Vol. 27 No. 9 www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/ March 5, 2015

NDW Commandant Visits NSAB Facilities

Photo by Andrew Damstedt

Rear Adm. Mark Rich, Naval District Washington commandant, center, speaks with Naval Support Activity Bethesda’s (NSAB) FitnessCenter Director Jerry Cataldo, right, during Rich’s NSAB site visit Feb. 27. NSAB Commanding Officer Capt. David Bitonti, left, providedRich with a tour and brief at various base facilities including Sanctuary Hall, Mercy Hall and the fire station.

By Sarah MarshallWRNMMC Public

Affairs staff writer

After a week-long re-view, evaluating qual-ity and safety of care,Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Cen-ter (WRNMMC) againachieved full accredita-tion by the Joint Com-mission (JC).

The JC inspects morethan 19,000 health care

organizations and pro-grams across the U.S.,and its members aresubject to a three-yearaccreditation, as well asrandom inspections. Lab-oratories are surveyedevery two years. Accord-ing to their website, thecommission’s mission isto “continuously improvehealth care for the public… by evaluating healthcare organizations andinspiring them to excel

in providing safe and ef-fective care of the high-est quality and value.”

Joint Commissionstandards also go be-yond just the “basics” ofstate and federal regu-lations, and set “consis-tently high expectationsfor quality and safety,”as stated in a letter fromthe commission’s ChiefOperating Officer, MarkG. Pelletier, to WalterReed Bethesda Director

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) JeffreyB. Clark.

“We recognize thatsuccessfully meetingthese standards is notan easy task, and doingso deserves special rec-ognition from the JointCommission, your Boardand staff, your commu-nity, and especially yourpatients and their fami-lies,” Pelletier wrote.

Throughout the weekof Feb. 23-27, six JointCommission surveyors (a

physician, two nurses, aswell as an expert in am-bulatory care, an expertin addiction services, anda life safety code special-ist) evaluated WRNMMCstandards and qualityof care. The surveyorsspent several hours eachday conducting traceractivities, which are de-signed to “trace” the careexperiences a patienthas at the medical cen-ter, while analyzing sys-tems of providing care,

treatment or services.Surveyors also evalu-ated staff credentialing,and tested staff on theirknowledge of systemsand processes, as well asthe command’s missionand vision. Additionally,they assessed qualityof health care, patientsafety and efficiency ofadministrative processes,and on Friday afternoon,presented leadership

Joint Commission Awards Full Accreditation to the Nation’s Medical Center

SeeWRNMMC page 5

2 Thursday, March 5, 2015 The Journal

Published by offset every Thurs-day by Comprint Military Publi-cations, 9030 Comprint Court,Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, aprivate firm in no way con-nected with the U.S. Navy,under exclusive written con-tract with Naval Support ActivityBethesda, Md. This commercialenterprise newspaper is an autho-rized publication for members of themilitary services. Contents of The Journalare not necessarily the official views of, norendorsed by, the U.S. Government, theDepartment of Defense, or the Departmentof Navy. The appearance of advertising inthis publication, including inserts or supple-ments, does not constitute endorsement bythe Department of Defense or Comprint,Inc., of the products or services advertised.Everything advertised in this publicationshall be made available for purchase, useor patronage without regard to race, color,

religion, sex, national origin,age, marital status, physicalhandicap, political affiliationor any other non-merit fac-tor of the purchaser, user,or patron. Editorial contentis edited, prepared and pro-vided by the Public AffairsOffice, Naval Support Activ-

ity Bethesda, Md. News copyshould be submitted to the Pub-

lic Affairs Office, Building 17, first floor,across from PSD, by noon one week pre-ceding the desired publication date. Newsitems are welcomed from all installationsources. Inquiries about news copy will beanswered by calling 301-295-1803. Com-mercial advertising should be placed withthe publisher by calling 301-921-2800.Publisher’s advertising offices are locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md.20877. Classified ads can be placed bycalling 301-670-1700.

