Vol. 7, Issue 10 Jun 11, 2012 - Uniformed Services University of the ...

The Official USU NewsletterVolume 7, Issue 10 • June 11, 2012www.usuhs.mil

Sharon WillisDeputy Vice President for ExternalAffairs and Managing EditorChristine Creenan-JonesContributing WriterLori FieldsLayout and DesignProductionEditorial content is edited, preparedand provided by the USU Office ofExternal Affairs unless otherwiseindicated. The Pulse staff mayinclude or exclude articles basedupon news value, impact on theuniversity and space availability.SubmissionsThe Pulse will be publishedbi-weekly on Mondays. Thedeadline for submissions is at 4 p.m.Tuesday prior to the publicationdate. Submissions can be sent toswillis@usuhs.mil or by calling301-295-3578.Photo by Thomas C. BalfourOn the coverThe United States Marine Band—“ThePresident’s Own”—performs as guests arrivefor USU’s 33rd Commencement Ceremony,May 19, at DAR Constitution Hall inWashington, D.C. (See story, page 6.)USU alum shares unique perspectiveabout TBI at CNRM meetingBy Christine Creenan-JonesNavy Captain (Dr.) James Hancock, a USU alumus and director of medical services atNaval Medical Center Portsmouth, was the keynote speaker at the CNRM annual meeting.He discussed traumatic brain injury from both the patient and provider’s perspective, twovantages he has experienced as both a physician and wounded warrior.The Center for Neuroscienceand Regenerative Medicine heldits annual meeting at the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH), May21-22. During the event, several USUexperts shared important researchfindings about Traumatic BrainInjury (TBI) – a common, but vexingwound affecting more than 200,000servicemembers worldwide.The keynote speaker, Navy Captain(Dr.) James Hancock, director ofmedical services at Naval MedicalCenter Portsmouth, also provided aunique glimpse into the troublesomedisorder from both a physician andpatient’s point of view – a vantagefew others in military medicine haveexperienced fully.Before his war injury, Hancock, aseasoned combat surgeon, had treatedmany servicemembers with TBIs,especially while serving on the frontlinesin Iraq and Afghanistan, wherehomemade-bomb attacks are common.TBIs – though prevalent at home too– are different, more severe, when theyhappen in theater operations, believesHancock, a USU graduate (SoM ‘95)with extensive deployment experience.“Brain injuries are more than whatyou see in a lab,” he told audiencemembers attending CNRM’s annualmeeting. “They need to be placed inthe context of what Soldiers experienceas well.”In Afghanistan, servicemembersface many challenges, from dangerousliving conditions and extreme climatechanges to separation anxiety andemotional stress. This can affect TBI,said Hancock, who was badly injured byan IED himself.Hancock’s TBI began impactingother parts of his life, includingsleep, balance and various facetsof his personality. Healing was along, sometimes frustrating process,especially since the care he receivedback home was fragmented at times.Like researchers at the CNRM,Hancock wanted to excel TBI fronts, sohe began looking for ways to improvewarrior care. His work caught theattention of several senior militaryContinued to page 9Photo by SPC Ernest E. Sivia III2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

