Volume 6, Issue 15 n October 3, 2011www.usuhs.mil

The Official USU Newsletter

On the cover USU’s Brigade Chaplain (then) Lt. Chris Martin addresses troops during a recent deployment. (See story page 3)

Courtesty Photo

Sharon Willis Deputy Vice President for External Affairs and Managing Editor

Ken FragerPublic Affairs Specialist

Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine Production Editor

MC1 Chad Hallford Writer

Christine Creenan-Jones Contributing Writer

Lori Fields Layout and Design

Production Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the USU Office of External Affairs unless otherwise indicated. The Pulse staff may include or exclude articles based upon news value, impact on the university and space availability.

Submissions The Pulse will be published bi-weekly on Mondays. The deadline for submissions is at 4 p.m. Tuesday prior to the publication date. Submissions can be sent to usunewsletter@usuhs.mil or by calling 301-295-0895.

2 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

Department of Surgery hosts 26th annual trauma conferenceby Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

USUcelebratedits26thAnnualSurgeryforTraumaDayAugust25inSanfordAuditorium.

Theday-longeventfeaturedpromi-nentguestlecturers,includingMichaelRotondo,M.D,theWilliamR.Druckerdistinguishedsurgicallecturer.Dr.RotondoisprofessorandChairmanfortheDepartmentofSurgeryandChief,CenterofExcellenceforTraumaandSurgicalCriticalCareatPittCountyMemorialHospitalinNorthCarolina.TheMartinSilversteindistinguishedsurgicallecturerwasJohnArmstrong,M.D.,fromtheUniversityofSouthFloridaCollegeofMedicineinTampa,whereheisassociateprofessorofSurgeryandMedicalDirectoroftheCenterforAdvancedMedicalLearningandSimulation.

Severalotherdistinguishedspeakersparticipated,includingDr.JonathanWoodson,theAssistantSecretaryofDefenseforHealthAffairsandDr.RobertDodson(USU,SoM’86),surgeonandpresidentofthemedicalstaffattheSt.John’sRegionalMedicalCenterinJoplin,Missouri.

Dr.Dodson’sspeechtitled“Experi-encewiththeJoplinTornado,”highlightedhowhisUSUeducationandmilitarytraumatraininghelpedlaythegroundworkforthesuccessfulmedicalsupportofthecityfollowingthatMay22,2011tornadothatstruckhishospital.

“Youhavetobeprepared,”saidDodson,whoretiredfromtheAirForce.“Thisschool(USU)isallaboutgivingpeoplethetoolstomakegooddecisions.”

AfterthetornadorippedthroughJoplin,theSt.John’shospitalwastheonlymedicalfacilitystillstanding,butithadsustainedmajordamage.

“Theonlythingworsethanbeinghitbyatornadoisbeingtheonlysurvivinghospital,”Dodsonsaid.

Despitearuinedmedicalfacility,limitedsuppliesandpracticallynoelectroniccommunicationcapability,thesemedicalprofessionalsaddressedmorethan350casualtieswithinthefirsthourafterthetornado.

“Itwasdifficult,butwewentfromnothingtofullycapableinsevendays,”hesaid.

Thecasualtycountwouldcontinuetoriseuntilmorethan1,500casual-tieswereseen.Intotal,morethan150peoplelosttheirlivesinthestorm,includingsixpeoplewhowereinthehospitalwhenthetornadohit.

Butthroughthistragicevent,DodsonwantedtoprovideaspecificmessagetothestudentsatUSU–qualitytrainingwillempowerthemtosucceeddespitethesituationandausteresetting.

“Notonlywillyoulearndisasterplanninghere–youwilllearnitandyouwillliveit,”Dodsonsaid.“Onedayyouwillhavetodothis.Sotakeadvan-tageoftheexperienceyouhavehere.”

Dr. Robert Dodson, a surgeon and president of the medical staff at the St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri, speaks during the 26th annual Surgery for Trauma Day at USU. Dodson (USU ‘1986) spoke about his experiences following the May 22 tornado that hit Joplin.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

NavyLt.Cmdr.ChrisMartinassumedresponsibilitiesastheChaplainfortheUniformedServicesUniversityoftheHealthSciencesthissummer.

