The Official USU Newsletter

Volume 8, Issue 9 • June 10, 2013

www.usuhs.edu
2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

On the cover

Air Force Col. Kevin Glasz, the new brigade 

commander at the Uniformed Services 

University, is a medical service corps officer 

with extensive leadership experience. 

(See story, page 2)

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

MC2 Brittney Cannady

Writer

Lori Fields

Layout and Design

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published by the Uniformed Services University. It is 

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christine.creenan-jones@usuhs.edu or 301-295-3338.

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Air Force Col. Kevin W. Glasz relieved 

Navy Capt. (Dr.) Tanis Batsel Stewart 

as brigade commander in a change 

of command ceremony held at the 

Uniformed Services University, June 5. 

The university’s brigade commander 

is the senior active duty military 

officer and is responsible for ensuring 

uniformed personnel at USU maintain 

the appropriate standards set by their 

respective service. 

Batsel Stewart, who will retire this 

month, is a former line officer and the 

first USU alumna to serve as brigade 

commander, having earned both a 

Doctor of Medicine and Master of 

Public Health degree from the university in 1993 and 2000, respectively. 

“I’m proud to be a graduate, but I’m 

more proud to have been the brigade 

commander,” she said.

Like his predecessor, Glasz brings a 

wealth of education and experience to 

USU’s brigade. He earned a Bachelor 

of Science in Biology from the University of Nebraska in 1996, a Master 

of Healthcare Administration from 

Virginia Commonwealth University, a 

Master of Military Operational Arts and 

Sciences from the Air Command and 

Staff College in Alabama, and a Master 

of Strategic Studies from the Air War 

College in Alabama. 

Before coming to USU, Glasz 

served as chief of the Health Support 

Division and command administrator at Headquarters, Air Force 

Space Command in the Office of the 

Command Surgeon, where he collaborated with leaders from other agencies 

to ensure optimal resourcing levels 

were available to enable medical care 

in support of operational mission of 

AFSPC bases.

During this tour, and throughout his 

military career, Glasz had opportunities 

to work with university graduates, and 

now he looks forward to working with 

the next generation of USU alumni.

“I am personally and professionally energized by this assignment,” 

said Glasz. “The daily interaction 

with students and a multidisciplinary 

team of professional faculty and staff 

members is very rewarding.”

Now, as the senior leader in the 

university brigade, Glasz will have many 

opportunities to work with alumni, 

graduates, enlisted personnel and staff 

members over the next several years.

USU holds brigade 

change of command

By MC2 Brittney Cannady

Air Force Col. Kevin Glasz assumed command of the Uniformed Services University’s brigade 

during a change of command ceremony held in USU’s cafeteria, June 5.
June 10, 2013 3

The Uniformed Services University 

has experienced several major leadership changes over the past year. Some 

administrators are new to campus and 

others—like Dr. William Gilliland, Air 

Force Col. (Dr.) Arnyce Pock and Navy 

Capt. (Dr.) Patricia McKay—have ties 

that reach back several decades.

Gilliland, the new associate dean 

for Medical Education, is one of USU’s 

most seasoned faculty members. He 

arrived on campus as a medical student 

in 1983, and returned as a billeted 

faculty member twelve years later. 

Since then, Gilliland has served in 

a variety of leadership roles, including a six-year tenure as director of 

the Army’s rheumatology fellowship 

at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 

which boasted a 100 percent board 

certification passing rate for all trainees in the program.

He set other standards for USU, 

as well, including incorporating new 

simulation innovations into the curriculum while overseeing the Introduction to Clinical Medicine Course.

These experiences, and membership on a wide variety of USU 

committees, were good primers 

for Gilliland’s new responsibilities. 

Besides managing every aspect of 

USU’s medical education, Gilliland 

stays on top of current trends and 

policies that affect higher learning.

“Over the next several years, I 

anticipate numerous influences, 

including proposed changes in assessment that will make it even more 

imperative to constantly review and 

adapt our curriculum using sound 

educational principles to better 

meet the needs of our 21st century 

students,” he said. 

