Volume 7, Issue 10 • June 11, 2012

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
On the cover

The United States Marine Band—“The 

President’s Own”—performs as guests arrive 

for USU’s 33rd Commencement Ceremony, 

May 19, at DAR Constitution Hall in 

Washington, D.C. (See story, page 6.)

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External 

Affairs and Managing Editor

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 

swillis@usuhs.mil or by calling 

301-295-3578.

2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Continued to page 9

USU alum shares unique perspective 

about TBI at CNRM meeting

By Christine Creenan-Jones

The Center for Neuroscience 

and Regenerative Medicine held 

its annual meeting at the National 

Institutes of Health (NIH), May 

21-22. During the event, several USU 

experts shared important research 

findings about Traumatic Brain 

Injury (TBI) – a common, but vexing 

wound affecting more than 200,000 

servicemembers worldwide. 

The keynote speaker, Navy Captain 

(Dr.) James Hancock, director of 

medical services at Naval Medical 

Center Portsmouth, also provided a 

unique glimpse into the troublesome 

disorder from both a physician and 

patient’s point of view – a vantage 

few others in military medicine have 

experienced fully.

Before his war injury, Hancock, a 

seasoned combat surgeon, had treated 

many servicemembers with TBIs, 

especially while serving on the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan, where 

homemade-bomb attacks are common. 

TBIs – though prevalent at home too 

– are different, more severe, when they 

happen in theater operations, believes 

Hancock, a USU graduate (SoM ‘95) 

with extensive deployment experience.

“Brain injuries are more than what 

you see in a lab,” he told audience 

members attending CNRM’s annual 

meeting. “They need to be placed in 

the context of what Soldiers experience as well.”

In Afghanistan, servicemembers 

face many challenges, from dangerous 

living conditions and extreme climate 

changes to separation anxiety and 

emotional stress. This can affect TBI, 

said Hancock, who was badly injured by 

an IED himself.

Hancock’s TBI began impacting other parts of his life, including sleep, balance and various facets 

of his personality. Healing was a 

long, sometimes frustrating process, 

especially since the care he received 

back home was fragmented at times.

Like researchers at the CNRM, 

Hancock wanted to excel TBI fronts, so 

he began looking for ways to improve 

warrior care. His work caught the 

attention of several senior military 

Photo by SPC Ernest E. Sivia III

Navy Captain (Dr.) James Hancock, a USU alumus and director of medical services at 

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, was the keynote speaker at the CNRM annual meeting. 

He discussed traumatic brain injury from both the patient and provider’s perspective, two 

vantages he has experienced as both a physician and wounded warrior.
 June 11, 2012 3

Important USU 

Security Notes: • USU badge identification 

(ID) cards are to be worn at 

all times while on University 

property. Your ID badge 

should be displayed on your 

front between your shoulders 

and waist. If you see someone 

without their ID badge challenge 

them. Remember—security is 

everyone’s responsibility.

• USU badge ID cards should not 

be worn off site. You should not 

advertise where, and by whom, 

you are employed. OPSEC, 

OPSEC, OPSEC!

• Is your security investigation/

clearance up to date? If you 

are unsure, inquire at the 

Security office.

• When you renew your USU 

badge ID card, check your CAC 

expiration date as well.

• If you are a contractor and you 

need to renew your USU badge 

ID, please bring with you a signed 

memorandum of employment on 

USU letterhead.

USU graduates are used to addressing and overcoming challenges, and 

as an Army physician who has been 

assigned to support some of the largest 

combat units, Col. (Dr.) Michael Place 

(SoM ’91) has certainly had his share.

Place was elected President of the 

Uniformed Services Academy of Family 

Physicians (USAFP), and his installation was to be held at the 2012 USAFP 

national meeting in front of the membership with some amount of pomp and 

circumstance. But, the incoming president was deployed to Afghanistan, and 

the national meeting was in Las Vegas, 

some 7,500 miles away, presenting a 

slight dilemma for the (parent organization) American Academy of Family 

Physicians leadership.