Naval Support Activity (NSA) BethesdaCommanding Officer: Capt. David A. BitontiPublic Affairs Officer: Ronald D. InmanPublic Affairs Office: 301-295-1803

Journal StaffManaging Editor MC2BrandonWilliams-ChurchWRNMMC Editor Bernard Little

Staff Writers MC1 Christopher KruckeAndrew DamstedtSarah MarshallKatrina SkinnerSharon Renee Taylor

NSABethesdaFleet And Family Support Center 301-319-4087

Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterOffice of Media Relations 301-295-5727NSAB Emergency Information Line 301-295-6246

NSAB OmbudsmanMichelle Herrera 240-370-5421

NSAB Chaplain’s Office 301-319-4443/4706

Sexual Assault ResponseCoordinator Hotline 301-442-2053

Visit us on Facebook:Naval Support Activity Bethesda page:https://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda

Walter Reed National Medical Center page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107

Uniformed Services University of the HealthSciences page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniformed-Services-University-of-the-Health-Sciences/96338890888?fref=ts

Daylight Saving Time BeginsDaylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour,and also replace the batteries in your smokeand carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.

Navy Medical Corps BallThe 144th Navy Medical Corps Ball is sched-

uled for March 14 from 6 to 11 p.m. at theMayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington,D.C. Guest speaker will be Dr. JonathanWoodson, assistant secretary of defense forhealth affairs. For more information, contactKimberly Fagen at Kimberly.e.fagen.mil@mail.mil, or visit https://sites.google.com/site/medi-calcorpsball/home.

Prostate Cancer Support GroupThe Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at

Walter Reed National Military Medical Centerthe third Thursday of every month. The nextmeetings will be March 19 from 1 to 2 p.m., andfrom 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the America Building,River Conference Room, third floor. Spouses andpartners are invited. Military ID is required forbase access. For those without a military ID,call Prostate Center at 301-319-2900 at leastfour business days prior to event for base ac-cess. For more information, contact retired Col.Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or jane.l.hudak.ctr@mail.mil.

Employer Network EventAn Employer Network event is held monthly

on the last Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. inBldg. 11 (lower level), Rm. 16. Attendees will beable to meet with industry representatives, de-velop professional connections and explore em-ployment opportunities at the event, open to allactive duty, family members, veterans, reserv-ists, non-medical attendees, contractors and ci-vilians. No registration is required. For moreinformation, contact Fleet and Family SupportCenter at 301-319-4087 or email FFSC@med.navy.mil.

Bethesda Notebook

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 2nd

Class(SCW/SW/AW)Jonathan Pankau,

Defense Media Activity

Service members and civil-ians packed the Pentagon Li-brary Conference Center forthe Navy Reserve CentennialKickoff Celebration March 2.Chief of Navy Reserve Vice

Adm. Robin R. Braun deliv-ered the opening remarks,commending Navy ReserveSailors for being ready then,ready now and ready always,and introduced Chief of Na-val Operations Adm. JonathanGreenert, the centennial’s key-note speaker.“Serving through the Cold

War, I’ve seen the Navy Re-serve go from a group of ‘Oneday we may need them, let’shold on to them. That’s ourstrategic reserve,’... to integra-tion, to addiction in Desert Shield/Des-ert Storm,... to really, frankly, total inte-gration today,” Greenert said.Greenert and Braun visited the

U.S. Navy Reserve displays set up inthe Pentagon’s Navy corridor after theopening ceremony and performed thecake and ribbon cutting.“All 59,000 Sailors are very proud to

celebrate the history and the heritage ofour service and especially to highlightthe millions who have served over thepast century,” said Braun.Congress authorized the establish-

ment of the Federal Naval Reserve onMarch 3, 1915. Initially, the only Sail-ors eligible to enroll were enlisted Navy

veterans. On Aug. 29, 1916, with theprospect of America’s entry into WorldWar I looming, the Navy Reserve reor-ganized to allow the enrollment of non-veterans and designated as the U.S. Na-val Reserve Force.Since Sept. 11, 2001, there have been

more than 70,000 Selected Reserve mo-bilizations, along with an additional4,500 deployments by Full Time Sup-port Sailors, including more than 8,000who have done a second combat tour.Since its establishment in 1915, therehave been five U.S. presidents who haveserved in the Navy Reserve.For more information on the Navy Re-

serve, search Navy.mil or visit https://www.navyreserve.navy.mil.

Navy Reserve CelebratesCentennial Anniversary

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathan Laird

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jona-than Greenert (far right), Chief of NavyReserve Vice Adm. Robin Braun (middleright), Assistant Secretary of the Navyfor Manpower and Reserve Affairs JuanGarcia (middle left) and Navy ReserveForce Master Chief C.J. Mitchell cut aribbon in front of the new Centennialof the U.S. Navy Reserve display in thePentagon March 2.