Pock, a fellow alumnus and the new 

assistant dean for Curriculum, shares 

Gilliland’s purview, especially when it 

comes to academics.

In 2010, she returned to USU to help 

facilitate the implementation of a new 

curriculum called Molecules to Military 

Medicine, which integrated basic 

science with clinical medicine in a more 

cohesive, comprehensive fashion.

The new program divides the medical 

school curriculum into three main 

phases: pre-clerkship, clerkship and 

post-clerkship. The pre-clerkship phase 

incorporates a series of organ-system 

modules that emphasize the integration 

of basic science with clinical medicine. 

Other features include an increased 

emphasis on small-group instruction, an earlier introduction to clinical medicine, and a much earlier start 

to the traditional, clinical rotations. 

Also included is the opportunity for an 

individualized research project and the 

deliberate integration of basic science 

across all fours years of medical school.

As an assistant dean, Pock will 

continue to coordinate the implementation of these major changes, so the 

transition remains seamless, collaborative and effective.

“One of the key aspects of my job 

involves working with both billeted 

and non-billeted faculty and staff, 

with our students, and with USU’s 

senior leadership to help ensure each 

aspect of the curriculum proceeds 

smoothly and efficiently,” she said.

Managing a program that is 

responsible for turning out innovative leaders is challenging work, but 

Pock is well-suited for this role. Not 

only is she a respected internist, 

but her acupuncture work is also 

regarded by many in the scientific 

community as cutting-edge treatment 

for a wide variety of problems and 

injuries, including acute and chronic 

pain, stress disorders, obesity and 

smoking addiction.

Pock is pushing this work forward, 

while still teaching medical students 

and serving as the senior service advisor 

for the brigade and university president.

“Being both a USU graduate and 

having had the benefit of serving in 

a variety of clinical, operational and 

senior leadership positions has really 

allowed me to be more effective in my 

job,” she said.

USU alumni return as senior university leaders

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor 

Continued to page 4

Courtesy photo

Photo by Thomas C. BalfourPhoto by Thomas C. Balfour

Dr. William Gilliland Air Force Col. (Dr.) Arnyce Pock Navy Capt. (Dr.) Patricia McKay
4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Courtesy Photo

High-fiber diets may increase 

susceptibility to E. coli Infection

By Sharon Willis, managing editor and deputy vice president 

for External Affairs 

USU celebrates 

CFC awards ceremony

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

Consuming diets higher in fiber may increase the risk 

for Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection and severe disease 

according to a new study called, “Dietary choice affects Shiga 

toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 colonization and disease,” that was published in The Proceedings of 

the National Academy of Sciences on May 20.

Scientists from the Uniformed Services University 

demonstrated that mice fed high-fiber diets (HFD) had 

elevated levels of intestinal butyrate which—although 

a beneficial gut metabolite—enhanced the gut bindingcapacity of Shiga toxin made by a food-borne bacterium 

called E. coli O157:H7.

The study, led by Alison O’Brien, PhD, chair of USU’s 

Department of Microbiology and Immunology and funded 

by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 

of the National Institutes of Health, showed that the amount 

of gut bacteria in HFD-fed mice increased while the percent 

of commensal Escherichia species decreased compared to 

gut bacteria in mice fed a low-fiber diet. 

“These changes led to higher E. coli O157:H7 colonization levels, more weight loss, and greater rates of death in 

HFD-fed than in LFD-fed STEC-infected mice,” said O’Brien. 

Co-authors on the study include Steven D. Zumbrun, PhD, 

Angela Melton-Celsa, PhD, Mark A. Smith, VMD, Jeremy 

J. Gilbreath, Ph.D, and D. Scott Merrell, PhD, all from the 

Department of Microbiology and Immunology at USU.

Although the study showed the connection between 

high-fiber diets and a greater risk for E. coli O157:H7 

infection and disease in mice, O’Brien does not advocate 

changing healthy eating habits.

