Volume 6, Issue 13 n August 15, 2011

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
On the cover

USU students took part in the annual 

field training exercises, Operation 

Bushmaster and Operation Kerkesner 

recently. See stories on pages 3 and 4. 

Additional photos on pages 8 and 9.

Thomas C. Balfour

Courtesy Photo

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

DTRA forces, including AFRRI personnel, deployed to Japan in support of 

Operation Tomadachi. 

AFRRI Team provides support to Japan 

Courtesy of AFRRI

On March 11, a 9.0 earthquake off 

the eastern coast of Japan caused the 

primary power source at the Fukushima 

Daiichi nuclear power plant reactors to 

shut down. Minutes later, a tsunami hit 

the coast and took out the backup power 

supplies at the plant. With no energy to 

run the pumps, there wasn’t any water 

pumping in to cool the reactors. This 

was the beginning of the world’s largest 

radiation emergency since Chernobyl.

Navy Ensign Lee Alleman, and Air 

Force Captain Brian Livingston, are 

health physicists assigned to Medical 

Military Operations (MMO) at the 

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research 

Institute (AFRRI). Although MMO is 

best known for teaching the Medical 

Effects of Ionizing Radiation (MEIR) 

course, there is an equally important 

mission called the Medical Radiobiology Advisory Team (MRAT). As part 

of the MRAT, Ens. Alleman and Capt. 

Livingston train specifically for these 

types of emergencies. 

The pair were called to deploy to Japan 

five days after the earthquake as part of 

the Consequence Management Advisory 

Team (CMAT) at the Defense Threat 

Reduction Agency (DTRA) for Operation Tomodachi. The CMATs provide 

task-organized, deployable, technical 

expertise support, advice, and hazard 

prediction assistance for the Department 

of Defense and other federal agencies 

during all phases of accidents or incidents 

of a chemical, biological, radiological or 

nuclear nature.

As health physicists, Ens. Alleman and 

Capt. Livingston worked on the United 

States Forces Japan (USFJ) Surgeon’s staff 

and advised the Surgeon on radiation 

protection. They were located at USFJ 

Headquarters on Yokota Air Base near 

Tokyo. The USFJ Headquarters was the 

central location in Japan through which 

all activities were coordinated. A few 

weeks after the initial earthquake, USFJ 

combined with the Japanese military to 

become Joint Support Forces Japan. The 

U.S. and Japan defense forces worked 

together to provide humanitarian aid 

to those affected by the earthquake and 

tsunami, but also keep their soldiers and 

the public protected during the ongoing 

reactor situation.

The U.S. military had more than 

60,000 personnel and family members 

in Japan during Operation Tomodachi. USFJ had the monumental task 

of overseeing these forces during 

the aftermath of the earthquake. 

Due to the limited expertise available to USFJ at the start of the crisis, 

Ens. Alleman and Capt. Livingston 

provided the necessary guidance to 

ensure safe operations and protocols 

Continued to page 6
Whether inside the USU 

dive lab, outside in the 

blistering summer heat or 

utilizing the latest in exercise 

equipment, Department of 

Military and Emergency 

Medicine (MEM) topics 

range from the effects of heat 

transfer out of the body in 

cold to underwater medicine 

to advanced emphasis on 

cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems.

“Particularly in emergency 

medicine, experience is a more 

powerful teaching tool than a test 

question or line from a book,” said Navy 

Lt. Christopher Steele, Ph.D. assistant 

professor in MEM. “It is one thing to 

teach about the effects of cold water 

immersion on the body, but actually 

dunking the students into ice-water 

for several minutes brings the experience to life. We can let them experience the initial cold-induced gasp 

reflex, monitor their own cardiovascular responses, and eventually become 

subjected to the loss of motor control 

through manual dexterity tests.” 

Sports and health medicine may 

be part of a regular medical school 

curriculum, but rarely are the effects 

and increased emphasis experienced 

the way USU students do. These topics 

relate to military medicine because 

of the environmental factors and 

stresses servicemembers experience. 

