MHSRS 2024: Days Three & Four Photo Recap

Days three and four of MHSRS showcased USU’s innovative research on PTSD treatment, infectious diseases, military family health, and prevention strategies, underscoring a continued focus on addressing critical military healthcare challenges.

Dr. Lydia Hellwig, assistant professor of Pediatrics at USU, discussed the ongoing healthcare challenge of sudden cardiac arrest, and the importance of prevention for these often-fatal events during her presentation, “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Recurrence in Survivors from Ongoing GEMini Study.”
Dr. Lydia Hellwig, assistant professor of Pediatrics at USU, discussed the ongoing healthcare
challenge of sudden cardiac arrest, and the importance of prevention for these often-fatal events
during her presentation, “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Recurrence in Survivors from Ongoing
GEMini Study.”

September 3, 2024 by USU External Affairs

The final two days of the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) in Kissimmee, Florida, continued to emphasize collaboration and innovation, with a strong showing from the Uniformed Services University (USU). Dr. Michael Roy presented a new intervention for PTSD, showing promising results compared to traditional treatments. Dr. Dennis Grab and Dr. David Tribble shared important findings on dengue virus and battlefield-related infections, respectively. The day also featured insights into the mental health needs of military families, the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ service members in family planning, and advancements in the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. These discussions highlighted USU’s ongoing efforts to address critical challenges in military healthcare through research and comprehensive care strategies.

Dr. Michael Roy, professor and director of the Division of Military Medicine in USU’s
Department of Medicine, and deputy director of the Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative
at USU, presented findings from a novel intervention to address posttraumatic stress disorders
in service members and veterans which showed significant improvement of response over
Prolonged Exposure treatment. He reported his findings in a session entitled “RECONsolidation
of Traumatic memories to ResOLve Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (RECONTROL): A
Randomized Controlled Trial vs Prolonged Exposure (An MTBI2 Study).”

Dr. Dennis Grab, professor of Pathology at USU, detailed his findings in a presentation entitled “Dengue Virus-Induced Microvascular Leakage: Early Functional Changes from Time of Virus Contact” during the “New Approach Methodologies and Novel In Vivo Models for the Development of Infectious Disease Countermeasures” breakout session.
Dr. Dennis Grab (left), professor of Pathology at USU, detailed his findings in a presentation 
entitled “Dengue Virus-Induced Microvascular Leakage: Early Functional Changes from Time 
of Virus Contact” during the “New Approach Methodologies and Novel In Vivo Models for the
Development of Infectious Disease Countermeasures” breakout session.

Dr. David Tribble, professor of Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics at USU, presented findings during his session “Antecedent Gram-negative Bacilli Colonization on Admission Surveillance and Sepsis Following Battlefield Injury,” noting that colonized patients more frequently had greater injury severity, and that further study may inform opportunities for mitigation.
Dr. David Tribble, professor of Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics at USU, presented findings
during his session “Antecedent Gram-negative Bacilli Colonization on Admission Surveillance
and Sepsis Following Battlefield Injury,” noting that colonized patients more frequently had
greater injury severity, and that further study may inform opportunities for mitigation.

USU School of Medicine student Army 2nd Lt. Suzanna Del Rio gave a presentation entitled “Evidence-Based Management of Life-Threatening Box Jellyfish Stings,” in which different methods of treatment for box jellyfish stings were evaluated.
USU School of Medicine student Army 2nd Lt. Suzanna Del Rio gave a presentation entitled
“Evidence-Based Management of Life-Threatening Box Jellyfish Stings,” in which different
methods of treatment for box jellyfish stings were evaluated.