“High-fiber diets are good for you,” she said. “However, 

fresh produce comes from all over the world, so we need 

to be extra vigilant in keeping our produce free of microbial contaminants.” 

The Uniformed Services University celebrated a 

successful 2012 Combined Federal Campaign during an 

awards ceremony, June 3. The university exceeded its 

$165,000 goal by more than $28,000.

This accomplishment is the result of many hardworking and generous people, but several outstanding individuals were recognized for their extraordinary 

contributions, including Army Lt. Dale Russell, the 

campaign manager for the CFC, HM1 Wendy Cajas, the 

noncommissioned officer in charge of the CFC, Stephen 

Huntington, the key worker coordinator for the CFC, 

and Marsha Howell, a key worker for the 

Graduate School of Nursing.

The university as a whole was also 

recognized with Participation, Summit and 

President’s Awards 

from the CFC.

Researchers in the Uniformed Services University’s Department 

of Microbiology and Immunology are studying links between 

high-fiber diets and higher E.coli colonization levels. 

McKay, the new assistant dean for Clinical Sciences, brings 

the same experience and legacy to USU. Like Gilliland and 

Pock, she is a USU graduate with an impressive military 

record that includes deployment experience aboard the USNS 

Comfort in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was 

also the director of the orthopedic surgery residency at the 

National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., before she 

returned to USU as commandant of the School of Medicine. 

Later, McKay served as both interim and deputy chair of 

the Surgery Department, where she helped guide and shape 

research, education and clinical practice missions at USU.

In many ways, McKay’s new leadership role at USU is 

an extension of the work she’s already done here. As an 

assistant dean for Clinical Sciences, she supervises education during both the clerkship and post-clerkship periods. 

McKay also creates and monitors academic standards 

for clinical sciences that are rigorous but attainable. This 

ensures USU officers graduate with the competencies they 

need to succeed in military medicine.

“I enjoy working closely with medical students on a 

regular basis and supporting them as they develop into well 

trained physicians,” she said. “I find medical education to be 

a highly rewarding endeavor. Working with bright, enthusiastic people in pursuit of a life-long passion brings me a 

great deal of personal satisfaction.”

USU alumni return...

Continued from page 3
June 10, 2013 5

 Photo by MC2 Brittney Cannady

USU researcher discovers link between migraine, 

depression and smaller brain volume

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

For migraine sufferers, intense, 

debilitating waves of pain are 

common place. Other bothersome 

symptoms include nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and 

sound. And while there are effective 

migraine treatments, there is no cure. 

Furthermore, migraine has been 

linked to a variety of other conditions, which makes the disorder even 

more impactful, and a new discovery 

at the Uniformed Services University 

is raising even more warning flags.

A study conducted by Larus S. 

Gudmundsson, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in USU’s Department of 

Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, 

found that people with both migraine 

and depression – disorders that have 

been linked by several independent 

studies – have slightly smaller brain 

volume in later life than people with 

one or neither condition.

His research is supported by more 

than 4,000 brain imaging scans taken 

from participants in mid and late life. 

Gudmundsson compared the scans and 

found that people with both migraine 

and depression had about two percent 

smaller brain volume compared to 

others, but saw no real difference for 

people without these dual diagnoses.

Unlocking this mystery and understanding what causes the differences 

in brain size in the first place will take 

more research, but Gudmundsson 

is eager to find answers to these and 

other perplexing migraine questions.

“It is important to note that previous studies on migraine and changes 

in brain function over time have 

not shown differences. In this most 

recent study, subjects were only 

imaged once, so it is not certain 

whether migraine caused brain 

volume reduction or if these differences were pre-existing. Future longitudinal studies with multiple brain 

scans will help us to sort this out,” 

said Gudmundsson.

Gaining more knowledge about 

migraine could make a huge impact. 

Migraine is a widespread disorder 

affecting millions of people worldwide.