The Journal Thursday, March 5, 2015 3

By Marin Reynes,Senior Station Manager,American Red Cross

Bethesda

In 1943, President FranklinD. Roosevelt proclaimed Marchas “Red Cross Month.” Rooseveltissued the first Red Cross Monthproclamation, recognizing theAmerican Red Cross as a true re-flection of the humanitarian andvolunteer spirit and calling onAmericans to “rededicate them-selves to the splendid aims andactivities of the Red Cross.”We in your local Red Cross Of-

fice would like to use this oppor-tunity to educate you about theprograms and services providedto patients, families and staff.The Red Cross Office at Wal-

ter Reed National Military Medi-cal Center (WRNMMC) and onNaval Support Activity Bethesda(NSAB) is comprised of morethan 600 volunteers who provid-ed 68,787.6 volunteer hours in2014. According to IndependentSector, a coalition of nonprofits,foundations, and corporate giv-ing programs, that equates to$1,749,268.67 in volunteer valueadded to support service mem-bers, veterans and their families.The majority of Red Cross volun-teers support departments, clin-ics or Red Cross programs withinthe medical center, but many ofthem assist NSAB throughMWR

events, which include but are notlimited to, 5K fun runs, the annu-al Eggstravaganza Celebration,career fairs and all emergencyexercises. Volunteers also assistthe Soldier Family AssistanceCenter and the Fleet and FamilySupport office.Volunteers in WRNMMC sup-

port a variety of activities specifi-cally for patients, familymembersand care providers. Red Cross

volunteers range from civilian toactive duty service members andcan work as administrators ormedical professional volunteerswho practice the full extent oftheir credentials. Red Cross vol-unteers support a wide variety ofactivities to include volunteeringat the National Intrepid Centerof Excellence and greeting everywounded, ill and injured servicemember who arrives via medical

evacuation (MEDEVAC) flights.During the summer we add morethan 50 youth volunteers as partof the VolunTeen Program serv-ing throughout the hospital.Approximately half of the Red

Cross Volunteers at WRNMMCsupport an assigned departmentor clinic (i.e.General Surgery,De-partment of Rehabilitation, etc.)and approximately half belong toa Red Cross program specificallydesigned to support service mem-bers, veterans and their familiesin a unique, customer-friendlyway. Some of these Red CrossPrograms are:

MEDEVAC ProgramVolunteer teams meet each

incoming MEDEVAC arrivingfrom Landstuhl Regional Med-ical Center in Germany withbasic needs, comfort items andentertainment for patients andfamilies. Each patient receivesa welcome bag with toiletries,magazines, blankets, bottledwater, snacks and local infor-mation.In 2014, Red Cross volun-

teers distributed more than450 welcome bags to patientsand families.

Comfort Care ProgramVolunteers visit all inpatient

wards daily with basic needsitems such as toiletries, adap-

tive clothing, blankets, phonecards, DVDs, video games andsnack items. With justificationfrom staff, the Red Cross alsoprovides further assistance topatients and families in theform of a gift card or specialtyitem. We provide a variety ofelectronic assistive technol-ogy equipment and high valueitems as part of a service mem-ber’s individual treatment planand support with assistivetechnology when unavailablethrough other means.In 2014 patients and fami-

lies were supported by morethan 30,000 of these items pro-vided by the Red Cross.

Surgical Waiting RoomVolunteer TeamThe Red Cross SurgicalWait-

ing Room volunteers act as theliaison between families andthe medical staff while theywait for the result of surgery.The medical team relies on ourvolunteers to answer the phoneand find the families to keepthem apprised. Volunteers alsoensure coffee, water and snacksare available for families.

Animal VisitationProgramThe Red Cross currently ar-

March is Red Cross Month: A Look Back at 2014

Photo by Beverli Alford, WRNMMC Marketing Department

The American Red Cross Office at Walter Reed Na-tional Military Medical Center and Naval SupportActivity Bethesda meets the daily needs of patients,families and staff and will continue to do so with avariety of programs in 2015 and beyond.

