Volume 7, Issue 12• August 12, 2012

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter

USU’s first Surgeons General
On the cover

Lt.Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis (left) and 

Brig.Gen. (Dr.) Jean-Robert Bernier became 

USU’s first Surgeons General in separate 

ceremonies held July 20 and July 10, 

respectively. (See stories, pp. 4-5.)

Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Gwendolyn Smalls

Chief, Media Affairs

Tech. Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson

Contributing 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 oshawn.

jefferson@usuhs.edu or by calling 

301-295-0895.

2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Photo credit: Helen Hocknell, NSAB Public Affairs

Members of the Maryland National Honor Guard fold the national ensign during the 

memorial ceremony held annually to honor the bodies used in medical education and 

research in Maryland. Students and staff from the Uniformed Services University of 

Health Sciences attended the ceremony to pay their respects and express gratitude to 

the families of donors for the “invaluable gift” they provide.

Medical Students Express Gratitude, 

Respect for Body Donors 

By Helen Hocknell, NSAB Public Affairs staff writer 

Photo Credit: CFSU(O) Photo Services

Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences (USU) students 

and staff came to pay their respects at a 

ceremony recently to honor the donated 

and unclaimed bodies used for medical 

education and research in Maryland.

Hosted each year at Springfield 

Hospital Center in Sykesville, Md., 

the ceremony presents an opportunity 

for medical students and educators to 

join with friends and family to honor 

those whose cremated remains are 

interred there.

“The students come here because 

they want to show gratitude for the 

gifts they are given,” said Ronn Wade, 

director of the Maryland State Anatomy 

Board, which organizes the ceremony. 

Wade oversees the distribution of 

cadavers for anatomical dissection 

at the University of Maryland, Johns 

Hopkins University and USU.

Approximately 200 bodies are used 

in the USU anatomy lab each year, 

roughly half of which are provided by 

the state. The rest come from USU’s 

Anatomical Gift Program. Some 

are used in specialty courses or to 

practice procedures by doctors and 

nurses, but the majority of the cadavers are dissected by groups of first-year 

medical students in the standard 

12-week gross anatomy course.

“The ceremony is a great way for us to 

demonstrate our respect for the donors,” 

said Army 2nd Lt. Kassandra Kahn, a 

first-year medical student at USU. Kahn 

explained the students develop a deep 

personal connection to their cadavers.

Many medical students refer to 

the cadavers as their “first patients,” 

said Kahn.

“They’re an invaluable teaching 

tool, but this was also a person,” said 

Air Force 2nd Lt. Amy Reed, another 

first-year medical student at USU. “The 

youngest we worked on was 25 years 

old. He could have been our peer.” 

According to Dr. David Welling, 

associate professor of surgery at USU, 

many medical schools have begun 

scaling back the hands-on laboratory aspect of gross anatomy courses 

in favor of computer programs and 

plastic models.

Welling said that while technological advances in medical education can 

be useful, he feels working on a human 

body is still a crucial part of coursework for future doctors and other 

medical professionals.

Continued to page 7
August 12, 2012 3

The words leadership, mentor and 

innovator are understatements, when 

it comes Patrick H. DeLeon, Ph.D., 

J.D., M.P.H. 

He spent 38 years in public service 

helping others “learn the ropes” on the 

Hill, as the long-time chief of staff to 

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, 

through both formal mechanisms, such 

as the APA Congressional Fellowships, 

and through more informal advising 

and guidance.

 Retiring from his job as chief of 

staff in October of 2011 was not the 

end of his public service but, rather, 

a new beginning, bringing his broad 

knowledge and expertise to the 

Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences as a faculty member 

in the Graduate School of Nursing 

and the F. Edward Hébert School of 

Medicine’s Department of Medical 

and Clinical Psychology. 

“While I was still performing my 

chief of staff duties, I asked my wife if 

my granddaughter, who was a one-yearold at the time, was walking yet, and she 

said she started two weeks before,” said 

DeLeon, who graduated with his Ph.D. 

in Clinical Psychology from Purdue 

University in 1969.

“I knew it was time to step down 

from my position. I didn’t want to miss 

any more moments like that,” added 

DeLeon, who now has another grandchild on the way. 

While DeLeon’s workload has eased a 

bit, his passion for helping others hasn’t. 

