The Official USU Newsletter

Volume 5, Issue 17 n December 20, 2010

www.usuhs.mil

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute

Celebrating 50 years
AFRRI commemorates groundbreaking 

Photo by Dave Morse

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Senior Vice President Dale C. Smith, 

PhD (far right), remarks on the past accomplishments of and the future for the more 

than 200 federal civilian, contractor and military staff members at the Armed Forces 

Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI). AFRRI Director, Army Col. Mark A. Melanson 

introduced Dr. Smith during one of the several recent events celebrating the Institute’s 

50th anniversary. As depicted in the background, this event observed the Nov. 29, 1960, 

groundbreaking for construction of the 14,905-square feet laboratory building and a 

2,500-square feet animal facility. Today, as part of the University, AFRRI encompasses 

more than 420,000 square feet and is undergoing renovations to upgrade infrastructure 

and to create state-of-the-art laboratories. 

On the cover

The Armed Forces Radiobiology 

Research Institute is celebrating its 50th 

Anniversary throughout 2010-2011. 

One event, the AFRRI 50th Anniversary 

Homecoming, was held Dec. 16. (See 

story on page 3.)

Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Ken Frager

Public Affairs Specialist

Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Production Editor

MC1 Chad Hallford

Writer

Christine Creenan-Jones

Contributing Writer

Lori Fields

Layout and Design

Production

Editorial content is edited, prepared 

and provided by the USU Office of 

External Affairs unless otherwise 

indicated. The Pulse staff may 

include or exclude articles based 

upon news value, impact on the 

university and space availability.

Submissions

The Pulse will be published 

bi-weekly on Mondays. The 

deadline for submissions is at 4 p.m. 

Tuesday prior to the publication 

date. Submissions can be sent to 

usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by 

calling 301-295-0895.

2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Photo by Tom Balfour

Continued on page 5

Manpower and Reserve 

Affairs Secretaries visit USU

by Ken Frager

The assistant secretaries responsible 

for manpower and reserve affairs for all 

three military services visited the USU 

campus in the last quarter of calendar 

year 2010 at the invitation of USU president Charles L. Rice, MD. 

The Honorable Daniel B. Ginsberg, 

representing the Air Force, the Honorable Thomas R. Lamont, representing the 

Army, and the Honorable Juan Garcia 

III, representing the Navy, spent time 

speaking with student representatives 

and USU leadership, touring the campus, 

and gaining a better understanding of 

the USU mission, vision and values.

“We exist to meet the needs of the 

military services in educating health care 

professionals,” said USU chief of staff 

Robert Thompson, who coordinated Army Assistant Secretary Thomas Lamont, 

left, with USU Vice President Jeff Longacre.
December 20, 2010 3

AFRRI begins its 50th 

Anniversary celebration

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine and Christine Creenan-Jones

The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute commemorated 50 years of discovery with a special 

Homecoming celebration recently.

The all-day event drew an illustrious crowd, including 

several prominent alumni who provided rare and candid 

glimpses into AFRRI’s rich heritage.

Retired Navy Captain Paul Tyler, M.D., recalled some early 

accomplishments under his leadership from 1979-1982.

Experts at the institute helped to decontaminate Enewetak, 

a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean once used for nuclear 

testing, so locals could return home safely.

Other speakers shared similar AFRRI triumphs.

“The labs were so crowded you could barely move,” said 

researcher, Terry Pellmar, Ph.D. “But it was fun, and the 

focus was on doing good science.”

Pellmar, an expert in radiation biology and depleted uranium, 

helped pioneer many breakthroughs in the early 1980s. She left 

to pursue other opportunities but returned in 2002 as the scientific director, a position she held through 2009.

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the 

Pentagon in 2001 placed greater focus on radiobiological 

research for the prevention and mitigation of terror attacks 

using biological weapons during this period. Pellmar said 

this shifted AFRRI’s focus from nuclear war to bioterrorism.

Other important moments included the development of 

“kill curve,” or the standard dosage of radiation needed to 

eradicate anthrax spores. This AFRRI-created formula was 

used to fumigate a contaminated Maryland postal station 

after five people died and several more were injured.

Several of AFRRI’s current scientists highlighted the 

significant research underway inside AFRRI’s walls today, 

from the development of delayed radiation effects to translational early-phase biodosimetry research.

