Volume 6, Issue 4 n February 21, 2011

www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter
Photo by Tom Balfour

On the cover

The USU Board of Regents held their 

February meeting in San Antonio as 

guests of the USU Southern Region 

Office. (See story page 6)

Courtesy Photo

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-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 

usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by 

calling 301-295-0895.

New travel card 

program manager named

by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

With the start of the 2011 calendar year, the USU Government Travel 

Card (GTC) program has a new 

program manager. 

James Bruce, previously a financial 

technician with the USU Financial and 

Manpower Management office, became 

the University’s new GTC program 

manager, covering all of USU’s GTC 

card holders. 

Bruce has been in the finance department for more than five years. His diligent 

professional efforts while serving as the 

University’s finance defense travel administrator earned him a sound reputation 

among customers and coworkers. 

In fact, for his efforts Bruce was 

named one of the Junior Employees of 

the Quarter in 2009. 

Now as the GTC program manager, 

Bruce is expertly managing the GTC 

monthly reports, monitoring the appropriate GTC transactions, along with 

tracking payment delinquencies. 

The GTC has to be paid in full 

when the payment is due. Due to their 

busy schedules, some USU personnel 

need to receive some hands-on assistance to make sure their GTCs are 

taken care of properly. 

“We have a lot of students here whose 

payments come due before their TDYs 

are done,” Bruce said. “We help ensure 

they are aware of when payments 

are due and assist them with partial 

payments as needed.” 

Bruce is also instrumental in assisting with the transition from the College 

and University Financial System, or 

CUFS, to the Defense Agencies Initiative, or DAI, systems. 

“The transition to a new accounting system from CUFS to DAI has 

been a challenge, but we are succeeding,” said the retired Navy E-6. “Just 

when we got people used to using an 

automated system, we had to switch 

them to a manual system, temporarily. We have an excellent program 

here and once we get few things back 

on track, things will run smooth.”

Of course, Bruce’s new position 

is not a just crunching numbers. He 

still gets to experience his favorite 

part of working at USU – interacting 

with people.

“The best part is that I get to interact 

with a whole lot of people,” he said. “I 

love customer service so I don’t mind 

the work. In fact, I love what I do.” 

Over the next several months Bruce 

and the GTC program will be focusing 

on improving GTC training for USU 

card holders.

2 the pulse February 21, 2011
Distinguished 

UAE visitors tour 

USU campus

USU Senior Vice President Dr. Dale 

Smith (far right) presents His Excellency 

Hassain Al Hammdi (Center), of the 

Khalifa University of Science, Technology 

and Resesarch Board of Trustees, with 

the traditional USU coin. Joining His 

Excellency Hussain was Brig. Gen. (Dr.) 

Rashid Al Nuaimi, who is commander of 

the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces 

Medical Service Corps.

Photo by Tom Balfour

To infinity and back

by Ken Frager

The Official USU Newsletter 3

Robert L. Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., the 

USU Department of Surgery Distinguished Visiting Professor Lecturer, 

brought the U.S. space program to 

the campus recently, reflecting on his 

experiences as mission specialist and 

crew medical officer for STS 129, the 

November 2009 Space Shuttle mission 

to the International Space Station.

Dr. Satcher, an orthopedic oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 

Houston, Texas, was a member of the 

crew that spent more than 10 days in 

space, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 

orbits. While there, he performed two 

extra-vehicular space walks which lasted 

more than 12 hours. 

“I travel to many different places to talk 

about my experiences as an astronaut, to 

promote the U.S. space program, and to 

encourage young people to reach for the 

stars,” said Dr. Satcher. “More often than 

not people ask me why I wanted to travel 

into space. But the students here at USU 

instead asked how they can get into the 

program. That’s very refreshing and it tells 

me a lot about this environment and these 

future military medical leaders.”

