This Week at USU - April 6 2026

[Uniformed Services University - News]

6 April 2026

Big Data Powers USU Student Quest for Precision Oncology

By harmonizing thousands of public samples, this Navy M.D./Ph.D. candidate is using USU's computational power to uncover the protein signatures that define aggressive tumors. Navy Ensign Joseph LaMorte's groundbreaking pan-cancer analysis leverages big data to bridge the gap between complex tumor biology and bedside care, advancing diagnostic accuracy and targeted treatments to optimize patient outcomes. [Read the full study and findings here]

Uniformed Services University Introduces Web App for Ethical AI Use in Medical Research

Uniformed Services University is pioneering a new interactive web app to train medical and graduate students in the responsible use of artificial intelligence throughout the scientific research process. Learn how USU's innovative simulation web app is empowering the next generation of military medical researchers to ethically leverage generative AI tools, accelerate learning, and combat burnout while maintaining strict academic integrity. [Discover the full impact of this AI web app here]

USU Surgeon Highlights Breast Cancer Screening Challenges for Women with Dense Breast Tissue

A new editorial by a Uniformed Services University (USU) faculty member calls attention to challenges in breast cancer screening that may disproportionately affect active duty women and have implications for military readiness. Army Col. (Dr.) Danielle Holt's recently published JAMA editorial advocates for an advanced, precision screening approach to combat the delayed detection of breast cancer in active duty women, directly safeguarding force health and operational capability. [Read the full editorial and recommendations here]

In REMEMBRANCE

Retired Army Maj. Gen. (Dr.) John Parker

John Parker died on March 18, 2026 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was 83. He was predeceased by his parents, Melvin and Christine Parker; his nephew, Gary and his brother, Robert. John was born in Quincy, Massachusetts and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. in Biology, Philosophy and Journalism from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. He received his Doctorate of Medicine, Cum Laude, from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He was also a graduate of The Armed Forces Staff College and The Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He held Diplomate status in the General Surgery Board and the Thoracic Surgery Board. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Chest Physicians. He was an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. To read more, click here.

USU Events

Emerging Infectious Diseases Seminar 06 APRIL 1130 - 1230 EDT Lecture Room A3, Building A, USU Explore how host-microbe interactions influence biofilm formation and aggregation in Enterococcus faecalis. Add to Calendar

Doctoral Dissertation Public Defense - Michael Battistone 06 APRIL 1200 - 1300 EDT Google Meet Discuss the exploration of intellectual humility in medical education. Add to Calendar

State of Science 08-09 APRIL 0800 - 1600 EDT Bethesda Auditorium, HJF This 2-day event will bring together speakers and attendees from the military, Federal civilian, and private sectors to discuss research addressing current and emerging healthcare challenges in the MHS and the Nation. Register Here Add to Calendar

Department of Pharmacology Seminar 08 APRIL 1130 - 1230 EDT Lecture Room A3, Building A, USU Join the Department of Pharmacology for an engaging session exploring the lateral habenula endocannabinoid system and its involvement in cannabis withdrawal and impulsivity. Add to Calendar

Current Topics in Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics 08 APRIL 1200 - 1300 EDT Lecture Room A2, Building A, USU & Virtual (Google Meet) Explore current topics in preventive medicine and biostatistics at this event. Add to Calendar

School of Medicine: 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition 08 APRIL 1500 - 1700 EDT Lecture Room C2, Building C, USU Experience a world-wide event where doctoral students present their research to a general audience in just three minutes. Add to Calendar

Molecular & Cell Biology Seminar Series 09 APRIL 1100 - 1200 EDT Lecture Room A3, Building A, USU Discover the characterization of RAS allele-specific inhibitor activity across the RASG12X mutant tumor landscape and the development of universal platelets expressing a fibrinolysis inhibitor via prime-editing-assisted site-specific integrase gene editing (PASSIGE) of iPSCs. Add to Calendar

GWIMS Seminars 09 APRIL 1200 - 1300 EDT Rice Hall, Building B, USU & Virtual (Microsoft Teams) Join this seminar to hear insights from current students and faculty in the MD/PhD Q&A event. Add to Calendar

Midday Meditation 09 APRIL 1200 - 1230 EDT Virtual (Google Meet) Engage in a guided meditation session exploring the inner workings of the mind. Add to Calendar

Doctoral Dissertation Public Defense - Guadalupe L. Rivera 09 APRIL 1400 - 1500 EDT Virtual (Google Meet) Explore the dissociative subtype of PTSD and its clinical presentations in military service members during this informative session. Add to Calendar

