USU Newsletter 

VOLUME 2,ISSUE 20 WWW.USUHS.MIL DECEMBER 3, 2007 

In This Issue 

Employees of the Quarter...............2 

Native American Heritage..............2 

AAP award...........................................3 

Staff Profile...........................................3 

Diwali.....................................................6 

USU News Briefs................................7 

Calendar.........................................Back 

Fall Comes to USU 
USU Newsletter 

Editorial Staff 

Carol R. Scheman 

Vice President for 

External Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. 

André Nicholson 

Editor 

Mass Communications 

Specialist Third Class 

Jeff Hopkins 

Assistant Editor 

Mass Communications 

Specialist 

Seaman 

Raul Zamora 

Assistant Editor 

 

Marla Wright 

Webmaster 

Publishing 

USU Duplicating Office

Production: 

Editorial content is 

edited, prepared and 

provided by the USU 

Office of External Affairs unless otherwise 

indicated. The Newsletter staff may include 

or exclude articles 

based upon news 

value, impact on the 

university and space 

availability. 

Submissions: 

The USU Newsletter 

will be published biweekly on Mondays 

and deadline for submission is Friday at 4 

p.m. Submissions can 

be sent to usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or call 

301-295-3925. 

PAGE 2 

Cover Photo By: 

HM2 Michael Oliver 

 Each quarter, civilian employees of the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences 

(USU) and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute 

(AFRRI) are nominated to compete for Junior and Senior Employee of the Quarter (JEQ/SEQ), 

an award which recognizes the 

outstanding accomplishments of 

university employees. 

 The winner of this 

quarter’s 

SEQ award 

is Christina 

Johnson, a 

contract 

specialist for 

the Contracting 

Directorate 

department. 

Johnson’s 

duties include training new employees 

and maintaining the legal sufficiency of hundreds of individual 

contracts. As a team leader, Johnson reviews and signs competitive 

orders up 

to 

$100,000. 

 “This 

year has 

been particularly 

challenging, as she 

assumed 

significant 

additional 

responsibility,” said 

Anthony 

Revenis, the director of contracting. “The last several weeks of the 

fiscal year required more work 

than usual, because the other 

Junior and 

Senior Employee 

of the Quarter 

By MC3 Jeff Hopkins 

Assistant Editor, VPE 

Christina Johnson, 

Senior Employee of 

the Quarter 

 The Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) celebrated Native American Heritage Month, Nov. 20. 

 Dr. Everett R. Rhoades, a retired U.S. Public 

Health Service (USPHS) rear admiral and a member 

of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma, gave a speech entitled, “Honoring Warriors: Past and Present.” 

 In his opening remarks, Rhoades commented 

that Native Americans come in all sizes, shapes, and 

colors. He said that although he did not appear at 

the ceremony in the uniform of his tribe, he felt 

privileged to have worn the uniform of the United 

States for 20 years, starting as an Air Force second 

lieutenant, and finishing as a rear admiral in the 

USPHS. 

 Rhoades said that to Native Americans, everything happens for a reason and nothing is the result 

of chance, not excluding the calendar events which 

fall in the month of November. 

 “For Native Americans, things are not random,” 

Rhoades said. “There are no coincidences in the 

Native American world, and it’s that interconnectedness that comes to mind in thinking about Native 

American Heritage month, because of the other 

events which occur in November: Indian summer; 

Veterans Day; and then of course, Thanksgiving.” 

 Rhoades went on to speak about the role of Native Americans in the United States military. 

 “I remember seeing a picture of my grandmothers house, and in it, there was a banner in the window with two stars,” Rhoades said. “I asked my 

mother what it represented, and she told me it 

meant my grandmother had two sons serving in 

the military during World War I. The Native Americans who served in 

the war were made 

citizens of the 

United States, something that didn’t 

happen for the rest 

of the Native Americans until 1924.” 

