Volume 8, Issue 16 · October 28, 2013

 www.usuhs.edu

Graduate School of Nursing Celebrates 20th Anniversary 
Sharon Willis

Deputy Vice President for External Affairs and Managing Editor

Gwendolyn Smalls

Chief, Media Affairs

Tech. Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson

Deputy Chief, Media Affairs

Christine Creenan-Jones

Editor and Layout Artist

MC2 Brittney Cannady

Writer

The Pulse is printed by USU’s 

Duplicating Center.

Production

The Pulse is funded by the Department of 

Defense and published by the Uniformed 

Services University. It is authorized for 

members of the U.S. military services, 

USU alumni, faculty and staff. Contents 

of the Pulse are not necessarily the official 

views of, or endorsed by, the DoD or 

USU. Appearance of anything resembling 

advertising in this publication does not 

constitute endorsement by the DoD, USU 

or Pulse staff members.

The contents of this publication shall be 

made available for use or patronage 

without regard to race, color, religion, 

sex, national origin, age, marital status, 

physical handicap, political affiliation or 

any other non-merit factor of the user or 

patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and 

provided by the USU Office of External 

Affairs. The editor reserves the right to 

edit articles to conform to DoD policy and 

Associated Press style. All photos are 

DoD photos unless otherwise indicated.

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 Christine.creenanjones@usuhs.edu or 301-295-3338.

GSN celebrates 20th Anniversary; school 

to be named for late Senator

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

On the cover

The Graduate School of Nursing at 

the Uniformed Services University is 

celebrating its 2oth Anniversary and 

will also name the school after the 

late senator Daniel K. Inouye on Oct. 

29. Read more about Inouye on 

page 2.

2 The Pulse · The Official USU Newsletter Graphic by Patrice Boltѐ

 The Uniformed Services University is honoring Daniel Inouye – the 

second longest-serving senator at 

the time of his death in 2012 – by 

naming the Graduate School of 

Nursing after the iconic World War 

II hero during a ceremony, Oct. 29.

 The event, which is being held in 

conjunction with the GSN’s 20th 

anniversary celebration, will laude 

Inouye’s steadfast commitment to 

military medicine and USU. 

 Inouye’s reverence for both was 

evident throughout his 53-year political career. He supported key legislation to improve military medicine by establishing USU in 1972, 

and later championed a bill that 

expanded the university’s scope into 

graduate nursing education in 1992. 

 Although Inouye built much of his 

political career around military advocacy, his veneration for uniformed nurses and physicians was 

born long before he took office. 

 As a young man, Inouye enlisted 

in the Army and served on the 

famed 442nd Regimental Combat 

Team, a unit comprised entirely of 

Japanese-American Soldiers, who 

fought treacherous battles against 

enemy forces in the 1940s.

 As a soldier, Inouye stood out, 

even while serving alongside the 

most decorated infantry regiment in 

American history. A courageous 

leader, Inouye quickly rose through 

the Army’s ranks, but his military 

career was stymied after he was 

grievously injured by German soldiers in Italy. A Nazi platoon shot 

Inouye in the stomach, leg and 

nearly severed his right arm with a 

rifle grenade before he was able to 

return fire and protect his platoon 

from a siege.

 Although Inouye’s wounds were 

dire, and his right arm had to be 

amputated, military doctors and 

nurses saved his life and gave him a 

new perspective. 

 “The care my father got on the 

heat of the battlefield and at hospitals back home was incredible,” said 

Inouye’s son, Ken. “He spoke about 

it a lot when I was younger, and it 

left a huge impression on me, because the underlying theme of my 

father’s stories was always the debt 

he felt to his providers, and how 

they not only saved his life, but 

helped get him in the right frame of 

mind to move past his injuries.”

 Inouye paid his gratitude forward 

many times over through his work 

on Capitol Hill. He was USU’s single most important proponent over 

the past four decades, and he also 

introduced legislation that established the soon-to-be-named Daniel 

K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing.

 “My father didn’t talk about his 

professional life at home very often, 

so it’s been quite humbling and cathartic to learn more about his 

work,” said Ken. “I look forward to 

celebrating his legacy with USU at 

the naming ceremony.”

 The event will include talks from 

many esteemed leaders in health 

care, including Dr. Mary Wakefield, 

administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration.

 “Senator Inouye was a true American hero who accomplished many 

extraordinary feats throughout his 

remarkable life. Our school is one 

of them,” said GSN Dean Ada Sue 

Hinshaw. “There is no better, more 

deserving namesake, and I’m proud 

to be part of a mission that meant 

so much to him.”

