Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences 

USU Newsletter 

WWW.USUHS.MIL APRIL 3, 2006 VOLUME 1,ISSUE 14 

In This Issue 

National Medical Society........2 

AAMC Pres. Visits USU.........2 

APAMSA Conference............3 

Brigade Awards......................3 

USU Logo.............................4 

Disability Awareness Month..5 

Check Up day......................5 

Look Who’s Talking.............7 

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

Trick or Treat..........................7 

Calendar of Events..........Back

Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences 

WWW.USUHS.MIL OCTOBER 30,2006 

U.S. Senators Daniel K. 

Inouye (D-HI), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Paul S. Sarbanes 

(D-MD) and Representative 

Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), 

along with Department of 

Defense Assistant Secretary 

for Health Affairs William 

Winkenwerder, Jr., M.D., other 

military leaders and dignitaries 

helped the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) celebrate the 

groundbreaking of Building E, 

the new Academic Program 

Center, Oct 23. 

“The university is at the 

forefront of education and 

research in military medicine,” 

said USU President Charles L. 

Rice, M.D. “This new facility 

will provide space to allow the 

university to continue to fulfill 

its essential mission in educating men and women who are 

learning to care for those in 

harm’s way.” 

The building, the first to 

be constructed on campus 

since the school was built in 

1978, will accommodate the 

growth in the number of degree-granting programs offered by the university. 

“The nation understands 

the critical role this university 

plays,” Senator Sarbanes said. 

“The military health system 

depends upon the USU alumni 

Groundbreaking Marks New Era 

in Military Healthcare Education 

By MC2 Kory Kepner 

Office of External Affairs 

Dignitaries prepare to break ground for Building E, the new 

Academic Program Center at USU, 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

See ERA, page 6 

CFC kicks off 

2006 campaign 

By MCSN Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer, Office of External Affairs 

Photo by MCSN Raul Zamora 

 The Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) kicked off the universities 2006 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) 

Oct. 19. 

 The kick-off started with a lunch served by 

members of the USU Brigade, hamburgers, 

hotdogs, pulled pork, cotton candy and other 

goodies where enjoyed by everyone. 

 The CFC is an annual fundraising drive 

conducted by federal employees in their 

workplace each fall. The CFC benefits thousands of not-for-profit charities. It is organized 

into more than 300 independent geographic 

campaigns. This year’s campaign theme is “Be 

a Star in Someone’s Life” and expects to raise 

$58 million. Last year’s goal was $268.5 million. 

 While in line for lunch, people could talk to 

some of the charity’s the CFC supports 

See CFC, page 6 

USU Brigade members serve students, faculty 

and staff lunch at the 2006 USU CFC campaign kickoff. 
Dr. Rice announces university 

reorganization

USU Newsletter 

Editorial Staff 

Carol R. Scheman 

Vice President Office 

of External Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. 

André Nicholson 

Editor 

Mass Communications 

Specialist 2nd Class 

Kory Kepner 

Assistant Editor 

Mass Communications 

Specialist Seaman Apprentice 

Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer 

 

Mass Communications 

Specialist Seaman Apprentice 

Jeffery Hopkins 

Staff Writer 

 

Sharon Willis 

Director 

Alumni Affairs and 

ContributingWriter 

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. 

Alumni in the News 

PAGE 2 

USU faculty member elected 

president of national medical society 

 The chief of the medical staff at David Grant 

Medical Center (DGMC) has been elected president 

of the American College of Emergency Physicians 

during the organization's recent meeting in New 

Orleans, LA. 

 Col. (Dr.) Linda Lawrence previously served as 

vice president of ACEP, and is an attending physician in DGMC's emergency department. 

 Additionally, she serves as a consultant to the Air 

Force surgeon general and is an associate professor 

for the department of military and emergency medicine for the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda, Md., and is also 

a former USU School of Medicine Commandant. 

 "Emergency care is an essential public service 

and emergency physicians provide a critical health 

care safety in every community in America," Colonel 

Lawrence said. "We must take our issues to the public and ask for their support in solving the problems 

that affect their access to emergency care and motivating policymakers to support change." 

 Colonel Lawrence has provided leadership at the 

state and national level, serving as president of 

ACEP's governmental services chapter, representing 

military emergency physicians across the United 

States. She also has served on numerous ACEP committees and as editor of ACEP publications. 

