Volume 5, Issue 3 n March 1, 2010

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

On the cover

Staff Sgt. Katina James applies moulage 

makeup to Tech. Sgt. Louella Campbell 

Feb. 2. The moulage staff prepared several 

“victims” for the ATLS program exercise. 

Faces of USU: Celebrating 

African-American History Month

by MC1 Chad Hallford 

Photo by By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Dr. Rice visits AFRICOM

USU is working to identify opportunities to improve global health integration 

between the university and combatant commands throughout the world. Recently, 

USU President Charles L. Rice visited General William E. (Kip) Ward, Commander, 

U.S. Africa Command, as part of this initiative. Dr. Rice was accompanied by Gerald 

Quinnan, M.D., chair of USU’s Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, 

and Navy Cmdr. Glen Diehl, director of the university’s new Master of Health Policy 

and Administration degree program. 

Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

Ken Frager

Public Affairs 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 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.

Courtesy Photo

February was African-American 

History Month, designated as a time 

to reflect on the impact that AfricanAmericans have had on American 

culture and history. While many people 

may reflect on the notable achievements 

made by political or scientific leaders, 

at USU this is a time to recognize and 

honor the many achievements of our 

faculty, staff and students.

Brigade Command Master Chief 

Clinton Garrett is the first AfricanAmerican to serve in two Navy 

Medicine Executive positions, at the 

Naval Medical Education and Training Command as Director for the 

Executive Medical Department (first 

African-American male) and Navy 

Senior Enlisted Leader at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, 

D.C. “Most of my motivation comes 

from my family. I am proud to be an 

American — of African ancestry and 

descent — contributing to society.” 

“There are a lot of talented, intelligent and skilled military and civilian professionals here at USU. Since 

we are all human, we have our flaws, 

challenges and we make mistakes,” 

said Garrett. “As Senior Enlisted 

Leader, I serve to mitigate these 

mistakes, harness potential throughout the ranks, synergize between 

multiple services, redirect, value and 

foster cooperation and collaboration 

towards mission success; these are all 

vital and an honor that comes with 

the job.”

Recruiting, teaching and ensuring 

an increasingly diverse student and 

faculty population is a priority for 

USU. Army Col. (Dr.) John Farley, a 

U.S. Military Academy graduate and 

USU class of 1990 alumnus, has been 

Continued to page 6
March 1, 2010 3

USU presents teaching excellence awards 

by Ken Frager

The University officially presented 

its 2009 USU Excellence in Teaching 

Awards to Walter Reed Army Medical 

Center and DeWitt Army Community 

Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Va., at the 

2010 Military Health System (MHS) 

Conference in January. 

The awards were presented, along 

with an educational grant from the Henry 

M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF). 

The awards recognized the excellent support of USU programs by both 

large and small military treatment 

facilities. Nominations were received 

from throughout the military health 

system, but according to USU President Charles L. Rice, MD, the 2010 

recipients were easily recognized. 

“The award recipients demonstrated strengths across the board, 

based on the criteria set forth by 

the nominating committee,” he said. 

“The criteria include overall support 

for our clinical teaching effort; 

strong command support, strong 

faculty participation and performance and strong administrative 

support. It gives me great pleasure 

to recognize these facilities and to 

challenge the rest of our educational 

partners to achieve an even higher 

level of success in the future.”

The National Naval Medical Center 

and the 96th Medical Group at Eglin 

Air Force Base, Fla., also received their 

2008 awards since the MHS conference 

was not held last year.

Dr. Rice presented the awards with 

Larry Laughlin, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the 

F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, 

Ada Sue Hinshaw, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, 

dean of the USU Graduate School of 

Nursing, and HJF President John Lowe. 

Award recipients of the 2008 and 2009 USU Excellence in Teaching Awards were honored during the the 2010 Military Health System (MHS) 

Conference in January. The awards were presented, along with an educational grant from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement 

of Military Medicine (HJF), to recognize the excellent support of USU programs from large and small military treatment facilities. 

Photo by Ken Frager

“The award recipients demonstrated strengths across 

the board, based on the criteria set forth by the 

nominating committee.” 

— USU President Charles L. Rice, MD
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Graduate student selected for binational research grant

by MC1 Chad Hallford

A USU graduate student was 

selected to receive the 2010 United 

States-Israel Binational Science 

Foundation (BSF) travel grant for 

young scientists.

Eric Prager earned the $4,000 grant 

as a student in the University’s Neuroscience graduate program.

“Our research examines how 

stress affects the acquisition of fear 

memories. It is a pertinent subject 

as it allows us to begin understanding the mechanisms involved in the 

development of anxiety disorders, 

such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 

(PTSD),” said Prager. 

The BSF promotes scientific 

relations between the U.S. and Israel 

by supporting collaborative research 

projects throughout various scientific 

fields and communities.

“The opportunities this grant 

will allow me include working in a 

different environment and culture 

— to understand the approaches to a 

problem from more than one perspective,” said Prager. 

Later this summer, Prager will visit 

the laboratory of Dr. Raphael (Rafi) 

Lamprecht at the University of Haifa. 

Lamphrecht specializes in the field of 

molecular neurobiology of memory. 

