USU welcomes new students to campus 


Sharon Holland 

Deputy Vice President for External Affairs and Managing Editor 

Eric Ritter 

Writer and Editor 

MC3 Laura Bailey 

Writer and Photographer 

Tom Balfour 

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 

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is at 4 p.m. Tuesday prior to the publication date. Submissions can be sent to 

eric.ritter2@usuhs.edu or by calling 301­

295-3791. 

On the cover 

F. Edward Hebert School ofMedicine Dean 

Arthur Kellermann administers the Hippocratic Oath to new medical students at this 

year's Fall Convocation at USU, September 

18. See story, this page. (photo by Tom Balfour) 

by Sharon Holland 

New students at the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) were officially welcomed to campus during 

the school's Fall Convocation ceremony, September 18. 

Medical students from the F. 

Edward Hebert School of Medicine recited the Hippocratic Oath, 

led by medical school Dean Arthur 

Kellermann, the school's graduate 

students recited a pledge with Dr. 

Gregory Mueller, associate dean for 

Graduate Education, to uphold scientific excellence. Advanced practice nursing students from the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of 

Nursing were welcomed to campus 

by Dean Carol Romano, who urged 

them to reaffirm their commitment 

to the principles of the nursing profession. 

In welcoming the new students to campus, USU President 

Charles Rice said, "When you leave 

here in a few short years you will all 

have in common a degree from the 

Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences. You will join 

an illustrious group of alumni. .. 

who are making great strides in this 

world and who believe deeply in our 

mission of education, research and 

public service, and in our nation's 

service members and their families. 

I am delighted you're here and 

honored that you chose USU to further your education. I am confident 

that you will continue to uphold ­

and advance--the University's tradition of excellence. To all of you, my 

colleagues and I congratulate you, 

and we welcome you to our ranks." 

USU set to kick off2015 CFC charity initiative 


by Eric D. Ritter 

The 2015 Combined Federal 

Campaign (CFC) is about to kick off 

October 2 at the Uniformed Services 

University (USU), and the CFC staff 

want to get the word out about the 

benefits those contributions can 

bring. 

According to USU CFC Campaign Manager, LaQuetta Robinson, 

USU is poised to be highly proactive 

in the charity effort by raising its 

goal from last year's goal of$135,000 

(which was surpassed by 18%) to 

this year's USU-established goal of 

$170,000. 

The CFC is an effort established by President John F. Kennedy 

in 1961 as a way to tap into America's historical attitude of charitable 

giving by offering lists of approved 

donors who have a positive track 

record or charitable contributions 

either through efforts or through 

monetary donations. Last year, 

the National Capital Region alone 

raised more than $10 million. 

"USU's contribution may seem 

like a small fraction of that:' said 

Robinson. "But, every dollar counts 

when it comes to charity:' 

To help raise awareness and 

funds, Robinson said USU will be 

holding events on campus such as 

the official kick-off October 2, then 

the Red, White and Blue Day on October 19 and finally the CFC Games 

Day on October 30. She said all of 

the proceeds raised from the events 

will go toward the general procurement CFC funds. 

There are more than 23,000 

CFC, Cont. Page 3 

2 the pulse U September 28, 2015 
Lushniak to Join Hebert SOM Academic Leadership Team 


by Sharon Holland 

Retired Rear Adm. (Dr.) Boris 

D. Lushniak, former Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, 

will join the faculty of the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) F. Edward 

Hebert School ofMedicine, effective 

in November 2015. Lushniak was 

selected as the school's Preventive 

Medicine and Biostatistics department chair and succeeds retired 

chair Dr. Gerald Quinnan in the position. 

"I am delighted that Dr. Lushniak will be our next chair of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics:' said 

Dr. Arthur Kellermann, dean of the 

Hebert School ofMedicine. "This is 

a happy day for USU. Equally important it bodes well for the future 

of preventive medicine and public health in the United States and 

worldwide." 