“This is a time of renaissance,” said AFRRI Director Army 

Colonel Mark Melanson, Ph.D. “We want to share our success 

story and continue our legacy for future generations of science.”

Courtesy Photo

Left to right: Rear Adm. Bartholomew B. Hogan, Navy Surgeon General; Dr. 

Frank B. Berry, ASD for Health and Medical; Rear Adm. F.P. Kreuz, Commander, 

NNMC; and Brig. Gen. R.H. Harrison, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, DASA, break 

ground on the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Nov. 29, 1960.

Retired U.S. Public Health Service Rear Admiral 

Carol A. Romano has joined the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences’ Graduate School 

of Nursing (GSN) as associate dean for Academic 

Affairs. Romano succeeds Army Col. Bruce Schoneboom, who left the university in July to attend the 

National Defense University in Washington, D.C. 

Sandra Bibb, DNSc, RN, served as the interim associate dean between July and November. 

In this academic capacity, Romano will hold a faculty 

appointment in the GSN while serving the school administratively, having direct responsibility for all GSN academic 

programs and also serving as the selected senior executive to liaison between the GSN’s Dean’s office and the 

Federal Nursing Service Chiefs. She also will assist with 

communication and coordination of initiatives related to 

the improvement of readiness/operational curriculum and 

clinical site availability for the education of students, ensuring that systems are in place for evaluation of clinical sites 

and preceptors for accreditation purposes. 

“Dr. Romano was selected because of her academic 

experience, uniformed service background and 

success in reaching the pinnacle of career achievement as the Assistant Surgeon General of the United 

States and Chief Nursing Officer in the U.S. Public 

Health Service,” said GSN Dean Dr. Ada Sue Hinshaw. 

“We’re thrilled that she has chosen to join in our 

mission to educate and train the next generation of 

military nurses and we are confident that she will hit 

the ground running since she already is extremely 

familiar with the environment and our stakeholders.”

Retired Assistant Surgeon 

General Joins GSN

by Ken Frager

Photo by Thomas Balfour

GSN Associate Dean for 

Academic Affairs

Carol Romano
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

AFRRI physicist receives JSAM

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Hinshaw honored for contributions to 

nursing research and policy

by Ken Frager

Photo by Dave Morse

Courtesy Photo

Army Capt. John Madrid received 

the Joint Service Achievement Medal 

during a commander’s call at the 

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research 

Institute, Nov. 1.

Capt. Madrid served as the deputy 

director of Military Medical Operations 

(MMO) at AFRRI and the chief of the 

Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation 

course, or MEIR.

The course provides medical and 

operational personnel with up-todate information concerning the 

biomedical consequences of radiation exposure, how the effects can 

be reduced, and how to medically 

manage casualties. Formerly the 

Medical Effects of Nuclear Weapons 

Course, the training includes nuclear 

incidents that can occur on or off the 

battlefield and that go beyond nuclear 

weapons events.

Army Col. Mark A. Melanson, presents 

Army Capt. John Madrid with the 

JSAM during a commander’s call Nov. 

1. Madrid earned the award for his 

efforts as the deputy director of Military 

Medical Operations at AFRRI and the 

chief of the Medical Effects of Ionizing 

Radiation course.

A portrait of Ada Sue Hinshaw, PhD, 

RN, FAAN, dean of the Graduate School 

of Nursing at the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences, was 

unveiled by the National Institute for 

Nursing Research (NINR) to mark the 

silver anniversary of her joining the 

organization as its first permanent leader. 

Dr. Hinshaw’s official portrait recognizing her role with the organization was 

unveiled during the “Bringing Science to 

Life” conference. The portrait will hang 

in the halls of the Institute as a tribute.

Dr. Hinshaw was the first director of the 

National Institute of Nursing Research at 

the National Institutes of Health, leading 

the institute in its support of disease 

prevention, health promotion, acute and 

chronic illness and the environments that 

enhance nursing patient care outcomes.

“Thanks to the tireless work of Dr. 

Hinshaw and her team during the formative years of the National Center and then 

Ada Sue Hinshaw, PhD, (Left) with New 

York Academy of Medicine Trustee Terry 

Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN.

