Board of Directors

Officers

Thomasine I. Alvarez – President

Frederic G. Sanford, RADM MC USN (Ret.) - Secretary

Taylor B. Kiland – Treasurer (non-voting member)

 

Members

Kathryn M. Beasley, Ph.D, CAPT USN (Ret.)

Ronald Blanck, DO, Lt. Gen. MC USA (Ret.)

Paul Friedrichs, MD, Maj. Gen. MC USAF (Ret.)

Sawsan “Suzy” Ghurani, MD, LCDR USN (Ret.)

Lois M. Meszaros, Ph.D., M.Ed.

The Honorable Lawrence C. Mohr, M.D., COL MC USA (Ret.)

Leon E. Moores, MD, MS, FACS, FAANS, COL MC USA (Ret.)

Ms. Seileen Mullen

Scott K. Rineer, M.D., MPH, FACEP, FAAEM, CAPT MC (MS/FMF) USN (Ret.)

Richard W. Thomas, MD, DDS, MSS, FACS, FACD, MG MC USA (Ret.)

 

Thomasine I. Alvarez
Tammy Alvarez, President of the Friends of the Uniformed Services University, Inc. is an artist, film executive producer, Podcaster, development specialist, and creative consultant.

She is founder and current president of the Friends of USU, Inc., a 501(C) 3, all-volunteer non-profit organization with 200 members. As the mother of a USU medical student graduate class of 2005, as the daughter of a retired Major US Army Reserve Medical Doctor and the wife of a 21-year member of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Board of Regents, Tammy’s passion and dedication for greater public awareness of the contributions and sacrifices of military medical personnel, as well as the threat of closure of USU and the need of promoting awareness of the University, led to the idea for the documentary, Fighting for Life which was featured in movie theaters across the country, on PBS and other TV networks. Tammy is a podcasater and  a talk show host. Currently, Tammy is the co-host of the show E PLURIBUS UNUM with Jennifer & Tammy on Newstalk 105.9 Radio WMAL.

With a long list of community service, Ms. Alvarez has received numerous awards for her outstanding service to her community and to the nation. In 2007, she received the distinguished DuBois Medal for her outstanding service to the Church, State and the Nation from Mount Saint Mary’s and awarded the annual Navy, Marines and Coast Guard Residence Foundation award in recognition of her contributions to military medicine. In 2008, as Executive Producer of Fighting for Life, was FREDDIE AWARDS International Health & Medical Media Awards in the category of Communications. In 2009, Mrs. Alvarez was awarded the National Society of The Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor for leadership, Trustworthiness, Service and Patriotism.

 

Frederic G. Sanford, RADM MC USN (Ret.)
Former Chief, Medical Corps and Assistant Chief, Operational Medicine and Fleet Support, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, served as Battalion Surgeon, Eleventh Engineers Battalion, Third Marine Division, Republic of Vietnam, just to list a few posts. Dr. Sanford received the Legion of Merit (with two gold stars); Meritorious Service Medical; Combat Action Ribbon; and other campaign awards during his distinguished career. He is the former Executive Director, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) and Member of Healthcare committee of military coalition and Emeritus Volunteer Trustee of Vinson Hall Retirement Community. During his career Dr. Sanford served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospitals at Newport R.I., Long Beach, Cal., and Oakland, Cal., and was the recipient of five Legion of Merit awards over the course of his 31 years of service.

 

Taylor Baldwin Kiland
Author, co-author, ghostwriter, or edited twenty-one books, including three about our nation’s POWs: Unwavering: The Wives Who Fought to Ensure No Man is Left Behind, Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High-Performance Teams, and Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later. She also authored fourteen children’s and teen books, such as Careers in the Navy. In addition, Ms. Kiland was a naval officer and spent twenty years in the private sector in marketing communications prior to starting her writing career.

 

Kathryn M. Beasley, Ph.D, CAPT USN (Ret.)
Kathryn M. Beasley PhD has extensive experience in both the Department of Defense and VA health systems health policy arenas. She has ten years of Capitol Hill experience advocating for a variety of health care issues affecting active-duty personnel, retirees, veterans, and their families, in her role as the Military Officers Association of America’s Government Relations Director for Health Affairs.