Dr. Satcher, when asked about the 

potential for surgery to be performed in 

space, said that while it has never been 

needed up until now, there will come a 

time. “When you think about our next 

step being getting to Mars, you have to 

consider that it will take us six months of 

travel just to get there. Emergencies come 

up and up until now we have had the 

option to simply turn the shuttle around 

and be back on earth in less than three 

days. That’s a big difference.” He added 

that while the technology and environment don’t currently exist for in-orbit 

surgery, there is always ongoing research.

The Pulse Spotlight

Name: 

Debbie Trunnell

Duty title: 

Computer Specialist / DAI Helpdesk

How long have you worked with USU? 

Almost 12 years now. I spent 2 years as a 

Henry Jackson employee, and almost 10 as 

a Federal Government employee.

What brought you to USU? 

A tip from an old friend that Mr. Parker in 

RMI needed another employee to help run 

his shop — best call I ever got.

What is your favorite part of USU? 

The people. Aren’t we a fine bunch?

What advice would you pass on to 

people new to USU? 

Get in, hold on, and enjoy the ride! 

Editor’s Note: If you know a hardworking under-recognized person in 

your department, submit their name and 

contact information, and they might be 

selected for the Pulse Spotlight. Please 

submit all nominees to usunewsletter@

usuhs.mil. Nomination is not a guarantee 

for publication.

Photo by Thomas Balfour

Photo by Ken Frager
4 the pulse February 21, 2011

Curriculum Reform Town Hall Q and A

by Col. (Dr.) Arnyce Pock and MC1 Chad Hallford

Q: Curriculum Reform appears to be involving some wide-sweeping changes. What major changes are 

being planned?

A: The curricular reform project involves virtually every aspect 

of the current School of Medicine 

curriculum. That said, the major 

changes can be divided into four key 

areas: Changes involving the Pre-Clerkship Period, the Clerkship Period, the 

Post-Clerkship Period & the Military 

Unique Curriculum. Included in the 

Post-Clerkship Period will be a phasedin opportunity for students to complete 

a CAPSTONE Project. 

The chart [right] provides a brief 

synopsis of some of the main changes 

in each of these areas.

Q: At the January Town Hall meeting it was noted that 

School of Medicine students may be 

transitioning to a new grading system. 

If so, what will the new grading 

scheme look like and when will it be 

implemented?

A: Current plans are for a new 

grading scheme to be phased in, starting with the Class of ‘15. Instead of 

relying on traditional letter grades, 

the new plan proposes use of a threetiered system with Honors, Pass or 

Fail. If approved, this would become 

the grading structure for all four years 

of the medical school curriculum. 

Q: A great amount of work has already been completed in order 

to have the new curriculum ready for 

implementation in Fall 2011, but when 

will a more detailed layout of the new 

curriculum be available for review?

A: The first step was to realign and reorganize material taught 

during the first two years of medical 

school into a series of systems-based 

modules. That was completed in 

December and is currently available 

for viewing on the web. 

The next phase, involves developing 

a more detailed, week-by-week plan 

for the pre-clerkship curriculum, with 

a corresponding set of weekly educational goals. This phase is expected to 

be completed by 15 March. 

The final phase involves establishing teaching objectives for 

each educational session and/or 

lecture. This will be done in close 

collaboration with course directors, course-specific instructors, 

and the corresponding module 

directors. This phase is expected to 

be completed by 15 June and will 

provide individual instructors with 

a fair degree of precision about the 

day/date when they will be asked to 

deliver a lecture, lead a small group, 

or participate in some other form of 

educational activity.

Q: How involved are current USU students in this process? 

Do students have a voice in how the 

curriculum evolves?

A: Current USU School of Medicine students have been 

integrally involved in all phases of 

developing the new curriculum. 

Each of the four main planning 

committees (Pre-Clerkship, Clerkship, Post-Clerkship & Assessment) 

have students assigned as full-fledged 

members, as does the Curriculum 

Reform Advisory Committee.