In his new role as a Distinguished Professor at USU, DeLeon is getting a chance to 

influence the next generation by teaching 

Health Policy and by mentoring faculty 

members and students.

“It’s great. I get to walk to work 

most days, see my grandkids and work 

at this outstanding university,” said 

DeLeon, who was the former editor 

of Professional Psychology: Research 

and Practice from 1995-2000. “I get to 

interact with people, and help influence 

people who will directly impact military 

service members and their families. I 

get to learn from them as well, listen 

and be inspired by wonderful men 

and women, who will carry our health 

system into the future.”

In psychological circles, DeLeon is 

known as “the father of RxP” for his 

efforts to expand prescription authority for properly trained psychologists. 

He was at the forefront of the design, 

approval, and implementation of the 

Department of Defense’s psychopharmacology training program for 

psychologists. Those graduates now 

working within military facilities are 

able to augment their psychological 

treatments of patients with pharmacological treatment when it is needed.

“When we started that program we 

were trying to do what was best for 

the patient and best for the military 

family,” said DeLeon. “I am proud to see 

what those students have been able to 

do with that program. It was fun and 

continues to have a positive influence 

on families.” 

In addition to his contributions to the 

DoD psychology community, DeLeon 

also played a major role in the establishment of the School of Pharmacy and the 

School of Nursing at the University of 

Hawaii’s Hilo campus.

“Dr. DeLeon is a passionate and 

relentless advocate for psychology’s 

responsibilities and recognition in 

bettering society,” said Dr. Charles 

L. Rice, USU president. “Under his 

service, the importance of nurses, 

psychologists and other health professionals was properly recognized. 

He was at the forefront of shepherding 

legislation related to native Hawaiians, 

immigrant children, the people of 

the Pacific and higher education and 

we are honored to add him to the 

USU faculty.” 

As DeLeon begins the next chapter of 

his life, he expects his time at USU to be 

rewarding and fulfilling.

“You know, life is a journey,” said 

DeLeon. “And this chapter of my 

journey finds my days at a great 

university like USU and my evenings 

watching my grandkids grow. What 

could be better?”

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Dr. Patrick H. DeLeon, former chief of staff to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye talks to 

Graduate School of Nursing and Clinical Psychology students as he settles into his 

role of USU faculty member.

Key Senate Staffer joins USU Faculty 

By Tech. Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

USU Alumnus Appointed Surgeon General of Canadian Forces

A National Defence and the Canadian Forces News Release

Brigadier-General Jean-Robert Bernier, a 1997 graduate of 

USU’s Master of Public Health degree program, assumed the 

duties of Surgeon General for the Canadian Forces (CF) from 

Commodore Hans Jung in a ceremony held July 10 at the CF 

Health Services Group Headquarters in Ottawa.” The change 

of command ceremony was presided over by Rear-Admiral 

Andrew Smith, Chief of Military Personnel, in the presence of 

senior CF leaders and notable national health officials.

“Through his commitment to the ill and injured, the implementation of the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system, as well as the recent Accreditation of 

the CF Health Services, Commodore Hans Jung has continually demonstrated his dedication to ensuring a healthy and 

formidable fighting force,” said Rear-Admiral Smith. “I have 

full confidence in the leadership and expertise of BrigadierGeneral Bernier, who will ensure continued professionalism and dedication to the health of our men and women in 

uniform.”

“In assuming command of such a competent, disciplined, 

and internationally renowned formation of health and 

scientific professionals, I must express my profound appreciation for the outstanding leadership of Commodore Jung 

and the impressive skill of our personnel, both civilian and 

military” said Brigadier-General Bernier. “Through their 

incredible dedication to the welfare of our comrades-inarms, no one better represents the honour, self-sacrifice, and 

nobility of the Canadian Forces. My role will be to build on 

this solid foundation in serving Canada and in promoting, 

protecting, and restoring the health of military personnel.”

“From my days as a medical officer on board HMCS 

Provider, to the great task of leading the CF Health 

Services Group, I always knew that my job was a rewarding one,” said Commodore Jung. “I am extremely proud 

of the dedication and effort displayed by our people as we 

met the many challenges of supporting CF operations and 

providing excellent healthcare both at home and abroad. 

Their numerous accomplishments are truly remarkable 

and reflect their ongoing commitment to quality.”