“We conduct more than 30 classes 

in more than five different countries,” 

Madrid said.

But Capt. Madrid also was recognized 

for his efforts as the MMO deputy director, as he was selected the Army’s 72A 

Junior Officer of the Year at the 2010 

Annual Force Health Protection Conference. He was selected from among his 

peer Nuclear Medical Science Officers 

by the 72A Council of Colonels.

Of course, Madrid doesn’t feel like this 

is an achievement he earned on his own.

“I really got this recognition thanks to 

the leadership at AFRRI,” he said. “Thanks 

to their outstanding leadership, I was given 

this position and this opportunity.” 

While he received the JSAM for his 

efforts, Madrid is passionate about his 

job.“My job here is very rewarding and I 

love being in the military,” Madrid said.

This is Captain Madrid’s first JSAM.

National Institute for Nursing Research, 

today we are able to build not only 

on the breadth of support for nursing 

research, but also the depth of knowledge 

and understanding for evidence-based 

nursing research practices,” said Patricia 

A. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN, director of the 

NINR. “Her focus on planning and leveraging limited resources allowed for the 

creation of new programs and conferred 

a sense of stability that helped us to get 

where we are today.”

Additionally in November, Dr. 

Hinshaw was recognized by the New 

York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) with 

the Academy Medal for Distinguished 

Contributions in Health Policy. The 

Academy addresses the health challenges 

facing the world’s urban populations 

through interdisciplinary approaches to 

policy leadership, education, community 

engagement and innovative research.

When presenting the award, Dr. Terry 

Fulmer, NYAM Trustee and Dean of the 

New York University College of Nursing 

cited Hinshaw’s role in “transforming the 

understanding of factors facing nurses 

in their work environments that have 

an effect on patient safety and nursing 

quality,” as key to this recognition.
December 20, 2010 5

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

the visits on behalf of the University. “It 

is imperative that we establish strong 

relationships with the senior leadership 

of each of the services to ensure we are 

meeting their expectations and earning 

their endorsement of our diverse and 

evolving educational programs.”

The Offices that Ginsberg, Lamont 

and Garcia lead develop and manage 

service personnel policy for the active 

component and reserve component, 

including training and education 

policy and programs.

Diversity of USU medical students 

was one of the recurring topics discussed 

with the Assistant Secretaries and each 

agreed to consider providing training 

billets for the university’s post-baccalaureate education program. “We are developing ambitious concepts to improve the 

Continued from page 2

Service assistant secretaries visit USU...

diversity of our faculty, staff, and student 

body,” said Thompson. “Ultimately 

we believe it is best for the professional military healthcare providers to 

be more representative of the Service 

members and their families for whom 

they are serving. The endorsement of 

these senior leaders to consider providing training billets for our post-baccalaureate education program that will 

be filled by Enlisted Soldiers, Marines, 

Sailors, and Airmen is a significant step 

in achieving improved diversity.”

The visits by all three civilian leaders 

ranged from roundtable discussions 

with enlisted staff, officer faculty and 

students, to individual meetings with 

university leadership, to campus tours 

and discussions of future plans for 

growth and expansion. 

Napping is good for you.

Sleep is a crucial part of performance. It recharges all systems 

and provides an opportunity for 

the body to repair and perform 

optimally. If you are deprived of 

sleep or simply need to recharge 

yourself, get more Zs by napping 

during the day. Though there 

is clear recommendation on 

how long you should nap, many 

experts agree that a nap between 

20-40 minutes is ideal and should 

not exceed 2 hours (or else you’ll 

fall into a deeper sleep). For more 

information on sleep specific to 

the Warfighter, please visit http://

humanperformanceresourcecenter.org/research/research-briefs/

how-much-sleep-does-awarfighter-need-in-an-active-deployed-environment. 

How to Get Over That 

Workout Plateau.

Is your workout not giving you 

the results it used to? It could 

be that your body has adapted 

to it. The American Council 

on Exercise says, “you need to 

shock or surprise your body 

a bit.” Change up your cardio 

and weight workout periodically so that you continue to 

see results. For more information how to “periodize” your 

workout, see http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/fitfacts_display.

aspx?itemid=2624. 