 In addition, we now have student 

members aligned to each of the 

seven modules that comprise the 

pre-clerkship period. These students 

will be actively involved in helping 

to review the emerging modular 

curricula, and in ensuring that the 

right topics are introduced at the 

right time, in the right sequence and 

via the most effective modality. For 

example, depending on the specific 

topic, material might be presented 

via any combination of small and/

or large group teaching, use of the 

Sim Center, interactions with actual 

patients, lab experiences, virtual 

cases, field exercises, and/or selfstudy techniques.

Highlights of the New Curriculum

Pre-Clerkship Period

n Shortened from two years to approx. 16 months. 

Allows rotations to start earlier, which provides 

more time for tailored, MS-IV electives. Also provides more time for “audition rotations” at potential 

internship/residency sites.

n Change from a traditional, course-based form of 

pre-clinical instruction to one that is fully integrated and 

divided into seven different system-based modules. 

n Increased use of case-based learning, with more teaching 

being done in small groups vs. large lecture halls.

Core-Clerkships

n Divided into three 16-week segments; each containing two 

related disciplines, plus a week of combined assessment.

n Goal is for Class of ‘15 students to complete at least one 

of their three clinical blocks in the same geographic 

(or regional) area for improved clinical continuity. 

n Deliberate “threading” of basic science through 

clerkships, reinforcing previous concepts & 

introducing new material, as it relates to students’ 

clinical experiences.

Post-Clerkship Period

n Re-position the Step I exam to a period shortly after 

completion of the core clerkships.

n Introduce a “Bench to Bedside and Beyond” unit 

after the core clerkships: Integrates advanced 

science at a point when students can more fully 

appreciate the clinical relevance. 

Military Unique Curriculum

n Updated and integrated throughout all four years of 

the curriculum.

n Expanded field exercise (Bushmaster) that incorporates 

active interaction between the MS-I, MS-II, & MS-IV 

classes along with members of the Graduate School 

of Nursing. Allow MS-Is to experience a much earlier 

immersion into the world of operational medicine, in 

October of their first year.

Capstone Project

n Includes provisions for a “Capstone Project.” While this 

might be initiated prior to the MS-IV year, the goal 

is to provide students with an opportunity to design, 

conduct, analyze and present a research topic of their 

choosing, via the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Additional information about USU’s 

Curriculum Reform is available at: 

www.usuhs.mil/curriculumreform. 

Additionally, a bulletin board can be found 

in the cafeteria (near the microwaves) that 

features some related charts and graphs. 

Any comments or suggestions are welcome 

and can be directed to Arnyce.pock@usuhs.

mil or office E-2033).
The Official USU Newsletter 5

Courtesy Photo

HPRC Health Tips

The Human Performance 

Resource Center Health Tips is a 

new column intended to provide the 

USU community with information to 

help develop and maintain a healthy 

lifestyle. Check out the HPRC website 

at: http://humanperformancere

sourcecenter.org.

Do you know what your HDL and 

LDL numbers are?

Good cholesterol, or high 

density lipoprotein (HDL), helps 

prevent fat and cholesterol from 

clogging your arteries. A higher 

HDL number (> 60 mg/dl) is 

better. Low density lipoprotein 

(LDL) is considered bad cholesterol. It carries cholesterol to 

your arteries and can cause them 

to become blocked. A lower LDL 

number (< 100 mg/dl) is better. 

High LDL or low HDL cholesterol levels are major risk factors 

for heart disease and stroke. 

A network of family and friends 

keeps you healthy.

A recent study shows that 

having a network of friends, 

family, and other groups improves 

your physical and mental health. 

In particular, belonging to different kinds of groups may help you 

feel stronger psychologically and 

physically. Social support bolsters 

our ability to cope with mental 

and physical challenges and help 

us recover faster. 

Family Matters: 

Communicating Well

Communicating well is 

extremely important for family 

well-being. Being able to speak 

clearly, listen well, show a range 

of emotional expression while 

being respectful and showing 

regard for family members’ are 

all aspects of good communication. You can help foster positive 

family communication by appreciating your loved ones verbally 

on a daily basis.

