Volume 7, Issue 2 n January 23, 2012

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Production Editor

Christine Creenan-Jones

Contributing Writer

Anne Allnutt

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

On the cover

Dr. Patrick Sculley, executive dean of USU’s 

Postgraduate Dental College (PGDC), recently paid a visit to the Army Dental Residency 

program site at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, 

to finalize the addition of the program into 

USU’s PGDC. Pictured: Lt. Col. William “Jay” 

Greenwood; Col. Dianne Pannes, program 

director, USU Comprehensive Dentistry 

Program, Schofield Barracks; Dr. Patrick Sculley; Col. Robert Manga, Dean, Army PGDS; 

BG Keith W. Gallagher; Dr. Debra Klinman, 

Middle States Commission on Higher Education; and Mr. Steve Henske, USU 

Asst. VP for Accreditation. 

(See page 4).

2012 Packard Lecturer Named

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

The 2012 David Packard Lecture 

will feature guest speaker, Dr. Murray 

F. Brennan from the Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center in New 

York who will be speaking in Sanford 

Auditorium at 3 p.m. March 15. 

Brennan is an internationally 

recognized surgical oncologist who has 

authored or co-authored more than 

1,000 publications including a book 

on soft tissue sarcoma. He is an expert 

in basic science research and a clinical 

expert in the treatment of soft tissue 

sarcomas, endocrine tumors as well as 

pancreatic and stomach cancers. 

He has been honored with a 

myriad of professional awards such 

as membership in the Institute of 

Medicine of the National Academy of 

Sciences and the American College 

of Surgeons’ highest award, the 

Distinguished Service Award in 2000. 

Brennan will be the 25th guest 

speaker to give the University’s 

most prestigious lectureship. The 

annual lecture features a nationally 

renowned medical expert selected by 

the University president and Faculty 

Senate. The David Packard Lecture is 

named in honor of the former Deputy 

Secretary of Defense, who also served 

as the second USU president from 1976 

to 1981. 

This year’s lectureship will be a 

special two-day event, March 14 and 15, 

culminating in the University’s David 

Packard Lecture. But this year is unique 

as it represents a partnership between 

the USU Faculty Senate and the recently 

established Comprehensive Cancer 

Center at Walter Reed National Military 

Medical Center (WRNMMC). 

Navy Rear Admiral (Dr.) Alton 

Stocks, Commander, WRNMMC, 

and Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, 

Interim Director of the WRNMMC 

Comprehensive Cancer Center, will 

host clinically-focused activities on 

the first day of the event at the medical 

center. These activities will highlight 

the new cancer center facility and its 

comprehensive cancer care capability. 

The USU Faculty Senate will host 

the second day on campus, which 

will showcase cancer-related research 

within the USU School of Medicine 

and Graduate School of Nursing and 

conclude with the Packard lecture. 

Clinically, he has created the world’s 

largest database of sarcoma patients. 

This database includes important data 

on more than 8,000 patients, which 

led to the development of a computer 

program that is highly effective 

in predicting patients’ chances of 

surviving soft tissue sarcoma for at least 

12 years after their diagnosis. 

This program, called a Nomogram, 

assists a doctor in designing treatment to ensure patients at greatest 

risk of recurrence can be treated 

more aggressively, while patients at 

low risk can avoid unnecessary additional treatments. 

Courtesy photo.

Dr. Murray F. Brennan

Courtesy photo.
January 23, 2012 3

Major Jarold “Tom” Johnston, a 

Graduate School of Nursing student in 

the PhD in Nursing Science program, 

is the Army’s only male midwife and 

lactation consultant. In these roles, he’s 

been the go-to guy for thousands of 

new mothers and fathers with questions 

about pregnancy, labor and baby care 

for the past six years. 

Still, Johnston – the lone man in a 

woman’s world – doesn’t consider himself unique or a pioneer. He’s just doing 

a job he loves and helping military 

families in the process.

“I didn’t originally seek out this 

career, but the Army Nurse Corps 

places great value on gender neutrality and thought I was a good candidate 

for midwifery school since I had a lot 

of nursing experience in maternity,” he 

said. “Midwifery wasn’t my first choice, 

and I even considered turning the assignment down. But, I’m glad I didn’t, 

because I love my work.”

After completing a civilian midwifery 

program in Rhode Island, Johnston 

began providing full-spectrum primary 

care to women at military hospitals in 

North Carolina and New York. Like 

all midwives, his professional scope 

is broad, but Johnston 

focuses mostly on 

obstetrics – a field he is 

passionate about.

