Vol . 24 No. 11 www.bethesda.med.navy.mil March 15, 2012

By Naval SupportActivity Bethesda

From March 19-24, Navyinstallations across the Unit-ed States will be participat-ing in Solid Curtain/CitadelShield, an exercise designedto test force protection readi-ness through a variety of in-creased force protectionmeasures. At Naval Support Activity

Bethesda (NSAB), thoseworking on and visiting thebase should prepare for apossible impact to their com-mute beginning before noonon Thursday, March 22, andall day on Friday, March 23. Installation leadership at

NSAB has taken severalsteps to minimize the impactto the base as well as to thelocal community. These in-

clude encouraging staff totake leave, increasingtelecommuting options andminimizing routine business.The base will be open, but

those visiting the base forroutine business shouldavoid the morning rush hour(approximately 6:30 to 10a.m.) on March 23. Visitorsmay also want to call aheadto confirm the office they arevisiting is open. The following questions

and answers concerning theexercise. Q: What should em-

ployees expect during theexercise?This exercise is of vital im-

portance to our ability to ex-ecute the Navy's mission insupport of Homeland De-fense and to protect all ourpeople in a situation charac-

terized by a significant andimmediate threat to theirsafety. While mission essen-tial civilian personnel (MEP)will be expected to report forduty, it is desired that non-mission essential civilianemployees remain off of theinstallation during the exer-cise. This is not mandatory.Non-MEP should talk totheir supervisor to requestleave, permission to telecom-mute or work flexible hoursif possible. It is not a day offunless leave is taken.Q: What flexibilities are

available for leave, payand duty status of non-mission essential person-nel?A: Non-mission essential

civilian employees, who areabsent from work during theexercise, may be permitted to

use annual leave, advancedannual leave, compensatorytime earned, credit hoursearned, or request leavewithout pay consistent withnormal attendance and leaveprocedures. Otherwise, em-ployees may be permitted totelework (consistent withtelework regulations), movea compressed work schedule(CWS) regular day off (RDO)to coincide with the exerciserelated absence, adjust workhours to reduce congestion atbase entrances, or report toan approved alternativeworksite. Q: If the exercise be-

gins during the course ofa workday will non-mis-sion essential civilian em-ployees be required to de-part affected Navy instal-lations?

A: Installation command-ers/activity heads will decidewhether to direct the depar-ture of non-MEP during thecourse of a workday or allowthem to remain through theend of the regular work shift. Q: Can all non-MEP

civilian employees tele-work to avoid takingleave during the exer-cise?A: Only telework-ready

employees may teleworkduring the exercise. Tele-work-ready refers to employ-ees who have been designat-ed eligible for telework, andwhose position has been des-ignated eligible for teleworkconsistent with law and reg-ulation. Telework-ready em-ployees must have completed

Base Prepares for Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield Exercise

See exercIse page 5

By Sarah FortneyJournal staff writer

On June 11, 2002, TheresaSareo was an aspiring musi-cian busy making a name forherself in New York Citywhen she was struck by adrunk driver in midtownManhattan. The horrific in-cident claimed her entireright leg and nearly silencedher voice.Since the traumatic acci-

dent, Sareo has traveled theglobe, sharing her story ofsurvival and raising aware-ness for wounded warriorsand people with disabilities.On March 7, she visitedWalter Reed National Mili-tary Medical Center (WRN-MMC) to showcase her doc-umentary and to performher song, "Through a Sol-dier's Eyes" that she was in-spired to write after visitingtroops at the former WalterReed Army Medical Center

(WRAMC). Sareo's perform-ance at WRNMMC was partof the hospital's "Stages ofHealing" series, which regu-larly brings artists, musi-cians and comedians to pa-tients and staff."My accident was nine

months to the day after9/11. With the time and na-ture of my injury, I felt veryconnected to our troops,"she said. As she saw theyoung military members re-turn from war, her heartbroke for them. "I was justso drawn to be with thetroops. I wanted to bearound people who werelike me," she explained.Sareo's appreciation for

the military and woundedwarriors also stems fromfamily ties."My grandfather served

in World War I. My dadserved in the Navy in World

Songwriter Inspires Others with Personal Trials

See InspIre page 4

photo by Sarah Fortney

On March 7, singer/songwriter and wounded warrior advocate Theresa Sareosang, "Through a Soldier's Eyes." Sareo called two Soldiers from the audienceto her side as she performed in the Warrior Café at Walter Reed National Mili-tary Medical Center (WRNMMC). In June 2002, Sareo lost her right leg aftershe was struck by a drunk driver.

2 Thursday, March 15, 2012 The Journal

Women's History Month ObservanceWalter Reed National Military Medical Center's

(WRNMMC) Women's History Month observance is todayat 11:30 a.m. in Memorial Auditorium. There will be apanel discussion focusing on "Education and theEmpowerment of Women." Bethesda MulticulturalCommittee is sponsoring the event. The committee, alongwith WRNMMC's Stages of Healing, will also sponsor a"Celebration of Irish Dance" event, featuring dancersfrom the Hurley School and Duffy School of Irish Dancetomorrow at 12:30 p.m. in the America Building's atrium.For more information, call Sgt. 1st Class Jason Zielske at(301) 400-2847.

General Military Training EventsThere will be General Military Training (GMT) events

at Walter Reed Bethesda to assist staff in meeting theirtraining requirements. Today, Sexual Harassment preven-tion training will be held in Memorial Auditorium from8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. The training willalso be held March 29 and April 5, same time and location.