Dr. Francis O’Connor, professor of Military and Emergency Medicine and medical director of the Consortium for Health and Military Performance at USU, delivered a succinct overview of the efforts of the Army Heat Center and the Warrior Heat and Exertion Related Events Collaborative (WEIC) to share best practices and save lives. O’Connor detailed the guidelines created for clinicians during his session entitled “Preventing, Diagnosing and Managing Exertional Heat Illness in Warfighters: A 2024 Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline.”
Dr. Francis O’Connor, professor of Military and Emergency Medicine and medical
director of the Consortium for Health and Military Performance at USU, delivered a 
succinct overview of the efforts of the Army Heat Center and the Warrior Heat and 
Exertion Related Events Collaborative (WEIC) to share best practices and save lives. 
O’Connor detailed the guidelines created for clinicians during his session entitled 
“Preventing, Diagnosing and Managing Exertional Heat Illness in Warfighters: 
A 2024 Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline.”

Dr. Rodney Phoenix (left), associate dean for Research in the USU Postgraduate Dental College, and his co-moderator, Army Col. Kevin Gillespie, kick off the 2024 MHSRS session, the "Central Role of Dental Care in Military Readiness, Operational Deployment, In-Theater Care, Post-Injury Reconstruction, and Warfighter Rehabilitation." Phoenix discussed the importance of dentistry and dental research in a military environment.
Dr. Rodney Phoenix (left), associate dean for Research in the USU Postgraduate Dental College,
and his co-moderator, Army Col. Kevin Gillespie, kick off the 2024 MHSRS session, the "Central
Role of Dental Care in Military Readiness, Operational Deployment, In-Theater Care, Post-Injury
Reconstruction, and Warfighter Rehabilitation." Phoenix discussed the importance of dentistry 
and dental research in a military environment.

Dr. Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman, associate professor and director of the Military Family Research Division in the Department of Pediatrics at USU, stressed the importance of healthcare providers’ awareness of military spouses and children when considering mental health needs. The call for a wider range of family care is in response to findings from her study entitled “The Impact of Service Member Injury Type of Spouse and Child Mental Healthcare Need.”
Dr. Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman, associate professor and director of the Military Family Research
Division in the Department of Pediatrics at USU, stressed the importance of healthcare
providers’ awareness of military spouses and children when considering mental health needs.
The call for a wider range of family care is in response to findings from her study entitled
“The Impact of Service Member Injury Type of Spouse and Child Mental Healthcare Need.”

Dr. Cynthia Shen, assistant professor of Military and Emergency Medicine at USU, presented “A Qualitative Analysis of Family Building Desires and Barriers Among LGBTQ+ Military Service Members” as part of the “Military Family Health and Readiness: Understanding the Interdependence of the Military Family System” breakout session. Shen’s team’s hypothesis was that LGBTQ+ service members faced continued obstacles when seeking infertility care; ultimately finding that family planning continues to be a clear stressor among LGBTQ+ military service members.
Dr. Cynthia Shen, assistant professor of Military and Emergency Medicine at USU,
presented “A Qualitative Analysis of Family Building Desires and Barriers Among LGBTQ+
Military Service Members” as part of the “Military Family Health and Readiness:
Understanding the Interdependence of the Military Family System” breakout session.
Shen’s team’s hypothesis was that LGBTQ+ service members faced continued obstacles when
seeking infertility care; ultimately finding that family planning continues to be a clear stressor
among LGBTQ+ military service members.

Dakota Davis, a community health worker and part of the research team of the Military Child and Family Health Research Division in USU’s Department of Pediatrics, detailed a project to increase awareness, enrollment, and retention of military families into the WIC program to help offset food and nutrition insecurities that can present during frequent mandatory moves and unexpected expenses. The project was detailed in her session entitled “A Novel Intervention to Increase Service Member Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).”
Dakota Davis, a community health worker and part of the research team of the Military Child
and Family Health Research Division in USU’s Department of Pediatrics, detailed a project to
increase awareness, enrollment, and retention of military families into the WIC program to help
offset food and nutrition insecurities that can present during frequent mandatory moves and
unexpected expenses. The project was detailed in her session entitled “A Novel Intervention to
Increase Service Member Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC).” 