“Midwives are part of 

something really special,” 

he said. “We play an 

important role in helping couples grow into 

families, from before a 

woman becomes pregnant to well beyond the 

birth of her child.”

As a midwife, Johnston attends uncomplicated births and teaches 

new parents all sorts of 

useful skills, including 

proper breastfeeding 

techniques. Johnston 

admits several of his 

patients are surprised to 

learn he’s a board-certified lactation consultant, 

but it doesn’t take long 

for most women to look 

past his gender.

“It’s a perception thing 

more than anything else. 

There are plenty of male 

gynecologists, after all, 

and their work is just as sensitive and 

personal as mine,” he said. “People accept them, no questions asked, because 

in the end, most people just want a competent, professional caregiver – woman 

or man.”

Like his female counterparts, Johnston provides expert advice – non-pharmacologic techniques for easing painful 

labor and effective breastfeeding techniques to avoid complications – but, 

he still has a special appeal. Johnston’s 

gender – though not an issue for him or 

his patients – is still a hot topic among 

professionals in the field.

The father of eight has been invited 

to speak at several national conferences 

about his unique experiences in military nursing. Johnston has taken these 

opportunities to focus on meaningful 

topics, like the vital role fathers play in 

creating happy, healthy families.

“My work is interesting to a lot of 

people, and I enjoy sharing my experiences with other professionals,” Johnston said. “But, I always talk about 

midwifery fields in general, not who’s 

in them. I’m just not that interested in 

gender roles.”

Whether intentional or not, Johnston 

has moved nursing boundaries for the 

Army by integrating a field as old as 

time. Now, he’s hoping to move ground 

in a new discipline. At USU, Johnston 

is combining his love for midwifery 

and human lactation with cell biology 

– likely topics for the research he’ll conduct as part of his doctoral education in 

the Graduate School of Nursing.

“If you understand how cells work, 

you understand how life works,” he said.

For Johnston, this means understanding his own midwifery career 

better, which has been full of life.

In a League of His Own

By Christine Creenan-Jones

Courtesy photo

Army Maj. Jarold “Tom” Johnston holds a newborn 

baby. Johnston, a GSN student in the PhD program, is 

the Army’s only male midwife and lactation consultant 

a mission he has full-filled for the past six years.

Major Jarold “Tom” Johnston

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

The Military and Emergency Medicine 

department (MEM) recently welcomed 

a new addition as its deputy department 

chair. 

Air Force Col. Dr. Tom Clarke, a 

USU alumnus, returned to campus in 

September 2011 to take the position as 

vice chair. He also serves as the director, Aerospace Medicine Education. 

“I am excited about my role here 

at USU,” he said. “I look forward to 

contributing and growing the already 

superb department of Military and 

Emergency Medicine.” 

The 1992 USU valedictorian came 

to MEM from the Air Force Medical 

Support Agency where he served as the 

division chief for Aerospace Medicine 

Policy and Operations. 

Now here at USU, he has big plans to 

help ensure MEM is on the cutting edge 

of educational operations.

“I really want to make sure that this 

department and the educational operations be something significant,” Clarke 

said. “The number one thing we must 

do is prepare our graduating students 

to excel in the operational medical environment. And hopefully, we can also 

inspire them.” 

To help accomplish this dedicated 

mission, the former NASA flight 

surgeon is restoring the Operational 

Emergency Skills course. 

“This course was developed here 

at USU and I would like to bring that 

course back to be a real anchor here in 

Alum Returns to Campus as MEM Vice Chair

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

the department. It would be an asset 

that we could export in the DoD and 

international communities. As part 

of the department’s plans, the OEMS 

course is slated to replace the current 

Operation Kerkesner this coming year. 

“These first four months have really 

extolled the co-operation here between 

the Brigade, the School of Medicine, 

the departments, etc. Everybody has 

been very supportive,” Clarke said. 

“This very cooperative and supportive 

environment will minimize the challenges to making this a success.” 

And, it is this goal of success for the 

future of Operational Military Medicine 

that helps drive the senior officer’s vision. 

“All the way back in ’92 when I 

graduated, I loved the University,” he 

said. “I have always felt that this is the 

best medical education I could have 

ever received. And, I want every student 

who graduates here to feel that way.” 

