Volume 5, Issue 2 ■ January 25, 2010

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
2 The Pulse The Offi cial USU Newsletter

On the cover

Hospitalman Apprentice Matt 

Saunders and Fire Controlman 2nd 

Class Trayon Hill chop fresh herbs 

as part of a volunteer crew from the 

Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences (USU) at the 

D.C. Central kitchen. 

Associate Dean clears 100-day hurdle

by MC1 Chad Hallford 

USU School of Medicine Dean Larry 

W. Laughlin directed the creation of 

the Associate Dean for Faculty position 

last fall. Air Force Col. (Dr.) Brian 

Reamy accepted this new position, and 

his fi rst ‘100 days of offi ce’ have proved 

challenging and busy.

“First of all, I just want to get the 

word out that I am here for the faculty, 

to serve them. If they are having issues, 

I need to know about it,” said Reamy.

Th e position was established to 

provide an advocate in the Dean’s 

Offi ce for the School of Medicine 

(SoM) faculty. Dr. Reamy’s eff orts 

promote an academic environment 

that supports, enhances, and rewards 

the activities of all SoM faculty, at 

the USU campus and throughout the 

military medical treatment facilities 

around the world.

Some of the key issues the new 

associate dean will address include 

facilitating faculty appointments for 

those outside of USU who are involved 

in teaching USU students, mentoring 

career progression for faculty, organizing and delivering faculty development, 

and working to maintain and enhance 

faculty morale. 

Dr. Reamy not only says but insists 

that “communication is key, and my 

door is always open.” 

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

Comfort deploys in support of Haiti earthquake

More than 600 medical and support 

staff and crew members departed 

Baltimore aboard the USNS Comfort 

on Jan. 16 bound for Haiti. Among 

those deployed for the disaster relief 

mission are two USU members, HMC 

Jeffrey Mueller, a preventive medicine 

technician and psychiatrist Cmdr. (Dr.) 

Janis Carlton. 

Many USU alumni are also among those 

on board the hospital ship. (Left) Navy 

Cmdr. (Dr.) Colleen Gilstad (USU, SOM 

’93) marks a deployment bag for her 

sister-in-law, Navy Capt. (Dr.) Elizabeth 

McGuigan (USU, SOM ’90), a radiologist 

at NNMC who left for her second 

Comfort deployment. McGuigan’s 

brother, and Gilstad’s husband, Navy 

Cmdr. John Gilstad (USU, SOM ’93) is 

currently assigned to AFRRI as scientific 

research department head. 

Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External 

Aff airs and Managing Editor

Ken Frager

Public Aff airs 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 Offi ce of 

External Aff airs 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.

Air Force Col. (Dr.) Brian Reamy

Photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Courtesy Photo
January 25, 2010 3

USU Sailors volunteer time, feed hungry

by MC1 Chad Hallford 

Nine of the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences, or 

USU’s, enlisted Sailors volunteered at 

the D.C. Central Kitchen, Jan. 11.

Assisting with the kitchen’s mantra 

of “combating hunger, creating 

opportunity,” none of the Sailors 

volunteering were rated as Culinary 

Specialists, but each one received 

some lessons on feeding not just the 

stomach, but the soul.

“It’s important for our USU Sailors 

to get out into the community and 

volunteer their time. The military at 

USU are not only here for training 

and military missions, but to take care 

of our own community — that is part 

of our mission as well,” said Chief 

Hospital Corpsman (FMF/SW/AW) 

Jeffrey Mueller, USU Navy Senior 

Enlisted Adviser.

USU emphasizes humanitarian assistance throughout its curriculum. Th is 

same spirit of caring is an integral part of 

the mission of the D.C. Central Kitchen 

in their local war to end hunger.

“We’re a community kitchen, 

dedicated to fi rst help with the 

immediate need of hunger,” said Jamie 

Schuman, partner relations manager for 

the D.C. Central Kitchen. “Over time, 

we teach lifelong skills of healthy eating, 

proper nutrition and give job training, 

for many of the hungry are jobless and, 

therefore, homeless. Many have thrived 

aft er being given a second chance.”

Founded in January 1989, the D.C. 

Central Kitchen serves more than 4,000 

meals a day with the help of nearly 

11,000 annual volunteers. Approximately 100 agencies in the National 

Capital Region benefi t from the services 

of ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat meals 

delivered by the kitchen.

“From the assisting of breaking 

down of stereotypes, myself included, 

to the harvesting of local produce, 

every concept and ideal practiced 

within the kitchen is designed as a 

long-term strategy to help others 

sustain themselves, and for the 

kitchen, to remain able to meet the 

needs of our patronage,” said Schuman.