 "There is a national crisis on access to emergency 

care and availability of on-call specialists in emergency departments across the country," Colonel 

Lawrence said. "However, we're very fortunate at 

Travis to have emergency medicine-trained nurses, 

physicians and a full spectrum of trained specialists 

who provide top notch emergency care here at 

DGMC." 

 ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 

25,000 members. ACEP is committed to advancing 

emergency care through continuing education, 

research and public education. 

 Headquartered in Dallas, Texas ACEP has 52 

chapters representing each state, Puerto Rico and 

the District of Columbia. A Government Services 

Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government 

agencies. Colonel Lawrence will assume the presidency during next year's meeting in Seattle, Wash. 

Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president of the American Association of 

Medical Colleges (AAMC), speaks with Col. Ken Tashiro, M.D., U.S. Air Force, commandant F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (SOM) (far left) six medical students, and Dr. Larry Laughlin, dean 

SOM. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences was Dr. Kirch’s first visit to any 

medical school since he became president of the AAMC back in July. He came to the university to 

share his thoughts and ideas with the students. During his time with them, he emphasized the 

importance of teaching leadership in medical education even outside the military environment. 

Photo by MCSA Jeffrey Hopkins 

AAMC Presidents Visits USU 
PAGE 3 

News 

 The Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences (USU) held the 

Brigade Awards Ceremony Oct. 13. 

HN Tinsae E. Tekleab, USN (AFRRI) 

was selected as the USU Services 

Member of the Quarter. FC2 Elaine 

Gonzales, USN (UIS) and HM2 

Careese Charles, USU (EHS) were 

selected as the USU Color Guard of 

the quarter for the second and third 

quarters of 2006. Among the awards 

received this quarter were The Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service 

Medal, Army Commendation Medal, 

Navy Commendation Medal, Air 

Force Commendation Medal, Joint 

Service Achievement Medal, Navy 

Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Letter of Commendations and Certificate of 

Appreciation. 

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) hosted the 13th annual Asian Pacific American 

Medical Student Association’s (APAMSA) National Conference, 

entitled “Medicine: A Call to Service,” Oct. 6-8. 

Many of the guest speakers at the National Conference 

were USU alumni, family, and current students of the university. 

Ensign Victor Rivera, USN, a second-year student of USU’s 

school of medicine spoke on the topic of incorporating acupuncture into medical practice. 

USU graduate and staff member, Maj. Sarah M. Page, 

MD, USAF, instructed a workshop demonstrating a birthing 

simulator to enhance participants’ skills and readiness in various 

scenarios. 

APAMSA is a national organization which aims to 

bring together Asians and others interested in promoting the 

health of the Asian community, as well as helping healthcare 

workers learn to treat Asian patients in a culturally sensitive 

manner. Its membership currently includes more than 80 medical schools from all over the U.S., and since its inception in 1995, 

has held the APAMSA National Conference at a different medical school. 

Each year, APAMSA members and supporters gather 

at that year’s university to contribute to and take part in the 

many planned workshops, and gain insight and advice from the 

guest speakers and workshop instructors. Some of the topics 

covered this year included hepatitis B and liver cancer in Asian 

American communities, challenges facing multicultural families, 

cultural competency and diversity in medicine and mass casualty and triage basics. 

APAMSA’s evening banquet held Oct. 7 in USU’s Cafeteria hall featured keynote speaker Rear Adm. (ret.) Dr. Connie 

Mariano, MD, president of the Center for Executive Medicine. 

Dr. Mariano, USU graduate class of 1981, was the first Filipino 

American in history to become a Navy admiral, and was also 

the first military woman in American history to be appointed 

White House physician. 

USU hosts APAMSA National Conference 

By MCSA Jeff Hopkins 

Staff Writer, Office of External Affairs 

Photo by TSgt. James Steele 

USU Brigade Awards 

Photo by Sheena Farrell 

A participant takes part in a workshop in USU’s simulation 

center during the APAMSA National Conference. 
PAGE 4 

Feature 
News 

USU, Nation Honors Disabled Employees During Awareness Month 

Nearly fifteen years ago the U.S. Congress enacted the American Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits private employers, state 

and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions 

from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in 

job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. 