Since his humble beginnings as a 

flight surgeon at Edwards Air Force 

Base, Calif., to his current position at 

USU, Col. Clarke has taken and instructed dozens of military courses 

from Centrifuge training to Survival, 

Evasion, Resistance and Escape, or 

SERE, training. 

He has also earned many honors 

and recognitions such as Lange Medical Publications Award for outstanding achievement as a medical student 

in 1992, the Howard Unger Award for 

best primary research by a flight surgeon in 2002 and the Julian E. Ward 

Memorial Award in 2004 for the top 

resident in Aerospace Medicine. 

Clarke has also honorably served 

multiple medical deployments around 

the world to places such as Kenya, Somalia, Jordan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Cambodia, Lithuania, Afghanistan, Iraq, Peru, 

Ecuador, Argentina, Haiti and even 

New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. His most recent deployment was 

to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

Courtesy photo

Air Force Col. Dr. Tom Clarke poses for a 

photo during a recent deployment. Clarke, 

the new deputy chairman for the USU 

Military and Emergency Medicine Department is also the director of Aerospace 

Medicine Education and a USU graduate.

On January 10, the Vice President of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Debra Klinman, Ph.D., visited 

the U.S. Army Dental residency site at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to finalize the addition of the Army Postgraduate Dental 

School to USU’s Postgraduate Dental College. Pictured (left to 

right): Lt.Col. Jay Greenwood, assistant program director; Col. 

Dianne Pannes, program director; Dr. Klinman; Mr. Steve Henske, USU’s Assistant VP for Accreditation; Col. Robert Manga, 

Dean, Army Postgraduate Dental School; and Dr. Patrick Sculley, Executive Dean, USU Postgraduate Dental College.

Army Postgraduate Dental School Joins USU College Courtesy photo.
January 23, 2012 5

The generosity of the USU 

family came through for people 

in need as the campus exceeded 

its 2011 Combined Federal Campaign goal. 

Overall, the University raised 

more than $173,310 for the charitable campaign, which ended Jan. 

13. The University’s original goal 

was $165,000.

“I do really want to thank everyone who contributed to this 

success,” said Army Capt. Malvis 

Tarney, the Graduate School of 

Nursing company commander 

and 2011 CFC campaign manager. “We couldn’t have done it 

without everyone’s hard work 

and dedication.” 

This year’s CFC drive, led by 

Tarney, encompassed more than 

40 volunteers – two officers, 14 

enlisted and 27 civilians. These 

volunteers assisted and worked 

a full-spectrum of fund-raising 

events from an M&M candy counting contest to a CFC bake sale and 

Holiday gift wrapping. 

All of their efforts were in 

support of the CFC and its many 

charities. The CFC assists more 

than 4,000 charities combined. 

These charities cover local, regional, national and international 

organizations and impact millions 

of people annually. 

After the last donation had 

been made, USU had provided 

more than 240 pledges. These 

pledges include the more than 

$22,000 in paperless e-pledges 

that were submitted. 

Campus Reaches 

Campaign Goal

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

With the recent departure of USU’s 

Vice President for Research, Dr. Steven 

Kaminsky, President Charles L. Rice, 

M.D., turned to a familiar face on campus to temporarily fill the role — Assistant Vice President for Research Dr. 

Richard Levine. 

“I would like to thank Dr. Levine for 

his willingness to serve in this capacity 

until a new Vice President for Research 

is appointed,” said USU President Dr. 

Rice. “He has been a valuable asset to 

the University for many years.” 

In addition to his position as assistant VP for Research, Dr. Levine also 

works as USU’s director for Research, 

USU’s director of Research Compliance 

as well as the University’s director of 

Research Programs. 

Dr. Levine has also been a valuable 

member and consultant to various 

Dept. of Defense Institutional Review 

boards. He also played an integral part 

in creating a human subjects protections policy for the DoD. 

Dr. Levine retired from Army active 

duty after 21 years of dedicated service. 

Levine to Serve as Acting VPR

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

During those years, the former officer 

served in a full spectrum of research assignments. Most notably he served as a 

member of the Army’s Directed Energy 

Medical Research Program, as Chief 

of the AMEDD Center and School’s 

Individual Training Director (Directorate of Training and Doctrine), Chief 

of the AMEDD C&S’s Analysis and 

Technical Support Branch (Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization), 

and as a senior staff officer and Deputy 

Program Director in the Army’s Medical 

Research and Materiel Command. 