But on March 22, in front of an 

estimated 600 uniformed family physicians and their guests, Place joined his 

Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health 

Service colleagues via Skype, the Internet phone service with webcam imaging. 

Attendees burst into wild applause and 

gave Place a standing ovation as his image 

appeared on screen – seated inside a stark 

military tent in the combat theater of 

operations, a world away from the glitz 

and glamour of the Vegas strip. 

As the fanfare settled, Glen Stream, 

M.D., M.B.I., president of AAFP, turned 

the podium webcam around so that 

Place, who has rarely missed a chapter 

meeting in almost two decades, could 

see the audience. 

“When Dr. Stream turned the 

camera to the members of the 

USAFP during the installation, I was 

absolutely overwhelmed,” Place was 

quoted in an AAFP News article. “The 

USAFP annual meeting is not only a 

CME extravaganza and a display of 

some of the finest clinical research in 

primary care, but truly is a reunion of 

friends who span the globe in service 

to our nation.

“Some of my closest friends were 

there,” he continued. “For that group 

of people to give me a standing ovation 

was profoundly humbling.” 

“I’ve installed 16 chapter presidents 

during my years on the AAFP Board 

of Directors and I’ve heard some pretty 

good speeches,” said Stream in an AAFP 

blog post about the event. “But nothing 

compares to that inspiring day.”

Place is the commander of the 

10th Combat Support Hospital. 

While deployed he also serves as the 

commander of a medical task force. 

He has previously served as division 

surgeon for the 101st Airborne 

Division, and command surgeon for the 

U.S. Army Cadet Command, among 

others assignments. 

Others with USU ties joining 

Place on the current USAFP leadership team are President-elect Air 

Force Lt.Col. (Dr.) Pamela Williams, 

former assigned faculty in the USU 

Department of Family Medicine, 

Past-President Navy Capt. (Dr.) 

Maureen Padden (SoM ’92), and 

Board of Directors members Air 

Force Maj. (Dr.) Marc Childress 

(SoM ’02), Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) 

Christopher Paulson (SoM ’96), Air 

Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) John Hallgren 

(SoM ’95), Army Lt.Col. (Dr.) 

Michael Oshiki (SoM ’98), Air Force 

Capt. (Dr.) Brooke Sciuto (SoM ’10), 

Army Capt. (Dr.) Caitlyn Rerucha 

(SoM ’11), and Air Force 2nd Lt. 

Rebecca Lauters (SoM ’14). 

Courtesy Photo/USAFPCourtesy Photo/USAFP

New USAFP President Installed via Skype

By Sharon WIllis
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

USU 40th Anniversary 

Trivia #2 Winner

Congratulations to Roberta 

McIntyre, administrative program 

specialist, for being the first person 

to correctly answer last issue’s 

trivia question:

Many distinguished people have 

spoken at USU’s graduation 

over the years, including this 

commencement speaker who said, 

“Yours is the only medical school in 

America which trains physicians to 

be ready for duty on the bottom of 

the ocean or on the surface of the 

moon and any place in between.” 

McIntyre answered Ronald Reagan, 

who was the keynote speaker at 

USU’s commencement in 1987.

Artino wins Award for 

Second Straight Year

By Sharon Willis

Navy Cmdr. Anthony Artino, 

Ph.D., associate professor and healthcare administrator in the Department 

of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, was presented the Charles R. 

Loar Literary Award from the Navy 

Medical Service Corps for the second 

consecutive year. 

“I’m extremely honored to receive 

the Loar Award a second time,” 

Artino said. “Although none of us 

conduct research for the purpose of 

receiving an award, it’s always nice 

when others acknowledge our work. 

This award is especially meaningful to me because it comes from a 

Navy organization, and it seems 

they appreciate our goal of evaluating the factors underlying poor 

performance in medical school. 