“There was a study published 

recently that discussed the burden of 

migraine, and it was very high. Yet, 

there is no blood or imaging tests 

that can tell if someone has migraine, 

which tells me we have a lot to learn 

still,” he continued. “It’s also important for us to raise awareness levels 

about migraine, which despite being 

a very common disorder, is not 

regarded by many in the scientific 

community or in the general populace 

as a serious condition.”

Gudmundsson, who previously 

conducted research that linked migraine 

to cardiovascular disease and all-cause 

mortality, is challenging perceptions 

about migraine by identifying some of 

the potential long-term effects associated with the painful disorder. 

“A lot of people are suffering 

because of migraine, and there is still 

so much about it we don’t understand 

or know,” he said. “I hope my work 

helps push the knowledge forward, so 

we can treat migraine, and all of its 

side effects, more effectively.”

Gundmundsson’s research was 

based on the AGES-Reykjavik study, a 

National Institutes of Health-funded 

longitudinal study, in collaboration with 

Dr. Lenore Launer from NIH and Ann 

Scher from USU.

Larus S. Gudmundsson, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Uniformed Services University’s 

Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, is studying migraine’s effects on the brain.

Save the Date

June 17, 2013

115th hospital corps 

birthday celebration

The Uniformed Services University’s 

brigade will host a ceremony to 

celebrate the 115th birthday of the 

Navy hospital corps on June 17 in 

Sanford Auditorium at 1 p.m. The 

guest speaker will be retired Master 

Chief Laura Martinez and will include 

a traditional cake-cutting by USU 

corpsmen and refreshments in the 

lobby following the ceremony. All USU 

staff, students and faculty members are 

invited to attend this event.
6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Courtesy Photo

The Uniformed Services University 

seeks out the brightest, most impactful figures in military medicine and 

public health to deliver its keynote 

commencement addresses each year. 

Other universities do as well, and 

for Hood College in Maryland, that 

meant welcoming Zygmunt Dembek, 

PhD, a senior scientist at USU’s 

Center for Disaster and Humanitarian 

Assistance Medicine.

During his commencement 

address, Dembek regaled audience 

members with his inspiring speech, 

“Use Your Prepared Mind,” which 

offered valuable advice to members 

of Hood’s graduating class.

“Now that you have earned your 

master’s degree from Hood College, 

realize the important milestone 

that you have achieved, and always 

remember to use your prepared mind. 

You deserve to stop, rest, relax, reflect, 

realize and fully enjoy your personal 

accomplishments. But never forget 

that your prepared mind will be of 

inestimable value in your life and in 

your career,” he said.

Dembek’s speech drew inspiration from personal experience. After 

earning a master’s degree in biomedical science from Hood College 

and both a Doctor of Philosophy 

in Biochemistry and a Master of 

Public Health from the University of 

Connecticut, he followed dual careers 

as an epidemiologist at the Connecticut Department of Public Health and 

a biochemist in the Army Reserve. 

Dembek’s military assignments 

included an extended tour of duty at 

the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, where he 

served as director of Education and 

Training, which included travel to 

five continents to conduct biomedical and public health training. 

Although Dembek retired from the 

Army Reserve Medical Services Corps 

as a colonel in 2011, he’s still using his 

“prepared mind” at USU. Not only 

does he teach classes at the university, 

Dembek works on a grant in support of 

the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s 

Cooperative Biological Engagement 

Program and is responsible for providing public health knowledge and facilitating relationships with international 

scientists and officials. 

In recognition of Dembek’s unique 

accomplishments, Hood College 

conferred a Doctor of Humane 

Letters – an honorary degree given 

to people who make extraordinary 

contributions to society – upon him 

during commencement.

