USU's Impact on the Future of Military Medicine Highlighted at MHS Conference
The Uniformed Services University played a central role on the first day of the Military Health System (MHS) Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, showcasing its leadership in shaping the future of military medicine through innovative education, strategic vision, and critical studies.
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Dr. Stephen L. Ferrara, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, presents coin to HM1 Shumaker. (Photo credit: Sharon Holland, USU) |
May 1, 2025 by USU External Affairs
The Uniformed Services University (USU) took center stage on the first day of the Military Health System (MHS) Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, demonstrating its pivotal role in advancing military medicine.
USU's influence was evident in panel discussions that addressed the university's unique educational mission, the strategic direction of the MHS, and crucial efforts to enhance the training and readiness of military healthcare personnel.
Hurst's Address: A Call for MHS Improvements
Mr. Jules “Jay” Hurst III, performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, opened the conference with a personal reflection on his experiences with the military health system—as a dependent, a service member, and a parent.
He recalled early memories of receiving compassionate, quality care from military providers and praised their continued professionalism, stating, “When you got into a doctor’s office, the care was excellent. People were world class.”
Yet, Hurst noted that access to care has deteriorated in recent years. He described long wait times, difficulty securing primary care appointments, and delayed prescriptions, observing that “the availability of care” had shifted, even though the dedication of providers had not.
He emphasized the need for systemic improvements, stating: “I still believe we have the best people in the world, the best medical providers, but we’re not resourcing you enough. And I don’t think all our policies are supporting you giving the best patient care available. ” Hurst pledged to be a vocal advocate, seeking additional funding and policy changes to empower providers.
Hurst also focused on the Military Health System’s dual mission—caring for beneficiaries and ensuring readiness to save lives in combat. Looking ahead to potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific region, he outlined the unique challenges that theater would pose, including vast distances, degraded communications, and intense drone warfare.
“We have to train our medics for this,” he said, describing future scenarios where providers may need to deliver prolonged care in austere conditions and even perform surgery remotely with augmented reality guidance. He warned of an experience gap that could emerge as seasoned combat medics and providers retire: “That’s a reality. What matters is what we do about that.”
To maintain readiness, he called for ensuring that MTFs handle complex cases and that medical personnel regularly participate in field and joint exercises. He also stressed the importance of integrating with the VA to expand surge capacity.
Addressing the future of military treatment facilities, Hurst said, “I think we have a Military Health System that’s designed for a much larger military,” noting the need to rebalance capacity and better leverage private-public partnerships. While he couldn’t predict future consolidations or closures, he said the system must be adjusted to match demand.
He closed by affirming the importance of telling the full story of military medicine—not just as a healthcare issue, but as a cornerstone of national defense. “This isn’t just about healthcare. It’s about readiness.”
Strategic Vision for the MHS
The conference also featured discussions on the broader strategic direction of the MHS. Dr. Stephen L. Ferrara, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, delivered a powerful message about preparing the Military Health System (MHS) for an unpredictable future. Describing this as a “combustible” moment in global affairs, Ferrara warned that “the margin between calm and chaos is quite thin,” and emphasized the urgent need for readiness. He praised the conference theme—Integrated, Innovative, Ready—as exactly right for the moment, and encouraged attendees to explore new ideas and perspectives beyond their specialties. “It never ceases to astound me, to amaze me, and to inspire me,” he said of the “amazing work that people do across our entire enterprise.”
Drawing on his own background as a Navy physician, military spouse, USU graduate, and leader in both public and private sectors, Ferrara underscored his commitment to listening and learning. “When you go and meet the people doing the work, it puts an incredibly different point on things,” he said, noting that recent decisions were directly influenced by what he’s learned during site visits in his first 100 days. He outlined three priorities for the MHS: support the warfighter, sustain our skills, and strengthen our chain. “If we do those things, we will beat the Walker Dip… and beating the Walker Dip saves lives.” He added, “There’s many great healthcare systems in America, but we are the only American healthcare system that goes to war,” and urged leaders to embrace innovation, decentralize decision-making, and stay focused on the mission: “We leave the MHS better than we found it.”
Resilience and Gratitude: Lt. Dan Cnossen's Message at the MHS Conference
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Retired Navy SEAL Lt. Cmdr. Dan Cnossen, a seven-time Paralympic medalist, delivered an inspirational message during his remarks at the MHS Conference. (Photo credit: Sharon Holland, USU) |
Cnossen expressed deep gratitude to everyone in the room for their role in supporting the military health mission—including Ferrara, who was part of the medical team that cared for him immediately after he was medevaced from the front lines. He later received treatment at the former National Naval Medical Center, undergoing 40 different surgeries, and underwent rehabilitation at the old Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Cnossen recalled a pivotal moment at Walter Reed, where, surrounded by fellow service members who had lost three or four limbs, his mindset shifted from focusing on what he had lost to what he could still do and control. He credits this shift in perspective—along with the unwavering support from the military and the Military Health System—with helping him move forward and build the life he lives today.
USU Schools: Educating Leaders for Military Medicine's Future
A key conference session highlighted USU’s central mission—educating the next generation of military medical leaders through its four schools: the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (SOM), the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing (GSN), the Postgraduate Dental College (PDC), and the College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS).
Army Col. (Dr.) Danielle Holt, associate dean for Admissions and Recruitment at the SOM, provided insights into the School of Medicine's curriculum, which combines a strong scientific foundation with over 700 hours of "military unique curriculum". This specialized education and training includes field practicums and combat casualty care, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the demands of military service. Holt emphasized USU's role as "the Leadership Academy of Military Medicine," highlighting the SOM's commitment to developing leadership skills and a strong sense of teamwork through small team placements and mentorship. She also underscored the school's competitive admissions, excellent match and board pass rates, and significant research output, noting that "our medical students, 98% of them say that overall they are satisfied with the quality of their education compared to only 89% among all U.S. medical schools".
