USU Military Medical Leaders Honored for Outstanding Contributions in Cancer and Women’s Health Research

USU faculty retired Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver and Dr. Lynette Hamlin have been recognized for their exceptional achievements in cancer care and women's health research, respectively, at the 2024 Military Health System Research Symposium in Orlando, Florida.

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MHSRS 2024 award winners (Photo credit: Sharon Holland, USU)

August 26, 2024 by Sharon Holland

Two distinguished leaders in military medicine, retired Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver and Dr. Lynette Hamlin, have been recognized for their exceptional achievements in cancer care and women's health
research, respectively, at the 2024 Military Health System Research Symposium in Orlando, Florida. Shriver was awarded the Military Health System (MHS) Distinguished Service Award, and Hamlin was honored with the Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award for her contributions to advancing women's health within the Department of Defense (DoD).

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Retired Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver was recognized for exceptional achievements in cancer care. (Photo credit: Sharon Holland, USU)

Shriver's 35+ year career has been marked by pioneering advancements in cancer treatment and research for DoD beneficiaries. Starting his journey as an Army medical corps officer in 1981, Shriver has become a central figure in military oncology. His leadership roles have included chief of surgical oncology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC, and chief of general surgery at both WRAMC and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He also served as program director for the National Capital Consortium general surgery residency, and director of the United States Military Cancer Institute. Since 2012, he has served as the director of the John P. Murtha Cancer Center (MCC) and the Uniformed Services University's (USU) Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP), establishing himself as a key leader in military-relevant cancer research.

Shriver has championed the voices of cancer patients and their families, organizing cancer summits at the Murtha Cancer Center, inviting patients and advocates to share their experiences and perspectives.As the Secretary of Defense's representative on the National Cancer Advisory Board of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Shriver has actively participated in the White House Cancer Moonshot and Cancer Moonshot 2.0 initiatives. He has also led efforts to enhance collaboration between the DoD, Veterans' Affairs, and the NCI to provide better access to cancer care for patients, and spearheaded efforts to integrate cancer care and research initiatives within the DoD.

Shriver is the principal investigator for numerous DoD-funded research initiatives, including the Clinical Breast Care Project focused on advancing breast cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment within the Military Health System through multidisciplinary collaboration, clinical care, and the collection of an unrivaled biorepository of cryopreserved benign and malignant breast tissue, serum, plasma, and RNA.

He also played a pivotal role in establishing the DoD Serum Repository, one of the largest tissue and biobanks in the nation, and the Applied Proteogenomics Organizational Learning and Outcomes (APOLLO) program, focused on advancing proteogenomic molecular cancer research for DoD beneficiaries.

Shriver has also been instrumental in advocating for patients and raising the visibility of DoD cancer programs on the national stage. His efforts to secure National Cancer Institute Cancer Center designation for the MCC and his leadership in the Cancer Moonshot initiatives underscore his lasting impact on military medicine.

Hamlin, a recognized leader in military women's health research, was awarded the Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award for her trailblazing work. As the inaugural director of the Military Women's Health Research Program at USU, Hamlin's research has been instrumental in addressing the unique health needs of active-duty service women and veterans.

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Dr. Lynette Hamlin was was recognized for exceptional achievements in cancer care. (Photo credit: Sharon Holland, USU)

Her career has focused on advancing evidence-based healthcare for military women through innovative research on healthcare access, quality of care, and health disparities. Her recent work, including a study on racial disparities in perinatal outcomes among U.S. Armed Forces members led to policy recommendations aimed at improving health equity within the MHS. In her role at USU, Hamlin, who also serves as professor and associate dean for Faculty Affairs in the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing at USU, has consolidated research efforts across military treatment facilities and has briefed the White House Women's Health Research Initiative on military women's health. Her work on the DoD's breast cancer incidence study and her leadership in the newly-launched DoD/VA Joint Collaborative to Improve Women's Health Research exemplify her commitment to advancing military women's health.

In her keynote remarks during the opening plenary session at MHSRS, Dr. Carolyn Mazure, chair of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, referenced Hamlin's new role. "The DoD recently appointed its first ever dedicated director of Military Women's Health Research at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Lynette Hamlin, as the inaugural director, will lead and oversee the University's research efforts on the health of military women including funding research grants that encourage collaboration with investigators faced outside USU and encourage innovation and technology transfer participation by women in building a central portfolio that gathers military women's health research occurring within the DoD."

Hamlin's contributions extend beyond research; she is a mentor and leader within the academic and military communities. Her recognition as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing further highlights her influence in improving health outcomes locally and globally.

"Dr. Shriver and Dr. Hamlin exemplify the highest standards of excellence in military medicine. Their groundbreaking contributions to cancer research and women's health directly enhance the well-being of our service members and their families," said USU President Dr. Jonathan Woodson. "These awards are a testament to their dedication, leadership, and the profound impact their work continues to have within the Military Health System and beyond."

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