Women's Leadership GroupThe Women's Leadership Group at Naval Support

Activity Bethesda is meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m. inBuilding 5, Rm. 3007-3008. The guest speaker will beCMDCM Evelyn "Von" Banks of NAVSEA. The purpose ofthe group is to foster education, career development, andprovide networking and mentoring opportunities. All mili-tary female service members are encouraged to attend. Formore information, contact SHC (SW/AW) Charlotte Gee at(301) 295-5161 or Charlotte.Gee@med.navy.mil, or CSC(SW) Sarmaine Johnson at (301) 319-8897 or Sarmaine.Johnson@med.navy.mil.

2nd Annual NCA Research SummitWRNMMC's Department of Research Programs (DRP)

invites staff to participate in the 2nd Annual NationalCapital Area (NCA) Research Summit on Monday. Thesummit, from 8 a.m. until noon, held in the Laurel ClarkMemorial Auditorium, will provide a unique forum for re-search leaders and practitioners to meet and create an ef-fective research network that will positively affect the fu-ture direction of research in the NCA. For more informa-tion, contact Luis Calvo at luis.calvo@med.navy.mil, or(301) 295-2269.

Bethesda notebookBethesda notebook

Naval Support Activity (NSA) BethesdaCommanding Officer

Public Affairs Officer

Journal StaffStaff Writers MC1 Ardelle Purcell

MCSN Dion DawsonSarah FortneySharon Renee TaylorCat DeBinder Katie BradleyHelen HocknellDavid Dickinson

Journal Editor Bernard Little

Fleet And Family Support CenterFamily Ombudsman

Visit us on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107

Published by offset every Thursday by Comprint Mili-tary Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg,Md. 20877, a private firm in no way connected with theU.S. Navy, under exclusive written contract with the WalterReed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorizedpublication for members of the military services. Contentsof The Journal are not necessarily the official views of, norendorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department ofDefense, or the Department of Navy. The appearance ofadvertising in this publication, including inserts or supple-ments, does not constitute endorsement by the Depart-ment of Defense or Comprint, Inc., of the products or serv-ices advertised. Everything advertised in this publicationshall be made available for purchase, use or patronagewithout regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation,or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or pa-

tron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Af-fairs Office, Walter ReedNational Military MedicalCenter, Bethesda, Md.News copy should besubmitted to the Public Af-fairs Office, Bldg. 1, 11thFloor, by noon one week pre-ceding the desired publication date.News items are welcomed from all WRNMMC complexsources. Inquiries about news copy will be answered bycalling (301) 295-5727. Commercial advertising shouldbe placed with the publisher by telephoning (301) 921-2800. Publisher’s advertising offices are located at 9030Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md. 20877. Classifiedads can be placed by calling (301) 670-2505.

Capt. Frederick (Fritz) Kass

Sandy Dean

(301) 295-5727(301) 295-5727(301) 295-5727(301) 295-5727(301) 295-5727(301) 295-5727(301) 295-5727

(301) 295-5727

(301) 319-4087(443) 854-5167(410) 800-3787(240) 468-6386

By David DickinsonJournal staff writer

“As Accreditation from the JointCommission (TJC) signals the endof our successful integration, it istime for us to move forward and setthe plan and focus for the Nation'sMedical Center," stated Walter ReedNational Military Medical Center(WRNMMC) Commander, RearAdm. Alton L. Stocks in last week'sCommander's Column commend-ing WRNMMC staff for "a job welldone" on the Joint Commission sur-vey.Dr. Marvin Kolb, TJC survey team

leader that assessed WRNMMC, said,"from every patient experience to everyinteraction with staff, we felt andheard that what you do matters," astatement made by Stocks when hepresented WRNMMC's StrategicPlan to staff at the beginning of theyear.The Journal continues to ask

WRNMMC staffers what the state-ment, "What I Do Matters" means tothem and what they do every day atthe Nation's Medical Center.

CS2 Chris-tian Saenz -Culinary Special-ist"Manning the

front desk, I takethe calls whenthere are anyconcerns in therooms," says

Saenz, who also makes sure rooms inTranquility Hall are ready for occu-pancy by wounded warriors andtheir families. Saenz stated, "I helpease the pressure of the patients

moving over from the wards to theirnew temporary apartments." Help-ing to mentor others, he also testsNavy E3 to E6 candidates for ad-vancement.

Caleb Brown- Events Coordi-nator"What I do

matters to thewounded war-riors and espe-cially their fami-lies. The familygoes through a

lot. When the wounded warrior getsinjured, the family is part of thehealing process," says Brown, alsoan Army veteran who helps wound-ed warriors and their families re-in-tegrate into the population.

HN Larry Gal-icia - HospitalCorpsman, Gas-tronomy Depart-ment"I help prepare

patients to see doc-tors by takingtheir vital signs. It

is so important to get all the informa-tion for the provider while prescreeningto help tell the patient's story. If they(the patients) are in pain, I do what Ican to help present a clearer picture forthe provider, which in turn helps in thecare provided."

Hector Girron- Custodial Engi-neer, The Tower Girron makes

sure offices andfacilities in theTower are cleanfor patients, staffand visitors.