PreviouslyservingatMarineCorpsBaseKaneoheBay,Hawaii,herelieveNavyChaplain(Lt.Cmdr.)BruceMentzer,whoretiredinAugust.

“Iamexcitedtobehere.Ihavealwayshadacloserelationshipwithmyunitdoctorsondeployments,”ChaplainMartinsaid.“So,Iamreallyexcitedaboutbeinginontheinitialtraininglevelforourfuturedoctors.”

HavingpreviouslyservedonthreedeploymentsassignedtoMarinebattalionsinbothIraqandAfghani-stan,ChaplainMartinfeelshisexperi-encewillbevaluableincompletingtheCommandReligiousProgram–thefreeexerciseofreligion,aswellasallpersonnel,staff,studentsandtheirfamiliesbeingabletocallontheChaplain’sofficeforsupportthroughcounsel,worshipandtrainingactivi-tieswhichsupportcharacterdevelop-mentandspiritualformation.

“IamhopingtobringthreethingstoUSU:availability,approachabil-ityandfriendliness,”hesaid.“Iwanteveryonetofeelcomfortableenough

toapproachachaplain’sofficewithanyneed.Iwantthemtoknowweareavailabletomeetanyone’sneeds,whentheyneedus.And,weareheretohelpthemattaintheirgoals.”

Lt.Cmdr.MartinwasborninPortsmouth,VirginiaattheU.S.NavyHospital.HeearnedaBachelorofSciencedegreeinBusinessfromMiamiUniversityinOxford,Ohioin

October 3, 2011 3

A Profile in Leadership: Chaplain Chris Martin by Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine

1992andreceivedadirectcommis-sionintheNavyasaChaplainCandidatein1997.Lt.Cmdr.MartinearnedaMastersofDivinitydegreefromGordon-ConwellTheologicalSeminaryinSouthHamilton,Massa-chusettsin1998andwasordainedaMinisterofWordandSacramentbythePresbyterianChurch(USA)inSeptember,2001.

Lt.Cmdr.MartinistheproudhusbandtohiswifeJulie,andfathertotheirthreechildren,Ben,Katie,andDavid.

Throughallofhispersonalexperi-ences,educationandperspective,theChaplainhopeshewillbeavaluedleader,coworkerandfriendtoevery-oneatUSU.

“Ultimately,Ihopepeopleleavethisofficewithapositiveimageofmilitarychaplains,”hesaid.“Thisisnotaboutme.Whenthesedoctorsandnursesgettotheirnextdutyassignment,sayfiveyearsdowntheroad,andtimesgettough,Ihopetheirexperienceheremakesthemfeelcomfortableenoughtoreachouttotheircurrentchaplainfortheassis-tancetheyneed.”

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Courtesty Photo

Lt. Cmdr. Chris Martin addresses troops during a recent deployment with a Marine battalion in Afghanistan.

4 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

USU’s Williams honored by national associationby Ken Frager

NavyCmdr.(Dr.)CarlosWilliams,DirectorofEducationandCivil-MilitaryMedicineattheCenterforDisasterandHumanitarianAssis-tanceMedicine(CDHAM),receivedthePresident’sawardfromtheNationalMedicalAssociation,thelargestandoldestnationalorganiza-tionrepresentingAfricanAmericanphysiciansandpatientsintheUnitedStatesandabroad.

Cmdr.WilliamswasrecognizedforhisoutstandingworkaschairoftheOfficeoftheAssistantSecretaryofDefenseforHealthAffairsMedicalStabilityOperationsWorkingGroup’sEducationandTrainingCommittee.Dr.Williamsledtheeffortthatestab-lishedtheDOD’sMinorityGlobalHealthEducationandTrainingConsortium.ThisinitiativebringstogethertheNMA,theAmerican

Heiscurrentlyworkingincoordina-tionwithnumerousUnitedNationsagenciesandotherU.S.governmentdepartmentsandinternationalandnationalnon-governmentalorgani-zationstoimprovepartnernationsdisasterresponsecapabilities.Cmdr.WilliamshasconductedsustainedengagementsinseveralAfricannations,focusingoncrisisresponseanddiseasesurveillance.