 The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) 

acknowledge that act and recognized the contributions of disabled 

employees during a celebration here Oct. 18, as one of the university’s faculty members provided this year’s keynote address 

 Gloria Ramsey, J.D., RN, associate professor Graduate School of 

Nursing, assistant research professor, School of Medicine Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, and director, Community 

Outreach and Information Dissemination at USU’s Center for Health 

Disparities Research and Education (USUCHD), addressed faculty, 

staff, and students during the National Disability Employment 

Awareness Month celebration. 

 This year’s national theme: Americans with Disabilities: Ready for 

the Global Workforce was Dr. Ramsey’s focus as she discussed the 

history of the ADA, laws in correlation to the act, her personal experience, and opportunities for everyone to contribute to a conducive workforce. 

 “Disabilities affect a person’s ability to engage in some aspect of 

day to day life,” Dr. Ramsey explained. “The ADA has been a source 

of hope and inspiration for people with disabilities.” 

 Although there are more than 6 million disabled people in today’s workforce, “people with disabilities, even those with the most 

severe disabilities, have the talent and skills to fill workforce shortages,” Dr. Ramsey said. 

 The ADA defines a person with a disability as an individual who: 

-Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or 

more major life 

 activities 

-Has a record of such an impairment 

-Is regarded as having such an impairment. 

 Some tips on how to interact with people with disabilities: 

-Offer a handshake even with the left hand if necessary 

-Relax don’t be embarrassed if you use a common phrase such as 

“See you later” all the person maybe blind 

-Speak in a normal tone, but try to face the person and preferably in 

a lighted area 

 Dr. Ramsey provided these tips because she is aware of how it 

feels to be discriminated against and shared some of her personal 

experiences. 

 One situation in particular she vividly recalls was on an airplane 

flight years ago, in which the laboratory facilities were not conducive for a disabled person. She asked the flight attendant about 

accommodations for disabled people and the attendant replied that 

people in her condition usually bring their own bathroom facilities 

on board with them. 

 But it’s those experiences that allow Dr. Ramsey to appreciate 

the USU community, she explained. She appreciates how the university made accommodations for her employment such as parking 

and office space, and among other reasons, the overall kindness of 

everyone here is why she thinks so highly of the university. 

 Dr. Ramsey said, it’s extremely important for everyone to understand that “people with disabilities want to and can contribute to 

our nation’s health.” 

By Tech. Sgt. Andre Nicholson 

NCOIC, External Affairs 

The Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences (USU) Center for 

Health Disparities Community Outreach 

and Information Dissemination Core 

launched its fall activities by participating in 

the national Take Your Loved One for a 

Checkup Day, formerly known as Take Your 

Loved One to A Doctor Day, campaign last 

month. 

 Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day

campaign focuses on the health disparities 

between racial and ethnic minorities and 

the general population. The day occurs the 

third Tuesday of each September and the 

campaign encourages individuals to visit a 

health professional (a doctor, a nurse, a 

nurse practitioner, physician assistant, dentist, or another health provider), make an 

appointment for a visit, or help a friend, 

neighbor, or family member do the same. 

 “The health of the community is our 

responsibility,” said Dr. Gloria Ramsey, JD, 

RN, USU associate professor of nursing and 

director, Community Outreach and Information Dissemination. “The USU Center for 

Health Disparities is participating in this 

campaign because we know that disease 

prevention and regular health care can 

enhance and extend an individual’s life. 

We also know that while it is true that 

many people do not have health insurance, 

there are a large number of persons who 

do and do not use it -- unless they are sick 

or there is an actual emergency. We must 

change this attitude about health care and 

the campaign highlights the importance of 

prevention and early detection and encourages individuals to seek regular health 

care.” 

 Take Your Loved One for a Checkup 

Day, a single day effort, initiated in 2002 by 

the former U.S. Health and Human Services 

Secretary Tommy Thompson, can generate 

a greater understanding of the importance 

of regular health screenings while at the 

same time focus on populations which 

tend to have the highest disease burden 

and the least access to care. 

 The mission of the USU Center for 

Health Disparities is to promote healthrelated change and to ultimately reduce 

health disparities among racial and ethnic 

minorities through research, education, 

training, community outreach and information dissemination. Take Your Loved One 

for a Checkup Day is vital because too 

many racial and ethnic minorities are dying 

prematurely and suffering from preventable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, 

cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, 

and vaccine-preventable diseases. Together, through education and by helping 

people access health resources, we can 

help improve the health and longevity of 

the American public, said Dr. Ramsey. 