An infantry officer before studying medicine, BrigadierGeneral Bernier, has now become Canada’s 38th Surgeon 

General. Added to this important responsibility, BrigadierGeneral Bernier also assumes the roles of Commander 

of CF Health Services Group, Honorary Physician to the 

Queen, and Director General Health Services. He previously held the appointment of Deputy Surgeon General 

and was promoted to his current rank on June 26, 2012.

For Commodore Jung, the ceremony marks the end of a 

31-year career as a CF Medical Officer. Having assumed the 

appointments of Surgeon General, Commander of CF Health 

Services Group, Honorary Physician to the Queen, and 

Director General Health Services in 2009, he leaves with a 

feeling of great satisfaction that he has had the opportunity to 

lead a formation of highly-trained health professionals, recognized both nationally and internationally for their excellence.

The Surgeon General is the senior departmental advisor 

on all matters related to health. The mission of the CF 

Health Services Group is to provide full-spectrum, quality 

health services to Canada’s fighting forces wherever they 

serve. CF Health Services Group has over 6,400 Regular 

Force, Reserve, and civilian personnel in more than 40 

health professions serving in over 120 units and detachments across Canada and overseas.

Left to Right: Commodore Hans Jung, outgoing Surgeon 

General, Rear Admiral Andrew Smith, Chief of Military 

Personnel and Brigadier General Jean-Robert Bernier, 

incoming Surgeon General.

Photo credit: Cpl Heather MacRae, CFSU(O) photo unit

Photo credit: Cpl Heather MacRae, CFSU(O) photo unit

Incoming Surgeon General, Brigadier General Jean-Robert 

Bernier is congratulated by the outgoing Surgeon General, 

Commodore Hans Jung.
August 12, 2012 5

Surrounded by family, friends, 

colleagues and the top U.S. Air 

Force leadership, USU graduate 

Thomas W. Travis, M.D., M.P.H., 

was promoted to lieutenant general 

and the 21st surgeon general of the 

Air Force on July 20, 2012 -- the first 

USU alumnus to become surgeon 

general of a U.S. uniformed service. 

 Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. 

Norton A. Schwartz presided over 

the ceremony, which was held at 

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in 

Washington, D.C. Vice Chief of 

Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove was 

also present at the event, which 

drew more than 200 attendees, 

including USU President Charles 

L. Rice, Army Surgeon General 

Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, Army 

Deputy Surgeon General Maj. 

Gen. Richard Stone, Navy Deputy 

Surgeon General Rear Adm. 

Michael Mittelman, retired Air Force Surgeons General 

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James Roudebush and Lt. Gen. (Dr.) 

Charles B. Green, and much of the Air Force Medical 

Service (AF) leadership. 

Travis’s first words upon being sworn in were “Wow! This 

is an emotional moment for me. I am so proud to be part of 

this Air Force, now and for the past 36 years.” 

He thanked his family for their support and Gen. 

Schwartz for giving him the opportunity to lead the AFMS 

and said, “I promise to all of you in the Air Force Medical 

Service I will do my very best. We will lead the AFMS into 

the future and take on the challenges that we may face in 

these tough times.” 

Travis also acknowledged the USU presence at his 

ceremony, asking the many USU alumni in the room to raise 

their hands. “USU is the enduring presence of medical leadership and we’re proving it,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud 

of that university.” USU alumni currently account for five of 

the nine medical corps general officers in the AFMS, and half 

of the Air Force Major Command surgeons. 

Travis entered the Air Force in 1976 as a distinguished 

graduate of the ROTC program at Virginia Polytechnic 

Institute and State University. He was awarded his pilot 

wings in 1978 and served as an F-4 Phantom II pilot and 

aircraft commander. The general completed his medical 

degree from the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences School of Medicine in 1986, where he was 

the top Air Force graduate and class president, and in 1987 

he became a flight surgeon. 

For more than three years, Travis 

was chief of medical operations for 

the Human Systems Program Office 

at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. 

He later served as the director of 

operational health support and chief 

of aerospace medicine division for 

the Air Force Medical Operations 

Agency in Washington, D.C. 

The general has commanded the 

U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace 

Medicine; the 311th Human Systems 

Wing at Brooks AFB; Malcolm 

Grow Medical Center and 79th 

Medical Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.; 

and the 59th Medical Wing, Wilford 

Hall Medical Center, Lackland 

AFB, Texas. He also served as the 

Command Surgeon, Headquarters, 

Air Force District of Washington, 

and Command Surgeon, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, 

Langley AFB, Va. 