 Rhoades also 

spoke specifically of 

the service of Native 

American women, 

noting that approximately 800 Native 

American women 

served during 

World War II. He 

also spoke of SPC 

Lori Piestewa, a Hopi woman from Tuba City, Ariz., 

killed in Iraq in 2003. She was the first Native American woman to be killed on foreign soil. Piestewa 

Peak, Ariz. is named in her honor. 

 “Lori Piestewa was a mother of two who could 

have gotten out of going to Iraq,” Rhoades said. 

“She said, ‘No, I have a mission to complete, I’m going to go.’ She was driving in a convoy which got 

lost and went into a hotbed of the enemy. She was 

driving the last vehicle. A soldier came up to her 

and asked her if she’d like him to take over driving, 

and she again replied ‘No, my assignment is to drive 

this truck.’ It was hit by an explosive, and she was 

killed.” 

 Rhoades added that Piestewa’s convoy was the 

same one in which Jessica Lynch had been traveling. 

 Rhoades served as Assistant Surgeon General in 

1982 as the first Native American director of the 

Indian Health Service. He recently completed a term 

on the Kiowa Tribal Business Committee, and is currently Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Intertribal Health Board. 

USU Celebrates Native 

American Heritage Month 

By MC3 Jeff Hopkins 

Assistant Editor, VPE 

Everett Rhoades, MD 

F.A.C.P., Rear Admiral, Ret. 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

Daniel Jackson, 

Junior Employee of 

the Quarter 

See EMPLOYEE, page 5 
PAGE 3 

 The students from the 

Uniformed 

Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) 

have many 

different backgrounds. One 

future USU 

student comes 

from the Anatomical Teaching Lab. 

 HM3 Won 

Chang is looking forward to his future as a 

USU student. He is scheduled to separate 

from the Navy next March. 

 “Hopefully I can find something decent 

to do while I’m out,” he said. “My ultimate 

goal is to return to USU as a student. I am 

done with my bachelor’s degree, now I still 

need to take a few science classes to meet 

the requirements to become a USU student. I would like to attend USU because 

not only would I get paid to go to school, 

but I have worked with Navy doctors my 

whole enlisted career. Although USU is my 

top choice, I have thought about attending 

the University of Baltimore, but only because it’s closer to where I live. I really don’t 

like to move, but its all part of being in the 

military.” 

 Chang was born in Seoul, Korea. He 

lived in Seoul until he was 16 years old at 

which time his parents moved to the 

United States. 

 “Life in Seoul isn’t that much different 

than the states,” he said. “Kids still run 

around, driving their parents crazy, playing, 

and doing less in school, but more on the 

playground. It’s a typical kid’s life.” 

 Chang has one brother who is currently 

attending Georgia Institute of Technology 

in Atlanta, Ga., earning his degree in Aerospace Engineering. His mother is a hair 

stylist and his father is an auto mechanic. 

 Chang has been with the Navy for six 

years. 

 “I received a package about the Navy 

while I was a freshman at George Mason 

University in Fairfax, Va.,” he said. “There 

were some interesting programs, so I decided to take advantage of them.” 

 “USU is the only place I’ve been assigned 

to besides the National Naval Medical Center,” Chang said. “Everyone says that USU is 

unique and it’s true. There aren’t that many 

commands where you get to work with the 

other services. I have more of an opportunity to proceed with other things like 

school, a second job or whatever someone 

may need. When I first got here there were 

only two people that were E-3 or below, 

JOSN Kory Kepner, previous assistant editor 

of the USU Newsletter and myself. I have 

never seen a command where there are 

more E-5 and above than junior military 

enlisted.” 

 “At USU we get to go out to the field 

once a year,” Chang said. “When Navy personnel are on a ship, they don’t have a 

chance like that. I think it’s a different experience and a different form of camaraderie.” 

 Chang said although becoming a student at USU is one of his goals, his primary 

goal is to be a good husband and father. 

 “I’m a family man,” he said. “My wife 

supports me in anything I do, and I want 

my daughter to know that she has a good 

father taking care of her all of the time. I 

want to learn as much as I can so I can take 

care of them.” 