GSN Dean Dr. Carol Romano offered a historical perspective on the Graduate School of Nursing, established in 1993 at the request of the Services to educate advanced practice nurses at the master’s degree level, and now offering Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees across various specialties, including nurse anesthesia and psychiatric mental health among others, along with a PhD in Nursing. Romano highlighted the school's focus on deployment readiness, with students completing twice the national average of clinical hours and receiving specialized training in field-relevant skills like trauma care and battlefield acupuncture. She proudly noted that "95% of the family nurse practitioners in the MHS are USU alum" and that the USU nurse anesthesia program was ranked number one in the nation for the last two years.
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(Left to right) Mr. Allen Middleton, Col. (Dr.) Danielle Holt, Dr. Carol Romano, Dr. Drew Fallis, and Dr. James Nash gave presentations on USU's four schools. (Photo credit: Sharon Holland, USU) |
Dr. Drew Fallis, executive dean of PDC, discussed the Postgraduate Dental College's mission to educate and train already-licensed dentists in specialized fields like periodontics and oral surgery. Fallis explained the strategic decision to replace costly civilian university partnerships with USU’s own degree authority, enabling tighter alignment of curriculum and research with the specific needs of the Department of Defense. He emphasized interservice collaboration and future goals, including unified curricula and longitudinal research initiatives across the military services, stating that "the postgraduate dental college has the largest portfolio of graduate dental education at the master's level in the U.S.".
CAHS Dean Dr. James Nash provided an overview of the college, created in 2017 to award credits and degrees to enlisted service members for their technical training. Nash articulated the college's value proposition by asking, "Imagine you're a high school student trying to decide between going to college or joining the service. [You choose service,] and your friend is in college studying occupational therapy and earning credit for it. Meanwhile, you're in the military doing hands-on training in the same field—but not getting any academic credit. That was the disparity before we existed. Our job is to recognize that training and award the credit our service members deserve," highlighting the college’s commitment to recognizing and validating the expertise of enlisted personnel. He reported that the college has already conferred more than 4,000 degrees and is actively pursuing further growth through expanded programs, stackable credentials, and interprofessional training opportunities.
The USU panel also explored future directions for military medicine, including digital transformation, the integration of artificial intelligence, and the development of dual-degree opportunities such as MD/Master of Public Health or MD/Master of Healthcare Administration programs. Panelists addressed the critical need to adapt to future challenges in military medicine and sustainment, citing strategies such as simulation, telemedicine, and curriculum updates designed to account for evolving field conditions. Holt illustrated USU's commitment to innovation, sharing, "We’ve really taken some steps forward in implementing AI in our education… we have individualized learning dashboards that demonstrate how [students] are progressing".
The audience engaged with the panelists, raising important concerns about military-cultural integration for new healthcare providers and the importance of ergonomic wellness for caregivers. Panelists responded thoughtfully, outlining leadership training programs, wellness initiatives, and plans to address curriculum gaps to equip clinicians not only to provide excellent care but also to effectively lead within the military healthcare system.
Strategies for Implementation of Evidence Based Practice in the MHS
An interactive presentation showcased strategies for strengthening implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) within the MHS.
Dr. Laura Taylor, Program Director, Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Program, GSN, and Dr. Diane Seibert, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, GSN, led an energetic presentation showcasing strategies for strengthening implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) within the Military Health System.
They provided relevant and actionable steps leadership can take to implement EBP within their treatment facilities.
Taylor echoed Dr. Ferrara’s viewpoint that EBP supports getting service members ready to return to duty.
They detailed resources attendees could utilize, including a repository of over 100 projects completed by the Doctor of Nursing Program (DNP), one of which is an award-winning research in battlefield acupuncture.
They also provided other examples of the power of data-informed decisions.
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Dr. Laura Taylor (right), Program Director, Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Program, GSN, and Dr. Diane Seibert (left), Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, GSN, led an energetic presentation showcasing strategies for strengthening implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) within the MHS. (Photo credit: Hadiyah Brendel, USU) |
Enhancing MHS Training and Readiness
USU also played a central role in discussions about enhancing MHS training and readiness. The Section 724 study, led by USU, was presented to assess the effectiveness of MHS education and training.
Panelists Dr. Glendon Diehl, USU vice president for External Affairs and acting deputy director of the Defense Health Agency, Mr. Allen Middleton, senior advisor to the President, USU, and Mr. Don Whitley, consultant and data lead for the study, emphasized that the study, mandated by Congress, aims to identify gaps and redundancies in training programs to enhance operational readiness. Diehl highlighted the creation of a digital dashboard and data repository to provide leaders across the MHS with the data needed for informed decision-making, stressing the importance of transparency, collaboration, and a unified purpose in improving MHS training.
USU's strong presence and contributions on the first day of the MHS Conference underscored its vital role in shaping the future of military medicine. From educating the next generation of military healthcare leaders to driving strategic discussions and leading critical studies, USU is instrumental in ensuring the MHS is ready to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the military and the nation.
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Panelists Dr. Glendon Diehl (left), USU vice president for External Affairs and acting deputy director of the Defense Health Agency, Mr. Allen Middleton (center), senior advisor to the President, USU, and Mr. Don Whitley (right), consultant and data lead for the Section 724 study, which was presented to assess the effectiveness of MHS education and training. (Photo credit: Sharon Holland, USU) |