HPRC Health Tips

The Human Performance 

Resource Center Health Tips 

is a new column intended to 

provide the USU community 

with information to help develop 

and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Check out the HPRC website at: 

http://humanperformancere

sourcecenter.org.

Air Force Assistant Secretary Daniel Ginsberg, far right, during his campus visit.

Navy Assistant Secretary Juan Garcia, right, with USU Vice President Bill Bester, left, 

and School of Medicine Vice Dean Dr. John McManigle, center

Photo by Thomas Balfour
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Director of Logistics rolls up sleeves one last time

By Christine Creenan-Jones

USU director of Logistics, Gary 

Osier, isn’t usually found sitting 

behind a desk. Search the hallways or 

warehouse instead, because much of 

his day is spent meeting with clients, 

coordinating furniture requirements or 

juggling many other responsibilities.

Osier’s schedule – busy and sometimes 

unpredictable – keeps him on the move 

for much of the day. But he doesn’t mind 

the rigmarole. Osier is a hands-on leader 

who enjoys rolling up his sleeves and 

going deep into the trenches. 

“I come to work with a plan, but it 

usually falls by the wayside,” he said. 

“Surprises crop up all the time. You 

have to be able to think on your toes 

and solve problems quickly.”

A seasoned USU veteran, Osier has 

mastered the art of shifting gears. He’s 

worked at USU for 26 years and multitasking has always been a part of the job. 

When he arrived in Bethesda in 1984, 

an airman then, Osier worked in a part 

of Logistics called the Technical Services 

Branch. As branch chief, he spent several 

years repairing university equipment 

before retiring from the military in 1988 

and starting a new career at USU. 

Osier’s return, this time as a civil 

servant, continued to be marked by 

successes. Proving himself to the 

university’s leadership, Osier took over 

as the director of Logistics in 1994. 

“The department was much different those days. Life was simpler, but as 

the university grew and the computer 

age took over, so did the complexity of 

Logistics,” he said. “Our support requirements have pretty much remained the 

same, but expectations are much higher. 

The top-notch people in this and other 

support departments are major reasons 

why the university functions so well.”

USU’s performance also is a result 

of strong leadership – according to 

the Faculty Senate, at least. This group 

recently honored Osier with the 2010 

Outstanding Staff Member Award – the 

highest achievement bestowed on a staff 

member by the faculty.

“Mr. Osier’s energy, dedication, 

organizational skills, knowledge, and 

problem-solving approach are wellknown,” said Neil Grunberg, Ph.D., 

past president of the Faculty Senate 

and professor of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience. “His 

customer service orientation, selflessness, and positive can-do attitude make 

him an exemplary role model and 

inspiration for us all.”

On the heels of receiving this prestigious award, Osier will retire from the 

university for a second time this month. 

Once again, he will leave behind a legacy 

earned by the sweat of his brow and the 

speed of his feet.

Logistics director Gary Osier with USU 

interior designer, Anne Schlesinger.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Setting out on a new path

by Christine Creenan-Jones

Photo by Thomas Balfour

Steve Hilleary, deputy director of 

Facilities at USU, is making a fresh 

start. He’ll retire from the university in 

January, and has big plans for the future.

“I’m not really sure what I’ll do first, 

but there are so many things on my list,” 

said the long-time civil servant. “I want 

to travel, visit friends I haven’t seen in 

a while, maybe even go back to school 

and definitely play more golf.”

But his excitement for the New Year 

and a new life is tempered, momentarily at least, by the daunting workload 

stacked in folders and files atop his desk. 

Retiring is hard work, Hilleary is 

quickly realizing, but his working days 

are numbered.

“There’s a lot to do before I leave,” he 

said. “As a department, we have taken 

on a lot of responsibilities and have been 

involved in many different projects.”

Deputy director of Facilities, Steve 

Hilleary, reviews blueprints for the new 

office spaces located on the ground floor.

Those projects – some apparent, 

others less obvious – have made the 

university more beautiful and architecturally sound over the years. And 

Hilleary is proud of this work. 

“Facilities has replaced the roofs on 

the buildings, the bricks in the courtyard, heating and air conditioning 

systems, and redesigned the landscaping,” he said. “We have modernized 

university resources, upgraded work 

spaces and have done so many other 

big and small projects.”