New USAFP President Installed via SkypeBy Sharon WIllisCourtesy Photo/USAFPCourtesy Photo/USAFPUSU graduates are used to addressingand overcoming challenges, andas an Army physician who has beenassigned to support some of the largestcombat units, Col. (Dr.) Michael Place(SoM ’91) has certainly had his share.Place was elected President of theUniformed Services Academy of FamilyPhysicians (USAFP), and his installationwas to be held at the 2012 USAFPnational meeting in front of the membershipwith some amount of pomp andcircumstance. But, the incoming presidentwas deployed to Afghanistan, andthe national meeting was in Las Vegas,some 7,500 miles away, presenting aslight dilemma for the (parent organization)American Academy of FamilyPhysicians leadership.But on March 22, in front of anestimated 600 uniformed family physiciansand their guests, Place joined hisArmy, Navy, Air Force and Public HealthService colleagues via Skype, the Internetphone service with webcam imaging.Attendees burst into wild applause andgave Place a standing ovation as his imageappeared on screen – seated inside a starkmilitary tent in the combat theater ofoperations, a world away from the glitzand glamour of the Vegas strip.As the fanfare settled, Glen Stream,M.D., M.B.I., president of AAFP, turnedthe podium webcam around so thatPlace, who has rarely missed a chaptermeeting in almost two decades, couldsee the audience.“When Dr. Stream turned thecamera to the members of theUSAFP during the installation, I wasabsolutely overwhelmed,” Place wasquoted in an AAFP News article. “TheUSAFP annual meeting is not only aCME extravaganza and a display ofsome of the finest clinical research inprimary care, but truly is a reunion offriends who span the globe in serviceto our nation.“Some of my closest friends werethere,” he continued. “For that groupof people to give me a standing ovationwas profoundly humbling.”“I’ve installed 16 chapter presidentsduring my years on the AAFP Boardof Directors and I’ve heard some prettygood speeches,” said Stream in an AAFPblog post about the event. “But nothingcompares to that inspiring day.”Place is the commander of the10th Combat Support Hospital.While deployed he also serves as thecommander of a medical task force.He has previously served as divisionsurgeon for the 101st AirborneDivision, and command surgeon for theU.S. Army Cadet Command, amongothers assignments.Others with USU ties joiningPlace on the current USAFP leadershipteam are President-elect AirForce Lt.Col. (Dr.) Pamela Williams,former assigned faculty in the USUDepartment of Family Medicine,Past-President Navy Capt. (Dr.)Maureen Padden (SoM ’92), andBoard of Directors members AirForce Maj. (Dr.) Marc Childress(SoM ’02), Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.)Christopher Paulson (SoM ’96), AirForce Lt. Col. (Dr.) John Hallgren(SoM ’95), Army Lt.Col. (Dr.)Michael Oshiki (SoM ’98), Air ForceCapt. (Dr.) Brooke Sciuto (SoM ’10),Army Capt. (Dr.) Caitlyn Rerucha(SoM ’11), and Air Force 2nd Lt.Rebecca Lauters (SoM ’14).Important USUSecurity Notes:• USU badge identification(ID) cards are to be worn atall times while on Universityproperty. Your ID badgeshould be displayed on yourfront between your shouldersand waist. If you see someonewithout their ID badge challengethem. Remember—security iseveryone’s responsibility.• USU badge ID cards should notbe worn off site. You should notadvertise where, and by whom,you are employed. OPSEC,OPSEC, OPSEC!• Is your security investigation/clearance up to date? If youare unsure, inquire at theSecurity office.• When you renew your USUbadge ID card, check your CACexpiration date as well.• If you are a contractor and youneed to renew your USU badgeID, please bring with you a signedmemorandum of employment onUSU letterhead.June 11, 2012 3

Artino wins Award forSecond Straight YearBy Sharon WillisNavy Cmdr. Anthony Artino,Ph.D., associate professor and healthcareadministrator in the Departmentof Preventive Medicine and Biometrics,was presented the Charles R.Loar Literary Award from the NavyMedical Service Corps for the secondconsecutive year.“I’m extremely honored to receivethe Loar Award a second time,”Artino said. “Although none of usconduct research for the purpose ofreceiving an award, it’s always nicewhen others acknowledge our work.This award is especially meaningfulto me because it comes from aNavy organization, and it seemsthey appreciate our goal of evaluatingthe factors underlying poorperformance in medical school.Ultimately, we believe a betterunderstanding of these factors is akey first step in developing suitableAlum shares perspective aboutTBI at CNRM meetingContinued from page 3leaders, including Navy AdmiralMichael Mullen, former chairman ofthe Joints Chief of Staff, who askedHancock to help form a “Gray Team”of medical personnel with combatexperience to establish new, improvedmilitary protocols for how TBI washandled on the battlefield.Although, the Gray Team has madeconsiderable headway for a troublesomeproblem dubbed the signatureinjury of today’s war, TBI is still avery complex wound. At the meeting,Hancock implored audience membersto find solutions, especially people atthe CNRM who have the knowledgeand expertise to continue making abig difference.“Get out of your box, be inventive,”he told them. “You are the future. Youremediation plans for strugglingmedical students.”The Loar Award recognizes excellencein professional and technicalwriting and is presented to an officerwhose paper focuses on healthcareadministration, leadership, ormanagement, particularly of interestto military medicine or Navymedicine. Winners receive the awardduring the annual Lewis E. AngeloProfessional Symposium.“This is the second year in a rowI have accepted this award on Tony’sbehalf. This award represents Tony’scommitment to outstanding scholarshipand research,” said Cmdr. Glen Diehl,program director for USU’s Masterof Public Health Administration andPolicy degree program. “We appreciatehis hard work and his ability to put USUfront and center in everyone’s mindwhen it comes to education.”are going to solve some of the biggestproblems out there.”The creative, analytical thinkingHancock encouraged at the meetinghas been driving CNRM researchersfor the past four years. They aretackling TBI from all angles, whichincludes developing new diagnosticmeasures and improved treatmentmethods so wounded warriorshave better, more comprehensivecare. Research at the CNRM is alsoyielding promising results in cuttingedgescientific fields like biomarkeridentification and neuroregeneration– disciplines that could lead to amajor breakthrough for TBI.Visit www.usuhs.mil/cnrm formore information about the center.USU 40th AnniversaryTrivia #2 WinnerCongratulations to RobertaMcIntyre, administrative programspecialist, for being the first personto correctly answer last issue’strivia question:Many distinguished people havespoken at USU’s graduationover the years, including thiscommencement speaker who said,“Yours is the only medical school inAmerica which trains physicians tobe ready for duty on the bottom ofthe ocean or on the surface of themoon and any place in between.”McIntyre answered Ronald Reagan,who was the keynote speaker atUSU’s commencement in 1987.4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

