USU Newsletter 

VOLUME 2,ISSUE 10 WWW.USUHS.MIL MAY 29, 2007 

In This Issue 

Dr. Anthony Fauci......................2 

Graduation Award Ceremony.......3 

Research Week..........................4 

Commencement.........................6 

New USU Coin..........................8 

Packard Lecture........................8 

Walter Reed Society...................9 

Quarterly Awards.......................9 

Faculty Profile...........................9 

Spine Workshop.......................10 

Alumni Awards/Promotions.........11 

USU Briefs.....................................11 

Calendar.................................Back 

Commencement Processional 
USU Newsletter 

Editorial Staff 

Carol R. Scheman 

Vice President for 

External Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. 

André Nicholson 

Editor 

Mass Communications 

Specialist 

Seaman 

Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer 

 

Mass Communications 

Specialist 

Seaman 

Jeffrey Hopkins 

Staff Writer 

 

Sharon Willis 

Contributing Writer 

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. 

PAGE 2 

Front Cover Photo By 

HM2 Michael Oliver 

 Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director 

of the National Institute of Allergy 

and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, who has 

been instrumental in developing 

strategies for therapy and immune 

reconstruction and in leading the 

world’s effort in fundamental research on HIV/AIDS, spoke during 

USU’s annual research week, May 

14-16. 

 The title of his lecture is: HIV/

AIDS Much Accomplished, Much To 

Do.

 “In have been involved with 

AIDS since the first day it was mentioned,” said Fauci. “It was June 5, 

1981. To me it was like when President Kennedy was assassinated, I 

remember where I was, when it 

was and how I felt when I first 

heard about it. It wasn't a frightening experience, but more of curiosity.” 

 On July 4, 1981 25 or 26 gay 

men were diagnosed with pneumocystis pneumonia. “For the first 

time in my experience in medicine 

I got goose pimples because I knew 

that something was very wrong,” 

said Fauci. 

 Ninety percent of HIV/AIDS 

cases are in developing countries 

and 2/3 of the cases are in Africa. 

“AIDS is like malaria and tuberculosis,” said Fauci. “If you are poor, 

unprivileged and living in a developing country, you have a major 

chance of getting infected by the 

disease.” 

 The global HIV/AIDS estimates 

in 2006 were 39.5 million people 

are living with HIV; there were 4.3 

million new HIV infections; 2.9 million deaths due to AIDS. 

 A few years ago AIDS took over 

as the leading cause of microbial 

deaths in the world. Before AIDS, it 

was a combination of tuberculosis 

(1.7million) and Malaria (1.7 million). HIV is equal to the total of 

both combined. 

 “The activation of the immune 

system in response to a microbe, 

which is usually a positive thing, 

actually paradoxically turns out to 

be negative,” explained Fauci. “It 

activates the phenotypes in the 

immune system allowing the virus 

to replicate efficiently. In the end 

the virus wins because it has a fertile atmosphere to replicate and the 

immune system can’t control it.” 

 Fauci explained the “ABCs” of 

HIV prevention: abstinence, being 

safe by being faithful to one’s partner, correct and consistent condom 

use. Some countries that have 

achieved success with the “ABC” 

approach include: Uganda, Thailand, Zambia, Cambodia, and the 

Dominican Republic. 

 Another way to reduce infection 

is by circumcision. Three studies 

took place in Africa which showed 

53% of those who were circumcised were not infected with HIV. 

 “Can you imagine if I told you 

that I had a vaccine that was 53% 

protective?” Fauci said. “I would 

announce it to the world if that 

were the case, but circumcision 

would take a while to be accepted.” 

 “At the end of the 1996 AIDS 

conference I was asked to write a 

commentary about all of the advancements that occurred in 1996 

and that’s where I got the title for 

today’s speech,” Fauci said. “Ten 

years later, on the 25th anniversary 

of finding out about AIDS, I was 

asked to do a similar commentary, I 

reflected and felt that although we 

made spectacular scientific advancements, we are now confronted with how we are going to 

get precaution to the people 

throughout the world who need it. 

Although it is important and appropriate to celebrate scientific advances.” 

HIV/AIDS: Much 

Accomplished, 

Much to Do 

By MCSN Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer, VPE 

 Research Week 2007 was held, May 14 - 16 at the 

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 

(USU). 

