VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 WWW.USUHS.MIL February 12, 2009 February 12, 2009

USU Newsletter 

USU Partners with Sesame Workshop...Page 2 
Bill Bester 

 Acting Vice President for 

External Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

 

Ken Frager

Public Affairs Specialist 

TSgt André Nicholson 

Editor 

Christine Creenan 

Staff Writer 

Marla Wright 

Shaun Sadowski 

Webmasters 

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 bi-weekly 

on Mondays and deadline for submission is 

Friday at 4 p.m. Submissions can be sent to 

usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by 

calling 301-295-3338. 

PAGE 2 

Cover photo: 

Richard Termine 

In This Issue: 

Sesame Workshop..........2 

LRC.......................................2 

Nurse Anesthetists.........3 

“Fighting For Life”...........3 

Student Achievement...4 

Clothing Drive..................4 

ACCME ARC......................5 

MLK Celebration..............5 

Guest Visitor.....................6 

Joint Manning.................6 

Army Photo Contest......6 

Briefs...................................7 

Faculty Senate..................7 

 When military families are reunited following a 

deployment, in many cases the biggest challenge the 

family faces is trying to help younger children get 

reacquainted with the parent who had been deployed. And when that parent comes home injured, 

either with physical or psychological injuries, that reacclimation becomes even more difficult. 

 Stephen Cozza, M.D., 

professor, Department 

of Psychiatry, and associate director of the 

Center for the Study of 

Traumatic Stress, will be 

featured in a PBS Primetime Special, “Coming 

Home: Military Families 

Cope with Change.” 

The program – scheduled to premiere on 

PBS, April 1, 2009 at 8 

PM ET/PT – will be 

hosted by Queen Latifah, John Mayer and 

Sesame Street’s Elmo 

and Rosita, and will 

discuss the challenges 

faced by injured soldiers and their families 

as they seek to cope 

with major life challenges. The program 

will encourage the sharing of feelings and encourage 

those dealing with change to turn to one another for 

support, while also providing the general public with 

a brief glimpse into what military families have to 

endure. 

 “Military families face so many challenges, with 

deployment and re-entry,” said Dr. Cozza. “This program could ease the re-entry by allowing children to 

see, through the eyes of their favorite television 

friends Elmo and Rosita, that even though their parent might be different when they return, they are still 

the same father or mother who can be there to talk 

and to listen, and provide the same love and affection 

they shared prior to their injury. When necessary, 

parents and children together can learn new ways of 

spending time together and enjoying each other.” 

 This broadcast 

builds on the second 

part of a three-part TLC 

series developed by 

Sesame Workshop with 

consultation from Dr. 

Cozza. The first part 

discussed families who 

were dealing with the 

initial deployment of a 

parent. TLC II and the 

April 1st broadcast tell 

the story of how Rosita 

responds when her 

father comes home 

injured and in a wheelchair. 

 Since 2006, Dr. 

Cozza has worked 

closely with the Sesame Workshop and 

contributed to the development of an outreach kit aimed at helping young children of servicemembers deal with the 

stresses of military deployments. The kit, “Talk, Listen, 

Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment,” includes a DVD featuring the Sesame Street 

Muppets, that addresses the challenges and concerns 

children experience during various stages of deployment. 

USU Professor Partners with Sesame Workshop to 

Help Military Families Cope with Major Life Changes 

By Ken Frager 

Public Affairs Specialist 

In the soon-to-air PBS special, “Coming Home: Military 

Families Cope with Change,” Sesame characters, Elmo and 

Rosita, discuss some of the unique challenges military families face and ways to cope with stressful situations. 

Photo by Richard Termine

For college students, there is 

nothing more disheartening than 

the closed doors of a library. 

Much of their labor is dedicated 

to studying and for many scholars of USU, knowledge is best 

absorbed in a quiet sanctuary 

known as the Learning Resource 

Center. And because the university library is such a valuable resource, it now remains open 

around the clock. 

24-7 
PAGE 3 

USU 

A Traditional Academic University with a Unique 

Focus 

 Each year certified registered nurse 

anesthetists in the Graduate School of 

Nursing celebrate Nurse Anesthetists 

Week. This year, they did so Jan 25-31. 

 The university’s CRNA program is led by 

Lt Col Adrienne Hartgerink. In recognition 

of the week, the nurses ensured information was readily available throughout the 

university. 

