1 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way

The Official USU Newsletter

Volume 11, Issue 13 Aug. 22, 2016 

www.usuhs.edu
2 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Sharon Holland

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Christopher Austin

Writer and Interim Editor

MC2 Laura Bailey

Writer and Photographer

SSgt. Stephanie Morris, USAF

Writer and Photographer

Sarah Marshall

Contributing 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 

Mondays. The deadline for submissions is at 4 p.m. Tuesday prior to the 

publication date. Submissions can be 

sent to christopher.austin.ctr@usuhs.

edu or by calling 301-295-3338.

On the cover

Several sculptures and molds for prostheses created by 

the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Department at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School. Molds for a prosthesis can be made either through traditional plaster casts, 

or through 3D modeling. Once a mold has been created, prosthodontists are able to work with the patients to 

customize the finished products to best serve the patient. 

(Photo by Christopher Austin)

Dr. Lynette Hamlin joined 

the faculty of the Uniformed 

Services University of the 

Health Sciences Graduate 

School of Nursing (GSN) as the 

new associate dean for Faculty 

Affairs. Hamlin, who was selected following a nationwide 

search led by GSN Ph.D. program director Dr. Penny Pierce, 

began her new duties August 8, 

2016.

Hamlin has extensive experience as an advanced practice 

nurse, educator, faculty mentor 

and coach at multiple universities (Yale University, University 

of New Hampshire, University 

of South Carolina Upstate, St. 

Joseph's College in Maine). She 

has held a number of different 

faculty appointments, including 

dean, associate dean, department 

chair and program director, and has 

worked as a consultant with several 

nursing programs. Dr. Hamlin has 

significant expertise in new faculty 

orientation, long-term faculty development, and faculty mentoring 

in the promotion and tenure process, including guiding faculty with 

their scholarship trajectories. 

“Dr. Hamlin is exceptionally 

qualified for this role. She received 

a Bachelor of Science in Nursing 

and a Master of Science in Nursing 

as a maternal-child clinical nurse 

specialist from Loyola University of 

Chicago, a post-master’s certificate 

in nurse-midwifery from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and 

a Ph.D. in nursing with a minor in 

public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

She holds national certifications in 

Nurse Midwifery, in Continuing 

Competency Assessment and in 

Healthcare Risk Management, and 

is a Fellow in the American College 

of Nurse Midwives. Her scholarly 

work focuses on access to care for 

women,” said GSN Dean Dr. Carol 

Romano.

Hamlin has presented and published extensively, contributed two 

textbooks on the context of care 

and professional issues in advanced 

practice nursing, directed several 

research and training grants, and 

significantly contributed to women's health policy.

“I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of Dr. Matthew D'Angelo in serving as interim associate 

dean, and thank Dr. Penny Pierce 

and the members of the search committee for their diligence in identifying outstanding candidates for 

this position,” Romano said.

Graduate School of Nursing Welcomes New 

Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

By Sharon Holland

Dr. Lynette Hamlin was named the new associate dean for Faculty Affairs. (Photo by Tom Balfour
3 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Air Force Lt. Col. Stacey VanDyke, adjunct assistant professor 

and alumna of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Daniel K. Inouye 

Graduate School of Nursing (GSN), 

has been selected as the new Master of Sciences in Nurse Anesthesia 

program administrator at the Florida State University Panama City 

College of Applied Studies. Randy 

Hanna, interim dean of the College, 

made the announcement August 8, 

2016.

“Dr. VanDyke has proven herself 

as a distinguished educator,” said 

Hanna. “Throughout her nursing 

and military career, she has demonstrated strong leadership and organizational skills that will be a great 

asset to our nurse anesthesia students.”

VanDyke, who earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree 

from the GSN’s nurse anesthesia 

program in 2006, is currently serving as the director of the nurse anesthesia clinical residency training 

program at Eglin Hospital, Eglin Air 

Force Base, Fla. She will retire from 

the Air Force later this year. 