Together, they will research “synaptic 

Algerian delegation tours USU

The Algerian Military Health Service delegation visited USU Jan. 25 and discussed 

topics including University brigade function and support, School of Medicine 

operations, Graduate School of Nursing programs, military and emergency 

medicine, and humanitarian assistance medicine. 

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford

glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid 

receptor signaling during fear learning.”

“This grant will allow us to examine 

whether specific brain receptors, 

known to be activated by stress 

responses, are localized to synapses — 

an area where communication between 

neurons takes place —and how that 

affects memory acquisition. The grant 

will allow us to further examine the 

density of receptors in synapses so that 

we can further elucidate the role these 

receptors play in the acquisition of fear 

memories,” said Prager.

 Locally, Prager is studying 

under the direction of Dr. Luke 

Johnson, USU assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, and 

program in neuroscience. Johnson is 

also a scientist with the USU’s Center 

for the Study of Traumatic Stress.

“The grant is recognition of the 

excellent work in Dr. Johnson’s lab 

and the work of Mr. Prager as a new 

and emerging scientist,” said Dr. 

Robert Ursano, USU Chair of Psychiatry and Director, Center for the 

Study of Traumatic Stress. “The focus 

of the work holds great promise for 

fundamental understandings of basic 

mechanisms to target for intervention in PTSD.”

Courtesy Photo 

Eric Prager, a USU graduate student, left, with Dr. Luke Johnson, USU assistant professor, 

Department of Psychiatry and program in neuroscience. On the screen is an image of a 

synapse from the lateral amygdala. It shows that one of the receptors activated by stress, the 

mineralocorticoid receptor, is localized to the postsynaptic density.
March 1, 2010 5

USU adjunct receives Wiegenstein award

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

A USU adjunct faculty member in 

Military and Emergency Medicine 

recently received the 2009 John G. 

Wiegenstein Leadership Award. 

Robert E. 

Suter, DO, MHA, 

FACEP, an associate professor 

of emergency 

medicine at USU, 

earned the presti 

gious award 

presented by the 

American College 

of Emergency Physicians. The John 

G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award 

is presented to a current or past 

national ACEP leader, member of the 

Board of Directors or officer of the 

Council - for outstanding contributions to the College. The award is 

Courtesy Photo

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences will be holding its annual Research Week, 

May 10-12. The three-day event reflects the complementary roles that basic science, medicine, 

nursing, public health and behavioral science play in health promotion. 

named after John G. Wiegenstein, 

MD, a founding member and the 

first president of ACEP. 

“Dr. Suter is an outstanding adjunct 

faculty member who brings many 

unique assets to department operations including Operation Bushmaster/Kerkesner,” said Navy Capt. (Dr.)

Trueman W. Sharp, Military and 

Emergency Medicine department 

chairman. “He really adds a lot to 

the overall exercise, going out to the 

site and working extensively with the 

students. There is no doubt he is one 

of our top adjunct faculty members 

with students.” 

Dr. Suter was elected to ACEP’s 

board of directors in 1999 and 

re-elected to the board in 2002. He 

has served on the organization’s 

council steering committee, finance 

committee and is the first osteopathic emergency physician to serve 

as ACEP president. Dr. Suter was also 

the first award recipient who worked 

full-time as an emergency medical 

technician (EMT) and paramedic. 

Currently, Dr. Suter is emergency 

department medical director at 

Spring Branch Medical Center in 

Houston, Texas; medical director for 

AMR-Dallas; and a partner in Greater 

Houston Emergency Physicians. 

He is also an associate professor of 

emergency medicine at the University 

of Texas-Southwestern and Medical 

College of Georgia.

“His seniority and leadership are a 

valuable asset to me and this department,” Captain Sharp said. “Dr. Suter 

is not just an ‘adjunct on the books.’ He 

does a lot for this department and USU.” 

Robert E. Suter, 

DO, MHA, FACEP

The Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences will be holding 

its annual Research Week, May 10-12, 

2010. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Excellence in Research,” reflects 

the complementary roles that basic 

science, medicine, nursing, public 

health and behavioral science play in 

health promotion. 

The three-day event formally 

encompasses the Graduate School 

of Nursing (GSN) Research Colloquium, the School of Medicine (SOM) 

Graduate Student Colloquium, and 

the Faculty Senate Research Day. The 

GSN Research Colloquium brings 

together GSN faculty and students to 

present and discuss nursing-specific 

research findings. The SOM Graduate Student Colloquium highlights 

the research interests and accomplishments of graduate students in the 

School of Medicine as well as a lecture 

by an internationally-known scientist. 

Faculty Senate Research Day draws 

the entire USU community to share 

research achievements, foster 

collaborations, and stimulate intellectual exchange. 

As part of the Research Week, the 

Postdoctoral Fellows Association 

(PDA) will sponsor a symposium that 

features talks by USU Fellows and a 

plenary speaker. In addition, the PDA 

and Graduate Student Council will 

co-sponsor an all-day workshop on 

career choices in today’s environment. 