InhislettertoCmdr.Williams,Dr.LeonardWeaver,PresidentoftheNMA,stated,“Youhaveachievedthehigheststandardsofhumanitarianismthroughyourexemplarywork.”Hewentontosay,“ThroughyourworkwiththeFederalCenterforDisas-terandHumanitarianAssistanceMedicineyouhaveimprovedthelivesofmillionsaroundtheglobe.”

Cmdr.WilliamsbringsabreadthofexperiencetoCDHAMandUSU.Heisclinicallytrainedinbothpediatricsandinternalmedicine,andbesideshismedicaldegreefromMorehouseSchoolofMedicine,heholdsMastersdegreesinbothPublicHealthandBusinessAdministrationfromJohnsHopkinsUniversity.

MedicalAssociationandtheNationalHispanicMedicalAssocia-tion.ItseekstopairU.S.-basedinsti-tutionswithpublichealthprogramsinAfrica,AsiaandSouthAmerica.

USU welcomed the newest students to the campus, including the School of Medicine’s class of 2015 and the new graduate students with a special Presentation Ceremony to round out Orientation week. This ceremony is an official induction into life as a student, and the students recite their respective Oaths, swearing to uphold the standards of their profession of medicine and science. It also was the first opportunity for family to visit the campus and to celebrate along with faculty and staff.

The medical school class of 2015 includes 171 students across the services, while the graduate school welcomed more than 40 new future researchers.

Presenting our latest best and the brightest

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Photo by Ken Frager

Navy Commander (Dr.) Carlos Williams accepts the National Medical Association’s President’s Award from Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr., Surgeon General of the Navy.

October 3, 2011 5

HPRC Health TipsThe Human Performance

Resource Center Health Tips is a new column intended to provide the USU community with information to help develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Check out the HPRC website at: http://humanperformanceresourcecenter.org.

Swimming for fitnessSwimmingisawonderfulway

toimproveoverallfitnesswhileminimizingriskofinjury.It’seasyonyourjointsandimprovescardiovascularfitness.Whiletrain-inginapoolmaynotsimulateyourspecificduties,cross-training

Maintaining connectionsby VPE Staff

foralumnitohaveoneofficetoworkthrough,andithelpsuscontinuetobuildtheuniversity’srelationshipwiththem,”saidMs.Willis.

Theteamistaskedwithkeepingtrackofmorethan6,500graduatesoftheSchoolofMedicine,Gradu-ateNursingandGraduateEducationprograms.“Internetsearchenginesandthemilitarylocatorsareourbestfriends,”Ms.Willissaid.Theofficealsohelpsgraduatesstayincontactthroughemail,Facebook,andevents,likethesuccessful“GuessWho’sComingtoDinner”programbeingrelaunchedshortly,whichpairsalumniwithcurrentstudentsfornetworkingoverdinner.

“Oneofthemostvaluablebenefitsforstudents,andevenprospectivestudents,isourabilitytoconnectthemtoalumniwhocanhelpguidethemduringtheirmilitarymedicalcareers,”Ms.Willissaid.“Gettingaclassroomeducationiscritical,butputtingthateducationtowork,orexperiencinglifeinaspecificmedicalspecialtyortreatmentfacility,isbetterlearnedfromsomeonewhohasbeen

reducestheriskofinjuryfromotherrepetitiveexerciselikerunning.Effec-tivepooltrainingsessionsshouldvaryinintensityandemphasis.Toavoidshoulderjointandupperbackissues,warmupbyswimmingforfivetotenminutesatapaceslowerthanyourusualtrainingpace,andincludekickingandpullingdrills.Toimprovestrengthandenduranceinthewater,tryintervaltraining.Shorterrestinter-valswillimproveendurance,whilelongeroneswillstressyouranaerobicsystemandimproveyourstrengthandpower.Alternatingbetweenaerobic(longerandslower)andanaerobic(shorterandmoreintense)workoutswilloptimizeyouroverallperfor-manceforbothcombatswimmingoperationsandcardiovascularfitnessingeneral.