She retired from the Naval Service in 2009 after serving 30 years. As a career Navy Nurse Corps officer, she served in a wide variety of staff and senior leadership positions within the Navy and the Department of Defense. She has had assignments serving in military treatment facilities both stateside and abroad. Her clinical specialties have been in the Surgical Intensive Care and Surgical Services as well as the Ambulatory care areas. Her operational assignments have been on the USNS Comfort, and her administrative emphasis has been in the Managed Care arena, TRICARE Operations, and Healthcare Operational and Contingency Planning.

Her leadership assignments have included Chief of Staff of Naval Healthcare New England; Deputy Commander and Director of Healthcare Operations at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda; Chief of Staff for the Commanding General for the NCR Multi-Service Market Area at Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and the Director of Planning and Operational Support for the Navy Surgeon General.

CAPT Beasley is a native of St. Louis Missouri. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tulsa, Tulsa Oklahoma, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston College, Chestnut Hill Massachusetts, and earned her doctorate from the International School of Management. She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

 

Ronald Blanck, DO, Lt. Gen. MC USA (Ret.)
Lt. Gen.39th Surgeon General of the United State Army, from 1996-2000. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), he is the only D.O. to have been appointed as Surgeon General of the Army. He is the former President of University of North Texas Science Center at Fort Worth and former Chairman of the Board of Regent of the Uniformed Services University. Of his military career of 32 years, Lt Gen Ron Blanck began his military career as battalion surgeon in Vietnam, served as the commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center; first commander of North Atlantic Regional Medical Command; and Director of Professional Services and Chief of Medical Corps Affairs at Uniformed Services University, to name just a few posts.  Lieutenant General Ronald Blanck is a former Professor at Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University College of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and University of North Texas Health Science Center. Lieutenant General Ronald R. Blanck, DO MACP USA (ret) presently is the former interim President of FAIMER (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research. He continues to be a constant as an advisor on bioterrorism issues and an expert in preparing the medical community to respond to mass casualty incidents or those involving weapons of mass destruction. Dr. Ronald Blanck is also a partner and Chairman of the Board of Martin, Blanck & Associates…a healthcare consulting firm based in Arlington, Virginia. Lieutenant General Ronald Blanck, DO, USA (ret) received The Distinguished Service Medal, The Defense Superior Service Medal, The Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star and Meritorious Service and The Army Commendation Medal.

 

Paul Friedrichs, MD, Maj. Gen. MC USAF (Ret.)

Maj. Gen. Paul Friedrichs is the Joint Staff Surgeon at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He provides medical advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff and the Combatant Commanders. He coordinates all issues related to health services, to include operational medicine, force health protection and readiness among the combatant commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the services. He led the development and publication of the initial Joint Medical Estimate and serves as medical advisor to the Department of Defense COVID-19 Task Force.

Maj. Gen. Friedrichs received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1986 and his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the Uniformed Services University in 1990. He has commanded at the squadron and group level, served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery and led joint and interagency teams which earned numerous awards, including “Best Air Force Hospital.” As Chair of the Military Health System’s Joint Task Force on High Reliability Organizations, he oversaw developing a roadmap to continuously improve military health care. As the Command Surgeon for Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Transportation Command and Air Combat Command, the general and his teams identified gaps, developed mitigation plans and enhanced readiness for future conflicts and contingencies.

 

Sawsan “Suzy” Ghurani, MD, LCDR USN (Ret.)

Dr. Sawsan Ghurani, Medical Director of Greenbrook Mental Wellness Centers, of their Southern Maryland locations. She completed her psychiatric residency at the National Capital Consortium in Washington, DC, in 2006. Before her residency, she graduated with a medical degree from The Uniformed Services University of Health Science in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1992. She is dual board-board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine.