Th e kitchen recovers more than one 

ton of unused food daily and recycles it in 

to an attractive, delicious and nutritious 

set of meals. But, this is just one of the 

sources available for the kitchen.

“By using local produce, we not 

only foster growth for local farmers, 

but our volunteers help keep costs 

down. This increases the viability of 

providing services in the future,” said 

Gary Bullock, executive sous chef for 

the kitchen. “I would like to thank 

the (USU) volunteers who helped 

fulfill an important need within our 

community. I hope they take the 

opportunity to repeat volunteering 

with the kitchen.”

“Th e most rewarding aspect of 

volunteering in the kitchen is the 

opportunity to give back to those who 

are in need,” said Religious Program 

Specialist 2nd Class Ayanfemi 

Ayanwale, a USU volunteer. “Also, I 

was very impressed for the seriousness 

and effi ciency that all the employees 

in the organization give to their work. 

I am grateful for the opportunity and 

ready to help at anytime.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Lynette Lowery 

chops onions for the D.C. Central Kitchen as 

part of a USU Sailor-volunteer crew. 

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Bobby Grounds and Hospital Corpsmen 2nd Class 

Chephren Dialino, Marvin Gomez, and Tinsae Tekleab prepare apples as part of a a USU 

Sailor-volunteer crew. 

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford
4 The Pulse The Offi cial USU Newsletter

When the USU Postdoctoral 

Fellows Association was re-born in 

June 2009, the intent was to revitalize 

a group that had lost its focus over the 

last few years. The PFA was originally 

established in 2002 by Cathy Jozwik, 

Ph.D. and her colleagues at the time, 

who have since moved to permanent 

faculty positions. With the direction of Judy Fontana, Ph.D., and with 

the guidance of Dr. Jozwik and Dr. 

Eleanor L. Metcalf, the USU Graduate Education Office has committed 

University resources to support the 

revived PFA.

Open to anyone affi liated with USU 

(including AFRRI and CPDR) who has 

a Ph.D. or equivalent degree (M.D., 

D.V.M., etc.) and is not a principal 

investigator or faculty member, the 

PFA made signifi cant strides in its fi rst 

eight months. Th e group has worked 

diligently to establish bylaws and a 

mission statement, elect offi cers and 

leaders and establish processes for 

communicating with members.

The PFA recently presented 

their first Presentation Conversation Research Seminar, which 

drew approximately 35 attendees 

and featured two postdoc speakers 

- Smita Menon, Ph.D., from the 

Biochemistry Department and Steve 

Zumbrun, Ph.D., from Microbiology 

and Immunology. The PFA also will 

host the Postdoctoral Symposium, 

Wednesday, May 12, during USU 

Research Week 2010 and is working 

with the Graduate Student Council to 

set up Career Day, scheduled for the 

Monday of Research Week. 

Now more than 100-strong, with 

representation from USU, AFRRI 

and WRAIR, the PFA holds monthly 

General Assembly meetings, which 

last year included a holiday party in 

December to cap off the year. Additionally, the group produces and disseminates monthly minutes and newsletters 

to postdocs on their contact list to 

keep them abreast of the happenings of 

the USU PFA, events around the USU 

community, and other relevant opportunities (job announcements, calls for 

abstracts, seminars, etc.).

Th e PFA also elected its fi rst executive committee, which includes:

Co-Presidents: Melissa Wilson and 

Dimple Khetawat

Secretary: Taiza Figueiredo 

assumed the position Jan 1, 2010, 

completing Jennifer Tobin’s term

Treasurer: Steven Zumbrun

NIH Fellows Committee Representative: Sarah de la Motte

Based on a survey of members, 

the PFA determined members were 

interested in several specifi c areas. To 

meet the specifi c needs, nine standing 

committees were established, including:

ByLaws Committee; Seminars and 

Career Development Joint Committee; 

Information Clearinghouse Committee (which helped design the USU 

PFA website http://www.usuhs.mil/

pfa/); Scientifi c Training Committee; Postdoc Orientation Committee; 

Networking Committee; Faculty & 

Administration Liaison Committee; 

Community Outreach Committee; 

Public Relations Committee.

Appointed department representatives also serve as liaisons 

between the USU PFA and each 

postdoc-containing department. 

Additionally, the PFA has taken full 

advantage of social media, establishing networking mechanisms 

on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.

com/groups?about=&gid=1957916 

and Facebook http://www.

facebook.com/home.php#/group.

php?gid=151604872441.

Revitalized Postdoctoral Fellows Association making progress 

by Ken Frager

USU is no. 1 with a 0

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

As the calendar year closed on 2009, 

USU achieved a tremendous fi nancial 

feat thanks to a zero. 