Ultimately, we believe a better 

understanding of these factors is a 

key first step in developing suitable 

remediation plans for struggling 

medical students.” 

The Loar Award recognizes excellence in professional and technical 

writing and is presented to an officer 

whose paper focuses on healthcare administration, leadership, or 

management, particularly of interest to military medicine or Navy 

medicine. Winners receive the award 

during the annual Lewis E. Angelo 

Professional Symposium. 

“This is the second year in a row 

I have accepted this award on Tony’s 

behalf. This award represents Tony’s 

commitment to outstanding scholarship 

and research,” said Cmdr. Glen Diehl, 

program director for USU’s Master 

of Public Health Administration and 

Policy degree program. “We appreciate 

his hard work and his ability to put USU 

front and center in everyone’s mind 

when it comes to education.”

leaders, including Navy Admiral 

Michael Mullen, former chairman of 

the Joints Chief of Staff, who asked 

Hancock to help form a “Gray Team” 

of medical personnel with combat 

experience to establish new, improved 

military protocols for how TBI was 

handled on the battlefield. 

Although, the Gray Team has made 

considerable headway for a troublesome problem dubbed the signature 

injury of today’s war, TBI is still a 

very complex wound. At the meeting, 

Hancock implored audience members 

to find solutions, especially people at 

the CNRM who have the knowledge 

and expertise to continue making a 

big difference.

“Get out of your box, be inventive,” 

he told them. “You are the future. You 

are going to solve some of the biggest 

problems out there.”

The creative, analytical thinking 

Hancock encouraged at the meeting 

has been driving CNRM researchers for the past four years. They are 

tackling TBI from all angles, which 

includes developing new diagnostic measures and improved treatment methods so wounded warriors 

have better, more comprehensive 

care. Research at the CNRM is also 

yielding promising results in cuttingedge scientific fields like biomarker 

identification and neuroregeneration – disciplines that could lead to a 

major breakthrough for TBI.

Visit www.usuhs.mil/cnrm for 

more information about the center.

Alum shares perspective about 

TBI at CNRM meeting

Continued from page 3
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.

Science article asks: Are we 

winning the war against PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been one of the 

military’s top priorities over the 

past few years, especially after 

reports of projected rates as 

high as 30 percent in veterans. 

However, a May 2012 Science 

article points to new findings that 

might indicate lower PTSD rates 

currently across all services—

between 2.1 and 13.8 percent. 

Taking into consideration underreporting due to stigma, the 

authors suggest these low rates 

might be due to the targeted 

attention that PTSD has received, 

along with interest in bolstering Warfighter resilience. The 

article cites the military’s adoption 

of resilience programs such as 

“Battlemind” as possible contributors to these low rates. The authors 

recommend more in-depth 

research to determine the effectiveness of such programs.

Make problem solving a family affair

Families are constantly 

confronted with problems and the 

need to find solutions for them. 

In addition to all the challenges 

of everyday life that civilian 

families go through, military 

families also have to cope with 

additional stressors specific to 

uniformed life, which makes 

the ability to solve problems a 

crucial skill.

Individuals tend to fare 

better in relationships when 

they discuss challenges with 

one another and then directly 

act on those problems. A book 

by two researchers suggests the 

following process for making 

decisions:

• Specifically state the issue

• State why the issue is important

• Brainstorm and discuss possible 

solutions to the issue

 • Decide on a realistic solution

 • Pick a specific amount of time to 

try the solution

 June 11, 2012 5

USU faculty played key roles in the 

recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) 

Forum on Global Violence Prevention workshop on “The Contagion of 

Violence” that was held April 30-May 

1, 2012, in Washington, DC.

Dr. Brian Flynn and Dr. Robert 

Ursano participated in the high 

visibility event geared towards health 

care providers and violence prevention practitioners worldwide. 