The National Capital Region 

Combined Federal Campaign honored 

USU with several awards in a ceremony 

held at the Pentagon Jan. 31.

Brigade Commander Navy Capt.

(Dr.) Tanis Batsel Stewart represented 

USU President Dr. Charles L. Rice and 

accepted the awards for the University.

“The awards speak to the enormity 

and charity of USU’s people,” said 

Capt. Batsel Stewart. “In our tough 

economic times, our military and civilian co-workers alike found it within 

their hearts to not only give, but to 

give more than what we did last year.”

The USU, with an overall contribution of $166,000, was recognized 

with the CFC “Merit” and CFC 

“Summit” awards, as well as the 2nd 

USU earns CFC awards

by MC1 Chad Hallford

place award for “Best Campaign 

Writing or Publication.”

The designation of CFC Merit 

means an achievement of 50 percent 

participation or an average of $125 per 

person employed. The CFC Summit 

entails the description of raising 3 

percent more than the previous year.

“The success of USU’s CFC hinged 

upon the efforts of Marine Capt. 

Matthew Anderson, Army Capt. Justin 

Beam, Air Force Master Sgt. Stephen 

Huntington and the CFC keyworkers. 

Their tenacity to continue until USU 

reached our goal is commendable,” 

said Capt. Batsel Stewart.

Anderson, Beam and Huntington will receive the award for USU’s 

CFC Newsletter.

Navy Capt. (Dr.) Tanis Batsel Stewart presents a commitment check signifying USU’s total 

contribution of $166,000 to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), to Tre’Sina Steger, USU’s 

Loaned Executive for the 2010 CFC Campaign. Also pictured are Mr. Michael L. Rhodes (left) 

Director, Administration and Management for the CFC campaign and Deputy Secretary of 

Defense William Lynn.
Welcome Home

by MC1 Chad Hallford

6 the pulse February 21, 2011

Whether it has the pomp and 

circumstance of a ship pulling into 

homeport, the roar of an Air Force 

C-130 Hercules from the Tarmac, or 

shouts of “Hooah” echoing across a 

field, coming home from a deployment is a special event in the lives of 

servicemembers.

A military homecoming is always an 

opportunity to thank those who have 

returned from harm’s way, and to pay 

tribute to and support those who have 

lost loved ones.

Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Lisa Pearse is 

spearheading campaigns welcoming 

back USU’s personnel who return 

from the battlefield. As the command 

individual augmentee coordinator 

(CIAC), this is one of the roles for 

which the office of the Commandant 

of the School of Medicine is responsible. “Although the Navy is the only 

service that officially has a CIAC 

program, here at USU we are implementing it in a Tri-Service way to 

support all of our deploying personnel, regardless of service,” said 

Cmdr. Pearse. 

“Being deployed, particularly as 

an Individual Augmentee (IA), is 

challenging. In addition to the family 

separation inherent in any deployment, the IA is separated from their 

unit and professional colleagues,” 

said Cmdr. Pearse. “Welcoming 

home our deployed personnel lets 

them know that we, as a University 

community, appreciate their sacrifice, 

noted their absence, and are happy 

to have them back safely.” Cmdr. 

Pearse added that throughout the 

deployment there have been opportunities to remind the IAs that they 

were valued by their peers and the 

leadership, through email exchange, 

holiday cards, care packages, and 

family support.

Last year the University welcomed 

back Air Force Col. (Dr.) Kenneth 

Tashiro and earlier this month, on 

Feb. 3, USU welcomed back Air Force 

Maj. (Dr.) Jonathan Bowman and 

Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Patcho Santiago 

from deployments to Afghanistan 

with receptions in their honor.

“Everyone has been very supportive of these welcome home events, 

and I have had the pleasure of 

wonderful support at all levels, from 

senior leadership of the University to the Brigade and Cafeteria 

staff who make them happen. With 

several others due to return to us over 

the next couple of months, clearly 

another welcome home party is on 

the horizon!” said Cmdr. Pearse. 

