Friends of the Uniformed Services University Initiatives
The Friends of the Uniformed Services University, Inc. is engaged in a variety of initiatives designed to:
• Support the mission of the Uniformed Services University: “Caring for those in harm’s way”
• Promote and encourage recruitment of our nation’s talented and intelligent future physicians and nurses for the Uniformed Services University
• Increase public awareness of the contribution medical personnel make to the U.S. and to our country
Initiatives
Friends of USU, the USU Alumni Association, and USU, sponsored and hosted a symposium and panel discussion at the University in which a panel of distinguished and nationally known professionals in the field of mental health discussed the reintegration adjustment of our military medical personnel after deployments. The panelists included physicians and military medical professionals experienced in the study of problems/issues with the reintegration into society of our military medical personnel after deployments.
Friends of USU and the Walter Reed Society (WRS) have formed an alliance. The purpose is to unify our forces; thus, giving us strength to support our mission which is to support both Walter Reed Hospital and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
The Green Road Project is a healing path which runs throughout the back of the Walter Reed campus, located directly behind USU. It follows alongside calming, beautiful stream of water and the woods is dotted with beautifully crafted benches and tables, offering a peaceful setting for meditation and tranquil, spiritual peace for our wounded warriors and their families. It is an extension of NICOE (National Intrepid Center ofExcellence) at Walter Reed. The FUSU joined in the effort with The Institute For Integrative Health Department at the University of Maryland. It was completed in 2013,
For several years, FUSU supported annual projects for the USU campus wide Health and Wellness Fair focused on mind and body wellness. The objective is to raise the awareness of USU students, staff and faculty to USU and NSAB health and wellness resources that may be available to them.
FUSU embarked on the project of placing Pavers in the USU courtyard. The purpose was a gesture ofgratitude for the financial support corporations and individuals donated to FUSU for their support in the making of the film, FIGHTING FOR LIFE.
Each year FUSU underwrote the Wright Touch orchestra for the annual USU Alumni Association Alumni reunion held in September 2022.
Fighting for Life Documentary
The reality drama feature film “Fighting for Life” is the first initiative of the Friends of the Uniformed Services University. More
The Academy Award-winning team of Terry Sanders and Frieda Mock created the film, which examines military medicine, the Uniformed Services University and the role of medical personnel currently serving in the U.S. military around the world.
The film, now distributed through the Public Television System, aims to:
• Promote USU’s role in educating military physicians, nurses and the graduate students (both civilian and military)
• Recruit students into USU and the military medical professions
• Tell the story of USU graduates, physicians and nurses saving the lives of our nation’s troops, who are in battle or facing life-threatening diseases
• Give comfort and support to the U.S. armed forces fighting to protect the country
• Describe the mission and story of military medicine, its nurses and physicians, which is health; healing, hope and humanism.
Film Description
The opening of "Fighting For Life" shows footage of military medical personnel working in harrowing combat situations. It illustrates their dedication and skill as they attend to wounded personnel within the first hour, or “Golden Hour,” as it is known.
The film is an exciting and eye-opening journey; a cinematic portrait of this extraordinary, vital, yet little-known institution, which finds its inspirational roots in 1804 when a Navy surgeon, Dr. Lewis Heerman, volunteered to go into harm's way. He famously replied, "My life is not more valuable than that of any other. My presence might save lives, and will not sailors more regardlessly expose themselves when they know aid is near at hand."
The film shows USU’s emphasis on preventive medicine and its contributions to research and technologies that benefit civilian and military medicine alike.