USU Newsletter

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11 WWW.USUHS.MIL August 5, 2009
Bill Bester

Acting Vice President for

 External Affairs and

Managing Editor

Ken Frager

Public Affairs Specialist

André Nicholson

Staff Writer

Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

Production Editor

MC1 Chad Hallford

Layout and Design

Christine Creenan

Contributing Writer

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 bi-weekly on Mondays. 

The deadline for submissions is 

at 4 p.m. Friday prior to the publication date. Submissions can be 

sent to usunewsletter@usuhs.mil 

or by calling 301 295-0895. 

(Editor’s Note: This story is a combined effort between the NIMH and 

USU’s External Affairs Office.)

Robert J. Ursano, M.D., chairman of 

the Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences (USU) Department of Psychiatry and director of the 

Center for the Study of Traumatic 

Stress (CSTS), will lead an interdisciplinary team of four research institutions to carry out a National Institute 

of Mental Health study – the largest 

study of suicide and mental health 

among military personnel ever undertaken, with $50 million in funding 

from the U.S. Army.

The study is a direct response to 

the Army’s request to NIMH to 

enlist the most promising scientific 

approaches for addressing the rising 

suicide rate among soldiers. Suicide 

rates among Army personnel have 

risen substantially since the beginning of the current conflicts in Iraq 

and Afghanistan despite major 

surveillance and intervention efforts 

introduced by the Army to prevent 

suicides over this period.

Four institutions will collaboratively 

conduct an epidemiologic study of 

mental health, psychologic resilience, 

suicide risk, suicide-related behaviors, 

and suicide deaths in the U.S. Army.

The consortium brings together 

research teams that are internationally known for their expertise and 

experience in research on military 

health, health and behavior surveys, 

epidemiology, and suicide, including 

genetic and neurobiological factors 

involved in suicidal behavior. Ursano 

will serve as project director.

Consortium principal investigators 

are Steven Heeringa, Ph.D., at the 

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; 

Ronald Kessler, Ph.D., Harvard 

Medical School, Cambridge, Mass.; 

and John Mann, M.D., at Columbia 

University, New York City. 

Dr. Ursano is a world-renowned 

expert in mental health and trauma 

and will work closely with the principal investigators as well as NIMH 

scientists and Army project officers. 

The CSTS, a partnering center of 

the Defense Centers of Excellence 

for PTSD and TBI, conducts research and offers education, consultation and training on preparing for, 

and responding to, the psychological 

effects and health consequences of 

traumatic events.

The study will use several strategies 

to generate information on risk and 

protective factors:

- The Army already has a rich archive 

of data on its personnel. Study investigators will work to consolidate information from different databases and 

use this resource to identify possible 

suicide risk and protective factors.

Ursano to lead largest study of military suicide 

Robert J. Ursano, M.D., center, the chairman 

of the USU Department of Psychiatry and the 

director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, will lead a $50 million National 

Institute of Mental Health study funded by the 

U.S. Army.

USU Newsletter

USU students participate in a nighttime 

mass casualty exercise during 

Operation Bushmaster. 

(Cover photo: Ken Frager)

photo by Ken Frager

PAGE 2
Technology Watch: 

Defense Academic Information Technology Consortium Conference

PAGE 3

The Office of External Affairs and the USU Alumni Bookstore invite you to celebrate 

USU Night with the Baltimore Orioles.

Sunday, 16 August vs LA Angels - Noon start in Bullpen Picnic Area

Saturday, 5 September vs Texas Rangers - 5:30 PM start in Bullpen Picnic Area

Picnic food includes one fire grilled burger, one ESSKAY all-beef hot dog, along with side salads, 

popcorn, and beverages. Tickets are available in the USU Alumni Bookstore for the discounted price 

of $40 per person.

If you have any questions, please contact Ken Frager at (301) 295-3981 or via email at kenneth.

frager.ctr@usuhs.mil.

by MC1 Chad Hallford

The USU hosted the second “Defense 

Academic Information Technology 

Consortium Conference,” June 18-19.