As chair of Preventive Medicine, Lushniak will lead one of 

the largest departments within the 

School of Medicine with more than 

60 full-time faculty members supporting 10 programs and divisions 

responsible for enhancing health 

through medical education, research, and service that support and 

improve programs of preventive 

medicine, community health, and 

health promotion in the uniformed 

services. He will oversee medical 

CFC, from Page 2 

vetted charities to which potential 

donors may contribute. Robinson 

said with that number of charities 

involved, it's almost guaranteed 

there's a charity for everyone. The 

program is completely voluntary 

student education programs in preventive medicine and public health, 

occupational and environmental 

health, health administration and 

policy, global health and social and 

behavioral sciences, and eight accredited graduate degree programs 

in various aspects of public health. 

Additionally, he will oversee accredited residency programs in two 

preventive medicine specialty areas 

and specialized training programs 

in tropical medicine in conjunction 

with the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, as well as 

a robust research program that includes the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program. 

Lushniak served as Deputy 

Surgeon General from November 

2010 to September 2015, where he 

helped the country's top physician 

articulate the best available scientific information to the public regarding ways to improve personal health 

and the health of the nation. He assisted in overseeing the operations 

of the U.S. Public Health Service 

(USPHS) Commissioned Corps, 

comprised of approximately 6,700 

uniformed health officers who serve 

in locations around the world. 

Lushniak was acting U.S. Surgeon General of the United States 

from July 17, 2013 to December 18, 

2014. During that time, he released 

The Health Consequences of Smokand open to all federal employees 

who can have their contributions 

electronically deducted by signing 

up on the My Pay website. Robinson 

did add that potential donors aren't 

limited to just federal employees, 

''.Anyone can go on the CFC 

ing- 50 Years of Progress: A Report 

of the Surgeon General, 2014 and 

the first-ever Surgeon General's Call 

to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer. 

Most recently, he commanded the 

USPHS Monrovia Medical Unit in 

Liberia, the only U.S. government 

hospital providing care to Ebola patients, from January to March 2015. 

He is a graduate of the six-year 

Honors Program in Medical Education at Northwestern University. He 

completed his Bachelor of Science 

degree in Medical Sciences in 1981 

and obtained his Doctor of Medicine 

degree in 1983. In 1984, he received 

a Master of Public Health degree at 

Harvard University. He completed 

a residency in family medicine in 

1987 at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago and a residency in dermatology at the University of Cincinnati in 

1993. He was commissioned in the 

USPHS as an Epidemic Intelligence 

Service officer at the CDC's National institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health in 1988 where he was 

trained in preventive (occupational) medicine. Lushniak maintains 

board certifications in dermatology 

and preventive (occupational) medicine. He serves as a staff physician 

in dermatology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and 

prior to this appointment, was an 

adjunct professor at USU. 

website and use the Nexus tool to 

contribute." She also said she wanted to remind donors that their contributions are tax-deductible as well. 

For more information about 

the campaign, contributing and the 

participating charities, please visit 

1 a~-ll~ t j}Mmm''°~A'°a 1JV: a Qt:§J i 

3 the pulse September 28, 2015 
New Curriculum Highlights Care Considerations 


for Seniors during a Disaster 

Courtesy ofthe National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health 

America's senior citizens often 

face unique challenges during disasters. The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health 

(NCDMPH) at the Uniformed Services University (USU) ofthe Health 

Sciences has just released its newest 

resource for health educators and 

trainers, "Caring for Older Adults in 

Disasters: A Curriculum for Health 

Professionals:' to address these issues. 

Developed through the support of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Caring for Older 

Adults in Disasters (COAD) curriculum is comprised of 24 lessons 

in seven modules covering topics 

ranging from special considerations 

for older adults in specific types of 

disasters to ethical and legal issues 

related to the care of the senior population during a disaster. 

"This comprehensive new resource will benefit all healthcare 

professionals in preparing themselves and their staff for the realities 

of caring for seniors during a natural or man-made disaster:' said Dr. 

Kenneth Schor, acting director of 

the NCDMPH. "This issue grows 

in importance by the day as, according to the Administration on Aging, 

America's older adult population 

(65+ years) is expected to grow to 

more than 21 percent of the population by 2040:' 

The COAD curriculum's lessons range from 30 to 120 minutes 

in length based on the particular 

learning context. They include suggested learning activities for educators to engage their learners, as 

well as required and supplemental 

readings for both learners and educators. The curriculum can be used 

in its entirety, teaching all lessons in 

the order provided, or trainers may 

select individual lessons or portions 

of lessons most relevant to their 

learners. The curriculum's material 

can be adapted to best meet a specific setting and learner needs by 

substituting resources, modifying 

activities, or augmenting content. 