 

Lois M. Meszaros, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Retired psychologist with more than 45 years of experience in the field of Psychology and developmental disabilities. Dr. Meszaros is a former director of developmental disabilities for the State of Maryland, director of psychological services for several local health departments, chief operating officer and former Clinical Director for Chimes Delaware, adjunct professor at McDaniel College, and the University of Baltimore, and private clinical practitioner. Dr. Meszaros is a former VP of RESCARE working in Tennessee and Virginia.  Dr. Meszaros is the former treasurer for the Baltimore Psychological Association. She was given the Governors Citation for Distinguish Services to People with Disabilities in Maryland. Dr. Meszaros is on the Executive Council of AARP of Maryland

 

The Honorable Lawrence C. Mohr, M.D., COL MC USA (Ret.)
Dr. Mohr is a former White House Physician to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He is currently a Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Mohr is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed a medical internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he was presented the Erskine Award as the most outstanding resident in his class. He subsequently served as the Chief Medical Resident at Walter Reed, where he also received fellowship training in Pulmonary Medicine. Among his assignments, Dr. Mohr served as the Support Command Surgeon in the 9th Infantry Division, which was the Army's High Technology Test Bed. During that assignment he led a comprehensive effort to modernize division level field medical support to meet the needs of a highly mobile air-land battlefield. He retired from active duty as a Colonel in the Army Medical Corps. Throughout his career Dr. Mohr has served on numerous government, scientific and professional boards and committees. These include the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the Board of Governors of Nebraska Wesleyan University, the Editorial Board of the medical journal CHEST, the American College of Chest Physicians Board of Regents, the United States Delegation to an International Atomic Energy Agency Committee on Radiation Protection, the World Trade Center Health Program Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Courts and Science Institute.  Dr. Mohr was also the Founding Chair of the American College of Chest Physicians Disaster Response Network. Prior to his medical career, Dr. Mohr served two combat tours in the Republic of Vietnam. He is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National Security Management Program at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. His military decorations include the Defense Distinguished Medal, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with “V” device for Heroism in Ground Combat, two awards of the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service in Combat Operations, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. He is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit and has received a Lifesaving Commendation from the United States Secret Service.

 

Leon E. Moores, MD, MS, FACS, FAANS, COL MC USA (Ret.)
Pediatric Neurological surgeon at Innova Health System. He is a Professor of Neurosurgery at Virginia Commonwealth University and a former Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics from his alma mater, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Class of 1990. He began his career in the Infantry as a Lieutenant at the 82nd Airborne Division; was the Chief of Neurosurgery at Walter Reed; Chair of the Department of Surgery at Walter Reed; Deputy Commander for Integration at National Naval Medical Center; Commander (CEO) of Ft. Meade Medical Activity; and CEO of Pediatric Specialists of Virginia.

 

Ms. Seileen Mullen
Ms. Seileen Mullen served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. Prior to her present role, she served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs from March 2023 to October 2024 and Performed the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs from March 2022 to February 2023. In this role, she was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness for all Department of Defense health and force health protection policies, programs, and activities.

Mullen has spent nearly 30 years in or around military health, working extensively with medical issues. Prior to being named the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs in 2022, she served as the Chief Operating Officer of Martin, Blanck & Associates, a health care policy firm, with a focus in military health. She became Chief Operating Officer in January 2007, and was responsible for day-to-day operations, including management of client relations, and internal communications and external partnerships. At Martin, Blanck & Associates, she worked extensively military health issues, including on matters relating both the Click to close Direct CareDirect care refers to military hospitals and clinics, also known as “military treatment facilities” and “MTFs.”direct care and Click to closePurchased CareThe TRICARE Health Program is often referred to as purchased care. It is the services we “purchase” through the managed care support contracts.purchased care systems.

Mullen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1984. From 1985 to 1993, she served in the House of Representatives in a variety of roles. She spent three years as a professional staff member on the House Armed Services Committee.

In February 1993, she joined the Department of Defense. From 1994 to 1996, she served as the Special Assistant and Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, where she provided advice and counsel to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on health care and operational policy matters. In this role, she also contributed to the publication of the Final Report of the White House Task Force on Persian Gulf War.