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 2nd ClassBrandon Williams-

ChurchNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

A few children at the ChildDevelopment Center Bethesda(CDC) had an extra special dayFeb. 24 as Sailors from the Na-val Support Activity Bethesda(NSAB) Security Departmentand McGruff the Crime Dogcame to talk with them aboutthe importance of ‘stranger dan-ger.’Master-at-Arms (MA) 2nd

Class Colleen Dibble and MA2Crystal Brown shared the floorwith the legendary crime-fight-ing character, as an interventionof sorts for the young minds, toreinforce why talking to certainstrangers can be good and bad.“Teaching children about

ways they can ensure theirpersonal safety and security ata young age can help them intheir decision making as they

get older,” said Dibble. “Theseare the lessons that teach chil-dren about what they can do toprevent crime and violence intheir communities, and fosterpositive relationships amongchildren, law enforcement offi-cers and other community mem-bers.”

Dibble and Brown explainedwhy talking to someone youdon’t know, such as someonewalking down your street whomyou have never seen before,can be bad, while talking to astranger such as a police officeror a fire fighter can be a goodthing.“Conducting visits with CDC

children early on enables thevalue of maintaining safetyand overall good morals,” saidBrown.After the MAs spoke to them,

the children were elated to giveMcGruff high-fives and hugs.This was the part of the ex-

perience that made the lessonmemorable and fun for eachchild in attendance.

McGruff the Crime Dog and NSAB Security Visit the CDC

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Williams-Church

McGruff the Crime Dog gives children high-fives during his visit to the Child De-velopment Center Bethesda Feb. 24.

See RED page 7

4 Thursday, March 5, 2015 The Journal

By Andrew DamstedtNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

Writing workshops takeplace at several commands on-board Naval Support ActivityBethesda each week, with thegoal of helping service mem-bers and veterans use writingas a way to help heal. The Jour-nal plans to feature some of thewriting produced from theseworkshops with the authors’permission in this and follow-ing editions in a new featurecalled Healing Words: Writers’Spotlight.

The inaugural work is byHospital Corpsman 2nd Class(FMF) Michael Marquette, whowrote a poem entitled, “Lost

time.” During his more than 14years of military service, Mar-quette, 34, has deployed to Iraqtwice, and in 2003 was in thefirst wave with the U.S. Ma-rines Corps Second Tank Bat-talion. He also served at theGuantanamo Bay detentioncamp and was part of a NATOmission in Spain.

He works at Walter Reed Na-tional Military Medical Centeras a behavioral health techni-cian and has worked as a clinicmanager and case manager fora child and adolescent psychi-atric unit. He also respondedto the Washington Navy Yardshooting incident in 2013, help-ing more than 900 civilian andmilitary personnel receive care.Marquette is being medically

retired in March and said theNavy Wounded Warrior SafeHarbor program has helpedhim immensely.

He started writing as part ofa post-traumatic stress disor-der group consult, he said.

“I first started writing to letout my anger and pain, but nowit has grown into trying to feelthe good about life and my fu-ture,” he said.” To feel neededand have a purpose while re-membering the past, not dwellin it. Without writing I wouldfeel even more bottled up andscared. Every day is a struggle,but writing – it’s a great re-lease. I was scared at first thatI would be bad at it but if youtruly write from your soul andheart, you can’t fail.”

Healing Words: Writers’ SpotlightLost time

By Michael Marquette

What have I done is it wrong or right. I fight the fight withgauze and tape. Both sides feel the touch of my hands.

The journey long and hard.Years and years of pain with weathered hands.Cold, hot, scared yet not.Weeks and weeks in the field of safety near my home not

even enough to prepare me for war.Like a bird’s first flight stumble I thought I might.Like a ghost I passed through time unseen and un scared I

thought, but now I know that ghosts have scares too. Just likethem you cannot see the scares of what has happened to meduring my lost time.

My lost time is my own but I am not alone, for there aremany ghosts among us living with scares.

Right or wrong is not the question that should be asked butinstead,

What can I do to help again.

By Andrew DamstedtNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

There are a myriad of rea-sons why writing workshopsare offered by several com-mands onboard Naval Sup-port Activity Bethesda (NSAB)– but the common theme theyshare is helping service mem-bers and veterans gain controlof their story.