 “We had an information booth outside 

the cafeteria, staffed by nursing students, 

posters throughout the university, and tent 

cards in the cafeteria,” Hartgerink said. 

 The tent cards provided the following 

facts about nurse anesthetists: 

 •Nurse anesthetists have been providing 

anesthesia care in the United States for 

nearly 150 years 

 •CRNAs are the hands-on providers of 

approximately 30 million anesthetics given 

to patients each year in the United States 

 •CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers 

in approximately two-thirds of all rural hospitals in the United States. 

 The anesthesia program at USU received 

a national ranking of sixth for the second 

consecutive year according to U.S. News 

and World Report. 

 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists 

are vital to the Federal Health System’s mission of delivering quality health care to 

eligible beneficiaries in the federal sector. 

Upon graduation from USU, nurse anesthetists provide safe, competent care, adhering 

to the highest practice standards. Anesthesia is practiced in a variety of settings, including modern, state of the art medical 

centers, in the field with Special Operations 

teams and ground forces, onboard ships, in 

the air, at overseas duty stations, and in 

remote locations that are serviced by the 

Public Health Service. Independent practice 

and the ability to perform a wide variety of 

anesthetic techniques, including regional 

anesthesia, is expected. 

 The 30-month program consists of two 

phases. The Phase I didactic component is 

12 months long and is conducted on the 

campus of USU. A strong scientific program 

provides the foundation upon which all 

academic and professional education is 

based. Courses provided are necessary for 

entrance into the clinical arena and include 

the basic sciences, nursing core courses, 

basic and advanced principles of anesthesia, basic and clinical pharmacology, statistics and research methodology. Human 

Patient Simulation is extensively used to 

prepare students for clinical practice. The 

18 month Phase II clinical component focuses on critical thinking and the application of science and research to clinical anesthesia. Students are assigned to a military 

medical treatment facility as their primary 

clinical training site. The clinical phase is 

designed to progress the graduate student 

toward the goal of functional autonomy 

and independence in decision-making appropriate to the student’s level of experience. 

 Their experience will one day be used to 

contribute to the CRNA specialty, and although they’re only recognized publicly for 

one week, their hard work and dedication 

is evident every day of the year. 

Nurse Anesthetists Week, Not a Sleeping Matter 

By TSgt André Nicholson 

NCOIC, Office of External Affairs 

 The nature of a typical university does not often inspire film 

making. USU is hardly ordinary, though, and producer Terry 

Sanders set out to share the story of the “West Point of Military 

Medicine” in the documentary, “Fighting for Life.” The film, 

which follows USU students on their journey toward becoming 

uniformed physicians, received national acclaim for its emotional and often times sobering look into American military 

medicine. The accolades continue two years after the film’s 

debut—“Fighting for Life” was recently nominated for a prestigious FREDDIE award (thefreddies.com). Often called the “Oscars 

of health and medicine,” the FREDDIE awards recognize those 

individuals who educate, involve and change the world. 

 “Fighting for Life” was hardly a solo venture. Mrs. Tammy 

Alvarez inspired the documentary and created the not-for-profit 

organization called the Friends of USU. She knows the university intimately through her husband Everett Alvarez Jr., former 

chairman of the USU Board of Regents and son Bryan, a USU 

School of Medicine alum. 

 “I saw so much 

in this school,” 

Alvarez said. 

“They’re not 

about war, 

they’re about 

saving their fellow man. They 

put themselves in 

harm’s way to 

serve others.” 

 The film is 

scheduled to run 

on PBS over Memorial Day weekend. 

“Fighting For Life” Receives Honors 

By Christine Creenan 

VPE Staff Writer 

Terry Sanders and Tammy Alvarez joined 

forces to create a compelling documentary 

about military medicine. 

Courtesy Photo 
PAGE 4 

USU 

A Traditional Academic University with a Unique 

Focus 

 Take two motivated students, and the mentorship of two faculty members and you have the ingredients for publication in 

medical literature. Just ask 2LT Aaron Jackson and 2LT Brett Searcey, School of Medicine students at the USU. 

 Under the guidance of faculty members and co-authors James 

Smirniotopoulos, M.D., chair and professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and Col Les Folio, MC, associate professor, Radiology and Radiological Sciences, the students recently had an 

article published on Radiology Corner and in Military Medicine 

titled “Keyhole Fracture of the Skull.”

 Radiology Corner is a USU Radiology Web site that Folio designed to highlight articles. Military Medicine magazine is published by the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, 

and its mission is to advance all aspects of federal health care. 