“Lt. Col. VanDyke is an established clinician, and exemplary educator with superior leadership 

qualities. Her professionalism and 

leadership have left a strong legacy 

in the Air Force's Nurse Anesthesia education community,” said Air 

Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Casey, adjunct assistant professor and assistant site director at Eglin Hospital 

for USU’s nurse anesthesia program. 

VanDyke earned her bachelor’s 

degree in nursing from Jacksonville 

State University in Jacksonville, Ala., 

in 1994 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the 

University of Alabama at Birmingham 

in 2013. Throughout her 20-year career in the Air Force, 

VanDyke has served 

in clinical, teaching 

and research positions, including serving as a member of 

an Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Team during 

Operations Southern Watch/Enduring 

Freedom, chief nurse 

anesthetist and chief 

of anesthesia services at the U.S. Air 

Force Academy hospital, research director for nurse anesthesia clinical training 

at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 

Ohio, and as a deployed nurse anesthetist with the 332 

Expeditionary Medical Group in Balad, Iraq, where she 

trained Special Forces medics in advanced airway techniques and provided anesthesia and trauma care to 

more than 250 patients undergoing 

more than 400 procedures.

“I am looking forward to this 

challenge, but I will never really 

leave my USU family. The attention 

placed on faculty development within our university, leadership within the RNA program, and working 

with veterans from all over our nation has prepared me for a career in 

academia,” VanDyke said. “I am forever grateful to my many mentors, 

but especially to retired Col. Bruce 

Schoneboom, retired Lt. Col. Adrienne Hartgerink, Lt. Col. Kathy Alguire, and Cmdr. Justice Parrott for 

fostering my potential in education. 

I am looking forward to the opportunity to work more closely within 

the community.” 

GSN Alumna Named New FSU CRNA Program Administrator

By Sharon Holland

Air Force Lt. Col. Stacey VanDyke, adjuct assistant professor and alumna of the 

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Daniel K. Inouye 

Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) is the new Master of Sciences in Nurse Anesthesia program administrator at the Florida State University Panama City College of Applied Studies. (Photo by Tom Balfour)
4 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Two internationally-known nurses with ties to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 

(USU) have been named living legends 

by the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, a professor of psychiatric nursing at Boston College, was chosen for the honor 

based on her work as a pioneer in the 

assessment and treatment of victims of 

sexual violence and trauma. Burgess 

served as a consultant in USU’s Daniel 

K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing 

(GSN) to help develop the inter-professional Military Sexual Assault course 

for providers. She is a co-founder of one 

of the first hospital-based crisis counseling programs, which introduced 

Rape Trauma Syndrome into scientific literature. She has worked with the 

FBI to study links between child abuse, 

juvenile delinquency, and subsequent 

perpetration. Her current research on 

elder abuse in nursing homes and military sexual trauma continues to influence public 

policy.

Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, former dean 

of Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing 

for 28 years and a former 

member of USU’s Board 

of Regents from 2006-

2010, was selected as a 

living legend for her profound contributions to 

the nursing profession, 

health education and 

public policy through 

her research, scholarship, and visionary leadership. Conway-Welch 

served on President Reagan’s 1988 Commission 

on HIV, the 1998 National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, and the 2002 DHHS Advisory Council on 

Public Health Preparedness. She is a 

founder and former president of 

the Friends of the National Institute for Nursing Research.

Burgess and Conway-Welch 

join Dr. Ada Sue Hinshaw, dean 

emerita of the GSN in earning the prestigious living Legend designation. They will officially receive the honor during 

the AAN’s annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., on 

October 20.

 “The GSN is proud to recognize and honor these nursing leaders who have shared 

their expertise with our University and with the nation,” said 

Dr. Carol Romano, GSN dean. 

“They provide rich role models for our future generation of 

military nurse leaders.”