 The primary goal of this event is to promote research by faculty, staff and students at USU, provide 

opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, and 

to facilitate communication among USU graduate 

students and faculty. 

 Highlights this year included a Career Development Symposium for School of Medicine (SOM) 

graduate students, a Graduate School of Nursing 

Research Colloquium, a symposium presented by the 

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, a SOM 

Graduate Student Colloquium, and Symposia featuring lectures given by recipients of the Wu and Leonard Awards. 

 Keynote speakers were invited to present the Bullard Lecture at the SOM Graduate Student Colloquium, this year given by Dr. Stanley Maloy, Dean, 

College of Sciences, San Diego State University. The 

plenary lecture was given by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 

Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Additionally, 

over 180 posters were displayed throughout the 

three days. The event ended with awards presented 

for outstanding posters, oral presentations, and research, and a celebratory dinner. 

By Dr. Eleanor Metcalf 

Associate Dean, Graduate Education 

2007 USU RESEARCH WEEK/ 

GRADUATE STUDENT COLLOQUIUM 
PAGE 3 

 A faculty member at the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) received the Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) Commissioner’s Special Citation in a ceremony May 11, at the 

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center. 

 Kenneth C. Curley, MD, an assistant professor of Surgery and Biomedical Informatics with USU’s Military and Emergency Medicine 

(MEM) department, received the award for providing invaluable 

assistance to the FDA, ”as well as outstanding scientific and program 

leadership in the development of interagency scientific and technical collaborations for advanced medical technologies.” 

 Curley was nominated for the award by the FDA’s Office of Science and Engineering Labs, for his work with them from 2003 to 

2006, while at the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) at Fort Detrick, Md. 

 Curley said he wasn’t expecting the award, and appreciates the 

recognition of his work very much. 

 “I am quite surprised and obviously honored to be recognized 

in this way,” Curley said. “It is 

fulfilling to be recognized for 

efforts that I hope will lead to 

better healthcare for servicemembers and their families.” 

 Curley is a USU graduate, class 

of 1993, and was medically retired from the Army in 2002 after 

a spinal cord injury. 

 In addition to his position at 

USU, he is also chief scientist and 

neuroscience portfolio manager 

for TATRC, and a special consultant to the director of the 

Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine. 

USU faculty member receives FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation 

By MCSN Jeff Hopkins 

Staff Writer, VPE 

Kenneth C. Curley, M.D. 

Assistant Professor of Surgery and 

Biomedical Informatics, 

MEM 

 Each year at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) new 

students arrive ready to learn the science 

and the practice of health care, while the 

graduating students get ready to begin 

practicing all that they have learned. The 

School of Medicine (SOM) and Graduate 

School of Nursing (GSN) hold ceremonies 

annually to present the top students and 

faculty in each departing class with prestigious and well-earned awards. 

 The SOM and GSN’s graduating classes 

of 2007 held their ceremonies, respectively, 

in Sanford Auditorium, the GSN May 14, 

and the SOM May17. 

 The SOM presented more than 32 

awards during its ceremony; among them 

were the Surgeons General awards, presented to a recipient from each of the four 

services. The awards are presented to 

graduating medical students whose university careers have been characterized by 

academic achievement, military medical 

professionalism, and an exemplary commitment toward enhancing the mission and 

goals of their services. 

 The U.S. Army Surgeon General’s award, 

presented by Acting Army Surgeon General MG Gale S. Pollock, went to 2LT Christopher Welton, USA. The U.S. Navy Surgeon General award, presented by Navy 

Surgeon General VADM Donald C. Arthur, 

went to ENS Rolf Graning, USN. The U.S. 

Air Force Surgeon General award, presented by Air Force Surgeon General Lt 

Gen James G. Roudebush, went to 2nd Lt 

Joshua Tyler, USAF, and the U.S. Public 

Health Service’s Surgeon General award, 

presented by the U.S. Acting Surgeon General, RADM Kenneth C. Moritsugu, went to 

ENS Molly Evans, USPHS. 

 Also presented were the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces 

(SMCAF) Award, and the Association of 

Military Surgeons of the United States 

(AMSUS) Award. 

 The SMCAF award was presented to 

2nd Lt Justin Fox, USAF, and 2nd Lt Joshua 

Tyler, USAF, who both held a perfect 4.0 

grade point average, and were the Class of 

2007 valedictorians. 