Hypothermia from cold environments 

and pressure changes from different 

altitudes aren’t unique to the practice of 

military physicians, but they are more 

commonly experienced.

Through its Applied Physiology 

course, MEM instructors guide USU 

students through exercises and events 

designed to illustrate concepts such as 

heat transfer out of the body in cold 

water, how light and sound travel in 

water, and when pulmonary function 

tests should be used to diagnose 

pulmonary disorders. 

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

August 15, 2011 3

Students dive into curriculum, run away with knowledge

by MC1 Chad Hallford

Navy Commander Rene’ Hernandez discusses the effects of 

deep water and pressure changes on body functions.

Optional aviation laboratories also simulate effects of 

altitude on the body. They also 

illustrate why exercise impacts 

the flow of oxygen, or the differences in oxygen capacity from 

rest to complete exertion, and 

how concepts of exercise apply to 

military operations.

“Because the students selfsufficiently run the cardiopulmonary lab, they can see a proper 

graph of oxygen after breathing 

in the machine, and learn how 

injuries or disease may impact 

those graphs,” said Navy Lt. 

Brian Andrews-Shigaki. “The importance of our course is to bridge the 

gap between the basic sciences and the 

operational environment.” 

 “The success of our students culminates when they begin their practice of 

medicine,” said Steele. “But, none of it 

would be possible without the expertise, technical guidance, safety monitoring and support of our USU staff.” 

To ensure the real success of 

its students, MEM pulls in Sports 

Medicine doctors, enlisted and officers 

with diving experience, and a number 

of in-house experts. They use their 

training and real-world experiences 

for the benefit of the students. 

Superior Civilian Service award for USU faculty

by Ken Frager Ann Stewart, DVM, Ph.D., who 

recently joined the faculty in Tropical 

Public Health, Preventive Medicine and 

Biometrics, was awarded the Superior 

Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Army. The award recognized 

Dr. Stewart’s service from September 

1999 until February 2011 while working 

as a senior scientist and director for the 

International Malaria Serology Reference 

Library at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).

According to the citation, Dr. 

Stewart “is recognized for her excellent 

service leading major research studies 

to discern important aspects 

of the immune responses to faliciparum malaria in non-human 

primates which has led to vaccine 

optimization strategies. Dr. Stewart 

directed the International Malaria 

Serology Reference Laboratory at 

WRAIR, providing critical immunology support for Army/DoD malaria 

vaccine trials as well as those 

conducted by our collaborators 

worldwide and led efforts to improve 

malaria diagnostics overseas in 

Kenya by brining novel computerized 

technology for automated microscopy.” Courtesy photo
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Field training exercises integrate cross-cultural education 

Article courtesy of the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine

As they have for six years now, fourthyear medical students and advanced 

practice nursing students spent July 

preparing for and “deploying” to an 

exotic locale, the notional country of 

Pandakar. Two weeks of didactics at the 

USU were structured as preparation for 

their deployment, so students would be 

able to function as leaders and medical 

providers in Pandakar, also known as 

Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. 

This year offered a new twist: developing 

the language and cross-cultural competencies to interact more effectively with 

Host Nation people.

Led by a team from the Department 

of Military and Emergency Medicine’s 

Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM), 

the students gained an understanding 

of the emerging mission set known as 

Medical Stability Operations. Following the attacks of 9-11 and a decade 

of counter-insurgency warfare it has 

become clear that national security 

at home depends on attaining greater 

stability in regions around the globe. 

One of the most useful tools for this 

“soft power” is engaging partner 

nations through health.

Language and cross-cultural competency is a critical factor in achieving 

success, whether health professionals are 

engaging with individual patients as part 

of a disaster response or Medical Civic 

Action Program (MEDCAP), or working 

with Ministry of Health officials to 

build sustainable capacity in their health 

system. CDHAM created a pilot program 

to expose USU students to a stability 

operations scenario as part of a larger 

program, the Defense Medical Language 

Initiative (DMLI), to develop language 

and culture training for Department of 

Defense health personnel.

