Volume 9, Issue 17 • September 15, 2014

www.usuhs.edu 

The Official USU Newsletter 

A Day in the Life of USU 
 

 

Photo by Christine Creenan-Jones 

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 and Photographer 

MC3 Laura Bailey 

Writer and Photographer 

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 is published 

biweekly on Mondays. The deadline 

for submissions is at 4 p.m. 

Tuesday prior to the publication 

date. Submissions can be sent to 

christine.creenan-jones@usuhs.edu 

or by calling 301-295-3338. 

On the cover 

In an effort to showcase the incredible 

people who work at the Uniformed Services 

University, the Office of External Affairs took 

candid pictures of USU’s faculty, staff and 

students in action on August 25 for the Day 

in the Life of USU photo project. View some 

of the collection on pages 4-7 and 11. 

2 the pulse September 15, 2014 

Class of 2018 starts new tradition with 

ceremonial commissioning

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor 

Photo by Thomas Balfour 

The Uniformed Services University hosted a Ceremonial Commissioning for 

incoming F. Edward Hébert Medical Students, Aug. 29. 

Medical students from the Class 

of 2018 at the Uniformed Services 

University participated in a ceremonial commissioning, Aug. 29. The 

event – the first of its kind at USU 

– was held to publicly recognize the 

oath taken by Army, Navy, Air Force 

and Public Health Service officers 

to support and defend the United 

States Constitution through careers 

in uniformed service in USU’s F. 

Edward Hébert School of Medicine.

 Since all Hébert medical students 

are officially commissioned before 

school starts, the ceremony was 

largely symbolic and a way for family 

and friends to participate in a timehonored military tradition.

 “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to 

recognize how very important ceremonies like this are,” said the event’s 

keynote speaker, Dr. Eric Schoomaker, former Surgeon General of 

the Army and a current Scholar-inResidence at USU.

 During his speech, Schoomaker 

also commended USU’s new officers 

for commissioning “during troubling times.” However, despite their 

heavy responsibilities, Schoomaker 

implored the new officers to always 

to remember the “importance of 

promises kept.”

 For the Class of 2018, reaffirming 

their promise in front of loved ones 

at USU was a way to validate the 

significance of the Oath of Commissioned Officers.

 “My family wasn’t at my first 

commissioning ceremony, so it felt 

a little bittersweet to embark on a 

major milestone without them by 

my side. Turns out a lot of my USU 

classmates felt the same way, which 

I discovered after a survey went out 

about our commissioning experiences,” said Army 2nd Lt. Donald 

Rees. “A group of us got together and 

decided to host a redo of sorts. The 

response from the Class of 2018 was 

overwhelming and the end result 

was perfect. More than 40 students 

participated, families came from 

across the United States, and we had 

wonderful guest speakers. It felt real 

and it felt good to take our oaths in 

front of people who matter the most 

to us at USU.” 
USU alumnus receives American Legion Distinguished Service Medal
 

by Sharon Holland, managing editor

 The national leadership of the American Legion recently named F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine 

graduate Dr. Donald Jenkins (’88) its 2014 Distinguished Service Medal recipient.

 Jenkins, a retired Air Force colonel, is an actively 

engaged affiliated faculty member in USU’s Norman 

M. Rich Department of Surgery, and currently serves 

as the Consultant, Division of Trauma, Critical Care 

and General Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery, 

and Medical Director of the Trauma Center at the 

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

 The American Legion awarded its first Distinguished Service Medal in 1921 “as tribute to those 

who made great contributions to veterans.” The 

initial award was presented to five individuals to 

recognize the importance of Allied forces in the victorious battles of World War I. Jenkins joins former 

U.S. Presidents, Congressional and military leaders, 

philanthropists, leaders in science and health care, 

and other pioneers and luminaries in receipt of this 

medal and is the fifth surgeon to receive the honor.

 Jenkins was presented the Distinguished Service 

Medal during the American Legion’s National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August for 

his contributions to combat casualty care research, 

which “resulted in the most advanced trauma system in history resulting in the lowest fatality rate 

recorded in war,” according to the award resolution. 

Jenkins was also lauded for his use of a “different 

transfusion formula that reduced the mortality rate 

from 70 percent to 20 percent” and for reintroducing 

the use of tourniquets on the battlefield. 

“It is truly a team effort and no one individual can 

truly lay claim to such distinction,” said Jenkins. 

“This award belongs to every medic and corpsman, 

every nurse and technician, every one of the personnel in lab, pharmacy, blood bank, radiology and all 

the logisticians and biomedical engineers and respiratory therapists as well as the physicians and surgeons and leaders and administrators in uniform and 

Photo by Tom Strattman, The American Legion 

Dr. Donald Jenkins, an F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine alumnus (‘88), was awarded the Distinguished 

Service Medal from the American Legion. 

DoD civilians. We should all take pride in our work 

but not settle on these accomplishments, but strive 

to improve care of the injured combatant that much 

more.”