 “I’m just glad that I made a good choice 

for a second command,” he said. “Because 

of that, it helped me make up my decision 

about my future. I also feel like I have more 

of an edge because I have been here and I 

know what goes on around here.” 

 Chang feels confident that he will get a 

good education it he comes to USU. 

 “I have spoken to some of the professors 

that have been to other medical schools 

and they all say the same thing,” he said. 

“USU has the best equipment, facility, staff 

and faculty of any other school.” 

Staff profile: 

HM3 Won Chang 

By MCSN Raul Zamora 

Assistant Editor, Office of External Affairs 

HM3 Won Chang, USN, 

Surgical 

Technologist, ATL 

 The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ (USU) 

associate dean for Simulation Education recently received the 

American Academy of Pediatrics’ AAP Education Award. 

 CAPT Joseph Lopreiato, MC, USN, received the award at the 

National Conference and Exhibition of the American Academy of 

Pediatrics, Oct. 27, 2007. 

 The American Academy of Pediatrics annually presents the 

AAP Education Award to a member of the Academy whose educational contributions have had a broad and positive impact on 

the health and well-being of children and adolescents. The selection subcommittee considers potential nominees from a broad 

perspective of educational contributions, ranging from bedside 

instruction to formation of a child health educational 

policy. 

 Dr. Lopreiato has a long history of involvement in educational initiatives, including teaching, development of pediatric 

health curricula, participation in 

educational outreach projects, 

administration, and publication 

of research articles. He has had 

a productive career as a Naval 

Officer and pediatrician as well 

as a member of the Uniformed 

Services Section of the AAP. His 

contributions have made a significant impact in the delivery of 

education across the broad 

spectrum of pediatrics. 

 The American Academy of 

Pediatrics is an organization of 

60,000 pediatricians committed 

to the attainment of optimal physical, mental and social health 

and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young 

adults, and is home to several long-term research programs to 

enhance the delivery of health care to children. 

USU Associate 

Dean Earns AAP 

Education Award 

By MC3 Jeff Hopkins 

Assistant Editor, Office of External Affairs 

CAPT Joseph Lopreiato, MC, 

USN, Associate Dean for 

Simulation Education 
PAGE 4 

Don’t Forget to pick up a copy of the USU 2008 

Calendar* and USU 2007 Report in Room A 

1025, and Room B 1009. 

 Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) have identified a novel phytochemical agent that 

enhances and improves the process of wound healing in both 

normal and immune compromised people. 

 This article was published in Journal Planta Medica. Dr. Radha 

Maheshwari, professor of Pathology at USU, along with Anuj 

Sharma, graduate student and other colleagues, reported a novel 

compound Picroliv obtained from the roots of a plant Picrorhiza 

kurrooa enhances the rate of wound healing by principally enhancing the restoration of the blood supply to the damaged tissue. 

 Previous work from Dr. Maheshwari’s laboratory has shown 

that Picroliv also protects from the injuries induced by hypoxia 

and reoxygenation and upreulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells 

and of insulin-like growth factor in rats during hypoxia. These findings suggest that Picroliv could be developed as a therapeutic 

angiogenic agent for the restoration of the blood supply in diseases involving inadequate blood supply such as limb ischemia, 

ischemic myocardium and wound healing. 

 The work is supported by funding from National Institutes of 

Health and important implications in understanding the underlying process important for wound healing and developing agents 

that can enhance these processes. Wounds and their treatment 

remain a major area of research for military combat causality and 

civilian traumatic injuries and this research identifies a potential 

therapeutic compound that may be developed for treatment of 

wounds. 

Healing the Wounds of War

 Results of a recent study titled “Mirror Therapy for Phantom 

Limb Pain” were published in the November 22 edition of the 

New England Journal of Medicine. The study headed by Jack W. 

Tsao, M.D., D.Phil., assistant professor, Department of Neurology 

at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), 

suggests that phantom limb pain may be induced by a conflict 

between visual feedback and one’s own perception of the amputated limb. 

