Volume 5, Issue 1 n January 11, 2010

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

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

Writer

Christine Creenan

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.

On the cover

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman 

of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses 

CHAMP conference attendees at USU, 

Dec. 10.

School of Medicine to reform curriculum

“The Molecules to Medicine symbol illustrates 

the curriculum will be founded on an 

understanding of how the basic building blocks 

of life — molecules, such as those that make 

up DNA — contribute to biological processes 

with the goal of producing physicians who have 

expertise in medicine in general and in aspects 

of medicine that are unique to the military,” said 

Alison O’Brien, Ph.D., chair of the Department of 

Microbiology and Immunology.

More than half of American schools 

have undertaken major revision of 

their curricula in the last decade. USU 

School of Medicine (SOM) Dean Larry 

Laughlin, M.D., Ph.D., determined that 

the SOM will revise the structure of 

its curriculum for the class entering in 

2011. He made this decision after a six 

month period of discovery in which he 

reviewed the changes made in many 

other U.S. schools, and outlined the 

plans for the process during a faculty 

meeting in December.

“Curriculum is the blueprint for a 

physician. Our school forms a very 

unique military blueprint; it’s time for a 

renewal of the blueprint,” said Laughlin.

Laughlin appointed Alison O’Brien, 

Ph.D., chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Louis 

Pangaro, M.D., chair of the Department of Medicine, to lead the faculty in 

this comprehensive effort. In the new 

curriculum, Laughlin has requested a 

tighter linkage between basic and clinical sciences in all four years of medical 

school; that the clinical clerkships in 

which the students work closely with 

hospital faculty in caring for patients 

should begin before the third year of 

medical school; and, that careful attention be paid to assessing students’ 

growing competence in all four years. 

Between November 2009 and October 

2010, O’Brien and Pangaro will lead the 

development effort to determine the 

overall structure of the new curriculum. 

To reflect the nature of the proposed 

changes in the curriculum and its 

foundation in the unique environment 

of the military, the pair has entitled 

the venture, “Molecules to Military 

Medicine.” 

 An advisory committee, chaired by 

associate dean for Faculty Col. (Dr.) 

Brian Reamy, was formed which includes 

Val Hemming, M.D., former dean of the 

SOM; Brian Cox, Ph.D., former chair of 

Pharmacology; Saibal Dey, Ph.D., associate professor of Biochemistry; Cmdr. 

(Dr.) Patricia McKay, USU Class of 1993 

and SOM commandant; and Edward 

Mitre, M.D., an assistant professor, active 

in both basic research and clinical teaching. Michael Johns, M.D., a member of 

the USU Board of Regents and chancellor of Emory University, will serve as an 

informal advisor to the group.

The Military Health System is unique 

to the U.S. in having its own medical 

school dedicated specifically to creating 

a physician corps to care for its warriors 

and beneficiaries. The comprehensive 

curricular reform effort at USU will 

have faculty and students work with 

patients, leaders of graduate education 

and the leaders of the MHS to identify 

outcomes that will be important for the 

coming decades.

“We need a curriculum adaptable, creative and innovative in its 

approach to the lifelong pursuit of 

mastering medicine,” said Laughlin. 

Photo by Thomas Balfour
January 11, 2010 3

Joint Chiefs Chair visits USU

Navy Admiral Mullen addresses Total Fitness Conference

by Sharon Willis

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discusses the need to deliver 

timely instruction on the complex concept, “total fitness of the force.”

Defining and addressing total fitness 

for today’s troops was the topic of 

discussion during a recent three-day 

conference sponsored by USU’s 

Consortium for Health and Military 

Performance (CHAMP).

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 

Navy Admiral Mike Mullen visited the 

USU campus on Dec. 10 to address the 

conference attendees. Mullen was the 

first CJCS ever to visit the university.

According to CHAMP directors, 

Army Col. (Dr.) Fran O’Connor and 

Dr. Patricia Deuster, the consortium 

was tasked by Mullen’s office four 

months ago to develop a Chairman 

of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction (CJCSI) on total fitness because 

none currently exists. Mullen sees a 

gap in total fitness guidance and the 

ability to measure total fitness across 

the force. As the senior U.S. military 

leader, it is Mullen’s responsibility to 

take the steps necessary to address 

this gap. He said that leadership needs 

to “stay ahead of the bow wave” when 

it comes to addressing the stressors 

and challenges that will come when 

the operational tempo eventually 

slows down.