Th e University has had zero government travel card (GTC) delinquencies 

since December 2008 when Citibank 

took over the Department of Defense 

Travel Card contract. 

“We maintain a policy of zero tolerance delinquencies, and that policy is 

supported and enforced by everyone, 

from Dr. Charles Rice, our president, on 

down,” said Jim Wolff , the USU fi nancal services offi cer and GTC program 

manager. “We require cardholders to 

fi le their voucher within fi ve days of 

returning from their trip. If they fi le 

properly and split-disburse the amount 

owed, their bill will be paid on time.” 

In 2009, USU spent $8 million 

through the travel card program. 

Approximately $4 million went on the 

University’s government travel cards. 

But, despite managing more than 900 

accounts, USU managed a perfect 

record through the entire year. 

Th ere is no “secret” to USU’s 

successful program management. It is 

a joint eff ort by many who work hard 

toward achieving their goal. 

“I can’t emphasize enough how 

important it is to have senior management’s support when pursuing a policy 

of zero delinquencies – as well as their 

willingness to back it up.

“The absolute key to the University’s success is the effort from 

the company commanders, first 

sergeants and supervisors,” Wolff 

said. “They are able to contact the 

individuals who are getting close to 

becoming delinquent.” 

As the next year begins, USU is 

looking forward to another year of 

success with the travel card program.
January 25, 2010 5

USU Radiologists 

deconstruct medical myths

by Ken Frager

Th e 95th Scientifi c Assembly and Annual Meeting of the 

Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) kicked off 

in December with a special packed session where attendees 

gathered to hear “Medical Mythbusters” challenge — and 

“bust”— some popular myths in radiology practice. 

Led by James G. Smirniotopoulos, M.D., professor of 

Radiology, Neurology, and Biomedical Informatics and, 

director, Diagnostic Imaging Program in the Center for 

Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, the session 

featured diff erent perspectives on some common radiologic 

and medical conditions. 

“Some of the most cherished medical ‘facts’ are actually 

unproven or proven to be untrue,” said Smirniotopoulos. “Simply saying that something is may not be the best 

approach to evaluating medical information. Critical 

thinking should always be used.” 

Based on the popular “Myth-Busters” television show, 

the session deconstructed several common maxims about 

radiologic fi ndings. 

Among the myths “busted” by Dr. Smirniotopoulos and 

his team of presenters, which included Dr. Vincent Ho, USU 

professor and head of the integrated Department of Radiology of the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) and 

Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), and Lt. Col. 

Alice B. Smith, chief of Neuroradiology at USU, related to 

whether intraaxial edema around an extraaxial meningioma 

predicts a malignant histology. “Th at can’t possibly be true 

because the vast majority of meningiomas are nonmalignant,” Dr. Smirniotopoulos said.

 Dr. Smirniotopoulos noted, however, that it is plausible 

that intraaxial edema predicts a poor prognosis, adding that 

edema seems to be related to resectability, and to what degree 

the meningioma will “stick” to the underlying brain.

Celebrate Nurse Anesthetists Week

Jan. 24-30 marks 2010’s National Nurse Anesthetists 

Week — “We Never Miss a Beat.” Certified Registered 

Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) have been providing 

anesthesia care in the U.S. for nearly 150 years and 

practice in every setting in which aesthesia is delivered. 

Annually, millions of patients receive their anesthesia 

from CRNAs.(Pictured above) 

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Adrienne Grant Hartgerink, USU 

Nurse Anesthesia Program Director, demonstrates how to 

do a fi beroptic intubation on a diffi cult airway to Air Force 

Capts. (clockwise from lower left) William Clark, Teresa 

Sellers, Annette Patton and Joshua Lindquist, students in 

the Nurse Anesthesia class of 2011.

Dr. Smirniotopoulos Courtesy RSNA

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford
6 The Pulse The Offi cial USU Newsletter

A Profi le in Leadership: CW2 Ed Carnine 

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Army Chief Warrant Officer 

two Ed Carnine recently joined the 

Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences as the Military 

Personnel Office officer-in-charge. 

Prior to his arrival, CW2 Carnine 

was the chief military personnel/

systems technician at Fort Hood, Texas. 

While he was assigned there he stood 

up the Army’s fi rst Warrior Transition 

Brigade (WTB) and deployed with the 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry 

Division, to Camp Taji, Iraq, in support 

of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Now here at USU, CW2 Carnine is 

looking forward to the change of pace and 

the unique challenges of the university.

“Th e Army created this position for 

me. But, slowing down is not something 

I’m used to,” he said. “I’m looking 

forward to a challenging and hopefully 

very rewarding assignment.” 