 Phantom limb pain occurs in at least 90% of limb amputees 

according to the research. Dr. Tsao conducted a sham-controlled 

trial using mirror and imagery therapy in patients who have had a 

foot or leg amputated. Twenty-two patients at Walter Reed Army 

Medical Center in Washington, D.C. were assigned to one of three 

groups: one that viewed a reflective image of themselves in a mirror (mirror group); on that viewed a covered mirror; and one that 

was trained in mental visualization. Eighteen patients completed 

the study with six in each group, and after one month of treatment 100% of the members in the mirror group reported less 

phantom pain, while only 17% reported a pain decrease and 50% 

reported worsening pain in the covered mirror group, and 67% 

reported worsening pain in the mental visualization group. 

 The study found that mirror therapy reduced phantom limb 

pain in patients who had undergone amputation of the lower 

limbs. Such pain was not reduced by either covered mirror or 

mental visualization treatments. These results suggest that mirror 

therapy may be helpful in alleviating phantom pain in lower limbs. 

Phantom Pain, a Reflection 

on the Wounds of War

* Limited Supplies. One Per Person 
PAGE 5 

team leader was out on maternity leave.” 

 This quarter’s JEQ winner is Daniel Jackson, an educational 

technician for the Multi-Disciplinary Labs (MDL). Jackson was 

nominated for his excellent communication with faculty and students, as well as the level of professionalism which he undertakes 

responsibilities. In addition to his duties as an educational technician, Jackson also participates and assists with the Anatomical Gift 

Program run by the Anatomy Teaching Lab, volunteering dozens 

of overtime hours in September to fill in for a sick department 

member. 

 Any civilian employee in a non-supervisory position at the 

grade level GS- 7/WG-7 or below may be nominated for the JEQ, 

and those in non-supervisory positions, level GS-8/WS-8 and 

above can be nominated for the SEQ. In addition, nominees must 

have been employed at USU or AFRRI for 12 months or more, 

received an overall performance rating of highly successful or 

higher on their most recent annual performance rating, and must 

not have been selected for JEQ/SEQ in the two years previous to 

the current nomination period. 

 Some benefits of winning the SEQ and JEQ each receive a 

$250 on-the-spot award, and exclusive use of a designated USU 

parking spot for the quarter. 

EMPLOYEE, from page 2 

 A collaborative team of scientists from 

the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) and the National 

Cancer Institute (NCI) have developed a 

novel strategy to inactivate highly virulent 

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus 

(VEEV) that can infect and kill both animals 

and humans. 

 In an article published in Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Dr. Radha Maheshwari, 

professor of Pathology at USU, along with 

graduate student Anuj Sharma, reported 

the novel approach to inactivate VEEV. 

VEEV has been identified as an emerging 

infectious disease and has been developed 

as a bio-warfare agent and may be a potential biological terror agent. 

 The current study has important implications for the development of efficient VEEV 

vaccine. The results show that complete 

inactivation of VEEV can be achieved using 

a novel molecule that can penetrate into 

the virus envelope and target the virus envelope proteins that are vital for initiation of 

virus infection of the host cell. This inactivation of the virus is achieved while maintaining the integrity of the virus which is vital 

towards development of a vaccine against 

any virus. This study has significant implications as this novel strategy of inactivation 

may be used for a large number of enveloped viruses of military and civilian importance. 

 There is no specific therapy for the treatment of VEEV infection or togaviruses as 

such and there is currently no FDA approved vaccine for VEEV prophylaxis. The 

current experimental vaccine which is under investigational new drug status, has 

limited use due to non-responders and 

residual virulence. 

USU Researchers 

Demonstrate Novel 

Strategy to Inactivate 

Encephalitis Virus 

Enjoy lunch with CFC 

Dec. 6, 11 am-1 pm, by 

William III. 

(More details to follow) 

Ho, ho, ho! Be on the look 

out for Santa Claus and his 

helpers around USU on 

Dec. 6, spreading holiday 

cheer, during the CFC 

lunch. 