“In the past, ‘fitness’ was defined as 

‘physical fitness,’” said retired Army 

Brig. Gen. Mike Rounds, director of the 

Human Performance Resource Center 

(HPRC) and a new member of the 

CHAMP staff. “Now it’s more complex. 

We have to look at a broad range of 

indicators to define fitness of the force 

and determine whether they are capable 

of executing their assigned mission.”

O’Connor said that Mullen asked 

them to develop a new paradigm recognizing mind, body and spirit. CHAMP 

subsequently partnered with the Samueli 

Institute and the Institute for Alternative Futures to host a conference and 

make total fitness reality. More than 

90 military and civilian fitness, social, 

behavioral, psychological, nutrition, 

environmental, spiritual and medical 

experts — representing the Army, 

Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, 

and Reserve components — met over 

a three-day period to share ideas and 

develop a framework to articulate the 

chairman’s vision of defining total fitness. 

The framework will include holistic total fitness guidance and identify 

metrics to measure the effectiveness of 

the guidance. A central element of the 

concept of total fitness is taking care of 

the military family, Rounds said.

“We have another area that’s 

changed and I don’t think we understand it well enough yet... the impact 

of families,” said Mullen during his 

address to conference participants. 

“Our readiness to be able to carry 

out our mission as the United States 

military is directly impacted, fully 

integrated, by how our families are 

taken care of, paid attention to, and 

that is a fundamental readiness issue.”

On the first day of the conference 

attendees met in a combined forum 

to discuss the framework of total 

fitness and the eight total fitness 

domains. The second day, each 

domain (physical, social, behavioral, 

psychological, nutrition, environmental, spiritual, medical) met 

separately, then came back together 

on the third day, following Mullen’s 

visit. Rounds said that a number 

of good programs are currently 

available, but exist in a “stovepipe” 

environment. He said that almost 

every case is best addressed by 

looking at multiple domains and 

integrating the programs.

A team from the conference participants met Dec. 22 to begin the process 

of drafting the CJCSI, with an initial 

goal of Feb. 1 for completing the first 

draft and publishing the CJCSI this 

fiscal year. 

“This is a fairly compressed 

timeline, but it’s consistent with the 

Chairman’s emphasis that the CJCSI 

needs to be finished quickly,” said 

Rounds. “There is a real need to get 

this guidance to the force.” 

Photo by Thomas Balfour
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Property management program ‘cleans house’ 

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine 

After 16 weeks of hard work 

and dedication, the USU Logistics 

Division’s property management 

program has cleared more than 

1,300 items from both the campus 

and AFRRI. 

The program identified and 

removed hundreds of items, including 

computers, desks, file cabinets, biological hoods, microscopes, animal cages 

and other small laboratory equipment, 

and was considered a major success by 

university leadership.

“The key here was that there was 

no individual that made this program 

a success,” said deputy director of 

Logistics Gregory Kuhn. “Everyone 

involved had a hand in making this 

program work.” 

The program began in the Summer 

of 2009 with the Inventory Management Team of Larry Richardson, 

Christi Roth, David David and Ester 

Joynes conducting three property 

management training sessions for 

more than 100 attendees from the 

University and AFRRI. 

Once this training was complete, 

the 16-week program began in earnest. 

After the program launched, the Chief 

of Property Management Branch, 

James Blackledge, AFRRI Logistics 

Team Leader, Niclous Howard, and the 

Work Leader for Relocation Services, 

Leon Channel, engaged with the 

program’s relocation team. This team 

of Mario Martinez, Louis Lacroix, 

Donald Taylor, Blaine Heinonen and 

Jeremy Belk did the day to day “heavy 

lifting.” 

“And, of course, Environmental 

Health Services (EHS) played a critical role,” Kuhn said. “Their effort was 

instrumental in cleaning and decontaminating items that had been in 

chemical, biological or radiological 

laboratory environments to ensure 

proper disposal.”

The program also had benefits that 

were not anticipated. As the items 

were collected, the team realized many 

items could be recycled rather than 

thrown out. The team established a 

centralized re-utilization station and 

were able to reuse cartloads of books, 

publications, computer monitors and 

office supplies. 

“This success is really a collaborative 

effort,” Kuhn said. “All deserve credit, 

from the University departments to 

property management, to the faculty 

and staff and the EHS group — everyone pulled together to get the job done.” 