Educators and trainers also 

have flexibility in how they choose 

to teach the content portions of the 

lessons (i.e., drawing on lecture, discussion, or group project modalities). The topics of the modules are: 

Module I - Overview ofthe curriculum and a demographic background 

on older adults 

Photo courtesty ofNCDMPH 

Module 2 - Reviews of conditions 

already present in older adults before a disaster that may impact their 

preparedness, response, and recovery 

Module 3 - Outline of special considerations for older adults in particular types of disasters 

Module 4 - Overview of caring for 

older adults during the disaster cycle 

Module 5 - Review of special considerations for older adults in various settings in which they reside 

and receive care 

Module 6 - Overview of ethical and 

legal considerations for the care of 

the older adult population during a 

disaster 

Module 7 - An interactive capstone 

activity, which allows learners to apply new knowledge to their specific 

role and work setting 

The COAD curriculum presents lessons for dealing with a wide 

array of issues related to senior care 

in a disaster. An often overlooked 

aspect of disaster medicine and older adults are ethical and legal implications. In this module, authors 

Lillian E. Ringel, JD, of Columbia 

University, and Dr. Judith C. Ahronheim, of New York Medical College, 

include a discussion of the potential 

limits ofpatient autonomy in a public health emergency or disaster for 

adults with and without decisional 

capacity. Also outlined is information on individual state resources 

that providers can consult regarding state-specific regulations covering the participation of unaffiliated 

providers and other volunteers in a 

disaster. 

"Caring for Older Adults in 

Disasters: A Curriculum for Health 

Professionals" can be accessed at 

https:// ncdmph. usuhs.edu/KnowledgeLearning/2015-0AC.htm. 

4 the pulse U September 28, 2015 
Homework is key before taking supplements 


By Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Laura Bailey 

Data from the 2011 Health 

Related Behaviors Survey of Active 

Duty Military Personnel suggests 

up to 25% of active duty service 

members report using a weight loss 

supplement at least once in the past 

year, said Dr. Jonathan Scott, a senior scientist and nutritionist at the 

Consortium for Health and Military 

Performance (CHAMP) at the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU). Nearly 40% 

of service members surveyed reported daily multivitamin and mineral use. The total number of usable, 

eligible respondents to the survey 

was 39,877 (including Coast Guard) 

out of 154,011 eligible respondents. 

Ifthe data are correct, then it is 

extremely important to ensure that 

service members take supplements 

with caution, said Scott. 

Unlike prescription drugs ­

which are regulated by the Food and 

Drug Administration (FDA) before 

they reach the market, dietary supplements are not approved by the 

FDA before they are marketed, said 

Scott. It is only after products are 

made available to the public that the 

FDA can evaluate ingredients and 

inform the public. 

Some supplements on the market are potentially harmful and can 

contain "hidden" ingredients. For 

example, the FDA posts public notifications advising consumers not 

to purchase a particular product 

promoted for weight loss due to the 

presence of a hidden drug ingredient. An example of one such warning includes the following: 

"The product poses a threat 

to consumers because sibutramine 

is known to substantially increase 

blood pressure and/or pulse rate in 

some patients and may present a 

significant risk for patients with a 

history of coronary artery disease, 

congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. This product may 

also interact, in life-threatening 

ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking~' 

This is just one example and 

there are many more, said Andrea 

Lindsey, another Senior Nutrition 

Scientist at CHAMP and the director of Operation Supplement Safety 

(OPSS). Since 2007, the FDA has 

uncovered more than 600 tainted 

supplements. The use of these supplements can cause serious conditions that can lead to death and so 

the importance of education and 

using available resources on OPSS 

can't be understated, according to 

Lindsey. 

OPSS is a joint initiative between CHAMP, and the Department of Defense (DoD). Their goal 

is to educate service members and 

retirees, their families, leaders, 

health care providers and DoD civilians about supplements and how 

to choose supplements wisely. 