 To that end, 

the USU Center 

for Health DisCourtesy of Community Outreach 

and Information Dissemination Core 

“Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day” 

PAGE 5 

See CHECK-UP, page 6 
PAGE 6 

News 

as the backbone for its operational 

and leadership positions,” Senator 

Sarbanes said. “This is especially 

important during a time when the 

nation will be facing a shortage of 

physicians and nurses.” 

The three-level structure will 

provide extra classrooms and office space for USU’s Graduate 

School of Nursing (GSN), bringing 

those students, faculty and staff 

together under one roof for the 

first time since the GSN’s founding in 1993. The Academic Program Center will also house 

graduate medical education and 

continuing health education program offices. Additionally, there 

will be one larger 100-person 

classroom and smaller rooms with 

moveable partitions for subdividing each pair of small classrooms. The facility is expected to 

be completed within the next two 

years. 

“This unique university has 

direct relevance to our national 

security concerns of today and 

absolutely merits the construction 

of this academic program center,” 

said Congressman Van Hollen. 

“There is no doubt that Building E 

will be put to good use.” 

 “I’ve been proud to support 

USU for nearly 25 years,” said 

Senator Barbara Mikulski. “Things 

have changed a lot since its 

founding in 1972. Today, battles 

and our battlefields have 

changed, weapons have 

changed. But the values of USU 

have not changed: patriotism, 

duty and service to our soldiers, 

Sailors, Airmen and Marines.” 

“The nation owes a debt to 

those who serve our country,” 

said Senator Inouye. “Our troops 

have the right to expect quality 

care. USU makes sure that the 

country’s military members receive this care by educating military health providers. The university’s alumni understand that they 

have taken on a long-term commitment.” 

“They protect those who 

protect us,” Mikulski said. 

ERA from page 1 

including, the Fisher House program, which has 36 

houses, 6 of which are located in the metro Washington D.C. area. The first Fisher house was built in 

Bethesda on the grounds of the National Naval 

Medical Center. 

 Some other member’s of the CFC are, The Disabled American Veterans, which is a non profit association of some 1.2 Million U.S. military veterans 

who suffered some degree of disability while serving in time of war or armed conflict; the Veterans of 

Foreign Wars Foundation, which promotes citizenship education, volunteerism and positive youth 

programs; and facilitate medical, rehabilitative, educational and employment services and needs for 

veterans and their families; and The United Service 

Organization (U.S.O.) which is a private, organization whose mission is to provide morale, welfare 

and recreation-type services to military members. 

 The CFC kick-off ended with Dr. Charles L. Rice, 

President, USU addressing the university on what 

the CFC is and it’s various members. “We encourage 

you to be a star in some one’s life,” Dr. Rice said. “Be 

a volunteer, give light to life and improve the lives 

of others.” He said that the key to success is participation. 

CFC from page 1 

parities Community Outreach 

Core disseminated its lay consumer publication, EQUAL 

HEALTH: Monthly Informer, to 

the 30 plus people who visited 

them Sept. 19. The September 

issue of the Monthly Informer 

entitled, “Know Your Family 

Health History,” encourages individuals to maintain their own 

personal health record because it 

is one of the best ways to have 

constant access to your health 

information over the course of 

your lifetime, and to ensure that 

individuals receive quality healthcare. It also gives individuals 

knowledge that assists with 

preparation for appointments, 

and an active voice in preventative care and care management. 

The more involved you are in 

your own care, the more it can 

help reduce health disparities. 

 “Know your Family Health 

History” is an excellent tool to 

document dates for medical and 

dental appointments for you and 

your loved ones. It includes section that allows an individual to 

write down their medical history, 

family history, medications, allergies, and a health log to track 

major illnesses. Anyone who was 

not able to visit the display last 

month, can contact Jateya Jones, 

coordinator, at (301) 589-1175 

x20 or e-mail jjones@usuhs.mil. 

You may download the Monthly 

Informer by visiting 

www.usuchd.org, community 

outreach, periodicals, or stop by 

our information table and session, outside the cafeteria in front 

of the elevators as we disseminate health information all yearlong on Take Your Loved One for 

a Checkup Day and other relevant health information from 

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on the 

following dates: 

Nov. 15 "American Diabetes Month" 

Dec. 6 “World Aids Awareness"

CHECK-UP from page 5 
Briefs 

“There is so much 

diversity among the 

students, some with 

prior experience, 

some without. It 

really changes the 

atmosphere.” 