During the didactic phase 

students learned of a large segment 

of the Pandakar population that was 

displaced due to insurgent violence. 

It was anticipated that this Internally 

Displaced Population (IDP) might 

become a humanitarian emergency 

during the deployment, intended to be 

a Peacekeeping Operation.

The students were told that the local 

leaders had designated an area to establish the IDP camp and they were tasked 

with doing a site survey to determine 

if it would be satisfactory. When they 

found it to be inadequate, they had to 

go negotiate with the local Sheik, Dr. 

Shakir Jawad, and a representative from 

the Pandakar Ministry of Health (MoH), 

Dr. Ali Alameri. The wrinkle was that 

neither the Sheik or the MoH representative spoke English, so all negotiations had to be through an interpreter, 

Dr. Maysaa Mahmood. Mr. Gregg 

Nakano acted as a member of a Chinese 

non-governmental organization (NGO) 

competing for the favor of the Government of Pandakar and Dr. Kevin Riley 

CDHAM Deputy Director, portrayed a 

United Nations Officer.

These members of the CDHAM 

team provided an incredible degree 

of authenticity and realism for the 

students. A mock village was created 

among shipping containers, including a vendor and background sounds. 

Before any negotiating began, students 

had to participate in ceremonial toasting and the proverbial “cup of tea.” 

While outwardly wanting to assist the 

displaced people, they were of a different ethnic group, so the Sheik wanted 

some compensation for his people. Also, 

there was a dynamic tension between the 

Sheik, who wanted aid delivered directly 

to his village, and the government official 

who demanded it be routed through his 

system. The students became acutely 

aware of the difficulty working through 

an interpreter, where communication 

has to be in short bits and the accuracy 

of translation is sometimes in doubt.

The students handled themselves 

like true health diplomats. The most 

valuable outcome though, when they 

find themselves in a future situation 

where language and culture might be an 

obstacle to their mission, they will be 

much more effective.

Developing cross-cultural competencies was an important lesson learned during 

the recent Operation Bushmaster field exercises.

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour
August 15, 2011 5

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.

Food and Color Additives: What 

are they?

If you read product labels, you 

know there are “mystery” ingredients in many foods. The FDA 

has a brochure to take some of the 

mystery away. 

Food and color additives exist 

in many of the foods that we eat. 

They are used to improve safety 

and freshness, maintain the nutritional value of foods, and improve 

texture and appearance. The 

brochure can be accessed at 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/

FoodIngredientsPackaging/

ucm094211.htm

Heat stress is a concern even for 

the fittest Warfighter

Heat acclimatization is the 

process of giving your body the 

time needed to adapt to exertion in 

extreme heat. Even the fittest person 

needs to take time to acclimatize.

Heat-related injuries are a threat, 

even to those in top physical condition, deployed to extreme environments. Heat acclimatization is 

necessary to ensure that the health 

and performance is not compromised to a dangerous degree when 

exposed to heat stress.

Take it slow. For unacclimatized 

individuals, physical exertion should 

be limited in intensity and time. 

Allow 9-14 days of progressive heat 

exposure and exertion—more for 

those who are less fit, less for those 

who are more fit. 

Don’t overdo it; don’t underdo 

it! Heat acclimatization requires 

exposure at least two hours per day 

(can be two one-hour segments) 

while engaged in a cardiovascular 

exercise (which should increase in 

intensity each day of the acclimatization period).

It’s all relative. The level of 

heat acclimatization achieved is 

relative to the exertion normally 

expended. If light exertion is the 

norm, the level of heat acclimatization after two weeks will match 

that. If more strenuous exertion is 

called for, additional acclimatization and possibly improved fitness 

is required.

Work smart. If you must 

perform physical work during the 

acclimatization period, take advantage of the cooler hours during the 

morning, evening and night.

