UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES
F. EDWARD HEBERT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

4301 JONES BRIDGE ROAD
BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20814-4799

   

PSYCHIATRY TEACHING HOSPITALS
WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER

NAVAL HOSPITAL, BETHESDA

MALCOLM GROW AIR FORCE MEDICAL CENTER

WILFORD HALL AIR FORCE MEDICAL CENTER

November 29, 1993

Joshua Lederberg, Ph.D. fo
Professor ; neo 2 1993
Rockefeller University

1230 York Avenue a

New York, NY 10021-6399 ‘ Me seaiaset |

Dear Professor Lederberg:

I much appreciate your telephone call. Enclosed please find a copy of the
Congressional testimony that was given by a member of my research team (Dr. Ann Norwood)
who carried out the on-site assessments in Indiana on the first "outbreak" of the Gulf War
Syndrome.

In addition, I have enclosed a copy of recent comments by Senator Inouye, reference
USUHS, and a book chapter on the unique aspects of military psychiatry in particular. As I
discussed on the phone, I believe the major question is whether there is military unique
medical skills and knowledge. This is a fundamental issue to USUHS, graduate medical
education in the military, and the military medical care system. Each of these are intricately
interwoven to produce an education, research, and medical care system which allows us to be
responsive to unique medical problems to which troops deployed worldwide in severe
environments can be exposed. From infectious agents to traumatic events, the emphasis in
military medical care is unique and focused to the problems of our population and the task of
prevention. A further unique aspect of military medicine, which can easily be forgotten, is the
important role of assuring troops assigned overseas that both they, no matter what happens to
them, and their families will be taken care of. This is a major element in the maintenance of
unit cohesion and morale and is a core reason for the military medical care system. I worry
that unless the system is looked at in toto, the intricate relationships of its various components
will not be recognized. You cannot ask troops to fight in Somalia, Yugoslavia, or the next hot
area of the world without assuring them of their health and that of their families. The
management of the stressors of deployment and separation are critically dependent on the
cohesive nature of the military. The military family is more than a metaphor, it represents the
social fabric of norms, laws, and interpersonal relationships in the military.

The school is also well positioned to address major national needs in health care. Its
unique physical relationship to the National Institutes of Health offers substantial opportunities.

ONSTITUTI9
ee V6
Re: Military unique medical skills and knowledge -2-
If I can be of any further help, please let me know. I look forward to the opportunity
to have you visit the school at a convenient time.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Ursano, M.D.
Professor and Chairman

RJU:mg

Enclosures