'What I Do Matters," saysWalter Reed Bethesda Staff

The Journal Thursday, March 15, 2012 3Thursday, March 15, 2012 3Thursday, March 15, 2012 3

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 2nd Class John K. Hamilton

NSAB Public Affairs

The Navy College Office (NCO)Education Center on March 8, held agrand opening for their new officeslocated in Building 17, where coun-selors are available for all servicemembers."The new building is absolutely

state of the art and just beautiful,"said Jonathan Wood, Gulf Coast Re-gional Director for the Navy CollegeProgram. "It is also symbolic for a lotof service members because it housesfitness and education and representsa major transition for wounded, illand injured service members as theycross the street from the care facili-ties."He added, "the education center is

now fully functional and fully staffedto support the educational needs ofthe broader active duty community inNaval District Washington."The NCO provides voluntary edu-

cational opportunities to servicemember's unique needs, Wood said."We engage one-on-one with eachservice member to provide education-al counseling that covers personal in-terests, abilities and readiness. Wealso review academic program op-tions that could be a good match forthat profile and review and arrangeboth experiential credit and credit byexamination that could combine to re-duce the time to degree completion." He said an Individual Education

Plan is developed to give each service

member the best probability of meet-ing their personal and professionalgoals. "The difference is now we cando it in more inviting, fully accessiblespaces with room for counselors,clients and academic advisors to col-laborate. Most importantly, the newfacility represents the importanceand priority our joint services placeon the personal and professional de-velopment of our service members." The NCO also gives assistance in

applying for tuition assistance andcan be used at on-base, off-base, or on-line institutions, as long as they areregionally or nationally accredited.

"If a service member wants to go toschool, the best place to start is aca-demic advisement here at the educa-tion office, said Elizabeth Baker, di-rector Navy College Office. "Some-times [the process] is as simple asforming a degree plan, or in other cas-es, we'll help you figure out what youwant to do for the rest of your life.

"We can facilitate College LevelExamination Program (CLEP) tests,that count as college credit, and ex-plore how Sailor/Marine AmericanCouncil on Education Registry Tran-script (SMART) credits, which are ac-quired through military training and

advancement, can transfer to aca-demic institutions," Baker said."Some people find they are closer totheir educational goals than theythink." She said on base courses are pro-

vided by the University of MarylandUniversity College, Central TexasCollege and Southern Illinois Univer-sity during the evening. "We areworking on morning classes for shiftworkers. In addition to our regularschedule of classes, we hold classes inTranquility Hall to accommodate theWounded Warrior program, and NavyCollege Program for Afloat CollegeEducation (NCPACE) courses aretaught at qualified deploying units."Baker explained service members

can also take courses offered by Mont-gomery College through the NCOthat could transfer to four-year uni-versities in Maryland.

"A lot of people here at the hospitalexpress interest in nursing or physi-cal therapy, and Montgomery Collegehas a lot of pre- or two-year RN pro-grams, that because of their popular-ity can have a long waiting list," Bak-er said. "However, you can apply forthe programs while taking classes soyou can complete the pre-requisiteswhile on the waiting list, and thenwhen your name comes up you canenroll straight into the program." For more information on the serv-

ices the Navy College Office at NSABoffer, or to make an appointment withan academic advisor, contact the officeat (301) 295-2014, or contact Eliza-beth Baker at (301) 295-5423.

New Education Center Offers Programs for All Service Members

photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John K. Hamilton

Jonathan Wood, Gulf Coast Regional Director for the Navy CollegeProgram, welcomed members of the Naval Support ActivityBethesda (NSAB) community to the grand opening of the NavyCollege Office on March 8 in Building 17 at NSAB.

Joint Pathology Center Hosts Open House

photo by JTF CapMed Public Affairs

Army Capt. Lea Dickson, a veterinarypathology student, Army VeterinaryPathology Residency Program, cuts tis-sue samples in the Joint PathologyCenter (JPC) Gross Laboratory duringthe JPC Open House on March 6 at theForest Glen Annex in Silver Spring, Md.The JPC was formerly the ArmedForces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) lo-cated at the former Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center. It is the reference cen-ter in pathology for the federal govern-ment providing diagnostic pathologyconsultation services in medicine, den-tistry, and veterinary sciences; pathol-ogy education; diagnostic pathology re-search; and maintenance and contin-ued modernization of the TissueRepository. It falls under the Joint TaskForce National Capital Region Medical(JTF CapMed) headquartered at NavalSupport Activity Bethesda.

4 Thursday, March 15, 2012 The Journal4 Thursday, March 15, 20124 Thursday, March 15, 2012

By Bernard S. LittleJournal staff writer

The Southern Society forPediatric Research (SSPR)first-place award in theClinical Young InvestigatorCompetition was recentlyawarded to an attendingstaff neonatologist at Wal-ter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center (WRN-MMC) and the UniformedServices University of theHealth Sciences (USUHS).Army Maj. Devon Kuehn

was recognized for earningthe award Feb. 9 to 11 dur-ing the SSPR annual meet-ing in New Orleans, whereshe presented her work re-garding "Congenital Di-aphragmatic Hernia.""Congenital diaphrag-

matic hernia is a potential-ly devastating birth defect,and as a neonatologist whohas taken care of babies di-agnosed with this abnor-mality, I was interested inunderstanding its causes,"Kuehn said.She explained, "The di-

aphragm is a thin musclelayer under the lungs thatseparates the chest and ab-dominal cavities. If it is notproperly developed, the ab-dominal organs (such as in-testines, stomach, liver, etc.)will push up into the chest,and the lungs develop poor-ly. This developmental de-fect occurs in about one inevery 3,000 births, and canbe deadly in the most se-vere cases. Treatment includes sur-

gery and support for thepoorly developed lungs.