“I go back to my writing in-stead of back to the experienceand being traumatized again,”said Seema Reza, one of thewriting instructors. Writingallows people to gain controlwithout leaving them exposedor vulnerable, she said, goingon to say that writing aboutoneself could be called “thehardest work anyone does inthis hospital.”

One writing participant put itthis way: “You still have the con-trol of the amount you let out.”

Recently, The Journal ex-plored three writing optionsavailable on base, which aimto help different populationsbut have the same goal of show-ing people how writing can be atool for their healing arsenal.In future editions, The Journalwill feature writing producedin these workshops. What fol-lows is a closer examination ofthree writing programs offeredon base.

Walter Reed BethesdaWriting Program

Reza, one of Walter Reed

National Military MedicalCenter’s (WRNMMC) Depart-ment of Rehabilitation rec-reational arts activities co-ordinators, helps coordinatethe writing workshops at themedical center, one of whichis open for anyone eligiblefor services on base, and twoin-treatment writing groups.These workshops are not ther-apy, Reza emphasized, but aretools for self-reflection and canadvance a sense of community.

“The greatest thing aboutwriting is knowing how totalk about what you’re strug-gling with,” Reza said. “If they

can just find the language toexplain what they are goingthrough in a most concise way,it brings opportunities to in-crease closeness.”

Kerrie Earley, social work-er at Walter Reed Bethesda’sPsychiatric Continuity Ser-vice, said when she first wentto one of the writing classesshe was “shocked by how hon-est and articulate and pas-sionate people are when theywrite.”

And, Earley said, on morethan one occasion when pa-tients have shared their writ-ing after being reluctant to do

so, she sees an entire room ofpeople nodding their heads inagreement that what this per-son wrote describes exactlywhat they are experiencing.

“Writing is a way you canfeel it; it’s not just a list ofsymptoms,” Earley said.

A former participant in thewriting workshops, MarineSgt. Joe Merritt, who was in atreatment program in 2013 forpost-traumatic stress disorderand depression, said writinghelped him retain control ofhis situation.

“For me, I find being ableto write or any art in general,

but writing specifically, beingable to talk about emotionsor events or feelings, you canwrite about it in a way thatdoesn’t completely exposewhat happens,” Merritt said.“You can still guard what’s in-side of you or what’s botheringyou; you still have the controlof the amount you let out.”

He wrote about his com-bat experience as well as hisstruggles as a single fatherand going through divorce inall forms of creative writing,such as short stories, poetryand essays. Before the writingprogram, he said he had onlywritten in a journal.

“(Writing) kind of interest-ed me, but I didn’t realize howmuch I’d enjoy it or how muchI’d get out of it,” he said. “I re-alized it was really beneficialfor me afterwards.”

In addition to helping par-ticipants write, Reza coordi-nates visits by writing profes-sionals to the Bethesda USOand to Fort Belvoir, to sharehow writing has helped them.

“It’s nice for them to seesomeone be vulnerable and say‘Yes, I’ve been there in somekind of darkness,” Reza said.“This is how I got out. You canuse this too if you choose to ac-cept it.”

Although workshop par-ticipants don’t have to sharetheir work, Reza said 180 par-ticipants had their writingpublished, exhibited or per-

Workshops Use Writing as a Healing Tool

Photo by Andrew Damstedt

Veteran Tom Glenn reads some of his work at a recent gathering of the War-rior Poetry Project, which was started at Walter Reed National Naval MedicalMilitary Center, but now has moved off-site as a way to connect the base to thegreater veteran community and general public, according to founder Dr. FredFoote, retired Navy physician.

SeeWRITING page 6

The Journal Thursday, March 5, 2015 5

with their results.The surveyors stated

WRNMMC offers, “Ex-ceptional care providedby exceptional people,”and stated, “You are anincredible organization… you provide very goodcare for your patients.”

In an email to staff,Clark agreed, encour-aging everyone to takepride in, “Who we are,what we do and, mostimportantly, how we doit.”

“We are devoted to the‘Extraordinary PatientExperience for Every Pa-tient, Every Time – Qual-ity is the cornerstone ofthe Patient Experience,’”Clark said. “I could notbe more proud. Based onour Joint CommissionSurvey, it is clear thatwe excel in providingsafe and effective careof the highest qualityand value for America’sHeroes ... Please take amoment and be as proudas I am to serve with ourWalter Reed BethesdaTeam.”

