Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences 

USU Newsletter 

WWW.USUHS.MIL APRIL 3, 2006 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 

In This Issue 

Commencement...........1 

Scaffold collapse..........1 

BRAC/Integration..........2 

SOM/GSN Awards.........3 

Promotions..................4 

Research Week............5 

Lab Renovations..........6 

Letter to the editor........7 

Look who’s talking........7 

Calendar of Events...Back

Uniformed Services University 

of the Health Sciences 

WWW.USUHS.MIL MAY 22, 2006 

Memorial Day is

May 29

Be Safe!

 Medical teams assigned to the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) rushed to the aid of injured construction workers after the collapse of a scaffold outside the university’s 

administration building May 5. 

 The incident occurred at approximately 

10:20 a.m. as a construction crew worked 

on exterior brick replacement for USU’s 

Building A. One female and two male 

workers were injured in the scaffold collapse. Faculty physicians Col. R. Dana 

Bradshaw, U.S. Air Force and Cmdr. Sara 

Kass, U.S. Navy, heard a loud noise, immediately responded to the scene and were 

quickly joined by other physicians, nurses and 

emergency medical personnel employed at the 

university. 

 “I was in the west hallway just when the 

scaffold collapsed with a great noise into a 

tangle of metal,” Dr. Bradshaw said. “We immediately looked to see if anyone was trapped or 

injured, and noted two workers pinned at the 

Photo by Tech. Sgt. James Steele 

Three construction workers were injured in the 

collapse of the scaffold pictured above. The incident occurred outside of Building A, May 5. All 

three workers were taken to Suburban Hospital. 

See COLLAPSE, page 5 

 More than 240 students 

graduated from the Uniformed Services University of 

the Health Sciences (USU) 

during its 27th Commencement Exercise at the National 

Society Daughters of the 

American Revolution Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C., 

Saturday, May 20. 

 The commencement not 

only recognized the extraordinary accomplishments of the 

graduates, but it also marked 

the first time that the Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) 

bestowed the Doctorate of 

Philosophy in Nursing Science 

degree. Four students were 

the recipients of the Ph.D. 

 “Each year at graduation, 

we as faculty and administrators in the Graduate School of 

Nursing are so proud of the 

achievements of the students 

who are about to move into 

the next phase of their lives,” 

said Karen Elberson, Ph.D., 

R.N., associate dean, associate 

professor, and director of the 

Ph.D. in Nursing Science program. “In addition to their 

achievement of competencies 

in their respective advanced 

practice specialty (nurse anesthesia, family nurse practitioner, or perioperative clinical 

nurse specialist), our masters 

students have demonstrated 

leadership and scholarship 

throughout their educational 

process.” 

 “This year marks a milestone 

for the Graduate School of 

Nursing as we graduate the 

first students with a Ph.D. in 

Nursing Science degree,” Dr. 

Elberson said. “Each doctoral 

student has focused their own 

dissertation on research relevant to issues in the military 

and federal healthcare. They 

are blazing new trails and, in 

doing so, are enriching the 

history of the GSN and the 

university and increasing the 

Congratulations to USU’s 2006 graduates 

By Tech. Sgt André Nicholson 

NCOIC, Office of External Affairs 

By Tech. Sgt André Nicholson 

NCOIC , OEA 

USU medical team aids three 

injured workers in scaffold collapse 

See GRADS, page 5 
PAGE 2 

Dr. Rice announces university 

reorganization

Commentary 

 The pressures for integration come from many 

vectors. As early as World War II Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was looking for a way to get the medical 

assets of the services to work more closely together. 

 Attempts at joining the medical activities have 

cycled through the system every few years ever 

since. When the down-sizing began after Vietnam, 

many people began to sing “Consolidate to avoid 

duplication.” This became a favorite hymn of the 

Pentagon and both the White House and Congress 

often requested it. 

 When planners and programmers look at the 

number of defense personnel devoted to medicine 

and the percentage of the resources going to provide the medical entitlement, integration to provide 

cost savings comes immediately to mind. The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed 

Services (CHAMPUS) expenses, led to CHAMPUS 

Reform, which led to TRICARE, but costs kept increasing and joint TRICARE regions were developed 

to save costs. This became another form of integration. 

 Congress is so intent on integration of the military medical activities that it directed the Joint 

Chiefs of Staff to develop and submit a plan for a 

unified medical command structure by the end of 

this fiscal year. This level of unification of the command structure will surely lead to increased integration at the facility level. 