Photo by Sgt. Matthew Rosine

ACOG Award named for USU Professor

by Sharon Willis

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 

Committee on American Indian Affairs 

has established an award in honor of a 

USU faculty member. The “William H.J. 

Haffner American Indian/Alaska Native 

(AI/AN) Women’s Health Award” was 

named for USU’s former Department of 

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) 

chair and associate dean for faculty 

development. 

The award recognizes an individual 

who has made a major contribution to 

raising the level of health and/or improving AI/AN women’s health care. Dr. 

Haffner was chosen as the epitome of 

“dedication and exceptional service to 

AI/AN women’s health care.” 

Dr. Haffner, a retired U.S. Public 

Health Service medical officer, was 

chair of the Department of OB/GYN at 

USU before his subsequent selection as 

associate dean. 

He began his Public Health Service 

career with the Indian Health Service 

in 1971 when he served in OB/GYN 

leadership roles in Gallup, New Mexico. 

He later served as OB/GYN Consultant for Indian Health Services (IHS). 

Haffner then was transferred to the 

National Capital Area of IHS and served 

in a variety of consultative roles, including serving as chief medical officer of the 

Public Health Service for four years.

According to the committee, “Dr. 

Haffner had a long career with the IHS 

and has been involved with the ACOG 

Indian health programs from the beginning. In many cases, he has been the 

link between ACOG and the IHS in 

the establishment of the long history 

of cooperative efforts to improve the 

health and welfare of AI/AN women. 

While Dr. Haffner enjoys recognition 

and service within the College through 

his years of service on many committees, he also brings recognition and 

legitimacy to the role that ACOG has 

played within the IHS. He is someone 

who has and does move between both 

worlds with ease.” 

The first Haffner Award will be 

presented in May 2010, at the annual 

ACOG clinical meeting in San Francisco.
January 11, 2010 5

Durning completes term as prestigious chair

Dr. Steven J. Durning, professor of 

Medicine and Pathology and director of the Introduction to Clinical 

Reasoning course in the USU Department of Medicine, recently completed 

his term as chair of the Program 

Planning Committee for the Research 

in Medical Education Conference 

(RIME) at the annual meeting of the 

Association of American Medical 

Colleges (AAMC) in Boston, November 2009.

“Steve is incredibly well organized 

and his attention to detail and his 

thoughtfulness are beyond compare,” 

said M. Brownell Anderson, senior 

director, Educational Affairs for 

Academic Affairs of the AAMC. This 

year represented the 48th year of the 

RIME conference.

Durning oversaw a review process 

that also involved peers from 

throughout the world. He coordinated the development of themes for 

papers and abstracts presented at the 

meeting, ensured each session was 

led by a moderator and discussant, 

and that each session was reviewed 

and rated by experts for organization, 

content and conformity with established standards.

The RIME conference is the 

largest international medical education research conference. As chair of 

the Program Planning Committee, 

Dr. Durning coordinated a planning 

committee of international medical 

education experts, reviewing more 

than 100 research manuscripts and 

250 research abstracts for inclusion 

at the annual meeting. The research 

articles are published in the November 

supplement to the AAMC publication, 

“Academic Medicine.”

“Steve has a unique combination of abilities that allow him to 

organize and manage the committee, to accomplish an impressive 

amount of work in a very short time, 

and to make everyone involved feel 

Dr. Steven J. Durning

pleased with their contributions to 

the final product,” said Anderson. “I 

have never worked with anyone who 

committed so much time and energy 

to each task he took on.” 

Wounded Warrior 

5K Fun Run

More than 400 people from 

Maryland and Virginia participated 

in the Healers Helping Heroes 

Wounded Warrior 5K Fun Run at 

Meadowbrook Park. More than 20 

USU medical student volunteers 

helped organize and execute the 

event, which raised more than 

$10,000. This money was donated 

to support the wounded warrior 

detachments of NNMC and WRAMC. 

Photo by Navy Ensign Samuel Frasier

Photo by Navy Ensign Samuel Frasier

Courtesy Photo
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

USU student research takes first place 

by Sharon Willis

Fourth-year USU medical students 

Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Gravett, 2nd 

Lt. Daniel Allen and Army 2nd Lt. Brian 

Shiozawa, took top honors for their 

presentation at the American Academy 

of Family Physicians scientific assembly 

poster session in Boston, Oct. 14-17. 

The poster, “USB Video Otoscopy: 

Unraveling the Educational Mysteries 

of the Middle Ear,” won first place in 

the medical student research division. 