Gene Monroe, JointCommission programmanager at WRNMMC,shared similar senti-ments.

“I’m always proud ofthis organization,” hesaid. Successful surveys,and the coming togeth-er of staff, have “neverfailed to make me feel sograteful to be part of thisteam.”

Monroe explained thesurveyors were particu-larly impressed by howstaff members receivedand engaged their team,and took away many bestpractices.

“They were amazedat the high level of so-phistication, quality andsafety of the care we pro-vide here,” Monroe said.

There were minor im-provements that neededto be made, and manywere corrected on thespot, he said. Monroe andhis team will focus onturning other improve-ments into projects, heexplained. He also notedthere were no “systems-level” findings. This isremarkable, consideringthe team focused heavilyon finding ways to im-prove systems, and nonewere identified, he said.

Following last week’slarge-scale assessment,the next step will be tofocus on improvementprojects and sustain-ment, he said. Monroenoted he could not dohis job without the nu-merous supportive staffmembers throughoutthe command to whomhe and his team can al-ways turn to for support.“They really bring thenotion of always beingready, to heart.”

Walter Reed Bethesdasuccessfully completedits first JC survey, re-ceiving full accreditationin March 2012, monthsafter it was establishedas a result of the inte-gration between WalterReed Army Medical Cen-ter (WRAMC) and theNational Naval MedicalCenter (NNMC).

From the moment the

last survey was com-plete, preparations wereunderway for the sur-vey that took place lastweek, Monroe said. An-other mock survey willtake place about a yearfrom now, and the medi-cal center will remainengaged in a continuouscycle of assessment andimprovement at all lev-els, he said.

While it’s importantto prepare for the survey,the one priority is aboutunderstanding the needsof our patients, as wellas the medical center’spatient-centered mis-sion, vision and goals,Monroe explained.

“We’re not doing thisfor the next survey. We’redoing it for our next pa-tient, our next customer,”he said.

WRNMMCContinued from pg. 1

Photo by Sarah Marshall

Robert R. Smith, RN, MPA (center) Joint Commission (JC) surveyteam leader, explains to Walter Reed National Military MedicalCenter (WRNMMC) staff members what JC surveyors would belooking for during their evaluation of WRNMMC at a welcomingbriefing on Feb. 23. A JC surveyor since 2005, Smith and his teamconducted a week-long evaluation of WRNMMC’s quality and safetyof care, resulting in the medical center again achieving full accredi-tation by the JC.

1042263

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc. (HJF) is seekinga motivated Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant with a passion for delivery of high quality carein the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Program located at the Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Maryland. HJF provides scientific, technical andprogrammatic support services to CPDR.

The position offers mentoring and collaboration opportunities to provide patient & family centeredcare, practicing along highly experience providers and ancillary staff. Responsible for the clinicalpractices and research practices as defined and designated by senior clinical staff. Acts as a patientcare coordinator in a combined clinical and research setting. CPDR has established expectations forevery provider based on core values of patient centeredness, teamwork and excellence.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:1. Knowledge of procedures and techniques necessary for performing clinical responsibilities related

to patients from primary diagnoses to advanced disease with incorporation of research protocols.2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and the ability to maintain accurate and

complete files.3. Participates in professional activities.

Minimum Education/Training Requirements: Master’s degree in Nursing experience as a NursePractitioner or Physician’s Assistant with a Bachelors degree required.

Minimum Experience: 2 to 4 years

Physical Capabilities: Requires long periods of standing; may require lifting and bending to assistpatients

Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: Must possess or be in the process of obtaining anactive Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) license in the state of Maryland. Mustprocess or be in the process of obtaining an active DEA license.

Work Environment: Clinical hospital environment

HJF is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants willreceive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,disability, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Please apply on-line at http://www.hjf.org/careers/ click “Advanced Search” and enter job number209544 in the Job Opening ID box. OR fax your resume to 240-694-3151. Please specify title and jobnumber on fax.

Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

6 Thursday, March 5, 2015 The Journal

formed in 2014. But, she said, the realbenefit of writing is helping peoplelearn how to put into words what theymight be struggling with.

To get involved in the open classes,contact Reza at seema.b.reza.ctr@mail.mil.