Former USU Nurses Named AAN Living Legends

By Sharon Holland

Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, former dean of Vanderbilt University's School 

of Nursing and USU Board of Regents has been named a living legend by 

the American Academy of Nursing. (Photo by Tom Balfour)

Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, a professor of psychiatric nursing at Boston College, has been named a living legend by the American Academy of Nursing. (Photo by Josh Levine)
5 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Maxillofacial Prosthodontists Restore Patient Confidence 

By Christopher Austin

Navy LCDR Laleh Abdolazadeh, Chair of Maxillofacial 

Prosthetics at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School 

and Navy Specialty Leader for Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Dental Implants, holds a 3-d printed model for 

a nose and radiation treatment wax bolus made using 

digitally printed models (Photo by Christopher Austin)

Faculty from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Postgraduate Dental 

College (PDC) are aiding service 

members and their families as part 

of the military’s Maxillofacial Prosthetics programs at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School (NPDS) in 

Bethesda, Md., and the Air Force 

Postgraduate Dental School (AFPDS) in San Antonio, Texas.

 Maxillofacial prosthetics is a 

subspecialty of prosthodontics that 

is dedicated to the treatment and 

management of patients with head 

and neck defects caused by traumatic injuries, surgical removal of 

cancer, or birth anomalies. The role 

of a maxillofacial prosthodontist is 

to replace and restore these missing structures and their functions 

by way of artificial substitutes, according to Navy Lt. Cmdr. Laleh 

Abdolazadeh, chair of the Maxillofacial Prosthetics department at the 

NPDS and Navy specialty leader for 

maxillofacial prosthetics and dental 

implants.

 “The importance of the specialty is that [maxillofacial prosthodontists] work very closely with 

the medical, surgical and treatment 

planning teams to plan and provide 

a finished prosthesis best suited to 

return form and function to the patients after medical and/or surgical 

care has been completed,” said Dr. 

Thomas Schneid, executive dean 

of USU’s PDC. “They’re the dental 

specialists who restore the patient’s 

facial aesthetics, giving them the 

confidence to, once again, go out in 

public without being self-conscious 

about their appearance.”

 In addition to developing prostheses for patients, maxillofacial 

prosthodontists also create radiation shields for cancer treatment, 

surgical guides for dental implants, 

and models of patient’s anatomy to 

aid in surgical treatment planning.

 “We get to work with folks who 

are going through a real challenging time in their lives, and to see 

them overcome huge obstacles...

where they can return and interact 

with their families is really inspiring,” Air Force Col. Jose Villalobos, 

program director for the Maxillofacial Prosthetics fellowship at 

Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. “It’s 

hard to put into words sometimes. I 

think many times we’re able to have 

a degree of success only because of 

the ability of these patients to adapt 

to devices and prosthetics that we 

can provide.”

 Villalobos went on to describe 

one such patient the department is 

currently helping by creating an anatomically accurate model of the 

patient’s skull and the tumor within 

it to aid medical specialists in planning surgical procedures. The department will also provide a proposed reconstruction that they 

fabricate virtually to help with the 

patient’s recovery.

 Those in the field have found the 

challenge it provides to be rewarding as well. 

 “This is the most rewarding career that I can possibly think of. 

If one chooses prosthodontics as 

a specialty, they should also pursue maxillofacial prosthetics,” Abdolazadeh said. “The subspecialty 

of maxillofacial prosthetics challenges the prosthodontist in every 

way and fosters creative thinking 

utilizing the science and foundation of prosthodontics. Overcoming these challenges gives him or 

her the confidence to become a 

‘bullet-proof ’ prosthodontist. No 

matter how challenging the task, a 

maxillofacial prosthodontist would 

always find a way to address it.”

 According to Abdolazadeh, a 

maxillofacial prosthodontist provides perspective on formulating a 

comprehensive treatment plan with 

the end result in mind. She would 

like to increase awareness on the 

role of a maxillofacial prosthodontist as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. 

 “It is essential that the maxillofacial prosthodontists be involved 

from the diagnostic stages of treatment all the way through to the reconstruction phase,” She continued. 

“Our input and recommendations 

during the initial treatment planning would impact the long term 

prognosis of a prosthetic reconstructive effort, and consequently, 

the patient’s quality of life.”

Continued on page 6, see "3D"
6 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Japanese nursing students learn 

disaster preparation at Val G. 