Causes are not well known,but most likely include ge-netic abnormalities and en-vironmental influences," ac-cording to Kuehn. "Onearea of current interest isthe vitamin A pathway andit has been suggested thatalterations in levels andsignaling may play a role inabnormal diaphragm devel-opment."Kuehn said during her

fellowship training from2008 to 2011 in the Nation-al Capital Consortium,which included the formerWalter Reed Army MedicalCenter, the former NationalNaval Medical Center andUSUHS, she began re-search work in collabora-tion with the National In-stitutes of Health (NIH),Eunice Kennedy ShriverNational Institute of ChildHealth and Human Devel-opment (NICHD).As an attending staff

neonatologist at WRNMMC

and USUHS, Kuehn saidshe has "the privilege towork with an amazing teamto provide care for prema-ture and extremely ill in-fants born to Soldiers,Sailors, Airmen andMarines."The field of neonatology

continues to evolve throughsignificant research efforts,thereby improving the carewe provide every day," sheadded. "Neonatologists atWRNMMC are heavily in-volved in this research, andsupport from WRNMMCmakes this possible."Kuehn said she joined

the military in 2001 to at-tend USUHS, and was com-missioned into the Navy."I grew up in the military

health care system and al-ways wanted to practicemedicine in the military,"she continued. "From anearly age, I had an interestin pediatrics and neonatol-ogy. This interest continuedto evolve during my med-ical school training."While at USUHS, Kuehn

met her husband and trans-ferred service to the Army."While he completed his

general surgery residency, Iwas fortunate to completeboth my pediatric residencyand neonatology fellowship,with both of us training inthe National Capital Con-sortium (NCC)," Kuehnsaid.It was during this time

she did her research."Through collaboration

with New York State andNICHD, I was able to ob-tain DNA from infants born

with congenital diaphrag-matic hernia," Kuehn con-tinued. "I studied the DNAfor variations within thegenes of the vitamin Apathway and found severalpotential causes for thebirth defect. My resultssuggest that abnormalDNA sequence may lead toalterations in the vitamin Asignaling pathway result-ing in congenital diaphrag-matic hernia. These find-ings are preliminary and donot change current recom-mendation for vitamin Asupplementation in preg-nant women."Kuehn said she was "ex-

tremely honored" that herwork was recognized bySSPR, one of four regionalsocieties of the AmericanPediatric Society (APS) andSociety for Pediatric Re-search (SPR). TheAPS/SPR's shared visionincludes promoting "ad-vances in pediatric healthwith sustained and lifelongimprovements in humanwell-being through excel-lence and innovation in pe-diatric research and schol-arship, according to theirwebsite. WRNMMC andUSUHS faculty are eligiblefor membership in theSSPR.Col. Thomas R. Burklow,

Chief of Pediatrics at WRN-MMC, said Kuehn's talentsas a bedside clinician andresearch investigator werefirst recognized during herresidency in pediatrics. "Since that time, she has

continued to demonstrateexcellence in clinical medi-

cine and in academic re-search. As a fellow, her fel-lowship research at NIH re-sulted in four manuscriptsfor peer-reviewed publica-tions, and she presented[her work] at six regional ornational conferences," saidBurklow.Burklow said one of

Kuehn's mentors describedher as "proficient in everyaspect of neonatal intensivecare. She calmly and ex-pertly manages the mostcomplex cases with the ut-most compassion."He added that Kuehn is

passionate about all aspectsof neonatology."She enthusiastically

mentors residents and fel-lows, and is recognized forher teaching skills," thechief of pediatrics said."The fact she was recog-nized as the Southern Soci-ety for Pediatric ResearchYoung Investigator does notcome as a total surprise,and we see her developinginto one of the most produc-tive researchers in militarypediatrics."Kuehn said she hopes to

continue to pursue research"to improve the lives of oursmallest, most vulnerabledependents. I feel extreme-ly fortunate to work atWRNMMC and conduct re-search within the uniquecollaboration betweenWRNMMC, USUHS, NIHand NCC. The academicsupport of these organiza-tions is truly world-class."

Neonatologist Honored for Pediatric Research

U.S. Army photo

Maj. Devon Kuehn

War II. He was sent to the SouthPacific at the end of World War II toreplace units that had been severe-ly wounded. My older brother servedin Germany for three years duringVietnam," she said. Following months of physical and

emotional rehabilitation after heraccident, Sareo began singing atmilitary conventions, fundraisersand bases, as well as VA (VeteransAffairs) hospitals. In 2007, she per-formed, for the first of many times,at WRAMC. There, she made histo-ry, as the hospital's first civilian to

sing the National Anthem duringtheir 100th anniversary celebration. "The military support of my ca-

reer has meant so much to me. Myaudience has expanded in ways Iwould have never dreamed," sheadded. At WRNMMC last week, she told

troops and staff how therapeuticmusic has been in her recovery, andshe encouraged them to continueusing art throughout their healing. "The music played such a role in

my emotional survival [and] any-thing I could do to talk about my ex-perience, and get it out, I think[that's] so important," she said. "Tobe a successful trauma survivor andlive your life, moving forward andfinding your own personal joy, you

have to get the pain out. I foundthat music was the key way for meto do that and what made me mostcomfortable."The arts, including music, theater

and poetry, have been shown tobring hope and healing to those ex-periencing physical and emotionalchallenges, said Dr. Micah Sickel, achild psychiatrist for WRNMMC'sChild and Adolescent PsychiatricService. The Stages of Healing per-formances offer that amusement topatients and staff."Stages of Healing is a way to

bring everyone on campus togetherthrough a shared experience thatcenters around the arts," Sickeladded. He said, "[The arts] tap intosomething we just can't get at with

therapy or surgery."Thus far, Stages of Healing has

offered various performances byartists, musicians and comedians,such as Celtic Woman, WashingtonImprov Theater, the Billy ThompsonBand, iMusical, ELEW and PatchAdams.For more information about