 The AMSUS award was presented to 

2nd Lt Evan Jones, USAF, whose leadership served as the standard for all his classmates, and was reflective of the role of the 

uniformed physician. 

 Outstanding faculty are also recognized 

at each year’s graduation ceremonies for 

their contributions to the future of military 

medicine by providing education and example. 

 The William P. Clements, Jr. award was 

presented to Col John E. McManigle, USAF, 

MC, who was chosen by the graduating 

medical students for exemplifying the principles of excellence in education by personal example and performance. 

 The SOM Outstanding Civilian Educator 

award was presented to James Smirniotopolous, M.D., chosen by the graduating 

medical students as the individual who 

displayed the highest qualities of a medical 

educator by example and performance. 

 The GSN bestowed its highest honor for 

graduates, the Federal Nursing Service 

Chiefs Award, which is presented to the 

graduating student whose overall academic performance has been characterized 

by achieving excellence in academics and 

setting the highest standards of professionalism for uniformed and federal nurses, to 

Mrs. Christine Engstrom, MS, CRNP, AOCN 

of the PhD program, and MAJ Robert 

Staggs, AN, USA of the Masters program. 

 The Military Officers Association of 

America (MOAA) Outstanding Student 

Award is presented to the graduating students who demonstrate the highest levels 

of academic performance while simultaneously demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities, and is awarded to one student from each of the nursing programs. 

This year’s winners were Mrs. Christine Engstrom, Capt Megan Laughlin, USAF, from 

the Family Nurse Practitioners program, 

CPT Young Yauger, USA, from the Nurse 

Anesthesia program, and Capt Robert 

Smith, USAF, from the Perioperative Clinical 

Nurse Specialists program. 

 Outstanding GSN faculty included MAJ 

Sandra McNaughton, USA, who received 

the Distinguished Masters Uniformed Faculty award, and Diane Seibert, PhD, CRNP, 

who received the Distinguished Masters 

Civilian Faculty award. 

 The Board of Regents (BOR) award, exemplifying scholarship, leadership, and 

service, went to 2nd Lt Justin Fox, USAF, 

from the Medical Program; Beth McNichol, 

from the Graduate Program; and Capt. 

Kristine Willingham, USAF, Graduate Nursing Program. 

 Dr. Carol J. Johns was a long-time enthusiastic and effective supporter of USU, and 

was a member of the BOR from 1985 until 

her death in 2000. USU established an annual award in her name, the Carol J. Johns 

Medal. This year’s award honors Dr. Neil E. 

Grunberg, whose accomplishments emulate Dr. Johns’ spirit. 

Class of 2007 SOM, GSN, Graduate Education, BOR Awards 

By MCSN Jeff Hopkins 

Staff Writer, VPE 
All photos by 

Tom Balfour 

LT Lina Badura, NC, USN (center), briefs spectators about her research 

on the effects of body armor. 

Drs. Steve Kaminsky, vice president of Research, (left) and Larry Laughlin, dean, School 

of Medicine, were in attendance during a 

Research Week lecture. 

Mary Lou Cutler, 

Ph.D., Pathology 

Department, 

was a presenter 

during Research 

Week. 

Research Week 2007 Awards Emma L. Bockman award: Dr. Emma L. Bockman was an 

associate professor in the Department of Physiology at the Uniformed Services University (USU) from 1979 to 1985, when she 

lost her battle against cancer. At the request of her parents, the 

Emma Bockman Memorial Fund was created through the 

Henry M. Jackson Foundation to encourage and support scholarly endeavors of USU students. In her memory, the Emma L. 

Bockman Memorial award has been established to keep her 

academic ideals and quest for knowledge alive. 

 The recipient of the graduate student award is selected 

competitively primarily based upon the applicant’s research 

efforts, but also academic performance and community service. 

 The awardee for the 2007 Bockman Graduate Student Competition is: Kimberly A. Bishop from the Emerging Infectious 

Diseases program for her research entitled: “Identification of 

Residues in the Hendra Virus G glycoprotein Critical for Receptor Binding.”

 Faculty award: Every year, nominations are solicited from 

the students and faculty within the medical school program of 

graduate studies for the Outstanding Biomedical Educator 

award. The selection is made by a combined graduate student 

and faculty committee. The recipient of this faculty award is 

selected competitively primarily based upon the applicant’s 

demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring graduate 

students. The recipient of the award for 2007 is: Lt Col Peter 

LaPuma, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics. 