Stay hydrated. Adequate water 

is essential. Heat acclimatization 

increases sweating and, therefore, 

water requirements. Dehydration 

rapidly degrades safety and performance, even for those who are 

already heat acclimatized or in top 

physical condition. 

USU recognizes Employees of the Quarter 

by MC1 Chad Hallford

Yvonne Upshur and Timothy Taylor 

were named Employees of the Quarter 

for the first quarter of 2011.

Upshur, the Junior awardee, works 

in the Mail and Communications 

section of the Administrative Support 

Division (ASD).

“I was excited—ecstatic—to find 

out I had been selected,” said Upshur. 

“I had no idea I was even nominated, 

but it is nice to be recognized and 

appreciated for the leadership and 

the environment I have developed 

between our ASD sections.” 

Upshur’s skills and devotion have 

been felt beyond the mail section of 

ASD. She helps provide a full-spectrum 

of quality customer services to USU’s 

broad-base of constituents. 

Her skills and leadership have 

also extended into the communications section. Yvonne is not only 

responsible for monitoring the 

University BlackBerry accounts, but 

also supervising the daily operations 

within USU duplicating.

“Mrs. Upshur’s expertise and versatility have allowed her to promote new 

ways to improve efficiency and the 

quality of services rendered,” said Karen 

Moore, ASD support services supervisor.

Timothy Taylor, the senior recipient, can be found in the technical services branch of the Logistics 

Division as the only air conditioningrefrigeration mechanic assigned to 

both USU and AFRRI. 

Responsible for handling all repairs 

between both organizations, he has 

maintained an impressive 95 percent 

service repair completion record. 

Taylor’s hard work and dedication 

impacts many operations throughout 

the University and AFRRI.

His efforts have ranged from 

averting chemical disasters from 

failed refrigeration units to helping 

USU become a little more ‘environmentally friendly’ with innovative 

processes and practices designed 

to minimize disposal dangers and 

waste backlog. 

“Tim Taylor has provided great 

value to the university through 

responsive service to the faculty and 

staff, innovative process improvements and the establishment of a 

satellite shop at AFRRI,” said Russell 

Shettle, Logistics Technical Services 

Branch chief. 

Yvonne Upshur Timothy Taylor
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

for personnel supporting Operation Tomodachi. Ens. Alleman gave a 

physics lecture to the Ambassador.

The DoD and other organizations 

such as the Department of Energy, 

were operating in an environment 

unfamiliar to most military forces. 

Other than Three Mile Island, which 

had no significant release of radioactive contaminants, this was the first 

U.S. response to a major radiological incident. Because of this, and the 

fact that they were on foreign soil, 

trying to decide what proper procedures or guidance to follow played a 

major role in almost every decision. 

Ens. Alleman and Capt. Livingston had the responsibility of advising the senior staff on radiological 

protection and actions to reduce the 

radiation threat. Additional advice 

consisted of how best to coordinate efforts as Americans in Japan, 

keeping in mind the safety of U.S. 

personnel on the island. 

While over in Japan, Ens. Alleman 

and Capt. Livingston worked with 

several other organizations inside and 

outside the DoD. They worked closely 

with the Department of Energy and 

the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

The Air Force Radiation Assessment 

Team, from Wright-Patterson Air Force 

Base in Ohio, and the 9th Area Medical 

Laboratory, from Aberdeen Proving 

Grounds, provided a mobile team of 

scientists and lab techs to USFJ, allowing them to collect and analyze data 

from anywhere on the island.

One of the biggest challenges for 

the medical staff at USFJ was from the 

public affairs perspective. On March 

15, military family members living 

on mainland Japan were given the 

option of voluntary departure due to 

the radiation threat as well as continued aftershocks. This evacuation 

ended 30 days later, and the Public 

Affairs Office had to take information 

from the Surgeon’s office and provide 

assurance that living in Japan was 

safe. The other challenge was to 

educate the public that radiation 

naturally existed all around them, 

and that there was no known health 

effects associated with low levels of it. 