He is board certified in aerospace medicine. A command 

pilot and chief flight surgeon, he has more than 1,800 flying 

hours and is one of the Air Force’s few pilot-physicians. He 

has flown the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting 

Falcon as mission pilot and the Royal Air Force Hawk as the 

senior medical officer and pilot.

“USU is enormously proud of General Travis’ becoming the first alumnus to serve as Air Force surgeon general,” 

said President Rice. “He exemplifies the skill, dedication and 

leadership that we believe all of our graduates embody and 

that makes us take such pride in their accomplishments.”

Travis sworn in as 21st Air Force surgeon general

By Sharon Willis 

Lt.Gen. (Dr.) Tom Travis is sworn in by Air Force 

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz during a 

ceremony on July 20, 2012. Travis is the first USU 

alumnus to become surgeon general of a U.S. 

uniformed service. 

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis has his children pin the 3rd star on 

during his promotion and Air Force Surgeon General ceremony at 

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., July 20, 2012. Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Photo by U.S. Air Force photo/Jon Stock
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

World’s toughest microbe helps USU scientists

By Helen Hocknell, NSAB Public Affairs staff writer 

Scientists at the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) have discovered 

a new way to render a microbe 

non-infectious while preserving its 

immune system-boosting properties 

after exposure to gamma radiation.

The discovery could have profound 

implications for the development 

of vaccines for deadly diseases like 

human immunodeficiency virus 

(HIV), explained USU Pathology 

Professor Dr. Michael Daly, whose 

research team led the study.

Daly has devoted more than 20 years 

to studying Deinococcus radiodurans, 

a microorganism the Guinness Book 

of World Records dubbed “the world’s 

toughest bacterium.” Nicknamed 

“Conan the Bacterium,” it is known for 

its ability to withstand several thousand 

times the radiation levels that would kill 

a human being, and can be found nearly 

anywhere from your kitchen counter to 

the middle of a desert.

Deinococcus survives these extreme 

environments by accumulating high 

concentrations of manganese a metal 

element similar to iron and peptides, 

which protect its proteins from destruction when exposed to high levels of 

radiation or extremely dry conditions.

“I had been thinking there must be 

something very, very important we can 

do with this, and it just came to me, 

suddenly as a flash: vaccine development might be the way to go,” said Daly.

Vaccines are usually made up 

of ‘bits and pieces’ (epitopes) of 

disease-causing viruses or bacteria, 

he explained. When injected into a 

human or animal, these provoke an 

immune response that includes the 

production of antibodies, which can 

defend against future infection.

“However,” Daly explained, “the ‘bits 

and pieces’ sometimes aren’t enough, 

and vaccines against many deadly 

diseases haven’t worked.” He added 

that live vaccines using a weakened 

version of an intact virus or bacterium 

are most effective, but not an option 

when it comes to an otherwise untreatable disease like HIV because they 

carry an unacceptable risk of infection.

Radiation renders a virus or bacterium non-infectious by destroying the 

organism’s genetic material, but can also 

damage its protein structures, which 

the immune system needs to recognize 

for a vaccine to be effective. Daly’s team 

was able to get around this problem by 

isolating the manganese complex from 

Deinococcus and using it to protect 

a different bacterium’s proteins from 

destruction by radiation.

“The simplicity of it is what’s so 

amazing,” said Daly. “With radiation, 

their genomes are destroyed, sterilized. 

But all the proteins and all the structures on their surfaces remain, so you 

then can take these lethally-radiated 

pathogens and use them in making 

vaccines. The immune system then 

thinks it’s encountering the real bugs, 

which are now just lifeless shells, and 

mounts a full protective response.”

USU researchers, led by Daly, teamed 

up with scientists from the National 

Institutes of Health to test a vaccine for 

drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

bacteria in mice. It worked. The breakthrough study was published in the July 

edition of the scientific journal, “Cell 

Host and Microbe.” Daly said it could 

take years to get approval for human 

trials, but he’s optimistic this discovery will be a big help in fighting deadly 

diseases like HIV and influenza.