“The conference is an opportunity for 

DoD academic institutions to come 

together to address common information technology concerns and to assess 

problems as a consortium,” said Joseph 

Topping, chief information security 

officer at the Naval War College, and 

conference coordinator. “The conference allows USU and others in a joint 

environment, to collaborate and create 

innovative solutions for information 

technology issues.”

The consortium includes the service 

academies, the staff colleges and members of IT business.

“On a warfighter network — an attackable asset — a security posture is 

maintained to protect the military’s 

network,” said Topping. “But as we are 

academic institutions, our IT assets need 

more freedoms — flexibility to research, 

to utilize emergent technologies and 

remain current with other academic 

practices.”

Many of these approaches, applications and technologies were examined 

in detail at the conference.

“Many of us have discussed the use 

of PC, Macintosh and Linux systems 

on our networks, as well as the mobility of BlackBerry versus other available products for use throughout our 

institutions. At USU, we strive to make 

as many platforms available and secure 

for our users,” said Joel Robertson, USU 

information assurance manager.

Attendees discussed the need for 

some faculty, staff or students to be 

on blended or dual networks. They 

also discussed which Internet service 

providers addressed their needs best, 

as well as technologies such as Secret 

Internet Protocol Router Network, or 

SIPRNet, and commercial Internet 

available to the Defense Research and 

Engineering Network, or DREN.

“We are considering our options and 

the DREN seems to be a good option 

to pursue,” said Robertson. “We have 

personally identifiable information, 

privacy data and other information included in databases for which integrity 

and security are paramount.”

Rounding out the discussion, topics 

included virtual-learning software, open 

code, USB media storage devices and 

social media strategies, including Flickr, 

Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

- Investigators will undertake a 

retrospective case-control study 

in which individual soldiers who 

have attempted suicide with or 

without fatal outcomes (cases) will 

be matched with individuals with 

similar demographic characteristics 

(controls). Comparison of information gathered on cases and controls 

should provide clues to risk and 

protective factors.

- A survey for which 90,000 active 

Army personnel representative of the 

entire Army will be contacted will 

provide information on the prevalence of suicide-related behavior and 

risk and protective factors. When 

possible, saliva and blood samples 

will be collected for genetic and 

neurobiologic studies.

- All 80,000 to 120,000 recruits 

who enter the Army in each of the 

first three years of the study will be 

asked to participate in a survey similar to the all-Army survey above.

This research will encompass active 

duty Army personnel across all phases 

of service, including members of the 

National Guard and Reserves. Soldiers’ confidentiality will be protected 

as investigators explore the nature of 

risk and protective factors and the 

timing of events that could influence 

risk, such as time since enlistment 

and deployment status and history.

Although planned to continue for 

5 years, the study is designed to be 

able to identify quickly potential risk 

factors that can inform the continuing research project and the Army’s 

ongoing efforts to prevent suicide 

among its personnel. Identification 

of risk and protective factors—including existing prevention strategies that show effectiveness in reducing suicide risk—is a means to the 

end of developing evidence-based 

interventions that are readily applicable in a military context and can 

be put into action quickly to reverse 

the increase in suicide rates. 
PAGE 4

F i e l d T 

Operations: Bushmaster/Kerkesner

photos by Ken Frager

Left: Students review a supply checklist – an important tactical and 

logistic step.

Operation Bushmaster and Operation Kerkesner occurred at Fort 

Indiantown Gap, Pa., July 2009.

Left: During the Operation Kerkesner “care under fire” exercise, students use paint ball to simulate live rounds while caring for wounded.

Above: Public Health Service Rear Adm. Robert Williams, Acting Deputy 

Surgeon General of the United States, talks with Army Sgt. 1st Class 

Donald Peña and several USU students at Operation Bushmaster.