The USU Board of Regents members 

recently traveled to San Antonio 

for the February Board of Regents 

meeting. The meeting was held there 

to showcase the unique medical training and care provided to services 

members in San Antonio. During the 

two-day meeting, members received 

tours coordinated by the USU Office of 

the Senior Vice President for University Programs (Southern Region), of 

Fort Sam Houston, training sites at 

Camp Bullis, the Battlefield Health and 

Trauma Institute, the Center for the 

Intrepid, and the Warrior and Family 

Support Center. They also received 

briefings on the Medical Education 

and Training Campus, Wilford Hall 

Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical 

Center, San Antonio Uniformed 

Services Health Education Consortium, the USU Air Force Postgraduate Dental School and the U.S. Army 

Medical Command.

USU Regents experience Southern educational exposure

by S. Leeann Ori

Members of the USU Board of Regents pictured in front of the Humvee Egress Assistance 

Trainer (HEAT) at Camp Bullis, Texas.

Courtesy Photo
Briefs

Award nominations due 

The award nomination packages 

for the 2011 Outstanding Biomedical Graduate Educator Award must be 

submitted no later than March 4. 

The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the education of 

students in the USU School of Medicine 

graduate programs in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health. 

The award is for all USU faculty at the 

rank of assistant professor or above, in a 

Department or Program within a Ph.D. 

or Dr. P.H. graduate training program. 

Faculty who have received this award 

with the last five years are ineligible. 

Nominations must be submitted 

in writing. 

All submissions as well as any questions should be submitted to the Graduate Education Office. 

Anniversary Web site 

The Armed Forces Radiobiology 

Research Institute will be launching 

a new Web site to help celebrate the 

institute’s 50th Anniversary. 

The Web site is scheduled to 

launch next year and highlights 

AFRRI’s rich history and heritage. 

It also provides users with the 

opportunity to learn more about the 

unique mission at AFRRI. 

Dining In

Find out who is going to the grog 

this year at the USU 2011 Dining In. 

Dust off your mess dress and join 

the party from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 

March 5. 

Tickets are on sale now.

Inclement weather policy

During the upcoming winter season, 

USU will remain open for business 

except for certain situations such as 

inclement weather. 

If the operating status of the University changes, it will be updated on the 

University’s home page, www.usuhs.mil. 

This page will be updated immediately if the operating status changes. 

In addition to the Web page, a 

broadcast to the USU community via 

email and recorded phone message 

will be available. 

To access this information by phone, 

call (301) 295-3039. 

In some cases, such as inclement 

weather, USU’s status will be made available via television. All USU students, 

military, faculty and essential personnel 

are encouraged to check to the University’s Web site regularly to stay aware of 

the current operating procedures. 

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, dates or times.

Helpdesk Closure 

The NOC 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. 

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.

Professional activities

The Department of Defense and 

USU policy requires that all employees, both military and civilian, receive 

approval for engaging in any activity outside their work environment, 

which involves their professional 

expertise or government occupation, 

and involves compensation.

This approval is required prior to 

engaging in the activity. 

In order to get approval, any employee can complete a USUHS Form 1004. 

This completed form must be approved 

and signed by each department chair or 

activity head. 

These forms are available in the 

General Counsel’s office or online at the 

USU OGC Web site.

Completed forms must be turned in 

to the General Counsel’s office. The form 

will be routed to the appropriate dean, 

brigade commander or USUHS president. 

Once processing is completed, a 

copy of the approved form will be 

returned to the employee for the employee’s records. 

ESC meetings

The Enlisted Social Committee holds 

its monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of every month. 

Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. in the 

cafeteria’s small dining room. 

Being a part of the ESC is an excellent way for USU enlisted personnel to 

actively pursue volunteer opportunities at USU. 

The Official USU Newsletter 7