USU faculty member delivers prestigious keynote address 

at Hood College

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

Ronald Volpe, PhD, president of Hood College, Maria Green Cowles, PhD, dean of Hood’s 

Graduate School, and Zygmunt Dembek, PhD, a senior scientist at the Uniformed Services 

University’s Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, attended Hood College’s 

2013 Graduate School Commencement, where Dembek delivered the keynote speech.

Save the Date, June 11, 2013

USU Education Day

Celebrating Excellence in Research

Blended Learning Initiatives for the 21st Century Student 

Keynote speakers: Jane Clark, PhD, and Marcio Oliveira, PhD
June 10, 2013 7

USU holds 

town hall meeting

By MC2 Brittney Cannady, writer

Word on Campus

By Christine Creenan-Jones, editor

Father’s Day is June 16. For most of us, it’s a day to recognize 

all of the invaluable wisdom our dads have imparted on us over 

the years. And since the Uniformed Services University is filled 

with many wise individuals, the Pulse wants to know: What is 

the best advice your father gave you?

“It’s not always what you do, 

sometimes it’s what you don’t 

do that matters most.”

Army Capt. Heather Bangerter,

Family Nurse Practitioner student In 

the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

“My father has a saying in 

Moroccan that goes something 

like this: Don’t worry about money 

because it comes and goes. So 

does health. But if you lose your 

reputation, it’s gone forever.”

Amal Nadel, lab manager in the Department of Surgery

“Treat people like you want to 

be treated. It’s the golden rule 

I live by. He also told me to put 

God first, and everything else will 

work out just fine.”

Sheena Ferrell, administrative officer 

for the Office of Admissions

“My father gave me advice 

through life lessons. One time 

when I was little, my dad asked 

me to paint the white picket fence 

around our house, and do it the 

way he told me, even if people 

from our neighborhood advised differently. Sure 

enough, I got different painting tips from just about 

everyone you can imagine, but I took my dad’s 

advice, which to me meant following my gut and 

the people I trust. It’s a life lesson I still carry with 

me today, five decades later.” 

Willie Allen, director of the Multidisciplinary Laboratories

Dr. Charles Rice, president of the Uniformed 

Services University, held a town hall meeting to 

discuss university developments, June 4. During 

the meeting, he talked about the Department of 

Defense-wide hiring freeze and furloughs, staff and 

faculty accomplishments and other USU updates. 

The furlough, a topic of concern for many general 

schedule employees, is set to begin on July 8 and will 

last 11 weeks, if no alternative agreement is reached 

by Congress. 

If the furlough takes effect, compressed and 

alternative work schedules will be suspended 

effective June 29. This means no federal employees will be able to work from home or exceed an 

eight-hour work day, unless otherwise authorized. 

Furthermore, overtime and compensatory time 

will cease with the exception of work needed to 

accomplish mission-essential tasks and emergency 

activities. Finally, leave is allowed, but it may not 

be taken concurrently with an employee’s scheduled furlough day.

After providing a somber furlough update, Rice 

shared some positive news with the USU community, including HM1 Daryl Mercado’s recent selection as the Junior Enlisted Sailor of the Year by 

the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Staff Sgt. 

David Manzanares and Patrick Deleon, PhD, were 

also commended during the town hall meeting. 

Manzanares graduated from the Advanced Leader’s 

Course at Fort Sam Houston in Texas with distinguished honors, and Deleon received the Life 

Achievement Award in Practice of Psychology from 

the American Psychology Foundation.

Before closing out the meeting, Rice also 

mentioned important upcoming events, including 

Education Day on June 11, the Board of Regents 

meeting on Aug. 29-30, and the Graduate School of 

Nursing’s 20th Anniversary Celebration on Aug. 27. 

Courtesy Photo
Final Frame

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

Navy Capt. (Dr.) Tanis Batsel Stewart took over as the brigade commander at the 

Uniformed Services University in 2010. She held the position for more than three 

years during a period of significant growth and change for USU, including a 

major curriculum reform in the School of Medicine, the addition of a new Doctor 

of Nursing Practice degree in the Graduate School of Nursing and the addition of 

a Postgraduate Dental College with satellite campuses across the country.

Batsel Stewart’s leadership, and the support of her brigade, has been a major 

contribution to USU’s success during this time.