 Student awards: Out of all the abstracts submitted by graduate students, six finalists were chosen for oral presentations in 

the Graduate Student Research Colloquium and six finalists 

were chosen for poster presentations. 

 Two panels of faculty judges chose the best oral presentation and the best poster out of an outstanding group of finalists. This year the award for the outstanding oral presentation 

goes to: Oral Presentation, Lara M. Kingeter, Emerging Infectious Diseases program for her presentation entitled: “Defects 

in TCR signals Through PKC Theta and Bcl-10 Selectively Impair 

NF-kappa B Activation and Effector Differentiation in the CD4+ 

T Cell Subset.” 

 This year the Award for the outstanding poster presentation 

goes to: Poster Presentation, Robert J. Cybulski, Jr., Emerging 

Infectious Diseases program for his poster entitled: “Localization 

and Immunogenicity of Bacillus Anthracis Spore Proteins.”
Research Week 2007 

LT Carolyn Oyster, USPHS, presents her Research Week 

poster, “Can A Synthetic Framework (PRIME) Improve 

Written Performance Evaluations for Pediatric Residents?” 

Dr. Stanley Maloy, professor and 

dean, college of science, associate 

director, center for microbial sciences, San Diego State University, 

Calif., presented the Bullard Lecture 

at this year’s Research Week. 

Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (left), speaks 

with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director, NIAID, after Dr. Fauci gave the keynote lecture on 

HIV/AIDS. 

Dr. Eleanor Metcalf, associate dean for 

Graduate Education provided introductions before the lectures. 
USU’s 28th Commencement 

 

Vice Admiral Donald C. Arthur, 35th Navy Surgeon General and Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, provided 

the commencement address for the 28th Commencement Ceremony of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. 

The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine awarded 159 doctor of medicine and 49 biomedical sciences graduate degrees, while 

the Graduate School of Nursing awarded 25 Master of Science degrees in the Family Nurse Practitioner, Perioperative Clinical 

Nurse Specialist, and Nurse Anesthesia disciplines. 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

Photo by TSgt James Steele 

Students line up for the graduation processional. 

After the students have graduated and pinned on their new rank, they prepare 

to take the Hippocratic Oath. 
Commencement 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

Photo by Tom Balfour 

Photo by Tom Balfour 

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

(Left) TSgt Walter Bennett, USAF, USU Servicemember of the Year, had the honor of leading the 

graduation processional, carrying the University 

Mace. (Below) SMSgt Susan Neil, USAF, Air Force 

Medical Student Enlisted Advisor, helps the graduates backstage. 

Photo by TSgt James Steele 

Members of the USU Color Guard Post the Colors as an ensemble from 

the Marine Band plays the “National Anthem.” 

(Above) A medical student poses with her 

daughter at USU’s 28th Commencement Ceremony. (left) Dr. Charles L. Rice, president, USU, 

reads the Distinguished Service Medal citation 

before presenting it to Dr. William Winkenwerder 

Jr., former assistant secretary of Defense for 

Health Affairs. 
PAGE 8 

 The 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or 

Medicine recipient, Dr. Sydney Brenner 

presented “The David Packard Lecture” at 

the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU), March 28. 

 Dr. Brenner received the Nobel Prize for 

his contributions toward discoveries on 

how genes regulate organ growth and 

process of programmed cell death. 

 The title of his lecture to USU was 

“Humanities Genes.” Dr. Brenner said that 

at the time he was giving his Nobel Lecture 

he pointed out two problems that were 

important to the future of bio cell and that 

he had two projects for them. 

 The first one was cell mapping. “Cell 

mapping is a way of guiding through an 

immense amount of data that is pouring 

out of the scientific machine everyday,” he 

said. 

 Dr. Brenner stated that the second project was humanity itself and that the next 

model system should be ourselves. Humans 

have the most complex brain, and are interested in the unknown. “We have millions of 

phenotypes which I like to call doctors,” 

said Brenner. “So the answer is to study 

humans, invert the picture. Imagine the 

planet like a giant Petri dish. I know that 

experimenting on humans is illegal but 

everyone is doing it. You are doing it to 

your child, McDonald’s is doing it to all of 

us, the government and even nature are 

doing it.” 