Military Women's Health Webinar Series: Brain Health and Neurological Disorders 09 APRIL 1500 - 1600 EDT Virtual Explore two important topics: the bidirectional associations between musculoskeletal injury and mild traumatic brain injury in U.S. service members, and the impact of gender and reproductive aging on memory and Alzheimer’s disease risk. Register Here Add to Calendar

Department of Medicine Seminar 10 APRIL 1200 - 1300 EDT Lecture Room A3, Building A, USU & Virtual (Google Meet) Learn about clinical trials in the Allergy Immunology Division. Add to Calendar

Doctoral Dissertation Public Defense - Kimberly T. Boua 10 APRIL 1200 - 1300 EDT Virtual (Google Meet) Join this doctoral dissertation public defense to understand and improve Ukraine’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Security Indicators (HSI). Add to Calendar

Unleash Your Data: No-Code Dashboards for Modern Educators 13 APRIL 1200 - 1300 EDT Virtual (Microsoft Teams) ETI Teaching with Technology Brown Bag: You don’t need to be a programmer to harness the power of "Big Data." If you can use a spreadsheet, you can build a professional dashboard. Join Dr. Josh Duncan, USU’s Assistant Dean for Assessment, for a practical guide to "unleashing" the data you already have. We’ll show you how to use Looker Studio to create secure, shareable, and visually stunning analytics that turn "just numbers" into actionable insights for faculty and learners. Add to Calendar

PSY Global Grand Rounds - Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention 29 APRIL 1500 EDT The USU Department of Psychiatry and the Society of Uniformed Services Psychiatrists (SUSP) invite you to attend: PSY Global Grand Rounds on April 29, 2026 @ 3:00 pm EDT. Free CME Credit! Please see attached flyer. Dr. Michael Anestis, Executive Director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, will present "Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention Among Service Members and Veterans." Dr. Michael Anestis, PhD is the executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, a professor in the Rutgers School of Public Health, and a licensed clinical psychologist. His research focuses on suicide prevention, with an emphasis on the role of firearms, particularly among service members and veterans. Dr. Anestis has published over 250 peer reviewed scientific articles and been a named investigator on over $30 million in suicide prevention grants. He authored the book Guns and Suicide: An American Epidemic, and in 2018, the American Association of Suicidology presented him with the Edwin Shneidman Award for early career achievement in suicide research. You must register on the SUSP website to get the virtual link to attend the event and receive CME credit. Link to Register: https://susp.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?age_id=4091&club_id=193329&item_id=2916396

USU in the News

Autoantibody landscapes in neurological Long COVID and post-COVID cognitive impairment show heterogeneity without a shared disease signature A study utilizing the USU Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program’s EPICC cohort revealed that neurological Long COVID does not exhibit a shared central nervous system autoantibody signature. medRxiv Dr. Alexander L. “Alex” Eastman, MD, MPH, FACS, FAEMS: Comprehensive Career Profile A career profile highlights the extensive trauma surgery and public safety leadership of Dr. Alexander L. Eastman, who serves as an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University. OCNJ Daily Military Clinical Readiness Curriculum Provides Critical Education for Military and Civilians Surgeons The American College of Surgeons, in coordination with the Uniformed Services University, offers a free, online Military Clinical Readiness Curriculum to help military and civilian surgeons hone their trauma skills. American College of Surgeons CDMRP-Supported Research Assesses TBI-Related Outcomes to Improve Warfighter Brain Health A CDMRP-supported study led by Uniformed Services University neurologist Dr. J. Kent Werner developed a wearable headset to measure glymphatic flow during sleep to assess the long-term cognitive effects of traumatic brain injury. Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Baldwin Whitehall School District inducts new Hall of Fame class Retired U.S. Public Health Service Rear Admiral Susan Orsega, a former acting Surgeon General and a 2001 graduate of USU's Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, was recently inducted into the Baldwin-Whitehall School District's Hall of Fame. TribLIVE Army CRNAs Drive Patient Safety Through Trust and Teamwork An article exploring the role of Army Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in patient safety highlights the Uniformed Services University Nurse Anesthesia Program for preparing these professionals to practice independently and make sound decisions under pressure. American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology BAMC hosts National Disaster Medical System field test Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences surgery professor Dr. Elizabeth M. Hofmeister co-authored an informative guide to help patients understand and prepare for cataract surgery. Clay Today / Stacker US Army tests Medical Readiness Tracker first time Africa A mobile medical readiness tracker, developed in collaboration with the Uniformed Services University, was tested by U.S. Army medical professionals for the first time in Africa during the Justified Accord 2026 exercise. LinkedIn The links shared are not an implied endorsement by the DoD or USU.

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