“The people, 

for sure, I really 

like to see 

students come 

in with their 

families, everyone has a 

smile on their 

face.” 

I get to eat lunch 

with my husband 

an MS2 student.. 

Look Who’s Talking... What do you like most about USU? 

2nd LT 

Nick Singh 

SOM 

MS2 

 

Linda Reich 

Library 

Technician 

Dana Davila 

Administrative 

Assistant 

PAGE 7 

Dr. Deuster collaborates on War Fighters’ Fitness Assessment 

Dr. Patricia Deuster, professor, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine and director of USU’s Human Performance Laboratory, in conjunction with Lipomics Technologies, Inc., will be 

performing the second and third phases of a study on how to 

improve the optimum fitness and performance of combat personnel. 

Dr. William Haffner becomes editor of prestigious journal 

Dr. William Haffner, USU professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology 

has been selected as the new editor of Military Medicine. The journal is produced by the Association of Military Surgeons of the 

United States, which is the society of the federal health agencies. 

USU faculty and students participate in NIH research festival 

The National Institutes of Health hosted a “Research Festival: 

Bench to Bedside” Oct. 17-20 with symposia, special exhibits, and 

poster sessions discussing the full range of biomedical research 

and research policy. Presenters included NIH intramural scientists 

and, by special invitation, a dozen collaborative research presentations by USU faculty and students. 

Researchers find ulcer bacteria H. pylorii present in blood vessels 

Andre Dubois, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine, surgery, and 

emerging infectious diseases, and chief, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal and Liver Studies at USU, and members of his research group, 

Drs. Cristina Semino-Mora and Hui Liu, co-authored an article with 

European researchers lead by Dr. Thomas Borén. The study demonstrates that the peptic ulcer bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. 

pylori) can reach the blood circulation. Thus, the bacterium can 

disseminate in the body and may cause other chronic inflammatory conditions of unknown origin, such as atherosclerosis and 

rheumatoid arthritis. The research paper can be viewed online at: 

http://pathogens.plosjournals.org/XXX and will be published in 

the October issue of the PLoS Pathogens Journal.

Dr. Leonard C. Sperling selected as chair for Dept. of Dermatology 

Larry W. Laughlin, M.D., Ph.D., dean, School of Medicine is pleased 

to announce the selection of Leonard C. Sperling, M.D., as the 

new chair, Department of Dermatology following a nationwide 

search. Dr. Sperling, a longtime USU faculty member and nationally and internationally know academician in the field of Dermatology, is Professor of Dermatology at USU. Dr. Sperling has been 

acting chair of the position since his retirement earlier this year. 

Attention USU Students 

A recently chartered Innovative Investment Group working for 

Health Affairs is searching for money saving ideas. Possibly from 

USU students. 

Dr. Rice participates in ACS session 

USU President, Dr. Charles L. Rice served as the moderator for a 

general session about how the military can cooperate in the future training of surgeons. 

USU in the News 

“Trick or Treat!” 

Student Spouses Club members accompanied their children through the halls of the 

university Oct. 25, collecting 

candy and taking in the various Halloween-themed door 

decorations. The children 

made their way from the 

ground floor through buildings A,B and C. The Student 

Spouses club extends its 

thanks to all those who participated and handed out 

candy. 

Photos by MCSA Jeffrey Hopkins 
USU Calendar of Events 

29 30 31 

All services: 

Physical Fitness 

Testing 

7a.m. and Noon 

USU Softball Field 

1 

Molecular Cell 

Biology Seminar 

“Role of GSK3beta” 

 3:30pm in Lecture 

Room A 

 

2 

 

3 4 

Toastmasters 

Meeting 

Noon-1p.m. 

A2011 

5 6 7 8 

Sixteenth Annual 

Open house of 

Poster Presentation 

3:30pm 

Lobby Bldg. B 

 

 

9 

 

 

10 

Veterans Day 

Holiday 

11 

 

12 13 

 

14 

 

15 

Sixteenth Annual 

Harold L. Stewart 

Lecture in Experimental Oncology 

3:00 p.m. 

Lecture Room C 

16 

 

17 18 

19 

 

20 21 

Department of 

Dermatology Presents the 9th Annual Sulzberger 

Lectureship. 

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 

a.m. in AFFRI 

Conference Room 

22 23 

Thanksgiving 

Holiday 

24 

 

25 

November 

October