 “I strongly believe that the future in 

medicine resides in creating a new public 

health,” Brenner said. “We have to get 

away from the paradigms which says a 

man in the street can do whatever he 

wants. For example, eat and drink what he 

wants, and think that medical research can 

save him. The first thing is that we have to 

teach people to become responsible for 

their bodies. We also have to understand 

that people are diverse and that they have 

different genes.“ 

 “I think that we can bring up wonderful 

projects to create ourselves,” Brenner said. 

“The next model is ourselves, because what 

we have to say is that the deep subject is 

morality. Only the gods know that but we 

can’t study the gods. President Clinton said, 

‘when we have the genome we are seeing 

the language God used to create man.’ My 

reply is this is like the Bible, because I consider the Bible the language man used to 

create God.” 

 The David Packard Lecture is the premiere invited lecture sponsored by the faculty at USU each academic year. The lecture is named after USU’s second president, 

The Honorable David Packard, who served 

as the university president from 1976 to 

1981. Dr. Packard is co-founder of the 

Hewlett-Packard Company. 

Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner 

Presents Packard Lecture 

By MCSN Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer, VPE 

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) has a new coin. The coin was designed by MCSN Raul Zamora, 

staff writer, VPE “There were so many ideas floating around my head,” Zamora said. “But eventually the ‘Moon gate’ was chosen as the image to represent USU.” One side of the coin is the USU seal, and the other side is the “Moon Gate.” “I love how it 

turned out,” said Zamora. “The ‘gate,’ the clock, and Building B work in harmony from this view.” The new USU coin is available in the Alumni Bookstore. 

New USU Coin Photo by MCSN Raul Zamora 
PAGE 9 

 When a servicemember is injured in battle 

and medically evacuated to a stateside hospital, their recovery and comfort are toppriority; spouses may take leave of absence 

from their jobs to visit their wounded warriors, kids may be taken out of school to see 

their parents whom they’ve missed during 

their deployment. 

 Recovery however, is a very long process, 

and while a military spouse is seeing to their 

injured loved one, their job at home may not 

wait for them. Bills that still need to be paid 

may pile up, some to the extent of causing 

serious financial hardship. Families of 

wounded servicemembers may find themselves running out of places to turn. 

 For these reasons, the Walter Reed Society 

(WRS,) a non-profit organization created exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, has embarked on its “Wounded Warrior” program, to provide aid to military families in need. 

 “What we do is provide money to servicemembers and their families who have incurred financial hardship as a result of their 

injuries,” said John Frankenburg, the National 

Naval Medical Center’s WRS liaison, and protocol officer at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). 

 The WRS to date has provided more than 

$600,000 in direct aid to injured servicemembers and their families, and in support of Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s (WRAMC) 

Occupational Therapy program, Mologne 

House, and special recreational programs for 

wounded warriors, said Frankenburg. 

 Jeff Swope, a special assistant to the vice 

president for External Affairs has been a 

member of the WRS for a year, and says he’s 

heard some very positive feedback about the 

society and its programs. 

 “I’ve heard directly from some recipients 

that the aid they received was extremely 

beneficial, and that they were very grateful,” 

Swope said. “The WRS is genuinely poised to 

help servicemembers and their families when 

they really need it. They’re really engaged in 

looking for ways to help people.”

Walter Reed Society helps out wounded warriors 

By MCSN Jeff Hopkins 

Staff Writer, VPE 

 The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences held its 

Quarterly Awards Ceremony in the Sanford Auditorium, May 4. 

 Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen received medals, letters of commendation and appreciation. Among the awards presented were the 

Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, 

the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy 

Achievement Medal. 

 The Color Guard of the Quarter was SSgt Fabio Batista-Sanchez 

(MILPO) and the Servicemember of the Quarter was HM3 Chephren 

Dialino (LAM) Both received reserved parking spaces, $50 dollar gift cards, a 72-hour liberty pass, and the Brigade Commander’s coin. 

USU Brigade holds 

Quarterly Awards Ceremony 

By MCSN Jeff Hopkins, 

Staff Writer, VPE 

HM3 

Chephren Dialino, LAM 

Servicemember of the 

Quarter 

SSgt Fabio Batista 

Sanchez, MILPO 

Color Guard of the 

Quarter 

 The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is 

home to people from all different cultures and backgrounds. Each 

issue, the USU Newsletter tries to spotlight members from USU’s 

staff, faculty and students to illustrate this fact. 