Theresa Sareo, visit www.there-sasareo.com. For information onWRNMMC's Stages of Healingevents, visit the Walter ReedBethesda Twitter site @WRBethes-da, and the Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center's FacebookFan Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107.

INSPIREINSPIREContinued from 1

The Journal Thursday, March 15, 2012 5Thursday, March 15, 2012 5Thursday, March 15, 2012 5

the required training, theirsupervisor must have com-pleted the required train-ing, and the employee musthave a signed teleworkagreement. Employees whodo not meet all of the tele-work-ready conditions arenot authorized to teleworkduring the exercise.Q: What is the impact

of the exercise?A: The impact to those

already on base on March23 will be minimal. Thosecoming to the installationby car should expect signif-icant delays both getting onbase and in traffic leadingup to the base, particularlyduring rush hour. Addition-ally, they may be subject tovehicle inspection and bagsearch when entering theinstallation.Q: What is the extent

of our labor obligationssince the exercise is re-lated to Navy's internalsecurity practices?

A: Unions representingaffected bargaining unitemployees (BUEs) are enti-tled to advance notice, andthe opportunity for impactand implementation (I&I)bargaining, as appropriate.All bargaining obligationsshould be completed beforethe exercise commences.Q: What has the instal-

lation done to minimizeimpact to the local com-munity?A: NSAB has coordinated

with tenant commands toensure fewer personnelcommuting to the base onMarch 23. The hospital haslimited patient services andother tenant units haveworked with their employ-ees to find alternatives tocoming to the base to workthat day. Notices have alsobeen sent out to the localcommunity to notify thosewhose commute takes themnear the base to expect de-lays. Those who need further

information can contactNSAB Public Affairs at(301) 295-1803.

EXERCISEEXERCISEContinued from 1

By MassCommunicationSpecialist John K.

HamiltonNSAB Public Affairs

Spring officially startsnext week, and with heavyrains on the horizon, NavalSupport Activity Bethesda(NSAB) wants all to be awareof the potential flood dangersat this time of year.From spring floods to the

extreme rains caused byHurricane Irene and rem-nants of Tropical Storm Lee,virtually every corner of themid-Atlantic region experi-enced some flooding last year,and in the Baltimore/Wash-ington area last year alone,six people died in floods/flashfloods.

"April showers bring Mayflowers. Those same showersalso bring the risk of localizedflooding," said Ron Kunz,NSAB emergency manager.Throughout this week,

March 12-16, Flood SafetyAwareness Week, NSAB iseducating staff and patientsabout flooding risks, encour-aging them to have a plan inplace at home and at work."Do not drive through

flooded areas," advises LarryFrady, deputy emergencymanager. He said flash floodskill more people every yearthan any other weather haz-ard. "As little as two feet ofwater can sweep a vehicle offthe road. Please stay alert forany warnings."The Centers for Disease

Control (CDC) also reports

more than half of all flood-re-lated drownings occur whena vehicle is driven into haz-ardous flood waters, as peo-ple tend to underestimatethe force and power of floodwater. Many of these drown-ings, are preventable. The next highest percent-

age of flood-related deaths isdue to walking into or nearflood waters, according to theCDC. For those who live neara river, stream or dam, it'simportant to be prepared toevacuate quickly, accordingto the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administra-tion (NOAA). Rapidly risingflood waters could leave res-idents trapped. If a flood isthreatening your area, stay

Keep Your Head Above WaterFlood Safety Awareness WeekFocuses on Risks, Planning

See FloodIng page 8

6 Thursday, March 15, 2012 The Journal6 Thursday, March 15, 20126 Thursday, March 15, 2012

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Visits Base

photo by Sarah Fortney

General Sir RichardShirreff, Deputy SupremeAllied Commander, Eu-rope, and his wife, LadySarah-Jane Shirreff, werewelcomed to TranquilityHall at Naval Support Ac-tivity (NSA) Bethesda byRed Cross volunteerShirley Straker on March7. Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center(WRNMMC) Command-er, Rear Adm. Alton L.Stocks and NSA Bethes-da Commanding OfficerNavy Capt. Fritz Kass,also welcomed theShirreffs to the base andWRNMMC, where theyvisited not only thewounded warriors’ bar-racks (Tranquility Hall),but also the hospital andNational Intrepid Centerof Excellence.