Though Hilleary has enjoyed being 

part of an important mission, he admits 

the job has been challenging. The 

days have been long and the schedule 

demanding, but the payoff has been 

worth the rigor.

“When people ask me where I work, 

I’m proud to say USU,” he said. 

Soon, Hilleary won’t be able to say he 

works anywhere—at least not full-time. 

But he’s okay with that, because after 

more than 36 years of federal service, 

Hilleary is finally ready for new adventures and challenges.
December 20, 2010 7

Briefs

Town Hall meeting

The USU President is holding a 

town hall meeting Jan. 19, 2011. 

Additional details will follow as they 

are available.” 

All USU faculty, staff and students 

are encouraged to attend. 

Award nominations due

The award nomination packages for 

the upcoming Leonard and Wu Awards 

for Excellence in Research must be 

submitted by Jan. 31, 2011. 

The Wu award is for excellence in the 

Basic Sciences and the Leonard award is 

for excellence in the Translational and 

Clinical Sciences.

Nominees must be either a member 

of the full-time faculty or an AFRRI 

scientist at USU. 

The award recipients will present 

their award lectures during the University’s Research Week. Each recipient 

will also receive a memento and a cash 

award of $2,500. 

For more information about requirements in submitting a Leonard and Wu 

award package, contact Susan Rasmussen, Ph.D., at (301) 295-3303 or by 

e-mail at srasmussen@usuhs.mil. 

50th Anniversary Web site 

The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute will be launching a new 

Web site as part of the Institute’s 50th 

Anniversary celebration.

The Web site is scheduled to launch 

next year and will highlight AFRRI’s 

history, heritage and unique mission.

Inclement weather policy

During the upcoming winter season, weather conditions may impact 

on the University’s operating status.

If the USU operating status 

changes, it will be updated immediately on the University’s homepage, 

www.usuhs.mil.

Additionally, a broadcast to the 

USU community via email and recorded phone message will be available.

To access the phone message, call 

(301) 295-3039.

In some cases, USU’s status will 

be made available via local news and 

radio stations. However, all USU students, staff and faculty are encouraged to check the University’s Web 

site regularly. 

Using 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 NOC; 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. 

Personnel must not permit 

unauthorized individuals access to a 

government-owned or governmentoperated system or program; access 

online gambling, games and social 

engineering sites. 

UFHC Late Show Policy

While the staff at the University 

Family Health Center (UFHC) understand that patients may occasionally have difficulty arriving to their 

medical appointments on time, given 

the limited clinic staff and examination rooms, late arrivals can have 

significant impact on the daily operations of the clinic and the ability to 

provide timely care to other patients. 

Over the past six months, the UFHC 

has experienced a significant increase 

in the number of late arrivals. In order 

to accommodate their patients’ needs 

and to ensure smooth operations of 

the UFHC, the following policy goes 

into effect on January 3, 2011:

All patients are requested to arrive 

15 minutes before their scheduled 

appointment time. This allows the 

staff adequate time to obtain vital 

signs and to prepare the patient and 

the medical record for the visit.

Any patient reporting for an appointment after their scheduled 

appointment time is considered late.

Such patients will be triaged by the 

UFHC staff who will determine 

the acuity of the patient’s issue. 

Based on this acuity, the patient 

will be offered: 

a. To be rescheduled for a future appointment OR

b. They may be worked into the provider’s schedule (e.g., at a no-show 

or cancellation or at the end of the 

clinic, a.m. or p.m.) OR

c. If the triage RN determines that the 

patient’s condition warrants being 

seen sooner, the RN will discuss the 

patient with provider to determine 

the best course of action.

The UFHC staff hopes that this 

policy will result in an improvement in 

the quality and timeliness of care that 

they can provide to all of their beneficiaries. If you have any questions or 

concerns about the policy, please direct 

them to Capt. Jeffrey Quinlan, UFHC 

director, either by email at jeffrey.

quinlan@usuhs.mil or by telephone at 

301-295-9464.

ESC meetings

The Enlisted Social Committee 

holds its monthly meetings on the first 

Tuesday of every month.

Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. in the 

cafeteria’s small dining room.

Being a part of the ESC is an excellent way for USU enlisted personnel 

to actively pursue volunteer opportunities at USU.