 Col. Brian V. Reamy, USAF, MC, is USU’s chair of the Department 

of Family Medicine. He was born and raised in Tarrytown, New York, 

to a family of seven children. He first became interested in medicine 

when he and his siblings were taken to visit the family physician. 

 “Going to my family doctor growing up got me interested in family medicine,” said Reamy. “It was a good first step.” 

 Reamy’s father was a petroleum engineer, and also served in the 

Navy during World War II. His mother was a teacher, turned stay-athome mother, who, with a household of seven children, undoubtedly had her work cut out for her. 

 Reamy attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., 

where he attained his Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in biology. Afterwards, he stayed on at Georgetown’s School of Medicine, 

earning his medical degree. 

Reamy funded his medical education through the Armed Forces 

Health Professions Scholarship Program, a four-year scholarship in 

which the Armed Forces pays for a student’s medical school tuition 

and expenses, to include required medical supplies and required 

books in exchange for an active-duty military obligation to the service of the student’s choice. Reamy said that his choice 

of service, the Air Force, was largely influenced by the fact that his brother had 

chosen the Air Force as a career before 

him. 

 “My brother is an Air Force Academy 

graduate, retired, class of ’76. He was on 

active duty at the time, and looking at the 

different services, that seemed like the 

logical one to choose,” Reamy said. 

 Reamy has spent 20 years on active 

duty in the Air Force, and four years in the 

Reserve. In this time, he’s been to many 

assignments , including Zaragoza Air Base 

in Spain, Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) in 

Alaska, Travis AFB in Calif., and Andrews AFB, before coming to 

USU. He said, they were all good assignments, but narrowed down 

two as his favorites. 

 “I like all of them,” Reamy said, “but Alaska was great, really beautiful, but in terms of assignment, I liked Travis the most, because I got 

to teach. I was the residency director at Travis AFB.” 

 Among his other accomplishments, Reamy recently became president of the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians, one 

of the largest national medical organizations, dedicated to promoting and preserving the science and art of family medicine. 

Faculty Profile: Col. Brian V. Reamy 

By MCSN Jeff Hopkins 

Staff Writer, VPE 

Col. Brian Reamy, 

USAF, MC 

chair, Department of 

Family Medicine, USU 
PAGE 10 

 The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ (USU) 

School of Medicine (SOM), Class of 2007 plans to establish an endowment in honor of 2nd Lt Catherine Baxter Wochos, an SOM 

class of 2007 student who passed away March 7, after a long battle with cancer. 

 The annual proceeds from the endowment will be used to 

sponsor a yearly prize for student research in pediatric oncology, 

establish a charitable fund to help future USU medical students 

who may face a medical crisis, and to create an annual award 

recognizing the medical student who best demonstrates the values treasured so much in Catherine; scholarship, compassion, humility, work ethic, a positive attitude, and a desire to help both 

patients, and her fellow students. 

 The class will establish the fund with an initial donation of 

$4,000 with the goal to quickly reach a target of $10,000 necessary to carry on these activities in perpetuity. It is our sincere hope 

that this fund will constitute a lasting, and growing legacy both to 

Catherine’s ideals and the best qualities of her friends and colleagues in the Class of 2007. 

 Baxter’s family and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation have 

worked closely with us to establish this endowment. 

When Catherine passed away 

in March, many of you 

reached out and asked how 

you could help the family or 

what you could contribute in 

lieu of flowers. Well this is 

how you can help. 

 While our initial contribution is sizeable and will surely 

be added to by her family, we 

still have a ways to go in order 

to reach our initial goal of 

$10,000. 

 This gift we are establishing 

will be a legacy of your generosity and goodwill. It will be 

here long into the future. To 

my knowledge, this gift is the 

first of its kind for a graduating 

USU class. It is a fitting tribute both to our friend Catherine and 

the best attributes each of you helped to instill in us as officers and 

physicians. 