Energy drinks and adolescentsEnergydrinksaremarketed

toimprovephysicalandmentalperformance,mainlyto“boostenergy.”Adolescentsarefindingenergydrinksmoreoften,inpartbecauseofheavymarket-ingofsportsdrinksbyathleticsuperstars,causingadolescentstoconfuseenergydrinksforsportsdrinks.Energydrinkscontainlargeamountsofcaffeineandotherstimulants,whilesportsdrinkscontaincarbohydratesandelectro-lytesandareintendedforusewhenathletes(includingadolescents)areengagedinprolonged,vigorousexercise.Adolescentshavealreadyhadproblemscombiningenergydrinksandalcohol,whichhasledtoriskybehavior.

WalkingintoroomA1025islikewalkingintoashrinetoUSU.ThewallsarecoveredwithphotosofalumnisittingonpalacethronesinIraq,ontopofMt.Kilimanjaro,onboardtheUSNSComfort,andtakingoverashospitalcommanders.Aposterfromthefilm,“FightingforLife,”whichfeaturedUSUanditsalumni,sitsinthecornernexttoabookshelffilledwithdecadesoftheuniversity’syearbookcontainingphotosofeverygraduate.

Andnowonder.A1025iswhereUSU’sAlumniAffairsOffice,directedbyMs.SharonWillissince1993,andherteam,whichincludesGloriaMaguireandBernieSchwartz,aretaskedwithformingthebondthatkeepsstudentsconnectedtotheUniver-sitylongaftertheygraduate.

“Foralumni,weareacentralpointofcontactforwhateverservicesorinfor-mationtheyneedfromtheUniversity,”saidMs.Willis.

TheAlumniAffairsstaffgetsrequestsforLRCaccounts,transcripts,facultyappointments,reunioninformation,orquestionsonhowUSUtimecountstowardretirement.“It’smucheasier

there.Ouralumnivaluetheopportu-nitytoserveinthisrole.”

Theofficealsoassistsotherdepart-mentswhoneedtoreachgraduatestoteachorforsomeotherpurpose.“TherehavebeentimeswhentheAdmissionsofficeneededagraduateinadeployedlocationtoserveasaninterviewerforanapplicantwhoisalsoinornearthatsamedeployedlocation,andourofficewasabletohelpthem,”saidMs.Willis.“ThesameholdstruewhenthePresident’sofficereceivesaninvitationtoaninstallationceremonyforanewuniversitypresidentaroundthecountry.WehelptoidentifyandcontactUSUalumniinthoseareaswhomightbeabletoserveasofficialrepre-sentativesatthoseceremonies.”

“Iprobablyhaveoneofthegreat-estjobshere,”saidMs.Willis.“Igettowatchourstudentsgrowwhilethey’rehere,butIalsogettofollowtheircareersandshareintheirsuccessesalongtheway.AndtheworkwedobenefitsnotjusttheUniversity,butalloftheSoldiers,SailorsandAirmenandevencivilians,whoourgraduatescareforwhileservinginharm’sway.”

6 The Pulse The Official USU Newsletter

The brotherhood of military medicineby Christine Creenan-Jones

New faculty orientation dayCourtesy USU Faculty Senate Mentoring Committee

Twinbrothers,BenandZachClarkgrewupwatchingtheirfatherCol.(Dr.)GaryClark,(USU‘88),takecareofSoldiersonthemilitarypoststheycalledhome.Hewasaverygooddoctor,andaneasyrolemodelfortheboys.Soitwasn’tlongbeforeyoungBenandZachdecidedtheywantedtohealwarriorsasArmyphysicians,too.

Theirresolvecontinuedthroughhighschool.Thetwins,athleticandpopular,finishedatthetopoftheirclass.Forthem,collegeopportunitieswereboundless,butBenandZachhadonlyoneuniversityinmind.

AttendingWestPoint,theArmy’smilitaryacademyinNewYork,waspartofthefamilylegacycarvedbytheirfatherandolderbrother.Italsobroughtthetwinsonestepclosertotheirdream.