 The expected costs of modernizing the Walter 

Reed Army Medical Center campus became a giant 

force for local integration. Navy pressures to move 

medical assets to Portsmouth, Va., and San Diego, 

Calif., to make them more available to the fleet, did 

not lessen the requirements for health care in the 

National Capitol Region. 

 Those of you at the university will be familiar 

with the pressure to create the medical school to 

assist in solving the shortage of physicians when 

the draft went away. In a similar manner, graduate 

education is seen as one of the essential drawing 

cards for medical recruitment and retention. Since 

the late eighties, the Residency Review Committees 

have been calling for increased opportunities for 

scholarship in training programs. Many U.S. Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs have become linked to academic and research institutions. 

In the National Capital Area (NCA), many of the 

residencies have been consolidated under the university sponsored NCA Consortium. Therefore, GME 

has become another pressure that is shaping the 

form of integration. 

 At the Uniformed Services University of the 

Health Sciences (USU) we have clearly identified the 

need to preserve educational opportunities for our 

undergraduate medical students, our residents and 

fellows, and for our nurse practitioners, as vital to 

our very continuation under integration. Therefore, 

Charles L. Rice, USU president, has decided to make 

integration a university priority. 

 With all this and more in the background, and 

with the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) effort on the horizon, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Farmer and 

Rear Adm. Adam Robinson made the decision to 

move toward the integration of Walter Reed and 

Bethesda Medical Center Programs. Then following 

the announcement of the local BRAC consolidations, the Department of Defense’s leadership spoke 

of inclusion of USU to form the DOD’s Academic 

Health Center. At this point Dr. Rice became a member of the flag oversight group. BRAC and Air Force 

decisions about Air Force health care at Malcolm 

Grow Medical Center, Andrews AFB, also led Brig. 

Gen. Thomas Travis to join the Flag Integration 

team. 

 Stay tuned to read what has happened and what 

is planned. 

USU Newsletter 

Editorial Staff 

Carol R. Scheman 

Vice President Office 

of External Affairs and 

Managing Editor 

Tech. Sgt. 

 André Nicholson 

Editor 

Mass Communications 

3rd Class 

Kory Kepner 

Assistant Editor and 

Staff Writer 

Mass Communications 

Seaman Apprentice 

Raul Zamora 

Staff Writer 

 

Sharon Willis 

Director 

Alumni Affairs and 

Contributing Writer 

Marla Wright 

Webmaster

 

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. 

By Vern Schinski, Ph.D. 

Special Assistant to the USU President for 

BRAC Integration 

 INTEGRATION— As I See It 

WHERE IT CAME FROM 

“Congress is so intent on integration 

of the military medical activities that it 

directed the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop and submit a plan for a unified 

medical command structure by the 

end of this fiscal year.” 
PAGE 3 

News 

 Both the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (SOM) and the 

Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) held their annual graduation 

award ceremonies in honor of the 2006 graduates, May 12 and 

16, respectively. 

 Larry M. Laughlin, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the SOM, welcomed 

students, instructors, faculty and guests with opening remarks 

during the SOM awards ceremony. 

 “This ceremony is a longstanding tradition and we are proud of 

our students,” Dr. Laughlin said. “Their use of talent and knowledge is what sets them apart.” 

 More than 30 individual awards and 50 citations were 

awarded to students including the Society of Medical Consultants 

to the Armed Forces (SMCAF) award, which was presented to U.S. 

Army 2nd Lt. Stephen Harper. The SMCAF award is presented to 

the medical student who achieved the highest level of academic 

performance over all four years. Lieutenant Harper is also the 

2006 SOM class valedictorian. 

 Other awards included the Surgeons’ General awards, which 

are presented by the four surgeons general (U.S. Army, Air Force, 

Navy and Public Health Service) to the medical students of their 

respective services 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. This year’s recipients are: U.S. Army 

Reserve 2nd Lt. Jamey Brown, U.S. Naval Reserve Ensign Michael 

Arnold, U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Jennifer George Chang, and U.S. 

Public Health Service Ensign Samuel McArthur. 

 “Your outstanding record has made your university, your 

teachers and me truly proud, and that’s one reason I came here 

today to give you my thanks and congratulations,” said Charles L. 

Rice, M.D., USU president. 