NICoE Creative WritingWorkshops

Creative writing is an option dur-ing the four-week stay for servicemembers who are going through theNational Intrepid Center of Excellence(NICoE) treatment program. In addi-tion to guided writing sessions withNICoE therapists, volunteers fromthe Veterans Writing Project withassistance from the National Endow-ment of the Arts (NEA) host a writingworkshop for these individuals everyWednesday evening.

The goals of having them write arethreefold, said Ron Capps, veteran andfounder of the Veterans Writing Proj-ect. One is to have them create worksof literature. Another is to share thoseworks to a larger audience to helpbridge the military-civilian divide.And a third goal is giving them a toolthat can help them gain control.

Capps said frequently, individualswho come to the class are skeptical

about what writing can do for them.“We have people who come in and

they sink low in the chair and are star-ing down at the ground,” Capps said.“We always start with a little roundrobin, asking them: ‘What is your ex-perience with writing? Do you write;if you don’t write, what do you read?’and we’ve had people that just say, ‘Idon’t read and I don’t write and I’mnot interested in this.’”

Capps tells them to give writing achance and then he or another instruc-tor give writing prompts, but encour-age the group to write for the next 15minutes on whatever they want. Moreoften than not, Capps said, the servicemembers “commit an act of literatureand just completely blow us all away.”

One example Capps relayed wasan individual who came back to theworkshop four times, who at the be-ginning said he didn’t read nor writebut by the end had developed an ideafor a novel about stock car racers inVirginia.

At a separate workshop, a servicemember shared his writing about try-ing to remember what the first kissfelt like, said Bill O’Brien, NEA senioradvisor for program innovation.

“He was trying to remember whatit felt like, knowing it’s there but notbeing able to feel it and feeling like itwill never be that way again,” O’Briensaid. “It was very interesting feedbackbecause everyone responded verystrongly to the piece and a couple ofthe guys at the table said that’s the

best description of what it feels liketo have PTSD (Post-Traumatic StressDisorder) that I’ve ever heard of.”

Dario DiBattista, veteran and writ-ing instructor, said being in militaryservice “over qualifies” one to be awriter because hallmarks of good writ-ing parallel military service. Servicemembers learn about people from allwalks of life around the world, how tobe concise and are in conflicts, he said.

“That’s not to say that you need tobe a veteran to be a good writer, butwe always have so many people whocome through that kind of do that in-nately,” DiBattista said.

Melissa Walker, NICoE art thera-pist, said writing can help organizeone’s thoughts when a service membercomes for treatment.

“There’s a lot happening for themsurrounding their identity or how tointegrate the treatment into theirlives,” Walker said. “Perhaps they arerealizing things they need to improvein being a better father or a spouse.And then, sometimes, it is just writingout goals for the future.”

While Walker focuses on art thera-py and NICoE also has a music thera-pist, Walker said writing rounds outNICoE’s offerings even if the writinginstructors aren’t therapists – whichcan be less intimidating, she said.

“I’ve seen some very intense mo-ments and intense writing, but theway the instructors respond to theservice members has been very nice tosee,” Walker said. “Because they talkabout their writing and they bring allthat in and for some reason – I don’tknow how to describe it – it containsit very nicely. The service membersalways seem to leave in good spiritsregardless of the subject.”

The best feedback of how writing ishelping an individual, Capps said, iswhen they come back to another work-shop. He said he’s even had individu-als who have gone through NICoE’sprogram that have shown up at work-shops or seminars outside the Wash-ington, D.C. area.

“We know that (writing) is cathar-tic and it is a way of getting control ofmemories and in my case, I had a lotof trauma in my life from my militaryexperience,” Capps said. “I was a sol-dier for 25 years and I used writing asa way to get control of that trauma.I founded the Veterans Writing Proj-ect to share that idea and share thoseskills I gained in graduate school as aworking writer and veteran.”

Warrior Poetry ProjectConnecting military writing to the

larger community is one of the goalsbehind the Warrior Poetry Project,which was started by retired Navyphysician Dr. Fred Foote at WRNMMCin 2013.

Foote said he wants the poetryclasses and open mic sessions thatfollow to create an atmosphere wheremilitary members, veterans and thepublic can get together and listen tothe poetry as a way to connect them tothe greater community.

“Poetry can get you in the head ofa wounded warrior in five minutes,”Foote said.