Dr. Levine also served for many years 

in the Army’s Aeromedical research 

community, and is the author of numerous scientific reports and papers on 

warfare visual performance and on 

visual performance with electro-optical 

devices and other visual aids in aviation. 

He is the recipient of the Army’s “A” 

proficiency designator, and the DoD’s 

Defense Superior Service Medal. Dr. 

Levine received his doctorate in Neurobiology from the City University of 

New York.

The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, AFRRI, at the 

Uniformed Services University, USU will host a symposium sponsored 

by AFRRI’s Military Medical Operations department, 

The symposium will be held IN Sanford Auditorium March 27-29, 

2012 and topics will span the scope of the U.S. response to the Fukushima Daiichi incident following the devastating earthquake and tsunami 

last year in Japan.

To attend, register online at http://www.usuhs.mil/afrrianniversary/

events/mmo/index.html.

Contact the symposium chair Air Force Capt. Brian E. Livingston via email livingston@afrri.usuhs.mil or by phone, 301-295-

1069; or Julie Harless at harless@afrri.usuhs.mil, 301-295-2950, 

with questions about the symposium.

AFRRI Symposium to Highlight 

US Response to Japan Disaster

By MC1 Chad Hallford
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

The USU campus is filled with many 

diverse and unique experts. 

Many of those experts go about 

their work with quiet dignity, seeking 

reward only in a job well done. And, 

Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Eric Holt is one 

of them.

“We have a lot of exciting things 

going on in the USU Anesthesiology 

department that are contributing to the 

future of operational medicine,” he said.

A member of the USU Department 

of Anesthesiology, he wears many 

hats. He is a staff anesthesiologist at 

the Walter Reed National Military 

Medical Center, assistant professor and 

Vice Chair of the USU Department 

of Anesthesiology, as well as being an 

operational anesthesiology instructor 

and Special Operations Command Pain 

Task Force representative.

In these critical roles he mentors 

residents at WRNMMC who are 

participating in the military’s only 

Tri-Service active duty anesthesiology 

residency program. He also provides 

expert instruction to USU students 

at the Anesthesia Simulation Center 

during their surgical and anesthesiology 

clinical rotations. 

But Holt’s work doesn’t end there. 

He works with organizations such as 

the Henry Jackson Foundation, the 

Joint Improvised Explosive Device 

Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), and 

the Special Forces Medical Sergeants 

Course at Ft. Bragg with efforts to 

implement new and augment existing technology, tactics, techniques, 

and procedures for medical use in 

combat, unconventional, and austere 

environments. This work requires that 

he coordinate with multiple Federal 

and civilian agencies in the National 

Capital Region as well as U.S. Special 

Operations Command (USSOCOM). 

Holt helps tackle issues ranging from 

DoD/VA Pain Task Force initiatives for 

special operations forces personnel and 

capturing medical “lessons learned” 

from current military operations to 

future operational pain and critical care 

Officer Lights Path for Innovations in Anesthesiology 

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

capabilities for both U.S. and host nation medical care. 

As such, in the past he has given 

several operational medical presentations to groups such as Air Force Special 

Operations Command, USSOCOM, the 

Special Operations Medical Association, 

the USAF School of Aerospace 

Medicine, the Society of Air Force 

Clinical Surgeons, and the Texas Health 

Research and Education Institute.

While serving as a critical care physician and anesthesiology attending 

with the 96th Medical Group at Eglin 

AFB, Holt helped manage expeditionary support for surgical, obstetrical, 

and physical medical services for more 

than 16,000 active duty servicemen and 

women. He also organized and staffed 

the first-ever osteopathic medicine 

clinic at Hurlburt Field. 

But the Harvard-educated anesthesiologist is much more than a stateside 

clinician and has real world experience 

to temper his academic education. 

Since 2005, Holt has supported worldwide missions for both AFSOC and 

USSOCOM both as a special operations 

surgical team and critical care evacuation team member. He has served 

repeatedly in joint special combat 

operations and medevacs for critically 

wounded military and host nation casualties while coordinating multiple largescale medical civil action programs 

(MEDCAPS) that helped establish and 

improve host nation medical capability.

During his most recent deployment, 

the 1991 West Point graduate was 

severely injured when an improvised 

explosive device detonated under the 

vehicle he was riding in. Holt sustained 

a moderate TBI with severe skull, facial, 

cervical and thoracic fractures requiring multiple surgeries and over a year 

of TBI therapy at Walter Reed and the 

Tampa VA Medical Center. 