Right: Graduate School of Nursing faculty discuss the role of the 

EMEDS unit in the exercise with visiting Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green 

Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force.
Right: A student provides immediate medical attention to a fellow 

Soldier following an “attack” during Operation Kerkesner. While 

participating in the exercise, personnel test their abilities to provide 

realistic field medical care while honing their military command and 

leadership skills.

PAGE 5

r a i n i n g E x e r c i s e s

Below: International faculty and medical students, including some from 

France, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom, took part in the 2009 

field exercises.

Left:A student with a moulaged “head trauma” explains his injury to Lt. 

Gen. Green, and Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Byron C. Hepburn, Commander, Air 

Force Medical Support Agency, USU class of 1987.

Right: Students in MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) Gear transport a 

fallen Soldier during the Kerkesner exercise. Students learned the essentials of patient 

transport as applicable in the field.
Air Force doctor, USU grad wins national award

by Jen D. Rodriguez 

Brooke Army Medical Center

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- An 

Air Force doctor and USU graduate here 

was one of 10 recipients recently selected 

for the 2009 American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Award. 

Capt. (Dr.) Angelique Collamer is a 

physician, teacher and researcher assigned 

to the 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air 

Force Base, Texas, but works in the Rheumatology Clinic at Brooke Army Medical 

Center at Fort Sam Houston. 

“I was excited and surprised to hear that 

I had been chosen, and that I’ve been 

recognized as one of the top fellows in the 

country,” Doctor Collamer said. “It’s so 

special to be included in this select group. 

This honor will follow me throughout my 

career.”

Formerly known as the Rheumatology Fellow Award, the award recognizes 

clinical and research fellows who are 

in a rheumatology fellowship training program and who have performed 

meritoriously. Awardees receive a $1,500 

stipend from the American College of 

Rheumatology. 

According to Dr. Daniel F. Battafarano, 

the chief of Rheumatology at BAMC 

who nominated her, “Doctor Collamer’s 

devotion to academic excellence, clinical 

rheumatology, research and scholarly activity and contributions to the community 

is extraordinary. She truly demonstrates 

humble academic rheumatology while 

providing holistic medical care with a 

sense of commitment to the community.” 

Doctor Collamer has served in the Air 

Force for nine years, including four years 

of medical school at USU. She graduated 

in 2004.

Some of her achievements include 

publishing a now widely referenced 

manuscript in “Arthritis & Rheumatism” in 2008, titled “Psoriatic skin 

lesions induced by tumor necrosis factor 

antagonist therapy with a literature 

review and potential mechanisms of 

action,” as well as a comprehensive 

manuscript, titled “The treatment of 

ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic 

arthritis with etanercept” published in 

“Clinical Medicine: Therapeutics.” 

Additionally, she was contacted to write 

an expert commentary for a book, titled 

“Tumor necrosis factor antagonist induced psoriatic skin lesions,” and she has 

a case report in publication, titled “Bone 

marrow hemophagacytosis complicating 

rheumatoid arthritis.” 

Recently, she submitted an abstract 

for consideration to the 2009 American 

College of Rheumatology, titled “Musculoskeletal ultrasound of acute chest 

wall sydromes in SAPHO syndrome.” 

SAPHO is an eponym for the combination of synovitis, acne, pustulosis, 

hyperostosis and osteitis. 

“I’m grateful to Doctor Battafarano 

for going out of his way to nominate 

me,” she said. “Receiving this award 

is really a reflection of the superior 

training and teaching and the opportunities to succeed that I was provided 

through the San Antonio Uniformed 

Services Health Education Consortium 

Rheumatology Fellowship Training 

Program.” 

Doctor Collamer graduated from the 

SAUSHEC training program in June. 

“She is a pioneer in a national musculoskeletal ultrasound training and testing 

project, and she will be among the first 

fellows in the nation to achieve certification in musculoskeletal ultrasound on 

completion of her fellowship,” Doctor 

Battafarano said. “Her enthusiasm for 

teaching has led to 22 intramural academic topics to residents, fellows and staff 

and five lectures at the University of Texas 

Health Science Center in San Antonio 

Rheumatology Grand Rounds, highlighting her commitment and predilection as a 

clinical professor.” 