 Jackson was the lead author on the publication that describes 

how the examination of a keyhole-shaped fracture to the skull 

from a bullet can tell how the bullet grazed it, from what direction, and how serious it is. 

 The students were provided the case of a patient with whom 

Folio was involved. “They had to do the research, apply for the 

grant, and submit the article for publication along with artist 

drawings,” Folio explained. “I supplied them with the case, they 

did the rest.” 

 Folio has been the editor of Radiology Corner for the last four 

years and is pleased that the Web site posts a new publication 

every month, mostly written by students. He also explained that 

other universities have been impressed by this venture. Students 

are able to publish articles and receive recognition for their work 

while possibly earning points toward residency and fellowship 

selection. 

 “This was quite an accomplishment for both students and they 

should be proud of their contribution to the military mission and 

medical literature,” said Folio. 

Students’ Radiology Interest Leads to Contribution in Medical Literature 

By TSgt André Nicholson 

NCOIC, Office of External Affairs 

 Long and short, glittery and subdued—

endless gowns and even the occasional 

suit filled the vast space, promising to satisfy even the most discriminating belle or 

beau at the Commander-in-Chief Inaugural 

Ball. Sounds like a fairytale, except the players in this story are real-life heroes. 

 Some visibly injured, others with less 

obvious wounds, servicemembers and their 

families enjoyed a day of pampering as the 

honored guests of America’s Heroes of 

Freedom. The nonprofit organization 

called on volunteers and sponsors, including the USU Alumni Association, to collect 

formal attire that could be used to coif 

wounded warriors for a gala commemorating active duty and reserve military during 

the President’s inaugural festivities. 

 Contributions were generous—dresses, 

suits and accessories crowded several garment racks, promising a bountiful selection. 

“When I learned about the opportunity to 

give to the men and women who courageously defend our country, I jumped right 

on board,” said contract specialist Michelle 

Creenan, who donated several gowns. 

“I’ve had a lot of great memories in those 

dresses and it’s pretty exciting to know 

some very brave individuals will soon create their own memories.” 

 While some gave 

clothing, others donated 

time. USU Director of 

Government and Community Affairs Jan Clark 

helped facilitate the 

event by “dressing” service members and their 

families. The long-time 

civil servant believes 

“volunteering is a small 

but important way to 

honor the men and 

women who give so 

much for their country.” 

 Homage does not 

come without its share of 

toil though. Clark and 

others began their Saturday work day in the early 

morning hours, transforming an Arlington 

recreation space into a 

makeshift boutique. 

Around noon, guests 

began slowly filtering 

into the space and by 

day’s end, hundreds of 

wounded warriors and 

family members left the complex with the 

necessary trappings to enjoy the glamorous 

event at the National Building Museum in 

Washington, D.C. 

 “All of the hard work paid off in a big 

way,” Clark remarked. “The men and 

women looked absolutely amazing and 

everyone had such a great time.” 

America’s Heroes Celebrate Inauguration in Style 

Photo by Christine Creenan 

By Christine Creenan 

VPE Staff Writer 

Director of Government and Community Affairs Jan Clark 

admires the gowns and suits collected by the USU Alumni 

Association. The clothing was used to dress service members 

and their families for the Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball. 
PAGE 5 

 Sylvia Scherr knows accreditation can 

often be an arduous process. After all, 

she has the inside track. 

 The USU Director of Continuing Education for Health Professionals was chosen 

to serve on the Accreditation Review 

Committee for the Accreditation Council 

for Continuing Medical Education 

(ACCME). 

 Among a select group of experienced 

professionals, Scherr is part of the committee that reports to the Board of Directors 

for the organization which sets accreditation standards for continuing medical 

education. 

 This appointment carries tremendous 

responsibility. Still Scherr is eager to reap 

the benefits of membership. “The opportunity to bring ‘lessons learned’ from ACCME and the best of continuing education providers directly back to USU and to 

our department is very exciting,” she said. 

“Also, the opportunity to review the applications of a plethora of providers will be a 

stimulating and energizing, albeit daunting, learning experience.” 

 Ready for the 

challenge, Scherr 

has dedicated 

much of her life 

to continuing 

medical education and still 

maintains the 

same passion that 

first drew her to 

the field nearly 25 

years ago. 