 Jenkins earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 

Biochemistry from the University of Scranton, followed by his Doctorate of Medicine from USU in 

1988. He completed a surgery residency at Wilford 

Hall Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio, followed by a fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical 

Care and Focused Abdominal Sonography in Trauma 

at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 

Philadelphia. He served 24 years on active duty in 

the Air Force, with his last assignment at Wilford 

Hall, where he served as the trauma medical director 

responsible for all trauma medical care and administration of the U.S. Air Force’s only American College 

of Surgeons Verified Level 1 Trauma Center in the 

decade prior to his retirement in 2008. 

Back to School Trivia 

Question #2
	

The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine implemented a new curriculum in 2011. 

What is it called? 

The first person to e-mail the correct response to christine.creenan-jones@usuhs.edu 

wins a large coffee and doughnut courtesy of the USU cafeteria. 

3 the pulse September 15, 2014 
 

 

 

A Day in the Life
 

The Uniformed Services University is 

buzzing with exciting research, learning, teaching and behind-the-scenes work 

every day. In an effort to capture a candid but typical view of campus life, the 

Office of External Affairs armed its staff 

members with cameras and open access 

to USU’s classrooms, labs, centers, offices 

and shared spaces on August 25.

 The pictures they took bring to life the 

sum of USU’s many parts.This special edition of the Pulse is dedicated to the faculty, 

staff and students who keep USU moving 

at the cutting edge. 

Photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Dillon Campus Life

Photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Dillon 

Photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Dillon 

Photo by MC3 Laura Bailey 

4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter 
 

 

 

Courtesy of the Postgraduate Dental College Photo by Kyle Furhman

Photo by Christine Creenan-Jones Student Body

Photo by Christine Creenan-Jones 

5 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter 
Photo by Christine Creenan-Jones 

Faculty

Photo by Kyle Fuhrman Photo by Thomas Balfour 

6 the pulse September 15, 2014 
 

Photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Dillon Staff

Photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Dillon 

Photo by Thomas Balfour Photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Dillon 

7 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USU pediatric capstone students recognized at national meeting 

courtesy of USU Pediatrics Department 

Two members of the F. Edward 

Hébert School of Medicine class of 

2015, Air Force 2nd Lt. Philip Matthews and Army 2nd Lt. Christopher 

Stark, were invited to present their 

Capstone Program research at the 

First Annual Pediatric Medical Student Research Forum, an academic 

meeting held in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 

29-31.

 In an invited platform session, 

Matthews presented his qualitative 

research project titled, “How Professionalism is Learned: Assessing 

the Impact of Curriculum Reform 

on Student’s Perceptions of Professionalism at the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences 

(USUHS).” His work used medical 

student reflections on how the new 

curriculum impacts on their learning of professionalism, an area of by Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Cade Nylund, who have long track records in suc­ education where there has been little assistant professor of Pediatrics, a cessfully guiding student research.” formal work presented to date. Their SoM Class of 2004 alumnus. The students’ work was supported initial findings uncovered a need In addition to both students having by a combination of resources from for development and application of been selectively invited from a large the Department of Pediatrics, the new qualitative research methods to pool of potential attendees, Stark Capstone Program within the Dean’s track novel themes regarding profes­ was awarded 2nd place for excel- Office, and the Office of Research. sionalism which may be emerging lence in research among the poster “It was a win-win for everyone,” from students experiencing the new presentations. continued Ottolini. “The University curriculum. He performed under Both projects were performed community has been tremendously the mentorship of retired Army Col. under the structure of the Capstone supportive of many similar inde­ (Dr.) Virginia Randall, associate Senior Student Research Program, pendent projects for members of the professor of Pediatrics. which was implemented beginning Class of 2015. We have an enthusi­ Stark presented a poster titled, “As­ in April 2014 as the final component astic and generous academic com­ sociation of Prematurity with the De- of the new curriculum that began munity.” velopment of Infantile Hypertrophic with the Class of 2015. The Capstone Program is initially Pyloric Stenosis.” His team used the “These results were a synergy of phasing in as an advanced elective, Military Health System database to many of the best aspects of the aca- as it expands its capabilities, and will demonstrate that premature infants demic environment in the F. Edward eventually be an integrated part of have a higher incidence of infantile Hébert School of Medicine at the the post-clerkship educational expe­ hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (ob- Uniformed Services University,” said rience for all medical students. More 

struction of the gastric outlet) than retired Air Force Col. (Dr.) Martin than 30 members of the class of 2015 full term infants, yet present at a Ottolini, the Capstone Program have already begun their indepen­ later chronological age. He per- director. “We start with very highly dent projects and many students formed this work under the mentor- motivated students, strongly led by from the class of 2016 are beginning ship of a team of pediatric faculty led two of the University’s best mentors the planning for their experiences. 

F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine students, Air Force 2nd Lt. Philip Mathews 

(left) and Army 2nd Lt. Christopher Stark (middle), presented their Capstone 

Program research at the First Annual Pediatric Medical Student Research 

Forum in Orlando, Aug. 29-31. They were joined by Dr. Scott Rivkees, chair of 

the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida. 

