Uniformed Services University faculty honors, a student's Science Signaling paper, a supplement safety summit, and a leadership talk.
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| Participants in the 4th Annual OPSS Summit gather for a group photo in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo courtesy of ARMORR) |
October 16, 2026 by USU News
Nine faculty members at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) have received honors for teaching, research, and medical education leadership this year. Seven were recognized by the Air Force, Navy, and Army chapters of the American College of Physicians (ACP).
This week's roundup also covers a graduate student's first-author paper in Science Signaling, the 4th Annual Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) Summit, and an Oct. 27 leadership talk by a former chief of the Army Nurse Corps.
OPSS Summit Focuses on Peptides and GLP-1 Drugs
The 4th Annual OPSS Summit met Oct. 14 in Bethesda, Maryland, and online, with more than 270 nutrition professionals, senior military leaders, health care providers, and government executives affiliated with the Department of War (DoW) taking part. OPSS, the DoW resource on dietary supplements, is a program of USU's Center for Advanced Research for Military Optimization, Readiness, and Rehabilitation (ARMORR).
Attendees discussed supplements and performance-enhancing substances, with a focus on peptides and peptide hormones, research chemicals, and GLP-1 medications, a class of drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. Representatives from Major League Baseball, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command, and other organizations presented and attended.
Dr. Paul Pasquina, director of ARMORR, presented on the center's mission and how OPSS contributes to its research and education efforts to optimize human performance and maintain military readiness.
Andrea Lindsey, OPSS director and chair of the DoW Dietary Supplements and Other Self-Care Products Subcommittee, said bringing together military, research, medical, and professional sports leaders helps the community address new supplement and performance-enhancing substance issues directly. "Bringing together leaders, clinicians, and experts across military, research, medical, and professional sports organizations allows us to tackle emerging issues in the dietary supplement and performance-enhancing substances space head-on. Open dialogue at these summits is critical for keeping our service members informed, safe, and mission-ready."
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| Dr. Jamie Geringer (left), associate professor of Medicine, and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Laura Barrett, assistant professor of Medicine, hold their awards at the Tri-Service ACP Annual Meeting. (Photo credit: Paige Waterman) |
Department of Medicine Faculty Honored at Tri-Service ACP Meeting
Seven faculty members in the Department of Medicine received awards at the American College of Physicians (ACP) Tri-Service Annual Scientific Meeting Aug. 26-28 at The Bethesdan Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The ACP is the national professional society for internal medicine physicians; its Army, Navy, and Air Force chapters meet together each year.
Air Force Chapter—Dr. Jamie Geringer, associate professor of Medicine, received the Dr. George Crawford Distinguished Medical Educator Award. The award cited "commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in medical education and mentorship."
Navy Chapter—Navy Lt. Cmdr. Laura Barrett, assistant professor of Medicine, selected for promotion to commander, received the Staff Teacher of the Year Award, presented to an outstanding Navy internal medicine educator. Dr. Elexis McBee received the Master Teacher Award.
Army Chapter—Army Maj. Joseph Maciuba received the Louis Pangaro Master Teacher Award, named for the longtime USU medical educator. Army Maj. Jared Magee received the William Crosby Superiority in Research Award. Dr. Josh Hartzell and Dr. Jessica Bunin each received a Laureate Award.
Lindholm Named an Air Force Academic Grand Master
Air Force Lt. Col. David Lindholm, associate professor of Medicine and the associate dean for Regional Education, San Antonio Region, has received the Academic Grand Master Special Experience Identifier from the Air Force Medical Corps Development Team. The identifier is a designation recorded in an officer's personnel file. Academic Grand Master recognizes sustained excellence in academic teaching and leadership over a career.
GSN's Dr. James Maiden Earns Outstanding Research Award
Dr. James Maiden, assistant dean for Student Affairs at the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing (GSN), has been selected for the 2026 Outstanding Research Award from the European Branch of the American Counseling Association. He will receive the award at the branch's 67th Annual Conference in Athens, Greece, Oct. 22-27. He was selected in part for research on how STEM education and emerging technologies, already part of young people's lives, can build confidence, widen educational opportunities, and support mental wellness, identity, belonging, and resilience. His work spans research, practice, and international dissemination.
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| Dr. James Maiden accepts the GSN Dean's Special Service Recognition Award from GSN Dean Dr. Carol Romano in 2024. Maiden will receive the European Branch of the American Counseling Association's Outstanding Research Award later this month. (Photo credit: Tom Balfour, USU) |
Graduate Student Publishes First-Author Paper in Science Signaling
Hyun Lee, a PhD student in the Molecular and Cell Biology program, is first author of "HRAS promotes mutant NRAS-driven transformation with codon and allele specificity," published in Science Signaling. RAS proteins act as switches that tell cells when to grow, and mutated forms of NRAS can drive cancer. The study reports that the normal HRAS protein helps mutant NRAS push cells toward cancer, and that the effect depends on the specific mutation involved.
Former Army Nurse Corps Chief to Speak Oct. 27
Retired Army Brig. Gen. William Bester, former Vice President for External Affairs at USU and former chief of the Army Nurse Corps, will speak at the next President's Strategic Leadership Speaker Series event Oct. 27 at 8 a.m. in Rice Hall. His talk is titled "Foundational Pillars of Successful Leaders."
The series brings senior leaders to campus to talk with students about leadership.
Awards and recognitions for future roundups can be sent to news@usuhs.edu.