 The GSN, which held their honors and awards ceremony the 

following week, recognized more than 50 students and faculty 

members. 

 Karen Elberson, Ph.D., R.N., associate dean, associate professor, 

and director of the Ph.D. in Nursing Science program for the GSN, 

addressed the students. 

 “True leaders know how to build relationships and you are 

now true leaders,” Dr. Elberson said. 

 The GSN presented awards in the Ph.D. and Master of Science 

programs. The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) 

also honored the university and the school of nursing for the first 

time by presenting awards. 

 The MOAA Distinguished Student award is the highest academic honor graduating students can receive. The award is presented to graduating students who demonstrate the highest level 

of academic performance while simultaneously demonstrating 

outstanding leadership qualities. Recipients of the award are: 

Army Col. Richard Ricciardi, Air Force Maj. Lori Adams, Air Force 

Lt. Col. Annette Gablehouse, and 

Air Force Maj. Lisa Cole. 

 Each year the university holds the awards ceremony prior to 

commencement to recognize the accomplishments of the students and faculty. 

 Medical, nursing students honored at 

2006 graduation awards ceremonies 

By MCSA Raul Zamora 

Staff writer, Office of External Affairs 

Photo by HM1 Jason Wright 

Army 2nd Lt. Stephen Harper (in uniform) received the Society of 

Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces award from retired 

Army Maj. Gen. Michael Scotti, as Dr. Charles Rice, USU president 

(far left) and Dr. Larry Laughlin, dean SOM, offer their congratulations. 

Photo by Tech. Sgt. James Steele 

Colonel Richard Ricciardi, Army, (in uniform) received the Military 

Officers Association of America award from retired U.S. Public 

Health Service Rear Adm. Julia Plotnick (far left), as Dr. Charles 

Rice, USU president, and Dr. Karen Elberson, associate dean, associate professor, and director of the Ph.D. in Nursing Science program for the GSN, offer their congratulations. 
PAGE 4 

News 

Alumni 

News 

University 

Faculty, Staff 

Promotions 

Congratulations to the following USU faculty and staff officers on 

their selection for promotion. Selected for promotion to Navy captain: Kenneth Yew, Gary Hook and Patricia Kelly. Selected for promotion to Army lieutenant colonel: Amy Asato. Selected for promotion to Army captain: Kassandra Robinson. 

John Fischer, - 88, U.S. Air Force, MC, was promoted to colonel May 

12. Brian Unwin, - 88, U.S. Army, MC, was promoted to colonel May 

15. 

 Congratulations to the following USU alumni who were selected for promotion to O-5 

(lieutenant colonel), medical 

corps, U.S. Army. There were 170 

selections made overall, and 54 of 

them were USU M.D. alumni, and 

one Master of Public Health (MPH) 

alumnus. 

 Three of the 170 officers selected for promotion were 

through Below The Zone. All 

three are USU alumni. 

Arciero, Cletus - 98 - surgery 

Barnhart, Vincent - 95 - family 

medicine 

Barrett, John - 95 - family medicine 

Barry, David - 95 - emergency 

medicine 

Beardmore, Anthony - 95 - orthopaedics 

Cain, Jeffrey - 98 - emergency 

medicine 

Cartwright, Victoria - 95 - pediatrics 

Combs, John - 98 - radiology 

Croll, Scott - 95 - anesthesia 

Earwood, Scott -95 - family medicine 

Earwood, Mary Ellen - 95 - physical medicine and rehabilitation 

Faught, John - 95 - family medicine 

Fincher, Roger - 95 - medicine 

Gallo, Dominic - 95 - surgery 

Gillman, John - 92 - physical medicine and rehabilitation 

Grady, James - 95 - family medicine 

Greenwald, Scott - 95 - radiology 

Guerrero, Melanie - 95 - pulmonary medicine 

Harvey, John - 97 - pediatrics 

(neonatology) 

Helwig, Michael - 96 - family medicine (Below Zone Selection) 

Holt, Kurtis - 95 - emergency medicine 

Huber, Michael - 95 - medicine 

Kane, Shawn - 95 - family medicine (sports medicine) 

Keenan, Sean - 95 - emergency 

medicine 

Klem, Christopher - 98 - surgery 

Koff, Stacey - 97 - urology 

Littrell, Anthony - 95 - preventive 

medicine 

Malik, Jamil - 95 - cardiology 

Meyer, Michael - 95 - surgery 

Moore, Kevin - 95 - family medicine 

Moran, Kimberly - 95 - infectious 

diseases 

Munaretto, Joseph - 95 - pathology 

Page, Neil - 95 - family medicine 

Phelps, Shean - 96 - family medicine (Below Zone Selection) 

Psolka, Maximilian - 95 - ophthalmology 

Rayfield, John - 96 - emergency 

medicine 

Reed, Mark - 96 - family medicine 

Sauer, Samual - 96 - aerospace 

medicine (Below Zone Selection) 

Sears, Stephen R. - 95 - gastroenterology 

Sebesta, James - 95 - surgery 

Shanley, Elizabeth - 95 - family 

medicine 

Singer, Darrell - 95 - preventive 

medicine 

Suh, Ryung - MPH 05 - occupational/environmental medicine 

Tanksley, Steven - 95 - emergency 

medicine 

Tobler, Steven - 95 - preventive 

medicine 

Topp, Raymond - 97 - orthopaedics 

Torres, Rolando - 95 - emergency 

medicine 

Tremaine, Ladd - 95 - pathology 

Uithol, Dawn - 95 - family medicine 

Wallace, David - 95 - family medicine 

Walts, Michael - 95 - pathology 

Wenzel, Robert - 95 - family medicine 

Whitcomb, Bradford - 95 - obstetrics/gynecology 

Wieman, Jason 

- 95 - preventive medicine 

Wool, Ronald - 

95 - medicine 

USU alumni 

promoted to O-5 
PAGE 5 

legs and waist in the jumble of metal and planks. A couple of the 

other workers were trying to get to them. At the time we didn't 

know if anyone else was in the pile, and my biggest concern was 

if the pile would collapse further while they were trying to extract 

the folks from it.” 

 The workers fell approximately 60 feet, according to eye witnesses. 

 “There was a potential for massive injuries,” Dr. Kass said, referring to the protruding metal beams and broken wood platforms 

that could have caused puncture wounds. “We’re thankful because the injuries could have been a lot worse.” 

 The first responders, included Drs. Kass, Bradshaw, and Bill 

Sykora, as well as medical technicians Master Sgt. Robert McCreary 

and Staff Sgt. Michelle Rogers, and other contractors on the project. All those involved with the rescue efforts were mindful of 

spine and head injuries. The patients were transported to awaiting ambulances on backboards and wore neck braces as a precaution. 

 The injured workers were taken to nearby Suburban Hospital, 

where one male worker was treated and released the same evening. The other two workers suffered concussions and remained 

in the hospital overnight for observation, according to the superintendent in charge of the construction. 

 “The cause of the collapse is still under investigation by the 

federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 

and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) officials,” 

said Mr. John Pomerville, assistant vice president for Environmental Health and Safety, director for Environmental Health and 

Occupational Safety. “When contractors are involved, this is the 

normal procedure. The debris pile must be removed and analyzed. 

Once all safety conditions required by OSHA and NAVFAC have 

been met, the brick resurfacing project will be allowed to continue.” 

knowledge base in nursing and healthcare. 

We are confident that our doctoral and 

masters graduates will make significant 

contributions in service to their country and 

will serve as ambassadors of the Uniformed 

Services University of the Health Sciences.” 

 Another first for the ceremony was the 

presidential address delivered by Charles L. 

Rice, M.D., USU president. Dr. Rice, a Navytrained surgeon and researcher, was installed as USU’s fifth president in February. 

 “"You, our graduates, have chosen the 

path of public service and are dedicating 

your life's work to the greater good,” Dr. 

Rice said. “It is both an awesome and a 

noble choice, which demands humility and 

sacrifice, and which brings untold rewards." 

 Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health 

Affairs Dr. William Winkenwerder, Jr., also 

addressed the graduating class of medical, 

graduate, and nursing students during the 

commencement exercise. 

 The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine awarded 159 Doctor of Medicine and 

38 Biomedical Sciences graduate degrees, 

while the GSN awarded 49 Master of Science degrees in the family nurse practitioner, perioperative clinical nurse specialist, 

and anesthesia nursing disciplines. 

 Since the school of medicine’s first commencement in 1980, more than 3,900 Doctor of Medicine degrees have been conferred. The SOM has also conferred nearly 

1,000 graduate level degrees. 

 The Graduate School of Nursing has 

conferred nearly 300 Master of Science in 

Nursing degrees since the school’s establishment in1993. 

 Degrees were conferred by USU Board 

of Regents Chair Everett Alvarez Jr., J.D. 

 The American Association for the Advancement of Science 

(AAAS) CEO and Executive Publisher of the prestigious journal, 

Science, Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., addressed attendees at this year’s 

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) research symposium. 

 The three-day symposium was held Tuesday through Thursday 

on the USU campus. This year’s theme was “Global Public Health: 

The Changing Role of Military Medicine.” The annual event is designed to showcase the research interests and achievements of 

the scientists at USU and its affiliated institutions, including the 

National Institutes of Health, and to promote collaboration both 

within the university and with the adjunct faculty at a variety of 

federal, state and private-university research facilities. 

 Research Week activities included school-specific programs and 

university-wide events: On Tuesday the Graduate School of Nursing held its Research Colloquium, the School of Medicine held its 

Graduate School Colloquium Wednesday, and the Faculty Senate 

Research Day was held Thursday. These events highlighted presentations by researchers across the university. 

 The program 

included symposia 

featuring USU faculty and affiliated 

faculty speakers, 

poster presentations 

by faculty and students, and oral presentations by graduate students in both 

basic sciences and 

nursing research. 

 Dr. Leshner, a 

scientist whose 

groundbreaking 

research in mental 

health on drug habituation has stirred 

national controversy 

and contributed 

greatly to national 

drug treatment policy, delivered the plenary address Thursday. As 

CEO of AAAS and publisher of Science, he has led the national 

dialogue on publication of publicly-supported science. 

 Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., distinguished professor of neuroscience, pharmacology and psychiatry and director, Department of 

Neuroscience, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 

gave this year’s Bullard Lecture: “Neural Messengers of Life and 

Death.” 

By MC3 Kory Kepner 

Staff writer, Office of External Affairs 

USU hosts annual 

Research Week 

Graphic design by Deborah Ford, HJF 

COLLAPSE, Continued from page 1 

GRADS, Continued from page 1 

News 
PAGE 6 

 Faculty, staff and students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health 

Sciences (USU) are witnessing a rebirth at 

the school. 

 The university wide renovation program is being coordinated by three offices at USU including: the Office of Resource Management, Facilities, and the 

Office of Research. 

 Steven Kaminsky, Ph.D, vice president 

for Research at USU, has stated that these 

are total renovations with the goal of 

replacing all of the infrastructure within a 

single lab and developing a new design 

to meet the faculty’s specific research. 

 Thirty-nine labs totaling 15,730 square 

feet have undergone renovation and five 

are currently being renovated. 

 On Aug. 3, 2003 the first hammer swung into 

action beginning phase one of the ongoing renovations. After the seventh phase is complete a total of 

18,385 square feet of teaching and learning space 

will have been renovated. 

 “The renovations will keep the school competitive,” Dr. Kaminsky said. “When students and faculty 

come in and see a new lab, it’s impressive. It’s the 

same feeling you have when one buys a new car.” 

 The new designs are more open and conducive 

to collaborative research endeavors. Faculty and 

staff in the new labs point our that there is enough 

space to work on a project and still carry our scientific discussions in the labs. 

 “They are total renovations,” Dr. Kaminsky said. 

“They go and take down all of the old cabinetry, all 

of the old infrastructure and floors. The goal was to 

make the labs better from the standpoint that they 

ergonomically design and incorporate the staffs and 

students needs into one idea. For instance, the labs 

now have sit down space whereas before if someone one wanted to sit down to work they would 

have to bring in there own desk.” 

 “The design is so much more efficient in bench 

and desk space,” said John WU, Ph.D, Obstetrics 

and Gynecology instructor. “The new layout also 

makes the work flow better. It allows for the techniques we use to work better. The new labs are not 

only cleaner looking, but the new materials make it 

so much easier to keep dust and dirt out of the 

labs.” 

 The renovations were needed because the labs 

were beginning to show signs of aging after 25 

years of use. “The good news is the buildings are 25 

years young. The bad news is the buildings are 25 

years old. Something had to be done,” Dr. Kaminsky said. 

 That’s when Dr. James Zimble, former USU president, and Dr. Larry Laughlin, dean of USU’s School 

of Medicine, set up a committee to look into renovating the labs. The nine-member committee looked 

at special criteria for the renovation of the labs. 