Courtesy photo 

8 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter 
 

 

PDC program director, jack of many trades
 

by Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 Army Col. (Dr.) Pete Guevara, a program director 

for the comprehensive dentistry program at the Army 

Postgraduate Dental School, comes from a long line 

of dentists. His grandfather, father and brother share 

his profession. His ambition, however, stretched 

farther than dental medicine alone.

 Guevara joined the Army after completing dental 

school at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Back then, he saw the military as an opportunity 

to explore the world.

 “I didn’t want to be one of those people who went 

to school in Pittsburgh and never left. I wanted to 

experience the world,” Guevara said.

 His longing for adventure became a fast reality in 

the Army. Besides his stateside duty assignments, 

Guevera has practiced dentistry in Germany, Bosnia, 

Nigeria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

 “I’ve worked in a lot of places, some harder than 

others, and I’ve met and treated a lot of really incredible service members everywhere I’ve gone. This is 

especially true in hot war zones. We all have it pretty 

rough on deployments but line troops seem to have it 

the toughest. They make a lot of sacrifices in the line 

of duty. Being able to take care of them has been a 

real honor,” he said.

 The camaraderie that accompanies military service 

was something Guevara missed when he took a twoyear reprieve from the Army to teach at his dental 

school alma matter in 2007. 

“My father taught at Pitt, so for me it was pretty 

neat to go back and follow in his footsteps. Still, I 

couldn’t wait to commission again,” he said. “There 

are a lot of perks that come with military dentistry. 

For one, I really enjoy being part of a group practice. 

My uniformed colleagues have become my friends 

and sounding boards for sharing ideas. I also like 

that military dentists can spend their whole day 

focused on teaching or dentistry. Civilians don’t have 

that luxury because they have administrative issues 

and insurance limitations to consider.”

 A soldier at heart, Guevara was back in Army green 

by 2009. His uniform, however, looked slightly 

Courtesy photo 

Army Col. (Dr.) Pete Guevara
	

different than most fatigues worn by dental corps 

officers. 

“Mine has parachute wings,” he said. “I joined the 

Army as a dentist but also spent a lot of years as a 

paratrooper and jump master for airborne units.”

 For Guevara, it was mentally and physically challenging work that allowed him to both learn and 

teach military-unique skills. At certain points in 

his career, Guevara spent more time jumping out of 

planes than in his dental clinic.

 Although still proud to be an airborne soldier, these 

days Guevara’s feet are planted firmly on the ground 

at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where he’s teaching USU master’s students the art of comprehensive 

dentistry.

 “I really love teaching. It’s my way of adding to the 

future of the dental corps,” said Guevara. 

Do you have a story for Pulse staff members? Submit your ideas to 

the new editor, MC3 Laura Bailey at 

laura.bailey@usuhs.edu.
	

9 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter 
 

USU center contributes to national preparedness year round
 

by Liz Brasington, NCDMPH
	

September may be National Preparedness Month, 

but the National Center for Disaster Medicine and 

Public Health at the Uniformed Services University 

works year round to improve national preparedness 

and resilience through the education and training of 

the disaster health workforce.

 The NCDMPH supports national disaster preparedness through original research, online accredited 

lessons and interdisciplinary national events. 

The center recently hosted a “Learning in Disaster 

Health Workshop,” which featured multidisciplinary 

experts and a talk by keynote speaker, Dr. Arthur 

Kellermann, dean of the F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine.

 The NCDMPH is also sponsoring a qualitative case 

study called, “Examining Long-Term Community Recovery to Identify Opportunities for Improved Education and Training.” The study examines communities impacted by Hurricane Irene and Superstorm 

Sandy with a special focus on the lived experience of 

community leaders, emergency managers and other 

members of the disaster health workforce as they 

move toward recovery.

 A research collaboration via a Centers for Disease Control-funded study with the Johns Hopkins 

Bloomberg School of Public Health and the State of 

Maryland’s Department of Health is another ongoing 

NCDMPH program. This study will examine and enhance public health workers’ sense of efficacy during 

the recovery phase of disasters. The NCDMPH created a comprehensive, evidence-based educational 

curriculum intervention to increase self-efficacy and 

threat perception among local public health workers 

in this poorly understood phase of the disaster cycle. 

Furthermore, the center has multiple accredited 

online lessons and materials that focus on pediatric disaster issues. Developed with subject matter 

experts, these lessons focus on how disasters can 

uniquely affect children. Current topic areas include 

psychosocial needs of children in disasters, radiation 

disaster issues in children, and reuniting children 

with their parents or legal guardians in disasters. All 

of these resources aim to foster increased preparedness in the disaster workforce. 

These resources can be downloaded at the center’s 

website at ncdmph.usuhs.edu. 

USU donors honored 

Members of the Marine Corps 

honor guard fold the American 

flag for a fellow Marine Corps 

veteran whose body was recently 

donated to the Uniformed 

Services University’s Anatomical 

Gift Program. He, and other 

donors, were honored during 

a memorial service held at 

Arlington National Cemetery. 

Photo by Ronald Rivenburgh 

10 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter
Photo by Kyle Furhman Courtesy of the Postgraduate Dental College Photo by Christine Creenan-Jones

Final Frame: A Day in the Life

Photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Dillon Photo by Kyle Furhman Photo by Thomas Balfour