From 1996 to 1998, Mullen was the Director of the Department of Defense’s TRICARE Management Activity’s Aurora Field Office. In this role as the Head of Contracting Activity, she managed TRICARE’s contracting activities, as well as approximately 350 personnel in TRICARE’s Colorado and Washington, D.C. contracting offices. 

From 1999 to 2001, Mullen served as the Director of Federal Government Relations for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002. She worked daily with the White House Task Force for the Olympics in securing appropriations for the 2002 Olympic Games and all aspects of government relations at the federal and state level. From 2001 to 2004, she provided program consulting services to the TRICARE Management Activity in support of the TRICARE Next Generation contracts for managed care services, which represented $32 billion in federal healthcare contracting. 

She served as a member of the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a recipient of the Department of Defense Outstanding Public Service Award.

 

Scott K. Rineer, M.D., MPH, FACEP, FAAEM, CAPT MC (MS/FMF) USN (Ret.)
Emergency medicine physician in Tampa Bay who has worked in a variety of local hospitals. Graduate of Uniformed Services University, Class of 1990, and looking to attend Stetson University College of Law. He completed the “Deep Freeze” in Antarctica; parachutist designation (USN/USMC); the Army’s prestigious expeditionary field medical badge; was a flight surgeon for CMA9A)-332, VMAQ-3, DOES and later as Group Surgeon, MWSG-17, just to name a few positions throughout his distinguished career. He is also a small business owner.

 

Richard W. Thomas, MD, DDS, MSS, FACS, FACD, MG MC USA (Ret.)
Major General (ret.) Richard W. Thomas is a physician healthcare executive and is the Associate Vice President, Dean and Chief Medical Officer at West Virginia University School of Medicine, Eastern Campus in Martinsburg, WV.  He most recently served as the sixth President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).

Dr. Thomas retired as a Major General from the United States Army with over 26 years of service. During his career, he commanded at multiple levels and served in numerous key staff assignments, culminating as the Director of Healthcare Operations and the Chief Medical Officer for the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Other noteworthy assignments include: Division Surgeon, 101st Airborne Division; Commanding General, Western Regional Medical Command; Surgeon General, USFORCES‐Afghanistan; Assistant Army Surgeon General and Chief of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. MG Thomas deployed multiple times in support of combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Panama.

Dr. Thomas earned a Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) from the WVU School of Dentistry and a Medical Degree (MD) from the WVU School of Medicine. He also holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is board certified in Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Dentists.

Dr. Thomas has been recognized with numerous awards and decorations including: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Superior Service Medal (2), the Legion of Merit (3), the Bronze Star Medal (2), and multiple other military awards and decorations.  He is a member of the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and is a Distinguished Alumnus of West Virginia University School of Medicine.

 

Advisory Committee

This is an active and dedicated committee supporting the Board of Directors for advancing the military medicine and awareness of Uniformed Services University.

Friends of USU Advocacy Committee Members

Friends of USU Advocacy Committee Members Biographies

Honorable Everett Alvarez, Jr.

Everett Alvarez, Jr. was born in 1937 in Salinas, California. He graduated from the University of Santa Clara in California with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960, and entered the Navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program on June 23, 1960, receiving his commission in October 1960, and graduating from Flight School and being designated a Naval Aviator in November 1961. Alvarez's first assignment was with Attack Squadron 144, flying the A-4 Skyhawk. He began flying combat missions from the USS Constellation during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, and was shot down and taken as a Prisoner of War on August 5, 1964, on the first raid into North Vietnam. Alvarez was the longest held aviator shot down in North Vietnam, and spent the next 3,113 days in captivity before being released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. After hospitalization, Alvarez briefly attended refresher flight training with VT-21 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, and then attended the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, where he received a Master's Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis in October 1976. His final assignment was in Program Management at the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C., from October 1976 until his retirement from the Navy on June 30, 1980.  During his last assignment, Alvarez went to law school at night and earned his J.D. degree in four years, graduating in February 1982.