“TherearenoeasydaysatWestPoint,”saidBen,theolder,slightlytallerbrother.“Theprogramislongandintense,butit’sincrediblyrewarding,

TheUSUFacultySenateMentoringCommitteewillhostanorientationdayonThursday,October13,2011,inLectureRoomE,BuildingC(0800-1545),forallnewfaculty.

Themainfunctionofthecommitteeistoidentifyandpromoteadministrativelysupportedpoliciesandpracticesthatfacilitatecareerandacademicsuccess,enhancedpersonalgrowth,andjobsatisfactionofallUSUfaculty.Inaccordancewiththischarge,presentationsfromseniorfacultyandUniversityleadershavebeenplannedthroughoutthedaytoprovidenewfacultywithimportantinformationandanopportunitytoaskquestionsaboutavailableresources.

WhiletheNewFacultyOrientationDayhasbeendesignedprimarilyfor

too.Yougainalotofknowledgeandself-confidenceatWestPoint.Aftergraduation,IfeltlikeIcouldtackleanyobstacleinmypath.”

Today,thoseobstaclesareprettysignificantontheBethesdacampus.LikeWestPoint,USUexpectsmorefromitsstudentsthanmosttraditionaluniversi-ties.Academicdevelopmentisjustonepieceofthecurriculum.BenandZach,secondlieutenantsnow,willhavetobestrongmilitaryleadersaswell.

But,theirupbringingandeduca-tionhaspreparedthemforUSU.Theyalreadyhavetheambitionanddisci-plinetosucceed.Andwhenthingsgettough,theyalsohaveanothersecretweapontofallbackon–eachother.

“MybrotherandIhavealwaysbeenveryclose,”saidZach,themoreartistictwin.“Wepusheachothertodowellandalwayskeepaneyeoutforoneanother.”

TheiruniquebondwillhelptheClarkbrothersnavigateanother

facultywhoarenewtotheUniversity,ALLFACULTYareencouragedtoattendasmanyoftheplannedsessionsaspossible,includingtheall-facultyreceptionwhichwillfollowinthelobbyoutsideofLectureRoomE.

Allattendeesmustregisterinadvanceat:

http://www.lrc.usuhs.mil/content/training_reg.php?Grp=Public&ClassID=716

Event highlights include: • IntroductionandOverview

byUSULeadership• FacultySupportResources• Appointment,Promotionand

TenureprocessatUSU(SOMandGSN)

• ResearchandTechnologyTransfer

difficultfour-yearprogram.USUisthefinallegoftheiracademicjourneyintomilitarymedicinebeforethetwinsareabletocallthemselvesArmydoctorsatlast.

Photo by Thomas C. Balfour

• Teaching&Education(CurriculumReform)

• Reception(ALLFACULTYAREINVITED)

PleasemarkthedateandwatchTVmonitorsaroundtheUSUcampusforspecificinformationabouttheday’sevents.

Contacts:FacultySenatePresident:TomokoHooper,MD,MPH(thooper@usuhs.mil)

Mentoring Committee Co-chairs:JohnanKaleeba,Ph.D.(jkaleeba@usuhs.mil)andColNicholasLezama,USAF,MC,SFS.(nicholas.lezama@usuhs.mil)

October 3, 2011 7

Briefs

Working side by side on land…and at sea.

Lt.Col.(Dr.)KevinBanks(SoM,2001),amemberofacombatsupporthospitalTaskForceinAfghanistanhadbeenintheatreforaboutamonthwhenherealizedthattherewasalargeUSUcontingentworkingwithhim.USUalumnifromtheschoolofmedicineandGSNwereworking.AccordingtoDr.Banks,“ThisisjustonemoredemonstrationthatUSUgraduatesareactiveinoperationalsettings,withGSNandSOMalumniworkingsidebyside.”