So you think you can 

cook? Enter a dish, 

sample, or do both! The 

first USU cook-off will be 

fun for all. Dec. 12, 11 am-1 

pm, student lounge, more 

details to follow.
PAGE 6 

 The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) celebrated Diwali Nov. 15. Diwali or Deepavali is one of 

the largest festivals that Hindus celebrate. This celebration is five consecutive days long. It is celebrated by lighting many candles and Diyas which symbolize the victory of good over evil. The celebration consisted of lots of Indian food including 

Samosa, Vegetable Pulao, Daal, and Mixed Vegetables. Many of USU’s faculty and staff showed up for the colorful and exotic 

foods that lined the wall of the small dining room. The USU community celebrates Diwali every year because of the growing 

diversity within the university. 

Festival of Lights: Diwali Celebration 

Photo by MCSN Raul Zamora 

 Robert Kadlec, M.D., M.T.M.&H., a School of Medicine alumnus 

of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) 

was appointed Nov. 28 to serve as Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. The White House announced the 

appointment of Dr. Kadlec, also naming him as Senior Director for 

Biological Defense Policy. 

 Dr. Kadlec previously served as Director for Biodefense and 

Public Health for PRTM Management Consultants. He received his 

Doctor of Medicine degree from USU’s F. Edward Hebert School 

of Medicine in 1983, and later returned for his Master of Tropical 

Medicine and Hygiene degree, which he completed in 1989. Dr. 

Kadlec earned his bachelor's degree from the United States Air 

Force Academy, and a master's degree in National Security Studies 

from Georgetown University. Dr. Kadlec is a retired Air Force 

Colonel. 

 Dr. Kadlec served as former Staff Director for the Senate Subcommittee on Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness, and 

the Director of Biodefense for the National Security Council. He 

also helped coordinate the President’s Biodefense for the 21st 

Century Policy in 2004. Kadlec served as a Senior Assistant for 

Counterproliferation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for 

Policy. In this capacity, he represented the Secretary of Defense 

on the U.S. delegation to the Biological Weapons and Toxins Convention in Geneva, Switzerland, and as a United Nations Special 

Commission biological weapons inspector in Iraq. He has worked 

on a range of policy issues concerning the nonproliferation and 

counterproliferation of biological weapons. In addition, he previously served as special advisor for biological warfare issues to the 

U.S. Air Force Surgeon General and a professor of military strategy 

and operations at the National War College. 

USU Alumnus Appointed to White House Post
PAGE 7 

COL Richard Schaefer featured in AAOS Now: COL Richard Schaefer, M.D., MPH, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, is featured in AAOS Now, the monthly newsletter of the 

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The article focuses 

on Colonel Schaefer’s deployment experience and the care he 

provided not only to military members but to civilian casualties. 

To view the article go to: 

www.aaos.org/News/Bulletin/nov07/youraaos14.asp

LTC Kimberly Moran featured on ABC 7: LTC Kimberly Moran, 

M.D., Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, was 

featured on Federal News Today an affiliate of ABC 7 for her work 

with Acinetobacter. To view the story visit: 

www.news8.net/news/stories/1107/475588_video.html

The USU Report: The new 2007 “USU report” is currently in distribution. Departments have additional copies for your use or for 

sharing with colleagues at other institutions, please come to room 

A1025 or Room B1009 and get what you need. 

2008 Field Exercises: Operations BUSHMASTER and KERKESNER 

will be conducted from July 10-25, 2008 at Fort Indiantown Gap, 

PA. These exercises are unique to the university and require the 

support of all university uniformed personnel. Only emergency 

leave will be granted during this time frame as there are more 

than 135 uniformed personnel (not including evaluators) needed 

to support this mission. 

NNMC Base Access: All persons who enter the NNMC compound 

are required to remove their identification from their wallet and 

hand it to the gate entry for review. Each person entering the 

base should approach the gate with headlamps turned off or 

dimmed, with distracting devices such as cell phone and radio 

turned off. Each person should have their ID ready (i.e., out of the 

wallet) and present it to the gate sentry for review. Additionally, 

the Base Access Control office has changed their e-mail address to 

nnmcaccess@med.navy.mil. 

Command Climate Survey: The USU Command Climate Survey will 

be conducted mid-January 2008. For additional details on this 

requirement, please contact CPT Carrier, USA (AFRRI) at (301) 295-

9140. 

Christmas and New Year’s Holiday Routine: As previously published, the brigade holiday periods are from Dec. 22-25, 2007 and 

from Dec. 29 - Jan. 1. The brigade will also observe a holiday routine that differs from normal working hours. For those personnel 

not taking leave, the holiday routine will begin Dec. 21 and end at 

midnight Jan. 6. During this holiday routine, supervisors are encouraged to allow half days for uniformed personnel, in accordance with their department’s mission. Questions may be addressed to the Brigade Executive Officer, CDR Trotter, USN (BDE) 

at (301) 295-9652. 

Holiday Safety Message: As the holiday season approaches, people look forward to those tasty, traditional holiday dishes. people 

must be careful to use safe food handling practices to prevent 

food-borne illnesses when preparing and serving food. Be sure to 

read cooking directions for proper guidelines for preparing uncooked foods. Also, be careful to wash hands and food preparation surfaces often. Do not cross-contaminate foods, as bacteria 

can spread from one food to another when utensils and surfaces 

are shared between different foods. Use a meat thermometer to 

ensure that all poultry is cooked to at least 165o F. When finished, 

refrigerate foods within two hours. If frying your turkey, exercise 

care in handling hot cooking oil, use adequate mitts, and keep 

children away from the fryer. For further questions about food 

safety, please call the USDA meat and poultry hotline at (800) 535-

4555. 

Reminder: USUHS policy and the Joint Ethics Regulation require 

that all employees (military and civilian) receive approval prior to 

engaging in any outside activity which involves their profession/ 

professional expertise (or government occupation) and/or involves compensation. The process is simple. Pick up USUHS Form 

1004 in the General Counsel's office (or print the linked PDF format copy http://www.usuhs.mil/ogc/form1004.pdf), fill it out, 

have your department chair or activity head sign it and return it to 

the General Counsel's office. The form will be routed to the appropriate Dean, Brigade Commander, or USUHS President. When 

completed, a copy of the form will be returned to the employee 

for the employee's records 

Standards of Conduct/Government Ethics Reminder: A DoD employee who uses or permits the use of his military grade or who 

includes or permits the inclusion of his title or position as one of 

several biographical details given to identify himself in connection 

with teaching, speaking or writing, and who has not been authorized by appropriate Agency authority to present that material as 

the Agency's position must make a disclaimer if the subject of the 

teaching, speaking or writing deals in significant part with 

DoD/USUHS programs or the employee's area of expertise at 

USUHS. See http://www.usuhs.mil/ogc/faq.html for additional 

Government Ethics Information. 

USU Holiday Gathering: This 2007 USU Holiday Gathering will be 

held Dec. 14, 2007 from 11:30 -4 pm in the USU Dining Facility. 

Tickets are $3 each, and all family members are welcome to attend. Children under 3 get in free as well. Tickets can be purchased from Melissa Martin (RMI) in RM G011, or May Toukolehto 

(OSA) in the Student Community Center. As before, there are 

many great prizes that will be given away. Additional prize tickets 

can be purchased for $1 to increase your chance of winning. The 

deadline for purchasing tickets is Dec. 7. For more information, 

contact mmartin@usuhs.mil. 

USU Faculty in the News 

USU News Briefs 

USU 

A Traditional Academic University 

with a Unique Focus
USU Calendar of Events 

2 3 4 5 6 7 

Brigade Holiday Party 

10 am—2 pm

Bowling Alley

8 

9 10 11 12 13 

CDHAM Grand Rounds: 

Operation Iraqi Freedom: The Humanitarian Operations Center 

Noon - 1pm

 Lecture Room E

14 

USU Holiday Party 

11:30 am - 4 pm 

USU Cafeteria.

15 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 

23 24 

Christmas Eve 

25 

Christmas Day 

26 

Normal LRC hours 

resume 

6 am 

LRC

27 28 29 

PAGE 8 

December