commencement ceremonies. Upon earning recognition 

as Service Member of the Year, 

Lewis was thankful for the accolades saying, “I do what I do 

for the people that I work with, 

the people to my left and my 

right and I enjoy it. I think to 

win Service Member of the Year 

is a testament to the hard work 

I’ve done but I enjoy the work 

that I do.” 

 Besides serving as the lead 

academics NCOIC, Lewis is 

a trained Basic Life Support 

instructor and 

master resilience trainer, 

where she trains 

250 personnel 

on the Army’s 

Comprehensive 

Solider Resiliency Program. 

Furthermore, 

Lewis often 

coordinates 

emergency 

medicine seminars on primary 

and combat 

care issues for 

the USU community.

 A native of 

Statesville, N.C., 

Lewis received a 

Bachelor of Science in Health 

Sciences and is working toward 

a Master’s in Human Services 

Counseling. After her military 

career is complete, Lewis hopes 

to work as a career counselor or 

high school guidance counselor.

 While Lewis was excited to be 

named Service Member of 

the Year, she encourages others 

to continue doing the 

best job possible no matter what. 

“Even if you think no one sees the 

work you’re doing, keep doing 

your best because you can’t be 

successful unless you put in the 

work,” said Lewis.

Army Staff Sgt. TaMikka Lewis

 

 Countdown to Commencement 

Trivia Answer #4

Congratulations to Denise Anderson, who was the first person to answer last issue’s trivia question:

Commencement at the Uniformed Services University is held on this 

special holiday each year.

Armed Forces Day is the correct answer.

Photo by Thomas Balfour
6 the pulse April 21, 2014

Photo by Thomas Balfour Photo by Thomas Balfour

Photo by Thomas Balfour Photo by MC3 Laura Bailey First-year students at the F. Edward Hébert 

School of Medicine are indoctrinated into 

the world of medicine during the White Coat 

Ceremony, a time-honored tradition at the 

Uniformed Services University. 

 During the ceremony, students don and 

pin their white coats before reciting the 

Hippocratic Oath. Army Maj. (Dr.) Camille 

McGann (top right), a 2003 SoM alumna and 

assistant professor of radiology at USU, also 

highlighted the importance of compassionate care and scientific proficiency in military 

medicine during her keynote address, which 

included a personal narrative about the roles 

she’s taken on as both a soldier and physican.

White Coat Ceremony

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor
7 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter The Official USU Newsletter 7

Snakes offer valuable lessons

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Rectangular, 

wooden boxes 

lined the front 

wall of Sanford 

Auditorium, 

April 2. Above 

them, on a large, 

black chalkboard, a handwritten message 

warned: “Come 

in. Sit anywhere, 

except the front 

row.”

 Dozens of audience members 

at the Uniformed 

Services University took heed. 

They wanted to 

learn more about 

the snakes Bruce 

Shwedick brought in for a special lecture sponsored by the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the F. Edward Hébert 

School of Medicine – but from a safe distance.

 Shwedick, director of the Reptile Discovery 

Program, has been showcasing his collection 

of vipers, copperheads and cobras at USU 

for more than three decades. His adrenalinepumping presentation included valuable, potentially life-saving information for healthcare 

providers at USU. 

 “Today, we’re 

going to talk 

about snakes 

and snake 

bites,” said 

Shwedick, who 

described a 

typical snake 

dentition as 

four rows of 

teeth on top 

and two rows 

of teeth on bottom.

 His illustration – combined with 

information 

about the biology and ecology 

of snakes, venom 

types, and snake 

bite symptoms – gave university faculty and 

students a better understanding about the 

dangers of venomous reptiles and ways to treat 

injuries caused by snakes.

 They also had an opportunity to handle a 

friendlier species of snake at the end of the 

lecture. After displaying several dangerous 

breeds, Schwedick brought out a docile python named Java Kaa, a 14-foot crowd pleaser 

among USU’s personnel and their families. Photo by Thomas Balfour

 
Final Frame

Photo by MC3 Laura Bailey