By Sarah FortneyJournal staff writer

Working in the Emergency De-partment at Walter Reed Bethesda,staff nurse Lt.j.g. Tonie Taft viewsher patients as comrades. The patients she sees are depend-

ents, children of active duty mem-bers, and fellow service members.She said, "There's camaraderie - abond associated with that provisionof care. Every time I step into thatroom, I'm cognizant of that." Not only does she appreciate the

opportunity to care for her comrades,including wounded warriors, shesaid, she is also grateful for the con-stant communication within theEmergency Department, which shebelieves promotes unity and team co-hesion."I like the physical structure and

environment of the [Emergency De-partment]. It promotes a lot of fluid

dialogue and communication withthe doctors, physician assistants,nurses, corpsmen and medics," shesaid. While the communication in thedepartment remains constant, pa-tients and the conditions they seektreatment for varies greatly on a dai-

ly basis, she noted. No two days arealike."I work with pediatric patients, I

work with OB/GYN patients, and Iget to work with geriatric patients.Then, you have a diversity of com-plaints - chest pains, difficultybreathing, strep throat, orthopedic[matters and] post-operative woundcare," she said. Taft, who has worked at Walter

Reed Bethesda for nearly two years,said she believes her ability to pro-vide quality patient care is directlyinfluenced by leadership, which shealso noted is a solid group of civilianand military members."They truly care about our well-

being they give us the autonomy topractice within the parameters ofsafe, quality patient care," she said.On a recent customer service feed-back form, one particular patient'schain of command commented onTaft's diligence, stating, "[Lt.j.g. Taft]

went above and beyond the call ofduty while taking care of one of myMarines.She kept me constantly updated

on his situation and provided someof the best 'bed side manners' I hadever seen by a nurse. She is truly acredit to her profession and an ex-tremely knowledgeable and caringNavy nurse...Many thanks!"Taft recalls taking care of the pa-

tient, identifying his needs, andworking with his accompanied lead-ership, though she cannot take allthe credit - she would never havebeen able to provide such care if itwere not a collaborative effort, shesaid."We're part of a team. That's the

beauty of it," she said. "I always havea wealth of resources amongst thestaff." Her co-worker, HospitalCorpsman 3rd Class Kenneth Boone,

Spotlight on Faces of Walter Reed Bethesda

ER Nurse Takes Patient Care to Heart

Photo by Sarah Fortney

Lt.j.g. Tonie Taft

See spotlIght page 8

The Journal Thursday, March 15, 2012 7Thursday, March 15, 2012 7Thursday, March 15, 2012 7Thursday, March 15, 2012 7Thursday, March 15, 2012 7

Editor's note: March is NationalNutrition Care Month. The followingarticle is part of a series written bydietetic interns at Walter Reed Na-tional Medical Center (WRNMMC).

By 1st Lt. Karla BellDietetic Intern

If milk, cheese or ice cream leavesyou uncomfortable, you are not alone.There are an estimated 30 to 50 mil-lion adults in the U.S. affected by thissame problem, known as lactose intol-erance, a term closely related to lac-tose malabsorption.Lactose is the sugar found in milk,

and lactose malabsorption is a grad-ual reduction in the activity of lactase,the enzyme necessary to digest lactosein the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Lac-tose malabsorption affects people themore they age, and may also dependon an individual's genetic background.There may be no symptoms with lac-tose malabsorption; however, there isa concern because lactase deficiencycan lead to lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance can cause GI

symptoms associated with the incom-plete digestion of lactose, and is morecommon in Mexican-Americans, Na-tive Americans, African-Americansand Asian Americans. Not all individ-uals with lactose malabsorption devel-op these GI symptoms. Lactose intol-erance means a person cannot com-pletely digest foods with lactose in

them. After eating foods with lactose,a person may experience symptoms ofdiarrhea, swelling in the stomach,stomach pain, and gas. The best way to find out if you are

lactose intolerant is to let your doctorknow if you experience any GI symp-toms after consuming milk products.Your doctor may do a blood, breath orstool test to find out if your GI prob-lems are caused by lactose intoler-ance. Lactose intolerance is not life

threatening, but depending on theseverity of the symptoms, it can affecta person's quality of life. Even thoughthe body's ability to tolerate lactosecannot be changed, the symptoms canbe managed. One way would be tocompletely stay away from milk prod-ucts. Eating less food with lactose mayalso help, but a person may not be get-

ting the appropriate amount of calci-um and vitamin D. Using medicationmay help as well to digest lactose-con-taining foods.According to the 2010 Dietary

Guidelines, if a person is not consum-ing at least three servings of milkproducts per day, the person may needto consider taking a calcium supple-ment, since milk and foods made withmilk are the most common source ofcalcium. There are a number of choices of

milk products on grocery shelves thatcan make it difficult to determinewhich one to buy. Lactose-free milk isbasically regular cow's milk minus thelactose, the natural sugar in milk. Itprovides all of the same healthful nu-trients (protein, calcium and vitaminD), without the sugar that can causedigestive problems. Soymilk is a non-dairy option that is fortified with cal-cium and vitamin D. If you choose to continue drinking

cow's milk, consider the following in-formation: • The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for

