MHSRS 2024: Day One Recap in Photos

The first day of the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) in Kissimmee, Florida, featured a wide range of presentations from the Uniformed Services University (USU).

Dr. Eric Elster, Dean of USU’s School of Medicine, was part of a panel entitled “Research and Training in Military Medicine in the Age of AI,” giving the USU perspective on how AI technology can be used as a tool to streamline educational processes, accelerating change and bringing a greater human element back to medicine.
Dr. Eric Elster, dean of USU’s Hebert School of Medicine, was part of a panel entitled “Research
and Training in Military Medicine in the Age of AI,” giving the USU perspective on how
AI technology can be used as a tool to streamline educational processes, accelerating change
and bringing a greater human element back to medicine.

August 27, 2024 by USU External Affairs

The first day of the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) in Kissimmee, Florida, featured a wide range of presentations from the Uniformed Services University (USU). Key topics included AI’s role in military medical education, new tools for critical care decision-making, and the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury. Researchers also addressed hypertension detection, psychiatric outcomes in deployers, and the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac health. The symposium underscored USU’s dedication to advancing military healthcare through innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Dr. Tracey Koehlmoos (pictured second from left), professor and director of Center for Health Services Research at USU, presented findings on how changes in eating disorders within the general population could possibly affect female service members entitled, “Association Between Body Composition Standards and Disordered Eating among Active-duty Service Women, FY 2018-2019.” She also discussed the decision for the overhaul with the Department of Defense of body composition standards.
Dr. Tracey Koehlmoos (pictured second from left), professor and director of the Center for Health
Services Research at USU, presented findings from her study on how changes in eating disorders
within the general population could possibly affect female service members entitled, “Association
Between Body Composition Standards and Disordered Eating among Active-duty Service
Women, FY 2018-2019.”

Dr. Geoffrey Ling, Retired Army Col. and associate professor at USU’s School of Medicine, spoke dynamically about the crucial importance of real-time data to differentiate the needs of combat-casualty patients. Ling stressed “the best care available in the whole-wide world should be available for combat casualties.” Additionally, Ling says, the path to filling gaps within patient care starts with understanding that “to get practical solutions and answers, you have to science your way out” and look at objective measures to treat patients. He tasked the “remarkably intelligent researchers” in attendance to solve the critical problems.
Dr. Geoffrey Ling, retired Army colonel, former USU Neurology chair, and associate professor 
in USU’s School of Medicine, spoke dynamically about the crucial importance of real-time 
data to differentiate the needs of combat-casualty patients. Ling stressed “the best care available
in the whole-wide world should be available for combat casualties.” Additionally, Ling says, 
the path to filling gaps within patient care starts with understanding that “to get practical 
solutions and answers, you have to science your way out” and look at objective measures to 
treat patients. He tasked the “remarkably intelligent researchers” in attendance to solve the 
critical problems.

USU’s Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) had a booth in the exhibition area of the MHSRS conference, with plenty of information on nutrition, mental health, and exercise to encourage wellness.
USU’s Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) showcased a wealth of 
resources on nutrition, mental health, and exercise—all designed to inspire and promote 
wellness among attendees – at their booth in the exhibition area of the MHSRS conference.

Air Force Lt. Col. Cubby Gardner, assistant professor at USU’s Graduate School of Nursing, also part of the “Big Data” breakout session, discussed adverse physical and mental health outcomes in deployers with primary psychiatric evaluation from CENTCOM, finding that significant differences in the distribution of outcomes by cohort were noted in active duty vs. reserve status and marital status proportions among cohorts.
Air Force Lt. Col. Cubby Gardner, assistant professor at USU’s Daniel K. Inouye Graduate 
School of Nursing, also part of the “Big Data” breakout session, discussed adverse physical 
and mental health outcomes in deployers with primary psychiatric evaluation from U.S. Central
Command, finding that significant differences in the distribution of outcomes by cohort were 
noted in active duty vs. reserve status and marital status proportions among cohorts.

Air Force Maj. Kathryn Capple, a Ph.D candidate in the Graduate School of Nursing at USU, discussed the potential of using alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 essential fatty aid, to treat anxiety disorders and PTSD symptoms in female service members following mTBI entitled “The Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-like Symptoms in Female Mice Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.”
Air Force Maj. Kathryn Capple, a Ph.D candidate in the Graduate School of Nursing at USU,
discussed the potential of using alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 essential fatty aid, to treat
anxiety disorders and PTSD symptoms in female service members following mTBI entitled
“The Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-like Symptoms in Female
Mice Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.”

Dr. Louis French, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at USU and NICoE Deputy Director, discussed the finalization of a report to congress spanning a 15-year study on the long-term effects of TBI. The report examines the quality of life as a meaningful way to talk about outcomes in individuals with TBI, and highlighted the need to further examine how family members of those individuals are affected.
Dr. Louis French, associate professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at USU and
NICoE deputy director, discussed the finalization of a report to Congress spanning a 15-year
study on the long-term effects of TBI. The report examines the quality of life as a meaningful
way to talk about outcomes in individuals with TBI, and highlighted the need to further examine
how family members of those individuals are affected.

Lydia Hellwig, a certified genetic counselor and assistant professor of pediatrics at USU presented the results of her cross-sectional study on how genetics affect the body’s response to certain medications entitled “Pharmacogenetics in the MHS: Comparing PGx Genotyping and Next Generation Sequencing.” Hellwig presented her research as part of the Young Investigators Competition.
Lydia Hellwig, a certified genetic counselor and assistant professor of Pediatrics at USU,
presented the results of her cross-sectional study on how genetics affect the body’s response
to certain medications entitled “Pharmacogenetics in the MHS: Comparing PGx Genotyping and
Next Generation Sequencing.” Hellwig presented her research as part of the Young
Investigators Competition.