Communicating this will be an 

ongoing challenge for years to come. 

Fortunately, this is exactly what 

the MRAT trains others for as part 

of the MEIR. 

AFRRI is part of the ongoing effort 

to determine the radiation doses 

received by DoD personnel, something 

that could take several years to finalize for each individual. There is no 

way to be completely prepared for an 

incident of this magnitude: few people 

could have imagined a scenario involving an earthquake, a tsunami, and 

three nuclear meltdowns. However, 

the coordinated efforts of U.S. forces 

worldwide were something to be proud 

of and this is a reminder to be ready 

for anything, all the time.

Continued from page 2

AFRRI support to Japan

USU expert honored

by Ken Frager

Army Lt. Col. John P. Cuellar 

was recognized recently with a 

Joint Service Achievement Medal 

for his contributions as a radiation 

health consultant to the Office of the 

Command Surgeon, Headquarters, 

U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), 

Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. In this 

role, Lt. Col. Cuellar worked in 

support of Operation Tomodachi, 

which provided disaster relief support 

to Japan following the earthquake 

and subsequent tsunami earlier this 

year. He was nominated for this 

award by Rear Adm. Michael Mittleman, Command Surgeon, U.S. Pacific 

Command. The award was presented 

by USU president Dr. Charles L. Rice.

In the citation accompanying the 

award, Rear Adm. Mittleman stated 

that Lt. Col. Cuellar “expertly managed 

the Radiation Health Working Group, 

ensuring efforts of higher headquarters, 

Naval Reactors, services, dosimetry 

centers and in-theatre radiation 

health officers were coordinated 

and consistent.” It also states that 

Lt. Col. Cuellar “contributed to the 

development of new CONOPS, 

which expanded voluntary internal 

monitoring to all DOD-affiliated 

personnel. He also developed the 

updated Health Physics Directive to 

include groundbreaking protocols on 

the monitoring of children.” 

Upon receiving the award from 

Dr. Rice, Lt. Col. Cuellar reflected 

on his time on the project. “I was 

one of many staff advisors that 

came in to PACOM headquarters 

as a direct report to Rear Adm. 

Mittleman,” he said. “We worked 

well as a team, contributed a great 

deal during a time of great uncertainty, and it is nice to be recognized 

and get another pat on the back.”

Photo by Ken Frager

Army Lt. Col. John P. Cuellar
August 15, 2011 7

Dean Hinshaw achieves Academy 

of Nursing ‘Legend’ status

by Ken Frager

International recognition bestowed 

on faculty leader

by Ken Frager

‘Meatless Mondays’ 

provide additional 

dining options

by MC1 Chad Hallford

USU Graduate School of Nursing Dean Ada Sue 

Hinshaw, RN, Ph.D., has been selected as a “Living 

Legend” by the American Academy of Nursing 

(AAN). Dr. Hinshaw will be formally inducted 

on October 15, 2011 at the AAN’s 38th Annual 

Meeting and Conference in Washington, DC. 

Annually since 1994, the AAN has named 

“Living Legends,” recognizing extraordinary 

lifetime achievement. A “Living Legend” must 

have been an Active or Emeritus Fellow for 

at least 15 years, making extraordinary and 

sustained contributions to nursing and health 

care throughout their career. They also must 

continue to influence the profession.

Dr. Hinshaw has been a leader in the Academy 

since her initial induction as an AAN Fellow in 

1978. She was elected to serve as AAN President 

in 2001.

Col. (Dr.) William Campbell, professor and 

past chairman, USU Department of Neurology, 

has been selected to receive the 2011 American 

Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) Distinguished 

Physician Award. Dr. Campbell has been a 

member of the USU faculty since 2000.

“This recognition is a very prestigious professional award that truly honors a great clinican 

and teacher,” said Army Col. (Dr.) Geoffrey Ling, 

interim chair, department of Neurology. “When 

an international organization, the AANEM, 

chooses only one such physician per year to 

recognize, it is a true honor.” 