Flynn, a retired Rear Admiral and 

former Assistant Surgeon General in 

the U.S. Public Health Service, and 

associate director of USU’s Center for 

the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS), 

served as a member of the workshop 

planning committee and facilitated a 

session on “Scaling up or Translating 

Programs to Interrupt the Contagion 

of Violence.” Ursano, professor and 

chair of USU’S Department of Psychiatry and Director, CSTS, was a guest 

speaker and facilitator for a six-person 

panel entitled “Theories, Process, and 

Mechanisms of Contagion” which 

addressed how and why violence 

spreads, and explored the internal and 

external processes and mechanisms at 

work, along with the interruption of 

those processes and mechanisms and 

their use for spreading non-violent 

messaging and practices. 

According to the IOM’s website, 

the contagion of violence is a “universal phenomenon, occurring at all 

levels of society and affecting a broad 

spectrum of individuals. It occurs 

globally, within all societies, and is 

transmitted through interpersonal 

relationships, families, peer-groups, 

neighborhoods, and cultures. As the 

body of violence prevention evidence 

grows, several characteristics of 

violence are emerging: 1) patterns 

of violence are often cyclical, much 

like disease epidemics, 2) violent acts 

co-occur with (and sometimes directly 

cause) other violent acts, 3) exposure 

to violence normalizes the use of 

violence as a response, 4) violence can 

be prevented, and the transmission of 

violence can be interrupted.”

The two-day workshop explored 

ways to prevent and end the contagion of violence and looked at 

challenges in countries where the 

burden of violence is the greatest. Flynn and Ursano were among 

a number of experts drawn from 

the public and private sectors and 

academic organizations to participate 

in the workshop. 

Established in 1970 under the 

charter of the National Academy of 

Sciences, the Institute of Medicine 

provides objective, evidence-based 

advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the 

public. The Institute of Medicine, 

National Academy of Sciences, 

National Academy of Engineering, and National Research Council 

together make up the independent, 

nonprofit National Academies. 

USU faculty participate in IOM Forum on 

Global Violence Prevention Workshop 

By Sharon Willis
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Graduates embark on next stage of 

‘Caring for Those in Harm’s Way’ 

By Helen Hocknell/NSAB Public Affairs staff writer 

All photos taken by Thomas C. Balfour

More than 200 uniformed and 

civilian medical professionals and 

scientists received degrees at the 

33rd commencement exercise for the 

Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) at Daughters of 

the American Revolution Constitution 

Hall in Washington, D.C., May 19.

“It is the university’s duty to not 

only educate physicians, nurses and 

scientists and to produce uniformed 

officers and leaders, but also to help 

forge outstanding human beings men 

and women of integrity, compassion, 

and loyalty to the values that make our 

country great,” said USU President Dr. 

Charles L. Rice. “I’m confident that 

each of these graduates has met these 

goals. They have 

chosen the path of 

public service and 

are dedicating their 

life’s work to the 

greater good. It is 

both an awesome 

and a noble choice; 

one that demands 

humility and sacrifice, but brings 

untold rewards.”

Degrees awarded 

during the ceremony 

included 158 Doctor of Medicine 

degrees, 55 Biomedical Sciences graduate degrees, 35 Master of Science 

degrees, and six Doctor of Philosophy 

degrees.

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, the 

United States Air Force Surgeon General 

delivered the commencement address, 

emphasizing the importance of three 

core areas: jobs, people and learning.

“The most important job you’ll have 

is the one you’re in... and the patient in 

front of you is the most important one 

you’ll treat,” said Green. He noted that 

although graduates should feel proud 

of all they’d accomplished so far, they 

should not think of this as the end of 

their formal education. 

“The reality of a successful residency 

is teaching doctors how much they 

don’t know,” said Green, citing coups 

and volcanic eruptions as great learning experiences of his career. An expert 

in disaster relief operations, Green 

planned and led humanitarian relief 

efforts in support of Operation Fiery 

Vigil following the 1991 eruption of 

Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.