Class of 2007 Establishes Endowment in Honor of Student 

Contributed by 2nd Lt Sean Jersey, USAF, MC 

President, SOM Class of 2007 

2nd Lt Catherine Baxter Wochos, 

SOM, Class of 2007 

The International Spine Workshop returned to USU May 4 through10 to bring advanced hands-on training in peripheral nerve, 

cervical spine and thoraco-lumbar surgery. The workshop is directed by Col. James Ecklund, a USU alumnus (class of ‘87,) and 

introduces participants to the latest techniques, emerging technologies, and helps them recognize and discuss low-tech solutions for use in deployed military surgeons and for underdeveloped countries when state-of-the-art equipment are not available 

to them. The event is not sponsored by any one medical instrumentation company; instead, an open invitation is issued and any 

interested company can bring its equipment

Photo by HM2 Michael Oliver 

19th Annual International Spine Workshop 
PAGE 11 

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: To honor and commemorate the distinguished service of Asian Pacific Americans, 

May is recognized as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This 

year’s theme is “Pursuing Excellence Through Leadership, Diversity, and Unity.” The USU Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 

Program has changed to June 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the USU dining 

facility. The keynote speaker will be Rear Adm. Kenneth Moritsugu, USPHS, the Acting U.S. Surgeon General. All are encouraged to attend. 

Voting Information Website: For information regarding voting 

requirements and absentee ballots for military personnel, please 

visit www.fvap.gov. If you have further questions or concerns, 

please contact the Brigade Voting Officer, LCDR Michael Kemper, 

USN (CMD) at mkemper@usuhs.mil, or the Brigade Voting NonCommissioned Officer in Charge, IT2 Gregory Woods, USN (UIS) at 

gwoods@usuhs.mil, or by phone at (301) 295-1911. 

20th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium: The 20th Annual 

Women’s Leadership Symposium will be held from June 26-27 at 

the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington 

National Cemetery. This year’s theme is “Women Leaders: Keeping 

Your Compass Calibrated.” The symposium will be jointly sponsored by the Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Association and 

the Sea Services Leadership Association. 

UIS Awards: The UIS awards are in recognition of staff efforts in 

resolving JTF-GNO identified compliance vulnerabilities. Four spot 

awards were presented to Mai Tran, Jerrold Noland, Steve Davis, 

and Joel Robertson. Four time-off awards were given to, Blaine 

Gibson, Gary Payne, Dan Nevius, and SGT Gabriel Perry. 

Brigade Commander’s Officer Call: The Brigade Commander will 

hold an Officer Call for all military faculty and staff officers May 31 

at 6:45 a.m. in the Sanford Auditorium. This event is considered 

mandatory unless essential mission duties prevent attendance. 

The guest speaker will be MG Eric Schoomaker, MC, USA, NARMC 

and WRAMC Commander, who will speak about current affairs 

with Walter Reed and military medicine. There will be a question 

and answer period. 

USU News Briefs 

 Congratulations to the following USU 

alumni who were each named U.S. Air 

Force Flight Surgeon of the Year for their 

respective major commands. Overall, 11 

flight surgeons were selected for this 

honor. Four of them were USU alumni: 

Lt Col Charles Tedder, USAF, MC - class of 

1990 - Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Flight Surgeon of the Year 

Maj Reinaldo Morales, USAF, MC - class of 

1999 - Air Force Academy (AFA) Flight Surgeon of the Year 

Capt Jessica Kehren, USAF, MC - class of 

2004 - Air Mobility Command (AMC) Flight 

Surgeon of the Year 

Maj Christopher Walker, USAF, MC - class of 

1998 - Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) 

Flight Surgeon of the Year 

 Brig. Gen. Tom Travis, USAF, MC, class of 

1986, received the Society of USAF Flight 

Surgeon's George E. Schafer Award. The 

George E. Schafer Award was approved by 

the Society's Board of Governors in 1978 to 

recognize outstanding contributions of Air 

Force flight surgeons to the health, welfare, 

safety and mission effectiveness of USAF 

aircrew as well as to the vitality of the specialty of Aerospace Medicine over an extended period of time. 

 He also received the Marie Marvingt 

Award, which is an annual award given by 

the Aerospace Medical Association. The 

award was established by the French Aerospace Medical Association in memory of 

Marie Marvingt (1875-1963), a pioneer 

French pilot and surgical nurse who involved herself in the conception and development of air ambulance services and in 

the education of the general public regarding their use and benefits. 

 And one last side note, Brig. Gen. Travis 

will become Major General Travis on June 

1st. He is the first USU alumnus to be selected for promotion to the rank of O-8. 

 Congratulations to the following USU 

alumni and faculty who were selected for 

promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, Medical 

Corps, U.S. Army. There were 151 selections made, and four below-zone selections 

made. One of the four BTZ selections was 

a USU alumnus. 