Courtesy photo

Daniel K. Inouye
GSN alum leads VA nursing

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 The Graduate School of Nursing 

at the Uniformed Services University has educated hundreds of leaders over the past 20 years. Dr. 

Christine Engstrom, acting chief 

nursing officer at the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, is one of them. 

She earned a Doctor of Philosophy 

degree in Nursing Science from 

USU in 2007, and has been hard at 

work pioneering new advancements in federal nursing ever since.

 At the VA, Engstrom oversees 

more than 84,000 nurses at 152 

hospitals and 900 outpatient facilities. She also develops new health 

care policies that benefit millions of 

veterans around the world. 

 Although her charge is enormous, 

and it comes with many incredible 

challenges, she is passionate about 

her work and the people she serves.

 “There are a lot of barriers in 

health care to work through, especially at a place like 

the VA, where our providers and patients are spread far 

and wide,” she said. “But it’s incredibly gratifying, and 

I can’t imagine a more humbling job than working for 

the men and women who have defended our great 

country.”

 Engstrom has served veterans in ways beyond administration, too. Her work history is rooted in cancer research and care. She even completed her PhD dissertation on the subjective and objective measures of hot 

flashes in prostate cancer patients.

 “At USU, all of our work had to have some connection 

to federal or military medicine,” Engstrom said. “My 

research aligned with the university’s mission, because there is a 

connection between Agent Orange and prostate cancer.”

 Besides earning high marks at 

USU, her compelling work has 

drawn international acclaim, as 

well. Engstrom was invited to 

present her dissertation findings 

at a podium presentation in Austria by Sigma Theta Tau, a national honor society for nursing. 

 Her academic accomplishments 

were followed by leadership positions at top health care organizations. In addition to working at 

the VA, Engstrom is a faculty 

member at the University of 

Maryland and at USU. 

 She attributes part of her incredible success to USU’s collegial environment.

 “Getting my PhD was tough, 

because the expectations at USU were high,” Engstrom 

said. “Still, I look back on those years with great fondness because my class was such a tight-knit group. We 

helped each other get through a rigorous curriculum, 

and come out on top.”

 Engstrom – who is a member of the inaugural PhD 

class in the GSN – will recount her professional experiences and time at USU as a keynote speaker for the 

GSN’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, Oct. 29. 

 “The school’s milestones over the past 20 years have 

mirrored some of my own professional and personal 

achievements, so I consider it a great honor to speak at 

the GSN’s anniversary celebration,” she said.

October 28, 2013 3

Dr. Christine Engstrom

Courtesy photo

TSNRP welcomes new director

Article courtesy of TSNRP

 Army Lt. Col. Michael Schlicher 

replaced outgoing Navy Capt. John 

Maye as the executive director of 

the TriService Nursing Research 

Program at the Uniformed Services 

University earlier this year.

 As the new director, Schlicher is 

eager to leverage his extensive nursing science and practice background 

to advance TSNRP’s mission to facilitate military nursing research 

and translate those findings into 

practice to improve patient outcomes.

 “My predecessors left behind a 

wonderful program with a solid 

foundation and unique legacy. They 

provided me with a great foundation to continue the program’s 

growth and maturity,” he said. 

“TSNRP is primed for unprecedented possibilities to expand military 

nursing research and evidencebased practice, and what makes it 

even more exciting is that three 

Nursing Corps chiefs have made 

research and evidence-based practice a top priority.”

 Before taking the leadership 

reigns at TSNRP, Schlicher earned a 

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing 

Science and Nanotechnology from 

the University of Washington. He 

also served as chief of the Center for 

Nursing Science and Clinical Inquiry at Brooke and Tripler Army 

Medical Centers as well as the regional research consultant for the 

Southern and Pacific Army Regional Medical Commands. 

 Visit www.usuhs.mil/tsnrp to 

learn more about the TSNRP.
4 The Pulse · The Official USU Newsletter 

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress releases new book

By MC2 Brittney Cannady

 The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University has just published a 

new book, Disaster, Disease and 

Distress: Resources to Promote 

Psychological Health and Resilience in Military and Civilian Communities. The book is a compilation 

of fact sheets and educational resources developed by the Center 

over a ten-year period that addresses important health and mental 

health issues of service members 

and their families impacted by deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

 The resources are geared toward 

communities around the globe affected by natural and human-made 

disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and incidents of community 

violence.

 Center experts in the fields of military and disaster psychiatry developed the fact sheets in Disaster, 

Disease and Distress, many in the 

immediate aftermath of specific incidents, to educate military and civilian healthcare professionals, service members and families, government leaders at the federal, state 

and local level, and stakeholders in 

family and child trauma, workplace 

mental health, public health, human 

services and academia about planning for, responding to and recovering from traumatic events. Many of 

these fact sheets address health and 

mental health issues related to the 

risks of suicide.

 Disaster, Disease and Distress features four sections. Section 

one, Caring for our Nation’s Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines: The Role of Medical and Social Service Providers, addresses 

deployment health issues including 

the impact of combat injury and behavioral health issues unique to the 

military community. Section 

two, Military Family Health, is for 

service members and 

families. Section three, 

Disaster Preparedness 

and Response, encompasses responder self-care, disaster leadership and disaster care. Section four, 

Special Populations, provides information for teachers, Guard and Reserve, law enforcement, workplace 

mental health professionals and 

others.

 The Center’s director, Dr. Robert 

J. Ursano, explains that, “Because 

many of the signature wounds of 

war – visible and invisible – persist 

and will affect individuals and families over time, and because natural 

disasters and public health threats 

endure, we believe these fact sheets 

will be useful and valuable to many 

audiences in the public and private 

sector for many years to come.”

 Disaster, Disease and Distress is 

available for download 

at www.cstsonline.org.

USU team brings home German armed forces badges

By MC2 Brittney Cannady writer, and Christine CreenanJones, editor 

 Members of the 

Uniformed Services 

University earned 

the prestigious German Armed Forces 

Badge for Military 

Proficiency after 

demonstrating outstanding professional acumen and completing several physical and mental challenges this year. 

 Although the foreign badge is traditionally worn by 

members of the unified armed forces of 

the Federal Republic 

of Germany, it is also 

awarded to American 

troops who complete 

rigorous events, including first aid training, field exercises using protective 

gear, a 100-meter swim, weapon qualification with the 

9MM pistol, a shuttle run, 100-meter sprint, a pull-up 

event, and a long-distance foot march.

 Army Maj. Daniel Blaz, an assistant professor in 

USU’s Family Nurse Practitioner Program, earned a 

gold badge this year after completing his final test – a 

12k foot march while shouldering 33 pounds of loadbearing gear at a course in Reston, Va. 

 Blaz, an avid runner and fitness buff, was challenged 

by the course but ultimately prevailed by leaving with 

top honors and a sense of pride.

 “The toughest part for me was probably the swimming event since it was harder to swim in uniform 

than I thought. But passing all of the tests was a personal fitness goal I had for myself,” he said.

 Blaz was joined in Reston by six teammates from 

USU, who also took home gold and silver badges, including Army Maj. Christopher Brett, adjunct faculty 

and USU alumnus (gold); Army Col. (Dr.) Louis Dainty, School of Medicine faculty and alumnus (silver); 

HM1 Juan Vega, USU staff member (silver); and medical students Army 2nd Lt. Ryan Bucknam (gold); Army 2nd Lt. Daniel Lammers (silver); and Army 2nd 

Lt. Ardarlon Farhat-Sabet (silver).

 The day ended with a badge presentation ceremony 

directed by the German Armed Forces Command in 

Reston, and a post-foot march celebration that included German food and music.

Members of the Uniformed Services 

University recently earned prestigious German troop proficiency 

badges.

Photo by Thomas Balfour
October 28, 2013 5

Medical students learn military skills at FTX 101

 First-year medical students in the F. Edward Hѐbert 

School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services Unvirsity recently participated in their first tactical training 

exercise in a field environment. "FTX-101," part of 

the Department of Military and Emergency Medicine's unique curriculum, was held at Fort Indiantown 

Gap, Pa., Oct. 17-20. 

 Students received training in field sanitation, combatives, the M9 pistol range (which included familiarization with body armor and instruction related to

wounding and ballistics), land navigation and map 

reading, a casualty evacuation “lane” that included 

providing care under fire, patient evacuation from 

buildings and a variety of medical and non-medical 

military vehicles, and aeromedical evacuation and familiarization with a Critical Care Air Transport Team 

set-up. 

 FTX-101 also included training in leadership reaction course, and health service support principles and 

medical capabilities, along with tactical movement, 

chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exposure, and how to establish an aid station. Each evening the exercise also included an officer professional 

development session. 

 FTX-101 is the first of four field experiences in the 

department's curriculum.

Photos by Dr. Jeffrey Longacre and MC2 Brittney Cannady 

By Sharon Willis, managing editor and deputy vice president for External Affairs
Surgery faculty member a “Rising Star”

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor Courtesy photo

6 The Pulse · The Official USU Newsletter 

 Dr. Nicole Crane, an assistant professor in the Norman M. 

Rich Department of Surgery at the Uniformed Services 

University, was recently named a “Rising Star Award” recipient by the American Chemical Society’s Women Chemists Committee.

 Crane, who runs the collaborative advanced surgical imaging program at USU and the Naval Medical Research 

Center, earned the award for her work in acute, traumarelated medicine, and the use of spectroscopy and imaging 

to assess combat wounds. These methods can lead to faster 

wound healing times, allow patients to return to normal 

routines sooner, enhance quality of life and reduce medical 

costs for wounds sustained on battlefields or during homeland attacks, like the recent Boston Marathon bombings.

 Crane’s work demonstrated outstanding promise in her 

scientific field – part of the criteria for earning a WCC Rising Star Award. The award – given to female ACS members 

in chemistry and chemical engineering who are working in 

academic, industrial, government, non-profit or other employment sectors – is also intended to help promote the 

retention of women in science.

 “It's such an honor to be receiving the Women Chemists 

Committee Rising Star Award from the American Chemical 

Society for several 

reasons. First, it is 

a national organization, and second, 

the awardees are 

chosen by peer and 

senior members of 

the chemistry community. Finally, it is 

an award to promote women in science, which is critical for professional 

diversity,” Crane 

said. “I was honored to be nominated, but to actually 

receive the award is truly a privilege.”

 Crane will receive the award at the ACS national meeting, 

where she will be given the opportunity to present contributions at a WCC-sponsored symposium, a stipend to cover 

spring national meeting travel expenses, as well as visibility 

and networking opportunities.

Dr. Nicole Crane

Medical students honored by local 

government agencies

Navy Ensign John Hunt and Army 2nd Lt. 

Wells Weymouth, medical students at the 

Uniformed Services University, were presented the Chief's Award by Gaithersburg 

(Md.) Chief of Police Mark P. Sroka, during 

a meeting of the Gaithersburg Mayor and 

City Council, Oct. 7.

 The two students received the awards for 

their actions on July 23, 2013, after an elderly man drove his vehicle through the 

wall of a Sam's Club, seriously injuring several people. Montgomery County Fire and 

Rescue officials credited Hunt and Weymouth's actions in administering immediate aid for saving one victim's life. 

 The pair were also recognized as 

“Everyday Heroes” by Montgomery County 

Executive Isiah Leggett, County Councilmember Phil Andrews and Montgomery 

Council Fire and Rescue Services Chief Steven E. Lohr in a ceremony in Rockville, 

Md., on Oct. 22.

(From left to right): Gaithersburg Police Chief Mark P. Sroka, Navy 

Ensign John Hunt, Army 2LT Wells Weymouth, and Gaithersburg 

Mayor Sidney A. Katz. 
October 28, 2013 7

A look back at 20 years of innovations in the GSN

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

 The Graduate School of Nursing is established, and Faye G. Abdellah is appointed the acting dean. Before coming to USU, Abdellah was already a legendary nurse. Not only was she the first nurse to become a rear admiral and 

Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, but she also developed the first 

federally-tested coronary care unit and authored many books that are still considered the gold standards for nursing education. At USU, 

Abdellah leveraged all of her professional experiences to create a unique military-focused curriculum for thousands of 1993 uniformed nurses who would later attend school at USU.

Two students earn the first advanced degrees in nursing science from USU 

after completing rigorous academic benchmarks in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. The school quickly expanded to eventually include Certified 

Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science and 

Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs. 1995

Hundreds of USU nurses deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Their skills 

are tested in many challenging ways, from treating severe battle injuries with limited resources to building their own clinics from tents 

and other makeshift supplies. Despite these dire obstacles, USU nurses demonstrate exceptional prowess and leadership 

while delivering combat casualty care. Their work 

in Iraq and Afghanistan continues to demonstrate 2003 the value of USU’s unique curriculum. 

The Graduate School of Nursing grows several master-level programs into 

even more rigorous and comprehensive Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. The new DNP students receive advanced training in the clinical 

aspects of military nursing, health policy, informatics, population health, 

health economics and systems leadership. The programs will 

also give USU nurses increased parity with other health care 

providers, so they leave the university primed for leadership 2012 positions within the Military Health System. 

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program is ranked 

sixth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Alumni from 

this program and every other GSN program also receive accolades for outstanding research, professional 

practice, leadership and community service. 2007
Final Frame

 United States Senator Daniel Inouye presents Dr. Faye Abdellah, the 

founding dean of the Uniformed Services University’s Graduate School of 

Nursing, a copy of the Congressional Record denoting her induction into the 

National Women’s Hall of Fame. The GSN will be named for the late Senator on Oct. 29.