“I am extremely thankful for the 

incredible medical care and staff support I received from the point of injury 

to the present day. Being a physician 

Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Eric Holt (left) in Afghanistan shortly before sustaining 

injuries from an IED. Currently, Holt serves as vice chair of the USU Department of 

Anesthesiology as an operational anesthesiology instructor. He was awarded the 

Purple Heart and Air Combat Action medal during his last deployment.

Courtesy photo.

(Continues on page 7)
January 23, 2012 7

(Continued from page 6)

traveling through our military trauma 

and medical system as a casualty was 

a priceless learning experience,” Holt 

said. “Even today, the anesthesiology 

staff at WRNMMC and USU have been 

incredibly supportive with the recuperation process while allowing me the 

opportunity to work on various operational projects.”

It is the combination of this valuable 

experience and staff support that helps 

the Purple Heart and Air Combat 

Action recipient dissect and address 

the operational needs for tomorrow’s 

medical experts both inside and outside 

of the class room. 

Inside the classroom, Holt has students utilize “operational” equipment 

to perform their medical duties, like 

using night vision goggles and helmets 

while carrying replica M-4 rifles and 

M-9 handguns with slings and holsters 

to help more accurately portray field 

conditions and prepare the students for 

the operational environment.

It is this unique vision that helps Holt 

work to modify anesthesia and airway 

devices and techniques for use in far 

forward and low-light conditions. 

“There is a very real need for 

things like this,” he said. “In the nottoo-distant future, our residents may 

be in scenarios requiring noise and 

light discipline where they can’t just 

turn on a flashlight and shout ‘call 

for help.’ They are ‘the help’ and will 

be tasked to perform damage control resuscitation tactically, in total 

darkness, as part of a team that must 

shoot, move and communicate effectively for survival.” 

Holt’s creation may have come 

out of his personal experiences but 

are not for his benefit. 

“Everything we do here is for the 

benefit of those people going into the 

operational environment. Period,” he 

said. “The training and expertise our 

students and residents receive now 

will one day help care for our nation’s warriors in the fight — those in 

harm’s way.” 

Along with his extensive workload, 

Holt spends as much time as he can 

with his family. He and his wife, 

Nashwa, recently celebrated the birth 

of twin sons, Will and Luke, born at 

Walter Reed National Military Medical 

Center this past October. 

“My family means everything to 

me,” he said. “They are what truly inspire me.” 

The workforce of USU’s Technical Services 

Branch, Logistics Division, is a hybrid mix of 

military, government civilians and Henry M. 

Jackson Foundation personnel. Several have 

served at USU for more than 20 years and 

know how to get things fixed quickly. Armed 

with years of experience and outstanding 

training credentials, these professionals, led by 

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chris Murray, routinely 

provide on-site and in-lab repairs. 

Their support includes repairs, calibrations, 

routine maintenance and assistance with new 

equipment as well as in-service training for 

some equipment. 

For problems that transcend their in-house 

capabilities, the TSB routinely leverages yearly 

contracts to overcome those challenges. The 

warranty management of equipment through 

the Technical Services workforce looks to save 

its customers money by fixing responsibility 

with vendors for those repairs covered by the 

original purchase agreement.

“We are very proud of this group, especially 

during this period of transition,” said Logistics 

Director Greg Kuhn. “We lost our three most 

TSB Serves USU’s 

Tech Needs

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

The USU Technical Services Branch, from left to right: (Standing) Tim 

Taylor, Thorell Penny Jordan, Army Staff Sgt. Stephen Lee, Army Sgt. 

Matthew Gomez, Anna Nguy, Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Kampen, Army 

Sgt. Alfred Zamora, David Little. (Seated) Russell Shettle, Air Force Tech. 

Sgt. Christopher Murray, Air Force Staff Sgt. Erik Papp and John Pirrone.

senior civilians to retirement, but due to Tech Sgt. Murray’s leadership, the hard work of our remaining members, and the ability to 

obtain short-term staff through our partnership with the Foundation, we have been able to maintain a solid level of service.”
8 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

The Center for Prostate Disease 

Research, or CPDR — a Department 

of Defense Center of Excellence — is 

celebrating its 20th Anniversary in the 

fall of 2012. 