After Honorable Alvarez, Jr.’s retirement, President Reagan nominated him as Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, where he served from April 1981 to August 1982. During this time, President Reagan nominated him as the Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration, and he served in this position from August 1982 to 1986, when he went to work as Vice President for Government Services of Hospital Corporation of America. Alvarez left that company in late 1987 to form his own consulting company, Conwal Inc. He also formed Alvarez & Associates, another consulting company, in January 2005. Alvarez was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded in the United States in 2024. He is also one of the few living persons to have a ship named after him, USS Everett Alvarez, Jr., a Constellation-class frigate. Everett is married to the former Thomasine (Tammy) Ilyas of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they have two sons, Marc and Bryan

 

Jeffrey B. Clark, MD, MSS, FAAP, MG USA (Ret.)

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey B. Clark, M.D., MPH, MSS, FAAP, USA (Ret), was born in LaGrange, N.C., and attended Davidson College and East Carolina University School of Medicine. During his 35 years of service, he served as a family medicine physician with teams in both garrison and operational assignments and as commander at the clinic, hospital, academic medical center, and geographic regional levels. He also served as COO and CMO at the enterprise level.

During the last decade of his military career, he served as commander, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center; commander, Europe Regional Medical Command; director, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; director, National Capitol Region Multi-Service Market; J3, director of Health Care Operations, CMO, and MHS GENESIS Functional Champion, Defense Health Agency; and deputy commanding general for Operations and Chief of the Medical Corps, Army Medical Command.

He currently serves in semi-retirement as a Defense Health Agency senior mentor advisor, Army Medicine executive consultant, and as medical director, Semper Fi & America’s Fund; as well as on the nonprofit boards of WarDocs: The Military Medicine Podcast, the American College of Nurse Midwives, and the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians Foundation.

 

Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, MPH, JD

Pat DeLeon is the Distinguished Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (DoD) in the School of Nursing and School of Medicine. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in 2008 and served as President of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2000. For over 38 years he was on the staff of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) retiring as his Chief of Staff. He has received numerous national awards including the Order of Military Medical Merit; Distinguished Service Medal, USUHS; National League for Nursing Council for Nursing Centers, First Public Policy Award; Sigma Theta Tau, Inc., International Honor Society of Nursing, First Public Service Award; Ruth Knee/Milton Wittman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health/Mental Health Policy, NASW; Delta Omega Honor Society Award for Outstanding Alumnus from a School of Public Health; APA Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology Award; American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Practice of Psychology; and Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Hawaii. He has been awarded three honorary degrees. He is currently the editor of Psychological Services. He has over 200 publications.

 

Paul Hutter, JD
Paul Hutter, Former General Counsel, Defense Health Agency, is an Executive Advisor in Booz Allen Hamilton’s Infrastructure and Military Health account, providing thought leadership for the Military Service Medical Departments, the Defense Health Agency and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. Mr. Hutter focuses on the issues of medical readiness and collaboration between the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) in health related issues.

Prior to joining Booz Allen, Paul spent 38 years in Federal Service as an Army Officer and Senior Executive for DoD and VA. A lawyer, Paul served as the General Counsel for VA and the Defense Health Agency – but also contributed as the Chief of Staff for the VA and the Veterans Health Administration. At DoD, Paul acted as the Deputy Director for the Defense Health Agency just prior to moving to Booz Allen.

Paul received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and French from Rice University, a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University, and an LL.M. from The Judge Advocate General’s School. He also received an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and is a graduate of the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 

Kevin Wensing, CAPT USN (Ret)

Kevin Wensing is a leader in the military and veterans community advising organizations and companies following 30-years of service to America in the US Navy and the Pentagon. Working with various business and non-profit enterprises, he is a senior advisor on business development, fundraising, special events, media relations, crisis communications and strategic planning. Planned & executed the U.S. Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration opening ceremony with the President of the United States, Vice President and other national leaders, Veterans and military families on Memorial Day 2012.