Air Force Capt. Mark Cheney, 

who just received his medical degree, 

said he is excited for the future as he 

prepares to report to San Antonio 

Military Medical Center in Texas. 

“I know my classmates and I are all 

very appreciative of the faculty, family, 

friends, and others who supported 

us during our time at USU,” said 

Cheney. Other graduates are headed 

to locations as far-ranging as Florida, 

Mississippi and Hawaii.

Lt. Cmdr. Chris S. Martin, USU 

Chaplain, delivered the invocation, 

giving special thanks for the family and 

friends assembled. Martin blessed the 

graduates as they began their life-long 

work as “healers, comforters, providers, listeners and explorers.”

May they never stop learning, but 

always be studious. To lead as wise and 

compassionate military officers, and to 

always strive for the best, caring for those 

who go in harm’s way,” said Martin.
 June 11, 2012 7

 2012

USU

Commencement
8 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

USU bids farewell 

to senior leader

By Christine Creenan-Jones

Farewells are 

often bittersweet, especially 

when celebrated 

leaders like 

Donna Waechter, 

Ph.D., Associate 

Dean for Medical 

Education, leave 

USU for new 

career opportunities. The long-time administrator 

has accepted a leadership position at 

the Association of American Medical 

Colleges in Washington, D.C. 

Although she leaves soon, Waechter’s 

mark on the campus will remain long 

after her June departure.

Waechter’s impact will resonate most 

in the School of Medicine, where she’s 

labored tirelessly for the past 28 years 

to ensure only the highest academic 

standards prevail. An accreditation and 

assessment expert, Waechter has played 

a huge role in USU’s growth and development over the past three decades.

Her success is also personified 

by hundreds of military physicians 

stationed across the globe – alumni she 

both counseled and mentored while 

working as Deputy Assistant Dean in 

the Office of Student Affairs, her first 

job at USU. Over the years, Waechter 

maintained a close relationship with 

each class, even earning two coveted 

Outstanding Civilian Educator Awards, 

a testament to both her popularity and 

effectiveness as a classroom instructor 

– another role she’s taken on at USU.

Waechter’s colleagues also hold her 

in high regard. She will be missed by 

many at the university, including Larry 

Laughlin, MD, PhD, dean of the School 

of Medicine, who has worked closely 

with Waechter for many years.

“Donna has been an incredible force 

on this campus for a very long time,” 

he said. “She is a big reason why this 

university is successful, and while I’m 

sad to see her go, I also realize USU 

has been very lucky to have such a fine 

leader for so many years.” Courtesy Photo

Donna Waechter, 

Ph.D.

USU’s tutoring club: A mind for helping

By Christine Creenan-Jones

Studying is a part of life for most 

students at USU, because the curriculum is so challenging. As a result, 

many officers develop great learning habits, which several of them are 

passing on to younger students at 

nearby high schools as members of a 

university-sponsored tutoring club.

The club was formed by USU medical 

students to give young people the edge 

they need to thrive academically. Every 

Saturday, club members lead smallgroup study sessions covering all subject 

areas, so everybody receives hands-on, 

personalized attention, whether they’re 

taking advanced placement math or 

remedial English.

Although the club is a large commitment, especially since each tutoring 

session lasts about two hours, the work 

is also tremendously satisfying for many 

club members, including Army Second 

Lieutenant John Green, whose been 

volunteering at Wheaton High School in 

Bethesda for close to a year now. 

“Education is so important,” he said. 

“If I can make even a small difference, 

I’m happy to put in the hours.”

Army Second Lieutenants John Green and Kassandra Khan represented USU at the 

Wheaton High School Career fair, where they are part of a university-sponsored club 

that provides free tutorial services to local teenagers.

40th 

Anniversary 

Celebration 

Save the Date • Sept. 20-22