Capt. (ret.) Jeff Goodie (left), professor of Family Medicine at USU, sat as part of a panel discussing findings for his presentation, “Challenges of a Chronic Pain Pragmatic Trial in the Military Health System,” as part of a breakout session entitled “Warfighter Operational Resilience: Next Generation Programs to Sustain Performance under Fire.”
Capt. (ret.) Jeff Goodie (left), professor of Family Medicine at USU, sat as part of a panel
discussing findings for his presentation, “Challenges of a Chronic Pain Pragmatic Trial in the
Military Health System,” as part of a breakout session entitled “Warfighter Operational 
Resilience: Next Generation Programs to Sustain Performance under Fire.”

Dr. Ramey Wilson, senior advisor for Knowledge Management in USU’s Center for Global Health Engagement, presented a compelling global health engagement (GEH) case study, emphasizing the critical need for sustained engagements beyond initial GHE interventions to build lasting impact, strengthen health systems resilience, and build trust and confidence with our partners and allies. (Photo credit: Yara Francis, CGHE)
Dr. Ramey Wilson, senior advisor for Knowledge Management in USU’s Center for Global
Health Engagement, presented a compelling global health engagement (GEH) case study,
emphasizing the critical need for sustained engagements beyond initial GHE interventions to 
build lasting impact, strengthen health systems resilience, and build trust and confidence 
with our partners and allies. (Photo credit: Yara Francis, CGHE)

Cmdr. (Dr.) Philip Spreadborough, a surgeon of the British Royal Army and researcher with USU’s regenerative medicine program, delivered findings from two studies that explored implications of blast exposures. The sessions were entitled “The Effect of Blast Overpressure Exposure on the Development of Gene Markers of End Organ Injury and Muscle Tissue Osteochondrogenesis in a Combat Applicable Model of Complex Lower Limb Trauma” and “Cutaneous Burn Injury Represents a Major Risk Factor for the Development of Traumatic Ectopic Bone Formation Following Blast-Related Extremity Injury.”
Cmdr. (Dr.) Philip Spreadborough, a surgeon of the British Royal Army and researcher with
USU’s regenerative medicine program, delivered findings from two studies that explored 
implications of blast exposures. The sessions were entitled “The Effect of Blast Overpressure 
Exposure on the Development of Gene Markers of End Organ Injury and Muscle Tissue
Osteochondrogenesis in a Combat Applicable Model of Complex Lower Limb Trauma” 
and “Cutaneous Burn Injury Represents a Major Risk Factor for the Development of 
Traumatic Ectopic Bone Formation Following Blast-Related Extremity Injury.”

Navy Cmdr. J. Kent Werner, associate professor of Neurology at USU, presented as part of a breakout session entitled “Managing Fatigue in the DoD: Methodologies for Sleep and Circadian Measurement.” His discussion, “Towards Glymphatics Measurement in the Frontal Cortex Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and a Link to Sleep Apnea,” concluded that sleep apnea and TBI may reduce water flux during sleep, with many implications for physiological disruptions.
Navy Cmdr. J. Kent Werner, associate professor of Neurology at USU, presented as part of a
breakout session entitled “Managing Fatigue in the DoD: Methodologies for Sleep and
Circadian Measurement.” His discussion, “Towards Glymphatics Measurement in the Frontal
Cortex Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and a Link to Sleep Apnea,” concluded that 
sleep apnea and TBI may reduce water flux during sleep, with many implications for 
physiological disruptions.

Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Cubby Gardner, assistant professor at USU’s Graduate School of Nursing, helped close out the 2024 MHSRS conference with his presentation, “Comparison of ChatGPT vs. Human-coded Machine Learning Prediction of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),” the purpose of which was to empirically compare the performance of ChatGPT and human-coded machine learning models in predicting ASD. This discussion was part of a breakout session entitled “Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Psychological Disorders.”
Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Cubby Gardner, assistant professor at USU’s Graduate School of
Nursing, helped close out the 2024 MHSRS conference with his presentation, “Comparison 
of ChatGPT vs. Human-coded Machine Learning Prediction of Autism Spectrum Disorder 
(ASD),” the purpose of which was to empirically compare the performance of ChatGPT and 
human-coded machine learning models in predicting ASD. This discussion was part of a 
breakout session entitled “Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Psychological Disorders.”