As quickly as the FDA is able 

to evaluate and publish notifications 

about potentially harmful supplements currently on the market, staff 

push that information to personnel 

via a link on the OPSS and HPRC 

websites, said Lindsey. 

Other tools such as information sheets, printable materials, videos and apps for smart phones are 

also available. 

The OPSS app allows military 

members with a .mil address to open 

an account with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database to 

access information about dietary 

supplement products. An OPSS app 

focused only on the OPSS High-Risk 

Supplement List will be released in 

the next six weeks which will allow 

users to identify supplements that 

contain stimulants, steroids, hormone-like ingredients, controlled 

substances, or unapproved drugs. 

But even with exhaustive resources to answer many of the questions surrounding supplements, 

sometimes it is necessary to call in 

the experts. So, OPSS has provided 

the ''.Ask the Expert" button to connect personnel and experts through 

a portal allowing dialogue exchanges to happen directly. 

"The important thing is that we 

provide evidence-based answers. In 

some cases we may reach out toother government agencies and partners to get all the pieces needed for 

a complete answer. We have a list of 

experts we can reach out to including folks at the FDA:' said Lindsey. 

"Experts include Dr. Patricia Deuster, a professor in the Department 

of Military and Emergency Medicine and the director of CHAMP at 

USU, among others," said Lindsey. 

"Ultimately, supplements are 

not substitutes for a healthy diet 

and exercise:' said Scott. "But, these 

products are out there and available 

to the public - including our military personnel. Our job is to inform 

them. We hope that anyone considering the use of supplements or who 

is taking them now will talk to their 

health care provider, take time to 

look at the facts and then make an 

educated decision - one that could 

potentially save their life." 

For more information, please 

visit http://hprc-online.org/dietary-supplements/opss . 

S the pulse ~September 28, 2015 
Hendra Vaccine Receives APVMA Registration 


by Sharon Holland 

The Hendra virus horse vaccine, first developed in Dr. Christopher Broder's laboratory at the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences, has received registration from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines 

Authority (APVMA). 

The APVMA is an Australian 

government statutory authority established in 1993 to centralize the 

registration of all agricultural and 

veterinary chemical products into 

the Australian marketplace. Its 

United States equivalent is the Center for Veterinary Biologics in the 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a branch of the United 

States Department of Agriculture. 

Vaccine registration requirements 

are very strict and a vaccine must 

be proven effective and safe before 

it receives APVMA approval. 

"Until now, the vaccine has 

been available on a temporary permit, and during that time any reactions to the vaccine have been 

recorded and investigated. We 

welcome the release of information about these adverse reactions 

by APVMA with less than 0.03% of 

doses causing some kind of adverse 

reaction; this is in line with what 

our members have told us- that 

they have seen only small numbers 

of problems with the vaccine:' said 

Ian Fulton, BVSc, MSc, FACVSc, 

president of Equine Veterinarians 

Australia, a special interest group of 

the Australian Veterinary Association, in a released statement. 

According to Fulton, the registration is an "important 

step forward" in managing the risks associated with the Hendra 

virus. 

"The vaccine decreases the risk of exposure to Hendra virus for 

horse owners, handlers, 

and veterinarians and 

is the single most effective way of reducing 

the risk of Hendra virus 

infection:' he said. "Of 

course, it also helps to 

protect horses against 

this fatal disease, which 

is especially important in Queensland and 

northern New South Wales where 

there have been Hendra cases confirmed. 

"Vaccinating horses provides a 

public health and workplace health 

and safety benefit:' he concluded. 

"Horse owners should discuss the 

need for Hendra vaccination for 

their horses with their veterinarian." 

The Equivace He V, from Zoetis, Inc., was first made available 

in November 2012 in response to 

the growing number of outbreaks 

and subsequent horse deaths in 

Queensland and New South Wales 

in Australia. To date, more than 

380,000 doses of the vaccine have 

been administered to horses in Australia. The vaccine is derived from 

original work by Broder and Katharine Bossart, Ph.D., a USU alumna, who recently launched her own 

company, Integrated Research Associates, LLC, in San Rafael, CaliDr. Christopher Broder (Courtesy photo) 

fornia. Their work was supported by 

the National Institute of Allergy and 

Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of 

the National Institutes ofHealth. 