Everything from the recruitment and retention of 

staff to new requirements for use of laboratory 

space was looked into. 

 "The lab renovations were long overdue and 

greatly appreciated,” said Anthony T. Maurelli, 

Ph.D., Department of Microbiology and Immunology. They allowed us to incorporate changes that 

improve lab safety while making more efficient use 

of space. The renovations will significantly enhance 

our research program and training of graduate students." 

 Dr. Kaminsky said the whole project was, and is, 

a team effort. It starts with the principle investigators and works its way up. When undertaking a 

project like this it’s all about teamwork. 

Photo by MCSA Raul Zamora 

Members of the microbiology department work in their newly 

renovated laboratory 

By MC3 Kory Kepner 

Staff writer, Office of External Affairs 

Laboratory renovations almost complete 

News 

“The renovations will 

keep the 

school competitive. 

When students and 

faculty come 

in and see a 

new lab, it’s 

impressive. 

It’s the same 

feeling you 

have when 

one buys a 

new car.” 

Steven 

Kaminsky, 

Ph.D. 
Recognition: The American College of Obstetricians 

and Gynecologists named an award after USU’s William 

H.J. Haffner, M.D., professor of Obstetricians and Gynecology. 

Diane Lynn Padden, B.S.N., M.N., Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the Graduate School of Nursing’s Family Nurse Practioner program, received her doctorate of philosophy degree from the 

Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., May 13. Dr. Padden was 

also awarded the Janet Rexrode Southby Prize in Nursing Research. She 

will become the GSN’s Chair of the Department for Health, Injury and 

Disease Management, June 1, 2006. 

Dr. William Sykora was recently appointed assistant dean for Curriculum. 

Army Capt. Robert Cybulski, a second year graduate student in the Emerging Infectious Disease program, ran the Boston Marathon in a time of 3 

hours and18 minutes. 

In honor of the national observance of Mental Health Month in May, an 

essay titled “The Minds and Hearts of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and their 

Families,” by Robert Ursano, M.D., professor and chair, Department of 

Psychiatry, director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, is featured on the American Psychiatric Association consumer website: 

www.Healthyminds.org. 

Hails and Farewells: Congratulations to YN1 Douglas Smith of MILPO, 

who is retiring after 20 faithful years of service in the U.S. Navy. Please 

welcome the new USU chaplain, Chaplain Timothy Janning, CHC, U.S. 

Navy.

Look Who’s Talking... As a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?

“I wanted to be a 

baseball analyst, 

being on TV, and 

traveling the country. We’ll see how 

military medicine 

goes.” 

2nd Lt. Timothy Ori 

SOM student 

“I always wanted to 

help other people 

so I wanted to be a 

doctor. That wasn't 

possible in Ethiopia 

so I came here and 

became a corpsman.” 

HM1 Araya Amdetsyon, NCOIC, GSN

“I grew up taking 

care of my mom... 

I never lost the 

passion for helping people so I 

wanted to be a 

doctor.” 

2nd Lt. 

Joshua Duncan 

SOM student 

University Spotlight 

PAGE 7 

 I’ve seen your newsletter and just wanted to 

say I love it (it makes great nesting material) and 

wanted you to know a little about me and my 

family. 

 Canadian geese are a valuable natural resource that provide recreation and enjoyment 

to many of the USU family. The sight of the distinctive V-formation of a flock of Canadian 

geese always brings a special thrill. Our calls 

herald the changing of the seasons. 

 While most of you find us acceptable, I know we can cause 

some problems. Our droppings can become excessive (a goose 

produces a pound of droppings per day). Just like most parents 

we can be over-protective of our children and can become aggressive if you get too close, so just remember to watch us from at 

least 10 feet away. I also want my children to eat healthy so 

please make sure your trash and cigarette butts go where they 

belong. I return to USU every summer and I want it to remain 

beautiful. 

 Also, remember that we are protected by federal and state 

laws, so doing anything to our feathers, nests, eggs, etc., could get 

you in a lot of trouble. After my little goslings hatch we may move 

considerable distances from our nesting areas to brood-rearing 

areas, appearing suddenly “out of nowhere” at ponds bordered 

by lawns. So if you see us wandering around the old golf course, 

(bet you didn’t know USU was 

built on a golf course did you,) 

just use common sense because I would hate to become 

aggressive towards you. 