Americans recommends three cupsdaily of low-fat or fat-free milk andmilk products for people ages 9 andolder; two- and-a-half cups for childrenages 4 to 8 years; and two cups forchildren ages 2 to 3 years.• Whole milk delivers 150 calories

and 8 grams of fat (5 grams of satu-rated fat) per cup. A better choicewould be low-fat (1percent) milk (100

calories, 2.5 grams fat) or non-fat milk(80 calories, 0.5 grams fat) to limit theintake of the saturated fats that canincrease risk of heart disease.• Reduced-fat (2 percent) milk is

not a low-fat food. One cup has 5grams total fat, of which 3 grams aresaturated fat. • You won't miss out on milk's nu-

tritional benefits if you choose low-fat or nonfat milk (skim). All vari-eties have one-third of the recom-mended daily value for calcium perserving. There are several ways you can

consume three servings of milk prod-ucts per day. First, you can also grad-ually re-introduce milk back intoyour diet by drinking smalleramounts of milk at a time. Next, youcan drink low lactose or lactose-freemilk products. Include them as abeverage at meals, or use them toprepare oatmeal and hot cereals. Yo-gurt with live and active culturesmay be more tolerable and may helpthe body digest lactose. You canmake a dip for fruits or vegetables, ormake fruit smoothies from yogurt, oreat natural cheeses, which generallyare low in lactose. Another way to in-clude cheese in your diet is to topcasseroles, soups, stews, or vegeta-bles with shredded reduced fatcheese.Before you completely give up on

Are You Wary of Dairy? If So, You Are Not Alone

Holi Celebration Welcomes Spring

photos by Cat DeBinder

A dancer performed during the Hindu celebration of Holi - Festival of Colors, held for the first time at Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center (WRNMMC) on Friday. Right, Lt Col Ravi Chaudhary, an Air Force officer, pilot and commander of the317th Recruiting Squadron in Washington D.C., spoke at the celebration.The ceremony, which celebrates the end of the winterand beginning of spring, represents the spirit of hope and joy, according to Chaplain (Capt.) Pratima Dharm. She explained oneof Holi's customs is loosening strictness of social structures and bringing together rich and poor, women and men to enjoy eachother's joyous presence. It is also a custom to throw colored powder on each other as they enjoy the festival. For more informationabout Pastoral Care programs at WRNMMC, call (301) 295-1510.

See daIry page 8

Courtesy photo

8 Thursday, March 15, 2012 The Journal

milk products, make sure to consult your doctorwith your concerns. Excluding all milk productsfrom your diet can lead to other health concerns.Milk and other milk products are importantsources of calcium and vitamin D, which are neededfor growth and bone health at all ages. A decreasein calcium in your diet can lead to weakened bonesand osteoporosis. A balanced mix of carbohydratesand protein, along with a rich supply of calcium andother bone-strengthening nutrients, three servingsof milk per day certainly will do the body good.For more information, visit http://www.choose-

myplate.gov.

DAIRYDAIRYContinued from 7

Brain InjuryAwareness MonthTest Your IQ AboutTraumatic Brain InjuryMarch is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and

the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center(DVBIC) offers the following quiz to test your IQconcerning traumatic brain injury (TBI).1. True/False: A concussion is also known as a

mild traumatic brain injury.2. The most common mechanism of injury result-

ing in TBI sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan is a:a) Blastb) Motor vehicle accidentc) Gunfired) Fall

3) True/False: Loss of consciousness (or blackingout) is required to be diagnosed with a concussion.4) True/False: Traumatic brain injuries range in

severity from mild to moderate or severe.5) True/False: The signs of having a concussion

include dizziness, headache, blacking out and/or be-ing briefly dazed.For more information, visit www.dvbic.org or

stop by the TBI/DVBIC front desk in the AmericaBuilding, 6th deck.

Answers: 1. T 2. A 3. F 4. T 5. T

tuned to hazardous weather conditions as broadcastby the NOAA weather radio.At home, it's also important to have flood insur-

ance. If a flood affects your home, your homeownersinsurance, likely, will not cover the damage. Flood in-surance is mandatory for those living in a designatedhigh-risk flood hazard area with a federally-backedmortgage.Heavy downpours have caused some flooding in

the past, but much of the roadway flooding is causedby debris getting stuck in the storm drains. At NSAB,Kunz said staff can help when it comes to flooding bykeeping an eye out and contact Facilities if they noticesuch debris as leaves and twigs blocking storm drains.To reach the Facilities help desk, call 301-295-1070.

For more information and tips on flood safety, visitwww.noaa.gov or www.weather.gov, or call NSAB'sEmergency Management office at 301-295-2219.

FLOODINGFLOODINGContinued from 5

helped deliver lunch that day tothe patient, and shared the samesentiment about the depart-ment's collaborative efforts."The Emergency Department

strives to put the best foot for-ward with patients because theytruly only come to us if they arein need," he said. He believes theywork hard to provide good pa-tient relations - one 'bad attitude'can ruin a person's ideas of theircaretakers. " We in the Emer-gency Department work togetherto provide the best possible care

for all of our patients, no matterwhat the problem, 24/7," headded.Boone also noted Taft, "consis-

tently has the best attitude withpatients, no matter the situa-tion."Maj. Frank Agyapong, assis-

tant clinical head nurse in theEmergency Department, agreed.He said, "Lt.j.g. Taft has alwaysstrived to become the pinnacle ofnursing."He also said her bedside man-

ner is unparalleled, and her nurs-ing skills are worth emulating."She is a team player, always

willing to learn, dedicated andcommitted to excellence in pa-tient care. Lt.j.g. Taft is very

knowledgeable in her craft andalways advocating for her pa-tients and family [members]," hesaid. As the department's nurse

peer review coordinator, Taft alsoensures all monthly peer re-views are completed, Agyapongsaid. With work experience inpublic health and internationaldevelopment, caring for othersseems second nature for Taft.She has also worked abroadwith non-government organiza-tions."I'm a strategic thinker, [and]

a team player," she said. "I'm verypassionate and diligent in mypersonal and professional pur-suits. I absolutely love what I do."