Hemming Simulation Center

By Christopher Austin

 While the department still makes 

use of plaster casts and sculpting in 

the development of prostheses, new 

technology like 3D rendering programs and 3D printing is being integrated into the process. 

 “I’m really passionate about this 

specialty because I’ve seen the good 

that it has done. The interesting 

thing is that I trained in this area 

back in the early ’90s when many of 

our patients were being treated as 

the result of trauma not related to 

war injuries, head and neck cancer, 

or because they had developmental problems such as cleft lip or palate,” Schneid said. “The same kind 

of treatment we provided for those 

patients helped us develop the skills 

to treat the wounded warriors with 

traumatic head and neck injuries.”

 The AFPDS and NPDS also offer residencies to those in the military studying to be prosthodontists. 

Those prosthodontics residencies are affiliated with the PDC 

and their graduates earn a Master of Science Degree in Oral Biology from USU. Prosthodontics residents from the two schools rotate 

through their respective maxillofacial prosthetics department, giving them valuable exposure to critiTwelve nursing students and 

four mentors from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, Japan visited the 

Val G. Hemming Simulation Center (SimCen) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) on Aug. 

17 to learn about disaster medicine.

The visit was the last 

part of a two-week trip 

by the nursing students 

to the U.S. as part of the 

Tomodachi Johnson & 

Johnson Disaster Nursing Training Program, 

a three-year commitment to exchanging disaster medicine education in response to 

Nursing students visiting from Japan as part of the Tomodachi Johnson & Johnson Disaster Nursing Training Program feel the pulse of a mannequin used to train USU students at the Val G. Hemming Simulation Center. (Photo 

by Christopher Austin)

the Great East Japan Earthquake of 

2011. The nursing students come 

from regions directly impacted by 

the earthquake. The annual exchange began last year.

While at the SimCen, the students got to see the Wide Area Virtual Environment (WAVE), clinical 

simulation area and the high fidelity simulators used by USU students 

in exercises. The visit ended with a 

mini disaster preparedness exercise 

and a reflection on what the students had learned during their experience in the U.S.

“We took a long time thinking about how to make the experience meaningful. We knew there 

were language barriers and while 

3D, continued from page 5

Continued on page 7, see "Japan"

Col. Jose Villalobos (left), 59th Dental Group maxillofacial prosthetics program director, and Maj. Stephen Cherrington (center), 59th Dental Group 

maxillofacial prosthodontist, discuss retired Army Master Sgt. Todd Nelson’s new prosthetic ear at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint 

Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 28. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

cal wartime specialty. To be eligible 

to apply for training in maxillofacial prosthetics, dentists must first 

complete a prosthodontics residency. Application for these military 

programs can be submitted through 

their respective service Dental Education departments.
7 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Courtesy Article

New Biomarkers to Diagnose Traumatic Brain Injury

Japan, continued from page 6

there are translators available, that 

significantly affects activity,” said 

Dr. Heather Johnson, a retired Air 

Force Lieutenant Colonel and acting chair of the Family Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse 

Practitioner programs in the Daniel 

K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing (GSN). “We decided we would 

avoid giving a PowerPoint presentation and try something interactive 

that pulls together their personal experiences and the education 

they received on the trip. We really 

wanted something engaging and interesting that would translate to undergraduate nursing students and 

their faculty.”

Johnson, together with retired Air Force Col. (Dr.) Charles 

Beadling and Dr. Kevin Riley of 

USU's Center for Global Health 

Engagement (CGHE), and Dr. Jill 

Schramm and Air Force Maj. Wanda Hoggard from the GSN, represented USU during the visit.

After the tour of the SimCen, 

the nursing students shared what 

they had learned during their time 

in the U.S. 

“The takeaway is for us to continue to support and strengthen 

U.S. and Japanese relationships,” 

Riley said. “These are medical responders. They respond to the same 

disasters that our forces do. The 

more opportunity to work with 

them, either in school or as health 

professionals, that’s money in the 

bank.”

The commitment for the disaster nursing training program ends 

in 2017 but members of the CGHE 

and National Children’s Medical 

Center have expressed interest in 

continuing the program beyond 

that.

“Last year, USU only had one 

half-day with the students. This 

year we hosted them for the entire 

day. Because the nursing students 

only have one week in New York 

and one week in Washington, D.C., 

it would be difficult to expand the 

role of USU beyond a full day,” Beadling said. “However, it would be 

great if next year we could incorporate an earthquake disaster exercise 

using the full technical capabilities 

of the SimCenter.”

A collaborative team of scientists from the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences 

(USU), along with their colleagues 

from the University of Florida (UF) 

and Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), have identified a panel of small RNA molecules which 

could potentially be used to diagnose mild traumatic brain injury 

(TBI).

TBI is a leading cause of injury-related death and disability in 

the U.S. Statistics show that TBI is 

a problem with an increasing number of cases of civilians, professional 

athletes and military service members. In the U.S., there are more than 

1.3 million emergency room visits 

annually related to TBI. While diagnosis of severe TBI is self-evident, 

however, mild TBI is often difficult 

to diagnose. Mild TBI can be particularly challenging to diagnose in 

patients with other life-threatening 

injuries where the primary focus is 

survival of the patient. Neurobehavioral assessment and imaging methods, such as CT scans and MRI, 

are currently being used to detect 

TBI. However, these evaluations are 

not sensitive enough to diagnose 

mild TBI. At present, there are no 

FDA-approved biomarkers which 

can accurately diagnose the extent 

of a brain injury.

In a recently published article in 

Scientific Reports, the USU research 

team from the Department of Pathology comprised of Dr. Manish 

Bhomia, Dr. Nagaraja Balakathiresan and the late Dr. Radha K. Maheshwari, along with UF’s Dr. Kevin Aong and ORMC’s Dr. Linda 

Papa, identified a panel of microRNAs which show promise in detecting mild to severe TBI.

MicroRNAs are small, genetic 

molecules and are important regulators of biological activities inside a 

living cell. The research team investigated the presence of these small 

RNA molecules in blood samples 

from patients who suffered mild 

to severe brain injury and compared these results with blood from 

healthy volunteers. The investigators validated their findings by testing the presence of these biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid of the 

patients who sustained a severe TBI. 

The team concluded that the panel 

of microRNAs was specifically present at a higher concentration in the 

blood of the patients who suffered a 

TBI and, therefore, could potentially be used as a biomarker for diagnosing TBI.

This important finding could be 

helpful in identifying a clinically reliable diagnostic biomarker for mild 

to severe TBI. The use of microRNAs as biomarkers of TBI is very 

unique because microRNAs are 

very stable biomolecules with a long 

half-life that can be easily quantitated in blood. This study lays a path 

for the development of a novel microRNA-based blood diagnostic test 

for TBI.
8 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Air Force Maj. (Dr.) John Lichtenberger, an assistant professor in 

the Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences (USU) Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, was selected as the 

2016 Walter Reed National Military 

Medical Center (WRNMMC) Staff 

Physician Teacher of the Year.

Nominations for this annual award come from WRNMMC’s 

more than 600 house staff. The 

award is then presented at the National Capital Consortium commencement exercise for graduating 

interns, residents, and fellows who 

have completed training in one the 

NCC postgraduate medical education programs.

Lichtenberger, who graduated from USU’s F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (SOM) in 

2005, also serves as the co-director of the Radiology pre-clerkship 

course, a frequent faculty member 

for SOM modules or small groups, 

a USU faculty senator, an associate 

program director for the NCC diagnostic radiology residency, and 

chief of the 3-D Medical Applications Service and Cardiac MRI at 

WRNMMC.

“Maj. Lichtenberger’s work as a 

clinician, educator and innovator 

at WRNMMC personifies the goal 

of ‘Unity of Effort.’ The fact that the 

house staff selected him as their 

staff physician of the year underscores the powerful and mutually 

beneficial partnership that has developed between USU and WRNMMC, Fort Belvoir Community 

Hospital and increasingly, elements 

of the National Capital Region 

Medical Directorate,” said SOM 

Dean Art Kellerman, M.D., MPH.

“It's an honor to serve as a faculty member at USU and WRNMMC under Drs. Kellerman and 

[Radiology department chair Vincent] Ho. They have provided incredible opportunities to their 

faculty and an infrastructure of excellence, integration and cooperation that benefits the Academic 

Health System. I hope to continue 

to contribute to this unified effort,” 

said Lichtenberger.

Lichtenberger Named Staff Physician Teacher of the Year

By Sharon Holland

Air Force Maj. John Lichtenberger (right) presents his research poster on 3D printing for prosthetics at the recent Military Health System Research Symposium, along with 

co-author Dr. Peter Liacouras (left) from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). Lichtenberger was named the 2016 WRNMMC Staff Physician 

Teacher of the Year. (Photo by Sarah Marshall)
9 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Forty-seven faculty members 

from the F. Edward Hebert School 

of Medicine (SoM) at the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) were recognized for outstanding contributions 

to the academic mission of the SoM 

and the University.

 Dr. Arthur Kellermann, dean of 

the SoM, established the Dean’s Impact Awards program to reward 

faculty members who made notable contributions in the prior year 

to the SoM, USU and the Military 

Health System.

 Department chairs may nominate as many faculty members as 

they choose – from their department or any other SoM department 

– by submitting a short statement

and a copy of the faculty member’s 

performance rating (civilian), faculty outlines and matrix scores. The 

nomination process is kept secret 

from the nominees. The dean, supported by an advisory group, reviews the nominations and determine the awardees.

 Recipients of the Dean’s Impact 

Award receive a certificate, public 

recognition, and civilian faculty receive a monetary bonus, if funds 

are available. Military faculty who 

are selected for the honor may elect 

to receive an award of preferential 

conference attendance or special 

leave/liberty. The number of annual award winners is equal to 10-15% 

of the faculty and is generally allocated by academic rank.

Faculty Receive Dean’s Impact Award for Outstanding 

Contributions

By Sharon Holland

This year’s Dean’s Impact Award recipients include:

• Mr. Edward Jones, instructor, Department of Anatomy,

Physiology and Genetics

• Dr. David Bartoszek, assistant professor, Department of

Neurology

• Dr. Diane Borst, research assistant professor, Department

of Anatomy, Physiology and

Genetics

• Dr. Yang “Dennis” Du, assistant professor, Department of

Pediatrics

• Dr. Thomas Flagg, assistant professor, Department of

Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics

• Army Col. Christopher Gellasch, assistant professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics

• Ms. Althea Green-Dixon, assistant professor, Department

of Recruitment and Admissions

• Dr. Arlene Hudson, assistant

professor, Department of Anesthesiology

• Dr. Brent Lechner, clinical asContinued on page 10

sistant professor, Department 

of Pediatrics

• Air Force Maj. (Dr.) John

Lichtenberger, assistant professor, Department of Radiology

• Dr. Andrew Snow, assistant professor, Department of

Pharmacology

• Dr. Barton Staat, assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Army Lt.Col. Ronald Whalen,

assistant professor, Department of Family Medicine

• Dr. Ellen Chung, associate

professor, Department of Radiology

• Dr. Annesley Copeland, associate professor, Department of

Surgery

• Dr. Clifton Dalgard, associate professor, Department of

Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics

• Dr. Stephen Davies, associate

professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

• Dr. Saibal Dey, associate professor, Department of Biochemistry

• Dr. Gary Gackstetter, associate professor, Department of

Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics

• Army Col. (Dr.) Melissa Givens, associate professor, Department of Military and

Emergency Medicine

• Public Health Service Cmdr.

Jeffrey Goodie, associate professor, Department of Medical

and Clinical Psychology

• Dr. William Kelly, associate professor, Department of

Medicine

• Dr. Ryan Keneally, associate

professor, Department of Anesthesiology

• Dr. Jeffrey Leggit, associate professor, Department of

Family Medicine

• Army Col. (Dr.) Frederick

Lough, associate professor,

Department of Surgery
10 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

 “The individuals on this list distinguished themselves in the past 

year in a wide variety of ways – outstanding teaching, scholarship, service, or a combination of all three,” 

said Kellermann. “What they share 

in common is high impact on 

the mission of America’s Medical 

School. I am grateful for their contributions and pleased that their 

chairs and I can recognize them in 

this way.”

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and its 

Val G. Hemming Simulation Center (SimCen) were lauded for their 

support of the “Full Scale Complex 

Operating Training Environment” 

exercise at Fenway Park in Boston, 

June 12, 2016.

The exercise was a collaborative effort between the Boston Police Department, Boston Red Sox, 

Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Office, 

the U.S. Army Armament, Development, Research and Engineering 

Center, and the National Counterterrorism Center to assess an emergency response to a realistic large 

venue scenario involving a complex 

terrorist attack with multiple simultaneous strikes, injuries and implications.

Eric Singdahlsen, who serves as 

a moulage artist and simulation expert at the SimCen, was invited to 

participate in the event by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence through the Department 

of Homeland Security. Singdahlsen 

provided technical assistance and 

simulation advice to the event planners and provided on-scene moulage expertise.

William B. Evans, commissioner 

for the Boston Police Department, 

praised Singdahlsen and USU for 

assistance with the event.

“I am grateful for your efforts 

and the support of the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health 

Sciences, who provided and applied all of the moulage for this exercise. You kindly went above and 

beyond in your application of all of 

the moulage for the injuries included in the exercise, giving an incredible, undeniably realistic edge to the 

event,” Evans said. “We are grateful for the resources you brought 

to this exercise and your continued 

partnership with the Boston Police 

Department in the future.” 

Boston Police Commissioner praises USU, Simulation Center

By Sharon Holland

Dean’s Impact Award , continued from Page 9

•	 Dr. John McManigle, associate professor, Department of 

Military and Emergency Medicine

•	 Dr. David Mears, associate professor, Department of 

Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics

•	 Dr. Edward Mitre, associate 

professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

•	 Dr. Brian Neubauer, associate professor, Department of 

Medicine

•	 Dr. Thomas Newton, clinical 

associate professor, Department of Pediatrics

•	 Dr. Martin Ottolini, associate professor, Department of 

Medical Education

•	 Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) James Palma, associate professor, Department of Military and 

Emergency Medicine

•	 Dr. Kathleen Pratt, associate professor, Department of 

Medicine

•	 Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Adam 

Saperstein, associate professor, Department of Family 

Medicine

•	 Dr. Louise Teel, associate professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

•	 Dr. Lara Varpio, associate professor, Department of Medicine

•	 Air Force Col. (Dr.) Catherine Witkop, associate professor, Department of Preventive 

Medicine Biostatistics

•	 Navy Cmdr. Anthony Artino, professor, Department of 

Medicine

•	 Dr. Maria Braga, professor, Department of Anatomy, 

Physiology and Genetics

•	 Dr. Christopher Broder, professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

•	 Dr. Patricia Deuster, professor, 

Department of Military and 

Emergency Medicine

•	 Dr. Paul Hemmer, professor, 

Department of Medicine

•	 Dr. Tomoko Hooper, professor, Department of Preventive 

Medicine and Biostatistics

•	 Navy Capt. (Dr.) Barbara 

Knollman-Ritschel, professor, 

Department of Pathology

•	 Dr. Galina Petukhova, professor, Department of Biochemistry

•	 Dr. Eric Schoomaker, professor, Department of Military 

and Emergency Medicine

•	 Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, professor, Department of 

Surgery
11 the pulse Aug. 22, 2016

Final Frame

Ronaldo Valdez (left) demonstrates Muay Thai with Army Spec. Dennis Aguilar at Uniformed Services University of the Health Science's (USU) Diversity Day celebration on Aug. 11. The celebration saw a gathering of the varied cultures that make up the USU community through cuisine and dance. (Photo by Tom Balfour)