Sincerely, 

“Gracie” the Grey Goose 

Letter 

to the 

editor 

 It has been 

more than a 

month since the 

first issue of the 

USU Newsletter 

was published 

and our staff continues to work 

hard to bring you the latest in university 

happenings. 

 As stated in previous issues of the newsletter, our goal is to use this publication to 

highlight the extraordinary people and 

work being done at the university. 

 This newsletter is for every member of 

USU to use as a tool to receive information 

about what is taking place around the university as well as provide information to our 

staff so we can recognize those people 

who are much deserving. 

 Not only do we welcome constructive 

criticism of this publication, we encourage 

readers to send letters to the editor. Your 

letters can and should speak on any topic 

you feel is relevant to this university and 

this publication. 

 We strive to incorporate as much about 

individual recognition and accomplishments as possible, but if we don’t know 

about it, we can’t include it. Therefore, it’s 

imperative that you submit information in a 

timely manner and in the most detail possible to prevent a misunderstanding. 

 As editor, I truly look forward to hearing 

from you and receiving your input. 

 Please send letters to the editor or article 

submissions to: usunewsletter@usuhs.mil. 

Air Force Tech. Sgt. André Nicholson 

Letter 

from the 

editor 
PAGE 8 

Calendar of Events

 22 23 

Dept. of Biochemistry 

and Molecular Biology 

Presents 

“Mitotic Regulation of 

the Nuclear Pore 

Complex” 

by 

Stephen A. Osmani 

Ph.D. 

Dept. of Molecular 

Genetics, Ohio State 

University 

11:30 a.m. 

Rm A2011 

24 

Asian Pacific Islander 

History Month 

Celebration 

9 -10 a.m. 

USU Cafeteria 

Keynote Speaker 

Franklin S. Odo, Ph.D. 

Director of the Asian 

Pacific American 

Program 

Smithsonian Institution 

 

Toastmasters Meeting 

at AFRRI 

Noon - 1 p.m. 

AFRRI Small 

Conference Room 

25 

5K Fun Run/Walk at 

12 p.m. at the Comfort 

Zone 

 

Dept. of Pediatrics 

Research Conference 

"Neonatal/Perinatal 

Medicine" 7 - 10 a.m. 

Lec. Rm C 

26 

 

 

27 

28 29 30 

NCA BRAC Integration 

Planning Conference 

All day 

Location to be 

announced 

31 

NCA BRAC Integration 

Planning Conference 

All day 

Location to be 

announced 

 

 

1 

 

 

 

 

White Coat 

Ceremony 

12 p.m., Lec. Rm E 

2 

Dept. of Medicine 

Research Seminar 

To be announced 

Presented by 

Dr. Vasilios Kyttaris 

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. 

Rm A2053 

 

Regularly scheduled 

Investigator and Animal 

Handler Training Course 

8:30 a.m. - noon 

Rm A2054 

Spine Workshop: 

Cervical Course 

USU Anatomical 

Teaching Laboratory 

3 

Spine Workshop: 

Cervical Course 

USU Anatomical 

Teaching Laboratory 

4 

Spine Workshop: 

Thoraco-Lumbar 

Course 

June 4 - 6 

USU Anatomical 

Teaching Laboratory 

5 

Dept. of Microbiology 

and Immunology 

Seminar: 11:30 - 1p.m. 

Lec. Rm C "Visualizing 

and Profiling Second 

Messenger Dynamics 

and Kinase Activities in 

Living Cells" presented 

by Jin Zhang, Ph.D., 

Asst. Prof., Dept. of 

Pharmacology and 

Molecular Sciences, and 

Dept. of Neuroscience, 

John Hopkins University 

School of Medicine 

6 7 

Dept. Representative 

Meeting 11 a.m. 

Lec. Rm B 

 

Toastmasters Meeting 

at USU 

Noon - 1 p.m. 

Rm A2015 

8 9 10 

11 12 

 

13 14 

Toastmasters Meeting 

at AFRRI 

Noon - 1 p.m. 

AFRRI Small 

Conference Room 

15 16 

Dept. of Medicine Research Seminar 

To be announced 

Presented by 

Dr. Krishnamurthy 

Govindaraj 

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. 

Rm A2053 

17 

Hospital Corps 

Birthday Ball 

6 p.m. 

Doubletree Hotel 

Rockville, Md. 

May

June 

Memorial Day