Contacts:

Eleanor S. Metcalf, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for
Graduate Education

Bettina Arnett
Education Technician

About USU:

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) was authorized in 1972, and the graduate program became operative in 1977. Public Law 92-426, which established the University, authorizes the establishment of a graduate program in the biomedical sciences. USU is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
 
The graduate program at USU currently has approximately 170 full-time graduate students. USU currently offers Ph.D. degrees in the Interdisciplinary Programs in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Molecular and Cell Biology and Neuroscience, as well as Departmentally-based Programs in Clinical Psychology*, Medical Psychology, Military and Emergency Medicine, Pathology (Molecular Pathobiology and Comparative Pathology), and Preventive Medicine (Environmental Health Sciences, Medical Zoology, and a Doctor of Public Health). Master's degree programs are offered in Comparative Medicine*, Military Medical History, Public Health, and Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, as well as Master of Science degrees in Public Health*. Some of these degree programs (indicated by *) are limited to military/uniformed students.

Location:

USU is located in Bethesda, MD, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Within walking distance of our university are the National Institutes of Health, the Naval Medical Research Institute, and the National Library of Medicine, located in a major national center for biomedical science and medicine. Also nearby are many fine restaurants http://www.marylandrestaurants.com/, shops, and gathering places. Visit these web sites: for Maryland: http://www.mdisfun.org/ for Virginia http://www.virginia.org/home.asp?Try=Yes.
 
The USU campus itself is located on a large tract of land surrounded by park-like woodlands with paths used for walking, bicycling, rollerblading, and running. At the edge of the campus is the Medical Center Metro station. The Metro Subway system is one of the most modern in the country and can be used to gain ready access to the many cultural attractions of downtown Washington, D.C. and the associated suburbs (check out the sites above).
 
There is also major-league sports played at two recently completed stadiums: the MCI center and Federal Express Field. A few hours drive west from the University can take one to Shenandoah National Park or extensive wilderness and skiing areas in West Virginia. Several hours drive to the east and one reaches the beaches and inlets of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic coast, where sailing, water skiing, fishing, swimming and most other water sports are readily available. Closer to USUHS are also a variety of hiking and biking areas including the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, Catoctin Mountain National Park, and the Rock Creek Parkway. Few places offer such variety in recreation.

Resources:

Learning Resources Center (LRC)
http://www.lrc.usuhs.mil/
 
The Learning Resources Center (LRC) is available to all graduate students at USU. Remote access is available to the LRC online collection of journals, books and databases. The LRC maintains numerous computers, printers, scanners etc. available for use. The LRC is part of a network of medical and scientific libraries throughout the nation and can obtain reprints from most scientific journals in the world.

Recreational Facilities
Through an agreement between the President of USU and the Commanding Officer, National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), USU graduate students may utilize recreation facilities on this base. These facilities include the gym, fitness center, outdoor recreation, gear, pool and much more. Non-military USU personnel costs are $3 daily, $50 for 6 months, and $75 for 1 year. These facilities are only a short walk from the USU campus. In addition to the facilities at NNMC, there is a mini-gym here at USU, equipped with free weights, a stair master, treadmill, and 2 stationary bikes. Showers and lockers are readily accessible.

Biomedical Instrumentation Center (BIC)
http://bic.usuf1.usuhs.mil/mainpage/Quik-BICcompact.pdf
 
The Biomedical Instrumentation Center (BIC) provides and manages state-of-the-art equipment and services to enhance research and teaching efforts at the Uniformed Services University(USU). The BIC provides specialized services such as: synthesis and sequencing of nucleic acids and polypeptides; cell sorting and analysis; light and electron microscopy; lasers and laser optics; technical support in designing experimental set-ups with BIC equipment, etc.

University Information Systems (UIS)
http://www.usuhs.mil/uis
 
The University Information Systems (UIS) consists of different branches to provide the most up-to-date and efficient computer systems. Many of the services include the Training Branch which provides training support for services to the USU community via the Internet, the Information Engineering Branch which provides a variety of programming services that support many core business processes in the university using a variety of programming languages and applications, and the System/Operation Division which is responsible for the University's computer systems design, implementation, maintenance, and configuration management.

Laboratory Animal Medicine (LAM)
The Laboratory Animal Medicine (LAM) Department provide assistance in the handling and care of animals. Other areas in the LAM are Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Surgery, and Veterinary Pathology. The LAM is a secure area and access to the facilities are restricted. As well, their web site is restricted to USU staff only.

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), which is the largest, most diverse, and oldest laboratory in the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, conducts research on a range of militarily relevant issues, including naturally occurring infectious diseases, combat casualty care, operational health hazards, and medical defense against biological and chemical weapons. WRAIR is the Department of Defense's lead agency for infectious disease research and a crucial source of research support for medical product development. Despite WRAIR's focus on the military, its research has been used to solve nonmilitary medical problems around the world. Its history is filled with the life-saving or life-enhancing discoveries of distinguished scientists.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. The goals of the agency are as follows: 1) foster fundamental creative discoveries, innovative research strategies, and their applications as a basis to advance significantly the Nation's capacity to protect and improve health; 2) develop, maintain, and renew scientific human and physical resources that will assure the Nation's capability to prevent disease; 3) expand the knowledge base in medical and associated sciences in order to enhance the Nation's economic well-being and ensure a continued high return on the public investment in research; and 4) exemplify and promote the highest level of scientific integrity, public accountability, and social responsibility in the conduct of science.

Graduate Program Contacts:

COMPARATIVE MEDICINE
Web address under development
Program Director Dr. Dale Smith (301-295-3168)
E-mail- dcsmith@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact Kelly Mullally (301-295-3168)

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Web address: http://www.usuhs.mil/eid/
Program Director Dr. Lee Metcalf (301-295-3413)
E-mail- emetcalf@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact Pat Sinclair (301-295-5749)

MEDICAL & CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Web address: http://www.usuhs.mil/mps/index.html
Program Directors:
Dr. Tracy Sbrocco (301-295-9674) Medical Psychology
E-mail- tsbrocco@usuhs.mil
Dr. Michael Feuerstein (301-295-9677) Clinical Psychology
E-mail- mfeuerstein@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact Corinne Simmons (301-295-9669)

MILITARY MEDICAL HISTORY
Web address: http://www.usuhs.mil/meh/
Program Director Dr. Dale Smith (301-295-3168)
E-mail- dcsmith@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact Kelly Mullally (301-295-3168)

MOLECULAR & CELL BIOLOGY
Web address: http://www.usuhs.mil/mcb/index.html
Program Director Dr. Jeffrey Harmon (301-295-3248)
E-mail- jharmon@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact NeTina Finley (301-295-3642)

NEUROSCIENCE
Web address: http://www.usuhs.mil/nes/home.html
Program Director Dr. Regina Armstrong (301-295-3205)
E-mail- rarmstrong@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact NeTina Finley (301-295-3642)

PATHOLOGY
Web address: http://www.usuhs.mil/pat/
Program Director Dr. Rahda Maheshwari (301-295-3394)
E-mail- rmaheshwari@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact Elaine (301-295-3450)

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE & BIOMETRICS
Web address: http://www.usuhs.mil/pmb/index.html
Program Director Dr. David Cruess
E-mail- dcruess@usuhs.mil
Administrative Contact Tina Thompson (301-295-1979)

Contact Information

e-mail: graduateprogram@usuhs.mil