Overall, the events serve to inform 

the local scientific community, collaborative institutions, and other federal 

agencies about significant research 

projects conducted across the health 

sciences at USU and its affiliates. 

The list of this year’s featured 

speakers includes Griffin Rodgers, 

M.D., M.A.C.P., director of the National 

Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and 

Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of 

Health. The Presidential Lecture will be 

given by Haile Debas, M.D., USU Board 

of Regents member and Executive 

Director, Global Health Sciences, at the 

University of California, San Francisco. 

USU to Host Research Week

by Sharon WIllis
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Continued from page 2

helping to lead this effort. Farley, an 

associate professor of Obstetrics and 

Gynecology at USU, has focused his 

more than 20 years of faithful service 

to military medicine and the DoD 

on the treatment and research of 

gynecologic cancers and eliminating 

health disparities.

“A priority of the school, one that it 

needs to continue, is to recruit, retain 

and develop highly qualified individuals of all minority races. Outside the 

beltway, USU is lesser-known, and 

I have worked with Cmdr. Margaret 

Calloway and others to start reaching 

the potential pool of quality minority 

students as early as their junior year 

in high school — that is when they 

are starting to make that decision to 

prepare for medical school.”

Air Force Staff Sgt. Katina James, an 

information technologies manager, has 

served in the Air Force for 12 years.

Over her career, James has had 

the opportunity to serve at six bases, 

working with senior military leadership throughout the world. Her career 

and contacts have taught her the 

importance of working hard now to 

prepare for life outside of the military.

“Leadership in the Air Force and 

at the University have encouraged 

me to continue working to improve 

myself through educational opportunities. I have taken full advantage 

and am working toward my master’s 

degree,” said James. “I have already 

completed my Bachelor of Science in 

Computer Networking and have two 

associate degrees.”

Whether supporting the University 

from a specific function, or leading 

and shaping the future of military 

medicine, USU employees contribute 

to a greater cause. It is a cause each 

can say, as they etch their names into 

roles, that serves to improve USU.

Throughout the hallowed halls of 

USU there is a full spectrum of people 

who make up the University family. 

These are just a few of the notable 

contributions by African-Americans 

Photo by Tom Balfour

Photo by MC1 Chad Hallford 

at USU to create a legacy to federal 

service and military medicine.

February is a time to honor 

‘African-American History’ and the 

contributions made here at USU and 

elsewhere, beginning with a premise 

“That all men (and women) are 

created equal, that they are endowed 

by their Creator with certain 

unalienable Rights, that among 

these are Life, Liberty and the 

pursuit of Happiness.

Army Col. (Dr.) John Farley at work in his research laboratory.

Master Chief Clinton Garrett visits with Brigade enlisted as they tour The National 

Museum of the Marine Corps. 

“Leadership in the Air 

Force and at the University 

have encouraged me 

to continue working to 

improve myself through 

educational opportunities.”

— Katina James, Air Force Staff Sgt.

History
March 1, 2010 7

Briefs

The Chaplain Team Relationships Series

From the Brigade Chaplain’s office

The Brigade Chaplain’s office is presenting a series of classes that 

“will introduce the concepts, practices, and skills that underlie successful communities.” 

Open to USU’s military, dedicated civil service, contractors, friends 

and family, or those looking to build clubs in the community, these 

classes will help build the framework for success. 

Serving and organizing community groups to provide mutual 

support to each other is the result of practicing these skills. 

“Clearly and concisely communicate—we want participants to practice 

effective communications and take this skill to every part of their lives.”

The series contains substantial condensed information and skills 

practice for relationships. Dates and locations may change as new 

programs are added.

CFC Concludes, meets goal 

This year’s Combined 

Federal Campaign 

was another great 

success. Despite the 

turmoil of the Nation’s 

economic situation 

the USU community came 

through with flying colors. The 

campaign kicked off in October 

2009, and finished on Jan. 15, 

2010. In just over three months, 

the university was able to collect 

$172,583 — $7,583 more than 

the University’s goal. Once again, 

without the compassionate hearts 

of the USU community, this goal 

may not have been reached. Give 

yourselves a round of applause for 

another amazing campaign of 

“giving to those in need.”

by Army Capt. Sean Tyler, 

CFC manager

License plates: 

The USU Alumi Bookstore still has 

USU organizational license plates available for purchase. 

For more information about reserving your USU Maryland license plates, 

call the bookstore at 295-3686. 

Using Computer Resources: 

Security incidents continue to be 

a drain to limited USU Information 

Assurance manpower. The 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 

government-owned or governmentoperated system or program; access 

online gambling, games and social 

engineering sites.

Helpdesk Closure: 

The UIS helpdesk is closed for training on Thursdays 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.

Exercise/Fitness Areas: 

Physical Fitness training should be 

conducted in designated areas. 

Date Class title Time Room

Completed Building friendships 1215 C1026a

Completed Intense

communications 1215 G263

Mar. 3 Needs in marriages 1215 C1026a

Mar. 16 Getting organized 1215 G263

Mar. 24 Working through conflict 1215 C1026a

The only authorized space for PT 

within the university is room G060. 

The campus’ Student Community 

Lounge area is also authorized, but 

only during specified 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 students 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.