USU Postgraduate Dental College Alumna Named “Hero of Military Medicine”

Navy Cmdr. Rachel L. Werner, USU class of 2014, to be honored for her “exceptional leadership, groundbreaking contributions to military medical research, and unwavering dedication to improving the health and readiness of warfighters.”

Cmdr. Rachel Werner, deputy chief science director of Naval Medical Research Unit 

(NAMRU) San Antonio, briefs research on the Targeted Gold Nanoparticle-assisted 

Laser Therapy for the Disruption of Multi-drug Resistant Bacterial Biofilms to Capt. 

William Deniston, commander of Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), U.S. Pacific 

Fleet Surgeon Capt. Michael McGinnis, and other science subject matter experts from 

Navy Medicine during a tour of NAMRU San Antonio facilities at the Battlefield 

Health and Trauma Building in 2022. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU 

San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

September 23, 2024 by Sharon Holland

Navy Cmdr. Rachel Werner, a 2014 graduate of the Uniformed Services University’s (USU) Postgraduate Dental College, will be honored with the prestigious Hero of Military Medicine Award at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) annual Heroes of Military Medicine awards dinner on October 17, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.  This recognition celebrates her remarkable leadership in military medical research, patient care, and mentorship.

Navy Cmdr. Rachel Werner

(Navy photo by NAMRU San Antonio)

Werner was selected for the honor based on her contributions as the Deputy Chief Science Director at the Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio (NAMRU-SA). As such, Werner plays a pivotal role in advancing the health and readiness of warfighters through innovative research and clinical expertise. Since joining NAMRU-SA in January 2022, she has overseen a $20 million annual research budget and led a team of 14 military and civilian principal investigators. Her leadership has propelled groundbreaking studies in combat casualty care, craniofacial health, and directed energy health effects—efforts that directly improve the survival and safety of Department of Defense personnel.  

One of her most notable achievements is securing a $369,000 grant to study the molecular characteristics of burns and wound healing in directed energy injuries. The research aims to develop new therapies and clinical guidelines to enhance care for warfighters exposed to radiation and other combat-related injuries.

In addition to her role as a research leader, Cmdr. Werner is an accomplished clinician. She serves as a staff head and neck pathologist at Brooke Army Medical Center, where she provides diagnostic expertise on complex pathology cases. Her dedication to medical education is reflected in her work as an assistant professor of Pathology at USU, where she lectures and mentors military medical professionals, ensuring the next generation is well-prepared to carry on the mission of military medicine.

“Cmdr. Werner represents the finest qualities of military medicine—leadership, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the health of our warfighters. Her dedication to research, patient care, and education is an inspiration to all of us at USU,” said Dr. Jonathan Woodson, president of USU. “We are proud of her achievements and the profound impact she continues to make on military healthcare.”