“I love being able to work with patients, 

especially our active duty military members, and the privilege of helping them 

to improve their health and well-being,” 

Doctor Collamer said. 

Doctor Collamer will be honored Oct. 

16 at an awards ceremony at the 75th 

annual scientific meeting of the American 

College of Rheumatology in Philadelphia.

Air Force Capt. (Dr.) Angelique Collamer examines Army Maj. Mitchell Osburn’s knee at the 

Brooke Army Medical Center Rheumatology Clinic at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Doctor Collamer 

was selected for the 2009 American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Award. Doctor Collamer is an Air Force rheumatology fellow assigned to the 58th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force 

Base, Texas and a graduate of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. 

Jen Rodriguez

PAGE 6
Helpdesk Closure: The UIS helpdesk is closed for training on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. During this time, you 

can leave a voicemail message at 295-9800, utilize the HEAT 

Self Service (http://www.usuhs.mil/uis/forms/trouble.html), 

or email help@usuhs.mil. If an emergency should arise, please 

call 295-9870.

Personal Exercise/Fitness Areas: Physical Fitness training should be conducted in designated areas. The only authorized space for PT within the university is room G060. 

All other spaces within the university are not authorized for 

exercise or fitness, with the exception of the Student Community Lounge area during specified PFT testing dates/

times. Indoor PT is also authorized on base at the Comfort 

Zone Complex, or CZC, in building 23. The CZC hours of 

operation are Monday – Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 

on weekends and holidays from are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

PFT/PFA/APFT Fall 2009: The Fall 2009 Physical 

Fitness Test for all services is scheduled for Oct. 13-15 and 

20-22, 2009 at 0700 and 1200. Plan accordingly as all physical 

fitness testing, height, weight, and body fat measurements will 

be conducted at USU. No exceptions. If there are any questions please contact your service specific fitness coordinators 

- Air Force contact Tech. Sgt. Troyann Ernle at 295-3281; 

Navy contact IT3 Robert Grounds at 295-9800 or HM1 Joe 

Monsivais at 295-1479; and Army contact Staff Sgt. David 

Rogers at 295-3720. 

Proper Use of 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 self-coded 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; 

permit unauthorized individuals access to a government-owned 

or government-operated system or program; access online gambling, games and social engineering sites.

Military Awards Nominations: The next military awards 

panel will convene August 25. Nomination packages will be 

due through the chain of command no later than August 18. 

Any award with higher precedence than the Defense Meritorious Service Medal must be submitted 150 days prior to presentation. Please provide a signed copy as well as an electronic 

version to Air Force Tech. Sgt. Louella Campbell at (301) 

295-1515 or lcampbell@usuhs.mil or HM2 Sylvia McBee at 

(301) 295-3423 or Sylvia.mcbee@usuhs.mil.

photo by Ken Frager

USU Briefs

Name the Newsletter... 

How would you like to go down in history as the 

person who named the USU newsletter? 

Well, here’s your chance. Since we started the 

newsletter several years ago we have used a 

generic “USU Newsletter” name. We know there 

is a good name out there, so we’re looking to you, 

our readers, for help. 

We’d love to hear your suggestions.

We’d like a name that reflects the University’s mission, our expertise and our audience. The name 

should cross services and programs, and should 

be memorable... but short, catchy and fun. 

Please send your recommendations to us at 

usunewsletter@usuhs.mil by August 15. 

The winning entry will receive a USU t-shirt.

PAGE 7

Caption contest

Test your skills and write the best caption for this photo to win this edition’s 

gift certificate for a free large coffee and doughnut courtesy of William III. 

Submit your caption in writing to the office B1009, or to USUNewsletter@

usuhs.mil. The best caption wins and the top three, as judged by the USU 

Newsletter staff, will be printed in the next edition.