2012USUCommencementJune 11, 2012 7

USU’s tutoring club: A mind for helpingBy Christine Creenan-JonesArmy Second Lieutenants John Green and Kassandra Khan represented USU at theWheaton High School Career fair, where they are part of a university-sponsored clubthat provides free tutorial services to local teenagers.Studying is a part of life for moststudents at USU, because the curriculumis so challenging. As a result,many officers develop great learninghabits, which several of them arepassing on to younger students atnearby high schools as members of auniversity-sponsored tutoring club.The club was formed by USU medicalstudents to give young people the edgethey need to thrive academically. EverySaturday, club members lead smallgroupstudy sessions covering all subjectareas, so everybody receives hands-on,personalized attention, whether they’retaking advanced placement math orremedial English.Although the club is a large commitment,especially since each tutoringsession lasts about two hours, the workis also tremendously satisfying for manyclub members, including Army SecondLieutenant John Green, whose beenvolunteering at Wheaton High School inBethesda for close to a year now.“Education is so important,” he said.“If I can make even a small difference,I’m happy to put in the hours.”40thAnniversaryCelebrationSave the Date • Sept. 20-22USU bids farewellto senior leaderBy Christine Creenan-JonesFarewells areoften bittersweet,especiallywhen celebratedleaders likeDonna Waechter,Ph.D.Courtesy PhotoDonna Waechter,Ph.D., AssociateDean for MedicalEducation, leaveUSU for newcareer opportunities.The long-time administratorhas accepted a leadership position atthe Association of American MedicalColleges in Washington, D.C.Although she leaves soon, Waechter’smark on the campus will remain longafter her June departure.Waechter’s impact will resonate mostin the School of Medicine, where she’slabored tirelessly for the past 28 yearsto ensure only the highest academicstandards prevail. An accreditation andassessment expert, Waechter has playeda huge role in USU’s growth and developmentover the past three decades.Her success is also personifiedby hundreds of military physiciansstationed across the globe – alumni sheboth counseled and mentored whileworking as Deputy Assistant Dean inthe Office of Student Affairs, her firstjob at USU. Over the years, Waechtermaintained a close relationship witheach class, even earning two covetedOutstanding Civilian Educator Awards,a testament to both her popularity andeffectiveness as a classroom instructor– another role she’s taken on at USU.Waechter’s colleagues also hold herin high regard. She will be missed bymany at the university, including LarryLaughlin, MD, PhD, dean of the Schoolof Medicine, who has worked closelywith Waechter for many years.“Donna has been an incredible forceon this campus for a very long time,”he said. “She is a big reason why thisuniversity is successful, and while I’msad to see her go, I also realize USUhas been very lucky to have such a fineleader for so many years.”8 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter