Understanding PTSD - Uniformed Services University of the Health ...

Sharon Willis
Deputy Vice President for External
Affairs and Managing Editor
Christine Creenan-Jones
Contributing Writer
Lori Fields
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Photo by Sharon Willis
On the cover
Army Col. (Dr.) David Benedek and Dr. Lei
Zhang, from USU’s Center for the Study of
Traumatic Stress, are conducting a research
study to identify potential biomarkers for
PTSD. (See story, page 6.)
2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter
Esteemed surgeon delivers
27th Annual Packard Lecture
By Christine Creenan-Jones
(Pictured, left to right) Dr. Jeffrey Longacre, interim VP for External Affairs, USU; Dr.
Murray Brennan, 27th Annual David Packard Lecturer; Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, director,
Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Dr. Tonie Hooper, president, USU Faculty Senate.
Renowned surgeon and researcher,
Murray F. Brennan, M.D., F.A.C.S., was
the guest speaker for the 2012 David
Packard Lecture, sponsored by the USU
Faculty Senate, with support from the
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the
Advancement of Military Medicine, on
March 15. His presentation,”Lessons
Learned as a Surgical Oncologist,” drew
inspiration from his bench and bedside
experiences at places like Harvard
Medical School, the National Institutes
of Health and Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center, where he currently
serves as the Benno C. Schmidt Chair
in Clinical Oncology, Director of the
International Center and Vice President
for International Programs.
While speaking at USU, Brennan
also emphasized the importance of
mentorship in medical professions, the
evolution of cancer care and the need
for objective approaches when treating
vexing diseases like cancer.
“We are prisoners of our own
biases,” said Brennan, who believes
today’s physicians are too narrowly
focused on finding data to support
their personal objectives. Instead,
providers should weigh the benefits
and consequences of treatment, use
critical eyes when evaluating research
and find better ways to educate
patients, he continued.
Brennan’s words—validated by
decades of groundbreaking work—
resonated with the crowd, including
Army Colonel (Dr.) Craig Shriver,
director of the Comprehensive Cancer
Center, who provided opening remarks
for this year’s Packard Lecture.
“It’s not hyperbole to state that Dr.
Murray Brennan is a pioneer and
living legend,” Shriver said. “It’s fitting
that we honor him at USU on its 40th
anniversary, because his influence
on military surgery has been nearly
unprecedented amongst surgeons of
the modern era.”
Dr. Brennan has trained several
military physicians throughout his
illustrious career, including four
program directors and several combat
doctors. His exceptional career and
unique expertise were major reasons
why Brennan was invited to speak
during the Packard Lecture, one of
USU’s most prestigious academic
events, named after the university’s
second president, former Deputy
Secretary of Defense and co-founder of
the Hewlett-Packard Company.
Courtesy Photo