Poet, veteran and sometime-instruc-tor for the poetry classes, Maritza Ri-vera, said poetry can be so powerfulbecause it uses few words and the actof creating art can be healing.

“There’s something lethargic abouttaking traumatic events in life andthere’s something of beauty in creat-ing art with it,” Rivera said.

She described the work created bywounded warriors as “phenomenal.”

“One soldier – I gave him a poem toread – he said he hadn’t been able toread anything of any length; but [with]the poem, because it was short, therewas no pressure,” she said. “Shortlines, easier to read and because it wasabstract. I didn’t expect it.”

Navy and Marine Corps veteranJake Schneider served with Foote dur-ing Desert Storm, and after reconnect-ing with Foote 20 years later, Schnei-der started going to the poetry classes.Schneider, who had been treated at theformer National Naval Medical Centerfor wounds from a vehicle-born impro-vised explosive device and receivedtreatment at the National IntrepidCenter of Excellence (NICoE), saidwriting is helping him to come out ofdarkness he experienced during partsof his military career.

“Writing, I found to be a safe outletto have the freedom to express ideasthat either we are stuck in a world be-tween hell on Earth and all the whole-someness of a new normal as best aswe can define,” Schneider said. “Be-sides war, the worst hell I’ve experi-enced is to be lost in oneself and nothaving the tools to extract pain anddetach from the programming that weare killing machines imbued with azero-defect mentality.”

Dr. Rohul Amin, WRNMMC chiefof medical residents, said he got in-volved with the Warrior Poetry Projectbecause he was interested in learninghow to use poetry in a therapeutic waywith patients.

“It was also great to see veteransof prior conflicts with their work con-tents,” Amin said.

The poetry classes have movedoff base this year – and are set to beheld every second and third Wednes-day evenings from February to Julyat a restaurant two blocks from theFriendship Heights metro station. Theclasses delve into all different typesand forms of poetry: free and formalverse, war poetry, poetry and medi-cine, avant-garde poetry and rap/hiphop poetry. Foote teaches the major-ity of the classes, but he also brings inguest instructors.

“It’s pretty easy to write a half-de-cent poem if you get a little instruc-tion,” Foote said. “There’s a little bit ofa poet in everybody.”

Everyone is invited to the poetryclasses and open-mic sessions. To findout more, contact Foote at fred.foote@comast.net.

WRITINGContinued from pg. 4

1050064

The Journal Thursday, March 5, 2015 7

ranges weekly visits withmore than 20 volunteerdogs and handlers. TheAmerican Red Cross PetVisitation Pack visitswith patients, familiesand staff in pre-autho-rized clinics at WalterReed and installationevents. Patients and staffmay also make special re-quests for visits.

Yoga: Inpatientand StaffRed Cross volunteers

hold inpatient yogaclasses on 7 West threeto five times per week.Classes are also held onMondays and Wednes-days for Walter ReedBethesda staff.

Creative ArtsProgramThe Red Cross con-

ducts three creative artactivities each week forpatients in the Trau-matic Brain Injury Unit,

the Behavioral HealthUnit and Pediatrics. Thepurpose of these cre-ative art activities is toprovide patients with anopportunity to expressthemselves by creatingsimple art projects, andto interact with eachother and volunteers ina supportive manner.

Coffee MorningsProgramVolunteers host coffeemornings for WoundedWarriors, family mem-bers and health care

providers in the WarriorWard on the fourth floor,at the Critical Care Unitand Physical Therapyclinics in the AmericaBuilding. These eventsallow the participants toconverse in an informalsetting over coffee, fruit,donuts and bagels.For the latest infor-

mation on the Red CrossPrograms and Servicesat WRNMMC and NSAB,please visit: https://www.facebook.com/Red-CrossWRNMMC.

REDContinued from pg. 3

T6617450

Rockville

1050658

1042264

Wednesday, 18 March 20159 am to 2 pm at Club Meade

Fort Meade, Maryland

OPEN TO ALL JOB SEEKERS(candidates with and without a security clearance).

Great opportunity for individuals withactive security clearance!

No admission fee! Please arrive early!Meet employers! Bring copies of your resume!

For additional information please visit:www.ftmeademwr.com

Fort Meade

TECHNICAL JOB FAIR

8 Thursday, March 5, 2015 The Journal

1050668

1050660

2014 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Sport Utility

1050656