Shown l-r: Capt. Allen Mitchell ‘92 (NMC Portsmouth - ENT), Lt. Cmdr. Tim Mickel ‘99 (NMC San Diego - Orthopedics), Lt. Cmdr. James Solomon ‘03 (NNMC Bethesda - Anesthesiology), Lt. Cmdr. Kerry Hollenbeck ‘03 (NMC San Diego - Anesthesiology), Lt. Cmdr. Katherine Covington Austin ‘00 (NMC Portsmouth - OB/ Gyn), Capt. Michael Mazzilli ‘90 (NMC Portsmouth - Anesthesiology), Col. Edwin Burkett ‘91 (Langley AFB - Chief, Global Health, Office of the Command Surgeon), Lt. Cmdr. Philip Letada ‘03 (NMC Portsmouth - Dermatology)Cmdr. (s) Andrew J Sellers ‘99 (NMC Portsmouth - Radiology), Maj. Melissa McGuinn King ‘03 (Eglin AFB - Hematology/ Oncology), Capt. (s) Stephen Sears ‘93 (OSD(HA) TMA)

AirForceMaj.(Dr.)MelissaKing(SoM,2003)recentlyreturnedfromadeploymenton-boardtheUSNSCOMFORT.Shewrote“DespitemyAirForceroots,IhavebeenassignedtotheUSNSComfort,”whichrecentlyreturnedfromtheirmorethanfivemonthdeploymentinsupportofOperationContinu-ingPromise2011,ahumanitarianmissiontoninecountriesintheCaribbeanandCentralandSouthAmerica.“USUwaswellrepresentedandIhadtheopportunitytoworkalongside10otherUSUalumniwhowereaboardforthemission.”

Kneeling (l-r): Capt. Greg Phillips (CRNA, ‘09), Col. Clorinda Zawacki (DCCS, ‘93), Maj. Christopher Finch (Anesthesiologist, ‘05), Maj. Denise Moultrie (RN, OIC, ‘08), Col. Clifford Porter (General Surgeon, ‘86), Maj. Kevin Guthmiller (Anesthesiologist, ‘05), Capt. (P) Greg Kraus (Anesthesiologist, ‘06), Maj. Laura Gallaway (CRNA, ‘09).

Standing (l-r): Lt. Col. Kevin Banks (Radiologist, ‘01), Maj. Jason Bothwell (Chief, Emergency Medicine, ‘01), Maj. Nici Bothwell (ENT, ‘02), Lt. Col. Heather Currier (Chief, Surgery, ‘99), Maj. Tristan Knutson (Emergency Medicine, ‘05), Lt. Col. Donald Helman (Chief, Critical Care, ‘97), Capt. Corey Jones (CRNA, ‘09).

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Using Computer ResourcesSecurityincidentscontinuetobea

draintolimitedUSUInformationAssur-ancemanpower.ThefollowinghighlightcurrentDoDpolicyandbestpractices:

Personnelmustnotinstallself-codedornon-licensedsoftwareonnetworkresources;add,remove,configure,orattempttomodifyUSUcomputeroperatingsystemsorprograms;moveaudio/visualornetworkcables,computersorattempttoconnectpersonalcomputerstothenetworkincludingMDLandlecturehallspaces;connectpersonaldevicesexceptforthosepreviouslyauthorizedbyNOC;

downloadpornographicmaterialandstoreordisplayoffensivematerial,suchasracistliterature,sexuallyharassingorobscenelanguageormaterial;storeorprocessclassifiedinformationonanyUSUsystem.

Personnelmustnotpermitunauthor-izedindividualsaccesstoagovern-ment-ownedorgovernment-operatedsystemorprogram;accessonlinegambling,gamesandsocialengineeringsites,datesortimes.

Help Desk ClosureTheCustomerServiceDivision

(CSD)HelpDeskisclosedforstaff

meetingsandtrainingonThursdaysfrom2:00PMuntil3:00PM.Onlineservicesarestillavailableduringthistime.UtilizetheUSUServiceDesk(https://usuca/CAisd/pdmweb.exe)toenteryourrequestanditwillbeservicedaccordingly.

Exercise/Fitness AreasPhysicalFitnesstrainingshouldbe

conductedindesignatedareas.TheonlyauthorizedspaceforPT

withintheuniversityisroomG060.Thecampus’StudentCommunity

Loungeareaisalsoauthorized,butonlyduringspecifiedPFTdatesortimes.