CHE Director Named to Accreditation Review Committee 

By Christine Creenan 

VPE Staff Writer 

Sylvia Scherr 

Photo by Tom Balfour 

“Let me tell you briefly what the Martin Luther King holiday means to me,” Newsletter Editor TSgt Andre Nicholson said 

to the people of the USU who gathered to commemorate the life of a remarkable man. Nicholson did not want to give a 

history lesson, but instead chose to celebrate the legacy of the most revered civil rights leader in the world by sharing 

experiences from his own life. Recalling those prolific words—“I have a dream that my four little children will one day 

live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”—Nicholson 

finds solace in Dr. King’s vision for a brighter future. He told audiences he was proud to live through history. “I believe 

it is the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream when an African American can take the most sacred oath of office and hold the 

highest position in the land.” Braving the crowds and cold weather, Nicholson stood with the masses to watch the swearing in of President-Elect Barack Obama. “I wasn’t alive during the historical march on Washington in 1963, so I could 

only experience it through images and the stories I’ve heard from relatives who lived through it. But I know one day 

some young person who saw the images of the swearing-in of the first African American president is going to ask me what 

it was like, and I can tell them I was there.” Nicholson implored the group to keep Dr. King’s dream alive through continued action. “The Martin Luther King holiday has come to be known as a day of service,” he said. “A day on, not a day off.” 

At the close of the ceremony, President Charles Rice presented Nicholson with a token of appreciation on behalf of the 

university. 

USU Celebrates MLK Day 
PAGE 6 

 On January 15, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England 

approved the establishment of Joint Commands at the Walter 

Reed National Military Medical Center and the community hospital 

at Ft. Belvoir. These new Joint Commands will report to the Joint 

Task Force National Capital Region Medical (JTF CapMed). The 

new facilities will be staffed as joint rather than single service billets with a mix of military medical professionals from the Army, 

Navy and Air Force. 

 This unprecedented and transformational decision ushers in a 

new model for health care delivery in the National Capital Region. 

While military hospitals have traditionally provided care to beneficiaries from all services, military treatment facilities have never 

been staffed with a representative mix of medical personnel from 

the service medical departments. 

 This decision is the second in a series of decisions designed to 

implement an integrated regional approach to military health care 

and achieve unity of effort. The first decision approved by the deputy secretary of defense on Oct. 20, 2008 was the use of a single 

Department of Defense (DoD) civilian personnel staffing model at 

National Capital Region medical facilities. This means that ultimately current Army, Navy, or Air Force civilian personnel in the 

region will become a DoD civilian workforce. 

 VADM John Mateczun, commander, JTF CapMed remarked, 

“These decisions provide the foundation that will allow us to 

achieve one of the nation’s premier regional health care systems 

for our patients while enhancing the services’ ability to provide 

fully trained and ready expeditionary medical forces. Our skilled 

and dedicated civilian workforce will have new opportunities for 

career development that will be unprecedented.” 

 The plans for implementation of these transformational decisions are in development. The BRAC law requires that the new 

facilities be fully operational by Sept. 15, 2011. The manning 

documents for the hospitals have been undergoing spiral development and will now take the form of a Joint Table of Distribution 

or JTD. A Civilian Human Resources Council has been chartered 

with representation from the service systems as well as DoD. The 

JTF staff and component commanders are completing an organizational structure for the new hospitals that will incorporate best 

practices and bring together some clinical services in new ways to 

enhance patient care. 

 Additional information about transitional changes in the NCR 

will be posted on www.JTFCAPMED.mil. 

(JTF CapMed News Release) 

NCR Military Medical Facilities Will Be Jointly Manned 

The USU community enjoyed a presentation titled “Research in the 

Evolving Practice of Postpartum Depression Screening in Pediatrics,” 

from special guest speaker, CAPT 

Jacqueline Rychnovsky, Ph.D. Dr. 

Rychnovsky was recently selected 

for a competitive one-year Capitol 

Hill Congressional Health Policy 

Fellowship with Senator Daniel 

Inouye (D-HI). The Navy pediatric 

nurse practitioner has long been 

interested in the issues facing active-duty military mothers, urging 

students to be aware of the screening resources available, including 

formal and informal questionnaires 

during postpartum visits. According 

to Rychnovsky, depression can 

negatively affect children in many 

ways, including social and cognitive 

delays. Early interventions, however, can mean better outcomes for 

infants. The presentation was part 

of the Department of Medical and 

Clinical Psychology Seminar Series. Photo by Tom Balfour 

Early Postpartum Screening Can Improve 

Outcomes for Mothers and Babies 

The Army’s official publication, “Soldiers Magazine” has launched an “Of 

Soldiers, By Soldiers” cover photo contest. With multiple opportunities to 

have winning images featured in issues throughout the summer, all amateur 

and professional soldier-photographers should be on the lookout for the 

perfect shot of Army service members in action. Submit your entries to 

Kenneth.Frager.CTR@usuhs.mil. 

Calling Army Shutter Bugs 
Military Awards Nominations: The next military awards panel will 

convene on Feb. 24. Nomination packages are due Feb. 17 and 

all packages must contain a routing sheet signed by the service 

member’s chain of command. Please provide a signed copy as 

well as an electronic version to TSgt Campbell, USAF (PSY), at 

lcampbell@usuhs.mil and HM2 McBee, USN (BDE), at 

Sylvia.mcbee@usuhs.mil. 

Distinguished Guest Visiting USU: Maj. Gen. Ralph J. Jodice II, 

(USAF) Commander, Air Force District of Washington, Andrews 

Air Force Base, will be visiting USU on Feb. 27. Following his tour, 

he will be addressing the university in the Sanford Auditorium at 

approximately 9 a.m. All military staff are highly encouraged to 

attend and all non-military staff members are welcome. All attendees should be seated by 8:50 a.m. as the general’s schedule is 

limited. 

Protocol Course: A protocol course is being offered and instructed by the Air Force Institute of Technology, March 3 - 4 at 

8:30 a.m. Personnel interested or that have duties related to protocol subjects (i.e.: precedence, administration of event details, 

seating, meeting/conference planning, flag display, ceremonies, 

distinguished visitors, and escorts) are encouraged to sign-up. 

Attendance on both days of instruction is required and additional 

course details will be sent to confirmed attendees. Interested personnel should contact TSgt Campbell, USAF (PSY), at 

lcampbell@usuhs.mil no later than Feb. 19 due to limited seating. 

DEOMI Equal Opportunity Climate Survey: All active duty members of the USU Brigade should have received directions to complete the DEOCS/Command Climate Survey. The survey is available until March 9. If you have not yet received the email with 

directions on how to complete the survey, please contact the BDE 

EOO, MAJ Fitzhugh, at dfitzhugh@usuhs.mil or 295-9506. 

Basket and Candy Gram Sale: The ESC is hosting a Valentine's 

Day candy gram basket sale Feb. 10-13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 

the USU dining facility. In addition, the enlisted Brigade is at war!! 

To fight for your service, drop your change in the jar located on 

the tables at the basket sale. You can sabotage other services by 

dropping paper money in the other jars. The service jar with the 

most money raised after deducting paper money will be declared 

the winner and will receive refreshments at their next scheduled 

training. For more information send an email to ESC@usuhs.mil. 

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. 

PFT/PFA/APFT Spring 2009: The spring 2009 Physical Fitness Test 

for all services is projected for April 7-9 and 14-16. Plan accordingly. If there are any questions, please contact your service specific fitness coordinators: Air Force contact TSgt Ernle at 295-3281; 

Navy contact FC2 Race at 295-9637; and Army contact SSG 

Rogers at 295-3720. 

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. Another option for indoor PT on base is 

the Comfort Zone Complex (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. 

Antietam Road March: The annual Antietam Road March will take 

place on April 30 beginning at 7 a.m. This march is an important 

lesson in medical history that allows students, faculty and staff the 

opportunity to witness the medical practices of the Civil War. Military faculty, staff and students are to adhere to their service specific uniform regulations for backpacks and it is preferable that all 

who attend this function wear only black backpacks. Further 

guidance will be disseminated as the date draws near. 

2009 Field Exercises: Operations Bushmaster and Kerkesner will 

be conducted from July 7-24 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. Advance personnel will deploy on July 7 and main body personnel 

will deploy on July 12. These exercises are unique to our university and require the support of all university uniformed personnel. 

Only emergency leave will be granted during this time frame as 

there are over 145 uniformed personnel (not including evaluators) needed to support this mission. 

PAGE 7 

USU Briefs 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

Faculty Senate 

Winter Assembly 

February 24 at 11:45 a.m. 

Lecture Hall D 

All USU faculty are welcome 

and encouraged to attend 

Members of the USU Faculty Senate 
UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY 

of the Health Sciences