Dr. Campbell, selected because of his many 

contributions to the field, including a textbook 

on the subject (Essentials of Electrodiagnostic 

Medicine), said “It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 

years since I first joined the AANEM, getting 

ready to take my subspecialty board examinations. The AANEM’s commitment to research 

and continuing education is exceptional and I feel 

honored to be chosen for the award, whose past 

recipients constitute a very select group.”

Dean Ada Sue Hinshaw, 

RN, Ph.D.

Col. (Dr.) William Campbell

As the new school year 

approaches, JGB Café & Catering is 

enhancing the menu selections in the 

USU cafeteria, Midwatch Kiosk and 

from catering services.

Among the first upgrades is the 

addition of a meatless option on 

Mondays in the cafeteria’s main 

entrée line.

“The main dish on Monday will 

be vegetarian, ranging from General 

Tso’s tofu, ratatouille and stuffed 

zucchini, to eggplant stackers and a 

mango-veggie stir fry,” said Kathryn 

Troutman, on-site JGB manager.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to provide a diet robust 

in fruits, vegetables and high-fiber 

grains,” said Troutman. “There are 

proven benefits to healthier eating, but 

we also are trying to respect the range 

of cultures here at the university, some 

of which prefer meatless diets.”

Some research shows that diets high 

in fruits and vegetables may reduce 

cancer risk, while nuts and seeds can 

reduce the risk of heart disease. Other 

studies show people on low-meat or 

vegetarian diets have significantly lower 

body weight and body mass index. And 

other studies suggest reducing overall 

meat consumption can prevent longterm weight gain.

 “We try and provide options good 

for both the body and the Earth,” 

said Troutman.

Meat options will remain available at 

the grill and deli locations.

From the opening weekend last 

Memorial Day, to the opening of 

the Midwatch Café in Bulding C, 

the JGB mission of providing excellent service to USU “has been an 

adventure to serve some really great 

people,” said Troutman.

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Courtesy Photo
2011

8 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Field 

Training Exercises

Photos by Thomas C. Balfour, Ken Frager, 

Army Col. Cliff Lutz and Sharon Willis
August 15, 2011 9
10 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

USU professor of Surgery Air Force 

Col. (Ret.) Mark W. Bowyer, MD, 

FACS, received the Advanced Trauma 

Life Support (ATLS) Meritorious 

Service Award from the American 

College of Surgeons Committee on 

Trauma at the 89th Annual Meeting in 

Washington, DC.

Dr. Bowyer, chief of USU’s Division 

of Trauma and Combat Surgery and 

director of Surgical Simulation at 

the National Capital Area Medical 

Simulation Center, was recognized for 

his “selfless dedication and commitment to improving the care of the 

trauma patient through innovative 

organization and promotion of the 

ATLS(R) Course for Doctors, generous 

contribution of time and expertise, and 

unflagging support of the ideals upheld 

by the ACS Committee on Trauma.”

ATLS is a course designed to teach 

physicians how to care for traumatically injured patients during their 

initial presentation to the hospital. This 

course which began in 1980 and now 

taught to more than 24,000 students 

a year in more than 60 countries, has 

strong ties to the Uniformed Services 

University. USU offered one of the first 

ATLS courses in the world in 1980 and 

in 2002 was the first to use simulation 

technology instead of animals for the 

surgical skills lab.

The Meritorious Service award 

has been presented to one instructor 

annually since 1984. Dr. Bowyer is 

one of three individuals with ties to 

the USU to have received this honor. 

In 2007, Army Lt. Col. (Ret.) Christoph R. Kaufmann (SoM, 1982) was 

the recipient and in 2009, the late 

Army Col. (Dr.) David G. Burris 

(SoM 1982), past chair, Department 

of Surgery, was honored.

“I am pleased to have been 

recognized with this esteemed 

honor,” said Dr. Bowyer. “I have to 

think that having three members of 

the USU family receive this award 

in the last six years certainly underscores the significant role USU 

plays in the international world of 

trauma training.”