This milestone marks two decades 

of service and research to benefit 

all military health care beneficiaries 

diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

The CPDR is a multi-disciplinary 

program focused on developing 

the latest research and treatment 

modalities while providing state-ofthe-art health care for patients with 

prostate cancer and disease. The Center 

utilizes the equal access DoD health 

care system. In addition, the CPDR 

utilizes its three principal programs, 

Basic Science, Clinical Research, and 

the Multicenter National Database, to 

accomplish its mission. 

The Center also contributes to 

the fully accredited urology resident 

training program at the Walter Reed 

National Military Medical Center 

(WRNMMC). 

From its beginning as a small 

program in 1992 within the USU 

Department of Surgery and the Walter 

Reed Army Medical Center Urology 

Program, the CPDR is presently 

recognized worldwide as a premier 

prostate patient care and research 

center. Since its inception, the Clinical 

Research Program has offered patients 

access to multiple clinical trials. 

Currently, there are 12 ongoing clinical 

trials that address various treatment 

options, disease prevention and 

quality-of-life outcomes. 

In addition, the CPDR has collected 

and securely stored more than 100,000 

various types of de-identified specimens. 

The biospecimen repository serves as the 

underpinning for ground-breaking basic 

science research, which focuses on new 

diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers 

and therapeutic targets. 

The efforts of the Basic Science 

Research team led to many groundbreaking research findings including 

more than 350 research publications and 

meeting presentations, 18 peer-reviewed 

grant awards from the NIH and DOD, 

12 pending patent applications, three 

issued patents, numerous Cooperative 

Research and Development Agreements, 

or CRADAs — the latter with numerous 

academic collaborations and leading 

industry leaders. 

One of the most significant CPDR 

discoveries is one which the ETS 

related gene (ERG) defect is found 

in two-thirds of all prostate cancer 

cases. Combined with discoveries 

from other laboratories, it is now 

established that ERG alterations are 

one of the most prevalent oncogenic 

defects found so far in prostate cancer 

in the United States. 

“This discovery has the potential 

to create a paradigm shift in prostate 

cancer diagnosis, stratification and 

management,” said the CPDR CoDirector, Shiv 

Srivastava, Ph.D. 

On another 

front, the CPDR 

Multicenter National 

Database represents 

a unique database 

of more than 25,000 

patients with 

prostate cancer who 

are consented and 

enrolled in the DoD 

health care system. 

This database is 

under the auspices of 

USU’s Institutional 

Review Board 

and enables unparalleled research 

opportunities to study the impact 

of racial disparity, PSA screening, 

novel biomarkers and traditional/new 

treatments for the most commonly 

diagnosed cancer among U.S. men. 

And, CPDR scientists and urologists 

continue to strive in developing new 

strategies for improving diagnosis and 

treatment of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer researchers from 

around the United States and several 

foreign countries will meet later 

this year to commemorate the 20th 

Anniversary of CPDR. 

The CPDR Marks 20th Anniversary

This meeting will celebrate the vision 

of the Center’s founders who instituted 

the intent of the Congress. Along with 

the steadfast support of the leadership from USU, WRNMMC, the Joint 

Task Force National Capital Region 

Medical, the Joint Pathology Center 

(formerly the Armed Forces Institute 

of Pathology), the Henry M. Jackson 

Foundation for the Advancement of 

Military Medicine, and other collaborating DoD and civilian medical research institutions. 

The Center’s Director, retiredArmy Col. David G. McLeod, M.D., 

J.D., said, “At the present time 

CPDR is a world class endeavor. 

Indeed, without the support afforded us from the Department 

of Clinical Research at WRAMC 

we would have been unable to 

achieve our successes. Hopefully 

we can sustain 

this support at 

WRNMMC.”

There will be a 

day-long symposium later this year. 

The symposium will 

serve to recognize 

the dedication and 

selfless support 

from its current and 

past staff who made 

the CPDR a model 

multi-disciplinary 

cancer program, not 

only in the DOD, but in the United 

States. This symposium will provide 

the CPDR the opportunity to recognize the military patients who are the 

foundation of the CPDR and who continue to inspire the Center’s mission.

Over the past 20 years, the key 

CPDR goal remains the same — to 

enhance the quality of life of military 

patients and their beneficiaries 

along the continuum of cancer care. 

The CPDR is closely aligned with 

the forward-looking initiative to 

establish a Comprehensive Care 

Center at WRNMMC.