Despite being the first warrant 

officer assigned to this position, the 

14-year Army veteran is not thinking about being a historical “first” on 

campus. Instead, he is focusing on the 

mission at hand — helping MILPO 

better meet the needs of USU. 

“I don’t really have a feeling about 

(being the first chief warrant officer) 

either way,” he said. “Chief warrant 

officers are the no-joke ‘fix it people’ 

in the Army. And that is what I’m 

here to do.” 

Th e Illinois-native entered into the 

Army as a 98C Signal Intelligence 

Analyst and later reclassifi ed to the 

75C Personnel Specialist career fi eld. 

Now a part of the USU family, this 

“die hard” Chicago Bears and St. Louis 

Cardinals fan is ready to succeed and 

has both short-term and long-term 

plans for success. 

In the short term, CW2 Carnine is 

trying to establish working relationships with offices outside MILPO 

such as finance, evaluations, awards 

and decorations. 

In the long term, he is trying to make 

MILPO more proactive and improve 

the profi ciency of interactions between 

the services. Th is means better rating 

schemes, better understanding of personnel systems and properly updating 

MILPO to meet the needs of its customers – USU Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. 

And one of the biggest goals CW2 

Carnine is hoping to achieve is a Joint 

Standard Operating Procedure. 

Surgeons General senior enlisted visit USU

Three of the Uniformed Services Surgeons General Senior Enlisted Advisors 

speak with USU brigade enlisted, praising them for their eff orts and 

emphasizing the important role enlisted play in the training of young doctors 

to be leaders in military medicine.

“With a tool like that, anyone new 

coming in here should be able to do my 

job and have no problem,” he said. 

Of course at his core, CW2 Carnine 

hopes more than anything to help 

improve the careers and lives of USU 

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. 

“When you can fi x personnel 

issues you are helping a Soldier,” he 

said. “I treat everything like it was 

my own. Th at’s what I do for you (the 

customer). To actually help a Soldier, to 

make a diff erence in their lives, that is 

the real reward for me. I just love it.” 

Among his other accomplishments, 

CW2 Carnine has a bachelor of 

science in education from the University of Louisville graduating Magna 

Cum Laude, and a master of arts in 

Business Administration from American Military University, graduating 

with honors. He has been happily 

married for 18 years and is a proud 

father of three daughters, Bailey, Alex, 

and Jada. 

Photo by HM1 Michael Oliver

Army Chief Warrant Offi cer two Ed Carnine

Photo by Ken Frager
January 25, 2010 7

Tech Watch: Information 

Awareness Year in Review

USU Briefs

USU License plates:

Th e USU Alumni Bookstore still 

has USU organizational license plates 

available for purchase.

Most of the fi rst 50 license plate 

numbers have already been assigned.

For more information about 

reserving your USU Maryland license 

plates, call the bookstore at 295-3686.

Helpdesk Closure:

Th e UIS helpdesk is closed for training on Th ursdays 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:

Th e next military awards panel 

will convene Feb. 23. Nomination 

packages will be due through the 

chain of command no later than Feb. 

16. 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 soliciting 

donations to the Combined Federal 

Campaign has been extended 

through COB Jan. 28. As of Jan. 15, 

USU is short of the $165,000 goal 

by only $5,000! There are 4,000 

worthy charities participating this 

year, and many of those are charities in need of assistance following 

the tragic earthquake in Haiti. 

Exercise/Fitness Areas:

Physical Fitness training should be 

conducted in designated areas.

Th e only authorized space for PT 

within the university is room G060.

Th e campus’ Student Community 

Lounge area is also authorized, but 

only during specifi ed 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.

Security incidents continue to 

drain limited USU Information Assurance manpower. 

“Resolution of these issues, from the 

time of the incident until the incident 

is closed, can take anywhere from 

one hour to three days, depending on 

the severity of the incident,” said Joel 

Robertson, USU IA manager.

Examples of security incidents include 

virus infections, use of unauthorized soft ware, injection of malicious 

code, intruder attempts and internally 

reported events.

“On the USU network — 1,090 

security incidents for calendar year 2009 

cost the IA branch an estimated 6,400 

man-hours to correct,” said Robertson. “In addition, the defense network 

protection services informed us of 5,150 

defense level-malicious logic reports 

and 11,000 spyware reports generated by 

USU users.”

Th e 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 governmentowned or government-operated system 

or program; access online gambling, 

games and social engineering sites.

“Please review the annual online 

IA training and abide by the rules and 

guidelines established,” said Robertson.

Th e address is http://iase.disa.mil/eta/

index.html#onlinetraining.

Mark your calendars for the next

USU Town Hall meeting

In the Cafeteria

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 • 3 p.m.