USU professor receives top surgical society honors

by Ken Frager

Cultural exchange

USU hosted a U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)-

sponsored Chinese delegation visit recently, which 

included Major General Zhang Yanling, Director of the 

Health Department for the People’s Liberation Army, 

and several other high ranking officials. The group was 

wrapping up a two-week tour of U.S. military locations 

from Hawaii to Bethesda, under the guidance of 

PACOM Command Surgeon Rear Adm. Michael H. 

Mittelman. Through a translator, Major General 

Zhang described medical infrastructure and training 

programs available in his country.

Modeling excellence

USU’s Graduate School of Nursing, 

hosted a Pakistani nursing delegation 

recently. The visiting delegation came 

to the GSN to discuss curriculum 

topics and exchange ideas with USU 

faculty as they embark on developing 

a master’s level nursing program. 

Photo by Ken Frager

Photo by Ken Frager
Briefs

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/v isual 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, dates or times.

Helpdesk Closure 

The NOC 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.

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 dates 

or times.

Professional activities

The Department of Defense and 

USU policy requires that all employees, both military and civilian, receive 

approval for engaging in any activity outside their work environment, 

which involves their professional 

expertise or government occupation, 

and involves compensation.

This approval is required prior to 

engaging in the activity. 

In order to get approval, any 

employee can complete a USU Form 

1004. This completed form must be 

approved and signed by each department chair or activity head. 

These forms are available in the 

General Counsel’s office or online at 

the USU OGC Web site.

Completed forms must be turned in 

to the General Counsel’s office. The form 

will be routed to the appropriate dean, 

brigade commander or USU president. 

Once processing is completed, a copy 

of the approved form will be returned to 

the employee for the employee’s records. 

August 15, 2011 11

Transcending the boundaries imposed 

on his father – who served in a segregated military unit – Dr. Brawley went 

on to become an award-winning doctor 

in the U.S. Public Health Service.

“Ingenuity comes from having 

people from a wide variety of 

backgrounds,” he told audience 

members. “Here at USU, we have a 

great spirit of diversity.”

Dr. Brawley’s words reverberated 

throughout the festival as hundreds 

of guests, from all walks of campus 

life, came together as one community. Some, like Ruthie Washington, 

a contract specialist at USU, even 

contributed to the event by sharing a 

taste of home by serving her family’s 

version of Choctaw Frybread – a 

popular Native American dish. 

Others, like Air Force Maj. Melissa 

Smith, a student in the Graduate School 

of Nursing, created international 

displays with literature and tokens from 

her travels across the globe.

“Knowing about the world and 

how different people live is important,” she said. “I’ve been lucky 

enough to travel to many different 

places because of my military career. 

It’s nice to be able to share these 

experiences through events like the 

Festival of Cultures.” 

Dozens more helped make the Festival of Cultures a resounding success, 

from the volunteers who decorated 

the cafeteria to the men and women 

running the festival’s booths. 

“Many different groups worked 

together to create a wonderful celebration of diversity,” said Patricia Burke, 

one of the lead organizers for the 

Festival of Cultures. “Everybody had 

a good time and hopefully learned a 

little about the different people that 

make our university great.”

Campus-wide festival celebrates diversity at USU

by Christine Creenan-Jones

USU 

celebrated 

the importance of 

diversity by 

transforming 

the courtyard 

and cafeteria 

into a world 

stage during 

the Festival of 

Cultures, Aug. 10. The popular event 

shined a spotlight on USU’s multicultural community and their traditions 

through music, food and dance. 

Guest speakers also emphasized 

the importance of embracing unique 

workplace perspectives – especially 

in academia. Dr. Otis Brawley, chief 

medical officer of the American Cancer 

Society and a member of the USU Board 

of Regents, shared inspiring stories 

about his heritage and rise in medicine. 

Photo by Sgt. Matthew Rosine