"The vaccine component is 

a soluble portion of the Hendra 

virus G glycoprotein, known as 

Hendra-sG:' said Broder. Bossart 

developed Hendra-sG using the 

inherently safe approach of recombinant protein expression while a 

graduate student in Broder's laboratory at USU. "It is this glycoprotein 

that mediates viral infection. Ifyou 

block its function, you block virus 

infection:' The vaccine also provides 

complete protection from infection 

by Hendra's cousin Nipah virus 

which has caused outbreaks and human deaths in Bangladesh and India 

nearly every year since 2000, said 

Broder. Efforts to launch a safety 

trial in humans are ongoing. 

6 the pulse U September 28, 2015 
Chasi exemplifies Hispanic Heritage Month at USU 


By Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Laura Bailey 

National Hispanic Heritage 

Month is a time to honor the histories, cultures and contributions 

of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the 

Caribbean and Central and South 

America. The celebration began 

Sept. 15 and runs to Oct. 15. 

The theme of this year's observance, "Hispanic Americans: 

Energizing our Nation's Diversity:' 

harkens to the vibrant and thriving 

contributions of Hispanics to our 

nation. 

More than l 7years ago, a young 

boy living in Ecuador dreamed of 

joining his father in the land of opportunity - the United States. 

"My father had come to the 

U.S. for work so he could provide 

a better life for me, my mom and 

my brothers:' said Army Sgt. Darwin Chasi, a logistics non-commissioned officer in the department of 

Military and Emergency Medicine 

at USU. 

The opportunities for a promising job in Ecuador were scarce, 

he said. The only way to get ahead 

was to know someone or be tied to a 

prominent family. 

"My father left me with my 

mom in Ecuador and came to New 

York City not knowing any English:' 

said Chasi. "He got a job as a mechanic and took a class to learn the 

language, so he could work and then 

send for us. He had to work very 

hard. When we got to the U.S., my 

mom got a job working in a factory. 

Both of my parents were very hard 

working, and they taught me to be 

that way, too:' 

Coming to the U.S. changed 

everything for him. After he became 

a U.S. citizen, he embraced the honor as much as he could. 

"I would not be where I am today if it were not for this country. I 

love my country. I love the United 

States:' said Chasi. "I wanted to give 

back to this great nation that has 

given me so much:' 

Following in the footsteps of 

his now-deceased father who served 

in the Ecuadorian military in his 

youth, he joined the U.S. Army. 

"It was not out of obligation:' 

said Chasi. "I was feeling proud to 

join. I love our freedom, and I would 

do anything to keep it." 

During his Army career thus 

far, he has deployed five times to 

Iraq and once to Afghanistan. 

"Deploying is just part of the 

never give up on my dreams. It takes 

hard work to get there, but you can 

do if' 

The feeling he has as a Hispanic American serving the greatest 

country in the world is one ofpride, 

he said. 

This year's celebration calls 

attention to the countless contributions Hispanics, including Chasi, continue to make to enrich the 

United States and strengthen the 

defense of our nation. 

The university, along with 

the DoD, is committed to honoring and recognizing the Hispanic 

Americans who serve in defense of 

the nation. Please visit the Hispanic 

Heritage Month web special to learn 

more about Hispanic service across 

the Total Force: http://www.defense. 

gov/News/Special-Reports/0915_ 

hispanic-heritage. 

job:' he said. 

He said he is a soldier, 

willing to lay down his life 

for the country that took 

him in with open arms. His 

message to others, young 

and old, Hispanic or not, is 

to never give up. 

"My mother and father taught me to work 

hard:' said Chasi. "When 

my father first came here, 

he spoke no English and he 

didn't have a job. By the time 

he passed away, he owned 

five mechanic shops. My 

mother learned to speak English and sacrificed a lot for 

us kids. They taught me to Army Sgt. Darwin Chasi (Courtesy photo) 

7 the pulse September 28, 2015 
(L-R) Lt. Gen. Charles B. Green (Ret.), Senior Airman Franki Ramos and 2nd Lt. Thomas Powell ceremoniously cut the cake as part ofthe 

United States Air Force Birthday celebration at USU, Friday, September 18. (Photo by Tom Balfour) 

8 the pulse U September 28, 2015