Faculty:

Michael A. Pelzner - Department of Pediatrics, USU 

Alumni:

John Bojescul - class of 1996 - Orthopaedics 

Benjamin Cable - class of 1996 - ENT 

Yong Choi - class of 1996 - Surgery 

Jimmy Cooper - class of 1996 - Emergency 

Medicine 

William Crum - class of 1996 - Family Medicine 

Alan Davis - class of 1996 - Family Medicine 

David Easty - class of 1997 - Emergency 

Medicine 

Thomas Eccles - class of 1999 - Pediatrics 

John A. Edwards - class of 1996 - Family 

Medicine 

Mary J. Edwards - class of 1996 - Surgery 

Jason Friedman - class of 1996 - Neurology 

George Garcia - class of 1996 - specialty 

unknown 

Daniel Gates - class of 1996 - Medicine 

George Goodwin - class of 1996 - Medicine 

Geoffrey Grammar - class of 1996 - Medicine/Psychiatry 

Sharette Gray - class of 1996 - Psychiatry 

Jeffrey Hirsch - class of 2000 - Radiology 

Daniel Hsu - class of 1996 - Pediatric Pulmonology 

William Keppler - class of 1997 - Psychiatry 

Bernard Kopchinski - class of 1996 - Plastic 

Surgery 

Michael Licata - class of 2004 - Pathology 

M. Liza Lindenberg - class of 1996 - Family 

Medicine 

Stephen R. Lowe - class of 1994 - Radiology 

C. Beckett Mahnke - class of 1996 - Pediatrics 

Richard Malish - class of 1996 - Cardiology 

Curt Misko - class of 1996 - OB/GYN 

Vincent Moore - MPH class of 2003 - specialty unknown 

Brian Mulhall - MPH class of 2003 - Gastroenterology 

Clinton Murray - class of 1996 - Medicine 

Angela Mysliwiec - class of 1996 - Hematology/Oncology 

Vincent Mysliwiec - class of 1996 - Pulmonary Medicine 

Ben K. Phillips - class of 1999 - Psychiatry 

Aaron Pitney - class of 1996 - Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 

Matthew S. Rice - class of 1997 - Emergency 

Medicine (BELOW ZONE SELECTION) 

Troy W. Ross - class of 1997/MPH class of 

2004 - Preventive Medicine 

Michael Sebesta - class of 1996 - Urology 

Niten Singh - class of 1997 - Surgery 

Christopher Soltis - class of 1999 - Pediatrics 

Joel Tanaka - class of 1996 - Family Medicine 

Matthew Vreeland - class of 1997 - Emergency Medicine 

USU Alumni Awards, 

Promotions 
USU Calendar of Events 

27 28 29 30 

USU Toastmasters 

Meeting 

Noon—1 p.m. 

AFRRI Small Conference 

Room 

31 1 2 

3 4 5 

Town Hall Meeting 

3 p.m. 

USU Cafeteria 

6 

Administrative Officers/Departmental 

Representatives Meeting 

10:30 a.m. 

Lecture Room B 

USU Toastmasters Meeting 

Noon—1 p.m. 

Room A2011 

7 8 9 

10 11 12 

Faculty Development 

Grand Rounds: RIME and 

Reason—Investigating the 

Use of Objectives in 

Clinical 

Education 

2 p.m.—3:30 p.m. 

Room A2053 

13 

USU Toastmasters Meeting 

Noon—1 p.m. 

AFRRI Small Conference 

Room 

14 15 16 

17 18 

Basic Patient Safety 

Manager’s Course: CME, 

CNE, ACHE 

Continuingeducation@usuhs.mil 

USU 

19 

Basic Patient Safety 

Manager’s Course: CME, 

CNE, ACHE 

Continuingeducation@usuhs.mil 

USU

20 

Basic Patient Safety 

Manager’s Course: CME, 

CNE, ACHE 

Continuingeducation@usuhs.mil 

USU 

USU Toastmasters Meeting 

Noon—1 p.m. 

Room A2011 

21 

Basic Patient Safety 

Manager’s Course: CME, 

CNE, ACHE 

Continuingeducation@usuhs.mil 

USU 

22 

Basic Patient Safety 

Manager’s Course: CME, 

CNE, ACHE 

Continuingeducation@usuhs.mil 

USU 

23 

May

June

Memorial

Day

Observed