“This could speed up the whole 

process of producing vaccines instead 

of biochemists spending years trying to 

clone one aspect of a microbe’s protein 

structure, it could take only a matter of 

weeks to radiate all the different strains 

of a disease and create one vaccine to 

protect against all of them.”

“We’ve shown this approach can work 

on Staphylococcus, which kills about 

18,000 people per year,” said Daly. “Now 

it’s only a matter of time before we can 

apply it to other bugs.”

40th 

Anniversary Celebration 

Save the Date

Sept. 20–22
USU 40th Anniversary 

Trivia #3 Winner

Congratulations to Erica Jones, 

a procurement technician in the 

Contracting office at USU, for being 

the first person to correctly answer 

last issue’s trivia question:

Name a USU alum currently teaching 

in the School of Medicine, Graduate 

School of Nursing and Graduate 

Education Programs.

Jones answered, Army Lt. Col. Justin 

Woodson, assistant professor in 

the School of Medicine; Army Maj. 

Thomas Rawlings, assistant professor 

in the Graduate School of Nursing; 

and Air Force Col. Joseph Anderson, 

assistant professor for Graduate 

Education Programs. 

HPRC Health Tips

The Human Performance 

Resource Center Health Tips is 

intended to provide the USU 

community with information 

to help develop and maintain a 

healthy lifestyle. Check out the 

HPRC website at: http://human

performanceresourcecenter.org.

Eat protein-rich foods to 

save money

Did you know that protein 

sources such as chicken breast, 

tuna, and chocolate milk—even 

at the highest quality and price—

cost less than $6 per pound? In 

contrast, protein supplements 

(whey, soy or casein protein 

powders, etc.) are usually over $10 

a pound.

The smart choice seems obvious.

Operation Supplement Safety 

(OPSS) is about to launch this 

summer and will answer many 

of your questions about Dietary 

Supplements. Watch for HPRC’s 

announcement coming soon.

August 12, 2012 7

Respect for Body Donors..

continued from page 2

“The old-fashioned, traditional method 

is an important opportunity for students 

to gain experience working with real 

doctors performing real surgery on real 

patients, and get them thinking about 

clinical medicine early on,” said Welling. 

He explained the ability to explore 

anatomical structures in a cadaver by feel 

rather than viewing them in a textbook 

helps students remember them better.

“Everybody is different, and you can 

learn a lot more about anomalies by 

seeing these structures in person rather 

than reading about them in a book,” 

said Welling. 

USU Anatomical Curator Ronald 

Rivenburgh said although many 

medical schools now test students using 

photos and computer graphics, students 

at USU are still tested on cadavers for 

the practical portion of the anatomy lab. 

“At USU, we believe the human body 

can teach you everything you need to 

know,” said Rivenburgh. “Sometimes, 

in the lab, students discover something 

unusual in a cadaver, like a pacemaker 

or artificial hips.”

Anna J. Karsner of Baltimore, Md., 

who came to the ceremony in Sykesville, 

said her late husband, Joseph, made 

up his mind 40 years ago to give his 

body to the Maryland Anatomy Board’s 

donation program. She said he wanted 

to give back to the medical community 

due to his numerous health problems, 

but worried toward the end of his life 

that they wouldn’t want his body. 

When her husband died of congestive heart failure at age 77 in February, his body had undergone open 

heart surgery, a hip replacement, and 

a myriad of other procedures over the 

years. However, Welling said bodies 

like Joseph’s are especially useful in 

showing students evidence of longterm illnesses and the results of past 

medical treatments. 

“It’s something you can’t duplicate 

very well with a plastic mannequin or 

computer program,” said Welling.

Karsner said the service helped 

give her closure, and it was heartening to see the number of medical 

students and professors in attendance. “It’s nice to see they want to 

remember him, too,” said Karsner.

The feeling of appreciation is mutual. 

“This is a person I’m going to remember forever,” said Reed of her cadaver.

“He taught me anatomy.”

Retired Force Master Chief Robert Elliott (pictured second from left) was the featured 

guest speaker at the 114th Hospital Corps Birthday celebration, June 15. After the 

ceremony he was joined on the amphitheater steps by Brigade Senior Enlisted Leader 

Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Patrick Hyde, Brigade Commander Navy Capt. (Dr.) 

Tanis Batsel Stewart, USU President Charles L. Rice and Brigade Executive Officer Marine Capt. Matthew Anderson.

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford, U.S. Navy