According to Gravett, the lead 

author, the poster was a summary of 

research done over 

the past two years 

using a USB-compatible 

video otoscope as an educational tool 

to teach first- and second-year medical 

students — the otoscope portion of 

the physical exam. Gravett and Allen 

designed and built the camera as a 

project during their first year at USU. 

The authors concluded student 

knowledge of middle ear anatomy 

and confidence in their middle ear 

exam can be significantly improved 

using video otoscopy and that video 

otoscopy is an attractive teaching tool 

for physical exam skills. 

“Students, in particular, appreciate the 

ability to have faculty verify what they are 

seeing when they perform an otoscopic 

exam. Previously, we used a ‘picture and 

a prayer,’” said Capt. (Dr.) Mark Stephens, 

who served as the faculty advisor and 

co-author for the winning research 

project. “Now, it is possible to verify that 

the student can visualize and articulate 

the structures of the middle ear.” 

Lt. Michael Gravett

Navy Capt. Jacqueline Rychnovsky, clinical instructor of 

Pediatrics and adjunct assistant professor, USU Nurse 

Practitioner Program, and Army Capt. Laurel Cofell, a fourth 

year clinical psychology doctoral candidate in USU’s Clinical 

Psychology graduate program, display their research poster 

at the recent Association of Military Surgeons of the United 

States meeting. Capt. Rychnovsky is currently a fellow in the 

office of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. 

2009 Outstanding Staff Members George Harriss (MDL) and 

Mary Kay Gibbons (OPD) received award certificates from 

Faculty Senate President Neil Grunberg at the December 10 

Faculty Senate meeting. Harriss and Gibbons were recognized 

for their outstanding support to the faculty and for maintaining 

the culture of collegiality and professionalism at USU. Their 

names will be engraved on the Appreciation Award wall plaque 

displayed in the Building B lobby.

Staff Awards Research Results

HM1 Michael Oliver Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo
January 11, 2010 7

USU Briefs

This issue (Jan. 11) is the first issue of the USU’s official newsletter, The Pulse! 

During the 2009 publication year, the newsletter held a contest to find an 

official name with the results of that contest being announced in conjunction 

with the first issue of 2010. 

The Pulse staff is proud to recognize Army Maj. Robert R. Arnold, assistant 

professor and program director of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

Program at the Graduate School of Nursing for his submission of “The Pulse.”

Congratulations to Major Arnold! 

—The Pulse staff 

License plates: 

The USU Alumi Bookstore still has 

USU organizational license plates available for purchase. 

Most of the first 50 license plate 

numbers have already been assigned. 

For more information about reserving your USU Maryland license plates, 

call the bookstore at 295-3686. 

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 selfcoded 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.

Personnel must not permit 

unauthorized individuals access to a 

government-owned or governmentoperated system or program; access 

online gambling, games and social 

engineering sites.

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.

Military Awards Nominations:

The next military awards panel 

will convene January 26. Nomination 

packages will be due through the chain 

of command no later than January 19. 

Any award with higher precedence 

than the Defense Meritorious Service 

Medal must be submitted 150 days 

prior to presentation. Contact HM2 

Sylvia McBee at 295-9654 or sylvia.

mcbee@usuhs.mil with questions.

CFC extended: 

The deadline for donations to the 

Combined Federal Campaign has been 

extended to Jan 15. 

The deadline was extended 

to provide more time for people 

to select and decide on their 

contributions. 

For more information, contact your 

department’s key worker.

Exercise/Fitness Areas: 

Physical Fitness training should be 

conducted in designated areas. 

The only authorized space for PT 

within the university is room G060. 

The campus’ Student Community 

Lounge area is also authorized, but only 

during specified PFT testing dates or times.

2010 Antietam Medical

Staff March: 

The Department of Military and 

Emergency Medicine will conduct the 

Antietam Medical Staff Walk at the 

Antietam National Battlefield on April 

29, 2010. The Medical Staff Walk, a 

component of Military Medical Field 

Studies, is designed to give the student 

an appreciation of how historical 

lessons learned have shaped modern 

and future military medicine. This 

year’s medical walk will retrace a Civil 

War casualty’s evacuation route from 

the battlefield to supporting hospitals 

within the area, highlighting military 

medical lessons learned along the way.

The Pulse graphic by Lori Fields

Mark your calendars for the next

USU Town Hall meeting.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 • 3 p.m.