Army 2nd Lt. Joseph Rhee, a student at USU’s School of Medicine, presented findings on early detection of hypertension through blood pressure as part of the breakout session “Big Data and Machine Learning for Full Spectrum Military Health Readiness, Performance and Care.”
Army 2nd Lt. Joseph Rhee, a student at USU’s Hebert School of Medicine, presented findings on 
early detection of hypertension through blood pressure as part of the breakout session “Big Data 
and Machine Learning for Full Spectrum Military Health Readiness, Performance and Care.”

Dr. Mark Haigney, Director of Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research at USU, delivered results from a study which found an association between TBI and atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in two unexpected groups, young people and females. The research was entitled “Traumatic Brain Injury is Associated with the Subsequent Risk of Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter.”
Dr. Mark Haigney, director of Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research at USU, delivered
results from a study which found an association between TBI and atrial fibrillation and atrial
flutter in two unexpected groups, young people and females. The research was entitled
“Traumatic Brain Injury is Associated with the Subsequent Risk of Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial
Flutter.” 

Dr. Paul Pasquina, Department Chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at USU, illustrated the advances in rehabilitation and surgical care and described established pathways of care so the moment a patient enters the ICU with a blast or cranial injury, the system generates a range of care appointments so the individual doesn’t receive insufficient care or are lost within the treatment system.
Dr. Paul Pasquina, Chair of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at USU, illustrated
the advances in rehabilitation and surgical care and described established pathways of care so the
moment a patient enters the ICU with a blast or cranial injury, the system generates a range of
care appointments to ensure the individual receives appropriate care and are not lost within the
treatment system.

Dr. Stephanie Richard (left), a lead epidemiologist at the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) at USU and Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Inc., presented findings on the relationship between menstrual cycle changes for women following COVID vaccinations entitled, “Does SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Vaccination Impact Menstrual Health? Results From a Longitudinal Cohort Study Among Military Health System Beneficiaries.”
Dr. Stephanie Richard (left), a lead epidemiologist at the Infectious Disease Clinical Research
Program (IDCRP) at USU, presented findings on the relationship between menstrual cycle 
changes for women following COVID vaccinations entitled, “Does SARS-CoV-2 Infection or 
Vaccination Impact Menstrual Health? Results From a Longitudinal Cohort Study Among Military 
Health System Beneficiaries.”
 

Anthony Marrama, a student in the Masters of Public Health program (MPH) at USU presented a study entitled “Incidence Rate Trends of Cardiac Outcomes in U.S. Active Duty Service Members Relative to the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The study found a correlation between increased rates of cardiac outcomes in year two of the pandemic and found a direct association between COVID-19 infection and several incident cardiac outcomes (arrhythmic, inflammatory, thrombotic, stroke, heart failure and cardiomyopathies).
Anthony Marrama, an HJF research associate from the department of Pediatrics at USU presented
a study entitled “Incidence Rate Trends of Cardiac Outcomes in U.S. Active Duty Service
Members Relative to the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The study found a correlation between increased
rates of cardiac outcomes in year two of the pandemic and found a direct association between
COVID-19 infection and several incident cardiac outcomes (arrhythmic, inflammatory, thrombotic,
stroke, heart failure and cardiomyopathies).

Navy Ensign Claire Sturek, a student within USU’s School of Medicine, presented the results of a study which polled student awareness at the Graduate School of Nursing and School of Medicine at USU entitled “A Focus on Fertility Preservation and Family Planning in Military Healthcare: Examining Knowledge, Perceptions, and Expectations about Oocyte Cryopreservation Among Military Healthcare Students.” She called for the increased education of healthcare professionals about family planning and infertility treatments available for service members.
Navy Ensign Claire Sturek, a student within USU’s School of Medicine, presented the results of a
study which polled student awareness at the Graduate School of Nursing and School of Medicine
entitled “A Focus on Fertility Preservation and Family Planning in Military Healthcare: 
Examining Knowledge, Perceptions, and Expectations about Oocyte Cryopreservation Among 
Military Healthcare Students.” She called for the increased education of healthcare professionals
about family planning and infertility treatments available for service members. 

Army 2nd Lt. Ha Eun Kim, a student in the USU School of Medicine,
was the lead-off speaker for the “Big Data and Machine Learning for
Full Spectrum Military Health Readiness, Performance and Care,” panel
at MHSRS. Kim presented data on her study, “Developing Machine
Learning to Accurately Predict Post-Rib Fracture Pulmonary and
Renal Complications.”  

Dr. Felipe Lisboa, research assistant professor with USU’s Surgical Critical Care Initiative (SC2i), presented his findings on the development of ARDS and sepsis as well as a clinical decision support tool to aid in the treatment of surgical critical care patients with treatment complications in his session entitled, “Early Identification of Critical Care Patients at High Risk of Developing ARDS and Sepsis Using Machine Learning.”
Dr. Felipe Lisboa, research assistant professor with USU’s Surgical Critical Care
Initiative (SC2i), presented his findings on the development of ARDS and sepsis as well
as a clinical decision support tool to aid in the treatment of surgical critical care patients
with treatment complications in his session entitled, “Early Identification of Critical Care
Patients at High Risk of Developing ARDS and Sepsis Using Machine Learning.”