As Vice President of the USO he helped launch the US Olympic Committee/Dept. of Defense "Warrior Games" and other initiatives. As a Naval Officer and DoD Senior Executive he led those in uniform and supported their families. In 2011 he joined the Gary Sinise Foundation to continue supporting America’s most severely wounded warriors and military children. Assignments at sea and ashore include Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England at the Pentagon and leadership positions with the Secretary of the Navy, Pacific Fleet, Seventh Fleet, Naval Forces Central Command and service aboard USS BLUE RIDGE, USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD and USS TRIPOLI. He is a graduate of Quincy University (IL) and U.S. Naval War College.

Wensing has served as Chairman of FCA Americas, on the USS CONSTITUTION Museum Board of Overseers, the Advocacy Committee and Diversity Committee of the US Tennis Association, Advisory Boards of the SPI (NY) & American Sportscasters Assoc., Military Veterans in Journalism and is a member of the National Press Club serving on the Headliner Committee hosting many Cabinet and military leaders, sports executives and others.

He is a founding member of the Warrior Cup Invitational Golf Championships and served as Chair of Military Committee for the 2017 PGA Senior Championships. He has also supported several Hollywood productions and appeared in the 2001 film “Pearl Harbor.”

 

John R. Pierce, MD, COL USA (Ret.)

John Pierce is the current president of the Walter Reed Society.  He served 30 years on active duty in the U.S. Army with assignments in Hawaii, Germany, Colorado and Washington DC.  He is board certified in pediatrics and neonatology.  During his Army career, he served as Pediatric Consultant to the Army Surgeon General for 7 years; he was also Chief, Department  of Pediatrics and residency program director at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC).  Also while at WRAMC, he was Deputy Commander for Clinical Services and Director of Medical Education.  Following retirement from active duty he was The Medical Inspector for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs for 10 years.

For many years Dr. Pierce has been the historian for the WRS and has published a book and several articles on the history of Dr. Walter Reed and yellow fever.  Co-written with Jim Writer, Yellow Jack - How Yellow Fever Ravaged America and Walter Reed Discovered Its Deadly Secrets was published by John Wiley and Sons in 2005.  He was the lead editor on Walter Reed Army Medical Center - A Pictorial History 1909-2009 published by the Borden Institute in 2009.

John and Kathe, married 55 years, are blessed with three children and six wonderful grandchildren.  They live in Rockville, Maryland.

 

Ellen Denigris, MD

Dr. Denigris graduated from the Uniformed Services Univ of The Health Sciences F E Hebert School of Medicine in 1985. She works in Groton, CT and 1 other location and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pathology.

 

Andre Sobocinski, MD

Mr. André Sobocinski has served as a communication and information professional in the US Navy for nearly two decades. Originally a staff writer for Navy Medicine Magazine, Mr. Sobocinski later served as deputy historian for the Navy Medical Department. In May 2012, Mr. Sobocinski was selected to serve as the Navy Medical Department’s historian. As historian, Mr. Sobocinski manages Navy Medicine’s administrative history, commemorations, publications, and oral history programs. His overarching mission is to promote, preserve and document the history and heritage of Navy Medicine, both past and present. To date, Mr. Sobocinski has conducted over 200 oral histories with Navy medical personnel and is the author of over 300 published works on military history and culture that have appeared in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History, Americans at War: Society, Culture, and the Homefront, Medics at War, the Hospital Corps Unit Manual, as well as numerous magazines, newspapers, journals and online websites.

 

Dale Smith, PhD

Smith graduated from Duke University in 1973 with the help of a Navy ROTC scholarship. He then attended the University of Minnesota as a graduate student where his interests slowly drifted from the history of biology and medicine to the history of medicine. He earned his doctorate in 1979. Smith began teaching regularly at the university in 1982 and saw the school as it was forged into the country’s preeminent university for military medicine. Smith is retiring this August, after 40 years of empowering the graduates of USU with the lessons of history.

Smith was the chair of the university’s Military Medical History department and in 2006 became acting senior vice president before he was selected for a five-year term in 2007. Six years later, in 2013, he returned to the classroom.

During his long and accomplished career, he taught in military hospitals around the world. Over the years, he has received a host of awards including USU’s “Outstanding Civilian Educator.”