SPOTLIGHTSPOTLIGHTContinued from 6

The Journal

Here’s My Card Guide to Professional Service Call 301-670-7106

10 Thursday, March 15, 2012 The Journal10 Thursday, March 15, 2012

MED BILL& CODINGTrainees

NEEDED NOW

Medical Officesnow hiring.

No experience?Job Training& Placement

Assistance Available1-888-843-0421

CTO SCHEV

DAMASCUS:Lg bsmtlivrm, kitchen, laundry,bath, storage, wood lotNs/Np $1000 utils, HBOI-net inc 240-778-5712

ALEX: NS, Furn BR in 3 LvlTH. Full Hse privigles, D/W,W/D, HVAC, Cable, Prkng..15 min to FTB, AAFB, BAFB,Pentagon. $550/mo Call781-721-6841

Go online to place your web ad for FREE*

or call us at 301-670-2503

to place your ad in print. www.DCMilitaryBuyandSell.com

*Free categories limited. See online for details.

Director of Sales and MarketingResponsible for the combined direct saleseffort and marketing for the hotel, includingcorporate and leisure business, attainment ofhotel sales volumes to meet planned annualoperating revenue and targeted keyperformance measure objectives, specificallyoccupancy and average daily rate. One tothree years of direct sales and/or marketingexperience is required. An associates degreein business preferred but not required. Fordetailed job description go todcmilitary.com/careers. To apply go towww.high.net/careers.

BOWIE/GLENNDALEFurn BR in SFH. $640utils incl. Nr ShopsNS/NP. Security DepositRequired 301-805-8544

Classifieds Call 301-670-2503

LUSBY: 3br 2ba SFHw/Deck, 1 mi frm Bay,AC, w/d, 1 acre treed lot$1400/mo + utils. Availnow. 703-203-3995

FREDERICK: SFHNr Ft. Detrick. Beaut.1br w/prvt Ba & singlecar garage. $600 + 1/3elec. 301-254-0077

Dominion Fertility is currently acceptingapplications for our egg donor program.Applicants should be healthy, nonsmokingfemales between the ages of 20 and 29.To learn more about our program, it’s re-quirements and to download an application,please visit us at www.dominionfertility.comUpon completion of a cycle, our egg donorsare paid $8,000 per cycle and are allowed todonate up to six cycles.

PHARMACYTECH

TraineesNEEDED NOW

Pharmaciesnow hiring.

No experience?Job Training& Placement

Assistance Available1-877-240-4524

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WALDORF Unfurn BR & full bath

& partial LR, in bsmt ofNS TH. Utils, cable, pkg,tennis, pool incl. Sharekitchen/laundry areas

internet access$600/mo+$250sec.dep. call 301-785-0133for details. Avail 4/03.

DENTAL ASSISTANT

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Dental Officesnow hiring.

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Assistance Available1-877-234-7706

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om Sell stuff

Buy stuff

FREDERICK: Room forRent $450 utilities in-cluded Female PreferNs/Np, ConvenientLocation 240-449-6932

Editorial

Exciting Opportunity for Military Spouses Do you like to write? Do you think you could offer information that would be

helpful to other military spouses? DCMilitary.com is looking for several militaryspouses to become bloggers/writers for a new section it will be offering on its

website this summer. If you think you have the personality to engage other mili-tary spouses and families in conversation on the web, send us your resume andcover letter explaining your experience and how you would approach this job.

This would require at least 20 hours a week and possibly more. DCmilitary.comwill offer an hourly rate and the possibility of telecommuting. Email us your cov-

er letter and resume today to mminar@dcmilitary.com

Sales RepresentativeComprint Military Publications publishes military weekly newspapers and annualbase guides in MD/DC/VA and is looking for an energetic, organized sales re-presentative to sell advertising into these products. Job requires cold calling/inperson sales calls and maintaining existing advertising customers. Must be ableto handle deadlines and pressures of meeting sales goals. Sales require in the

field sales and newspaper territory is in Frederick, MD. Guide sales are inMD/DC/VA. Prefer someone with print advertising sales experience. Positionis in Gaithersburg office and hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-F. We offer acompetitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package including pen-sion, 401(k), and tuition reimbursement. Send resume and cover letter with sal-

ary requirements to: Maxine Minar at mminar@dcmilitary.com EOE.

SUITLAND: 3br 2baw/FP. Prvt entr. $1600+ elec. prvt rear deck, 1exit from AFB. Avail April1st. 703-338-1007

HOLLYWOOD -waterfront3 BR, 2.5 BA rambler ondeep water w/pier. 1 acretreed lot. By owner. 301-481-7792

WALDORF: 2Br, 1.5BaTH, new kitchen, carpet,flrs/windows $1350/mo+ utils Sec deposit,No pets 301-392-0241

ADELPHI: 5BR, 3BA SplitLevel SFH big fncd yrddeck, fin Bsmt trees onback. Near Bltwy Ns/Np$2300 301-537-5175

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Got Stuff to Sell? call: 301-670-2503

CLINTON- Male to share4BR SFH, CAC, W/D, deck.Available now. $550/month+1/3 utils. 301-856-3447or 301-503-2421

The Journal Thursday, March 15, 2012 11Thursday, March 15, 2012 11Thursday, March 15, 2012 11

Classifieds Call 301-670-2503

12 Thursday, March 15, 2012 The Journal12 Thursday, March 15, 2012