Contact Information

Consortium for Health and Military Performance


Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

More Information

champ@usuhs.edu

Dr. Francis G. O'Connor, COL, MC, USA
Medical Director, USU CHAMP
Associate Professor
Phone: (301) 295-2270
Email: francis.oconnor@usuhs.edu

Dr. Patricia Deuster, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Scientific Director, USU CHAMP
Professor
Phone: (301) 295-3020
Email: patricia.deuster@usuhs.edu

Every Warrior an Athlete

CHAMP is a Uniformed Services University (USU) and joint service effort that focuses on the health and performance of the warfighter. We are a joint medical resource for the Department of Defense for education, basic and clinical research, and clinical expertise in the area of military unique human performance optimization.

Current Events:

Conference on Functional Movement Assessment

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
September 10 - 12, 2012

CHAMP focuses on three distinct areas:

  • Research
  • Education
  • Clinical Care
For the Warfighter- decorative image of military member in action

For the Warfighter

For the Provider- decorative image of medical professionals

For the Provider

For the Researcher- decorative image of test tubes

For the Researcher


The human being is the most valuable asset for accomplishing the military's multi-faceted missions, spanning the spectrum from peacekeeping to war-fighting. Optimal performance depends on physical and mental health, and is the cornerstone of an effective and efficient military. Optimizing human performance is defined as the process of applying knowledge, skills, and emerging technologies to improve and preserve the capabilities of DoD personnel to execute essential tasks. Other words commonly used include enhance, modify, sustain, and maximize. Human performance is not linear, but rather cyclic and time-phased. Warfighters need to be prepared, trained, and optimized pre-deployment to execute their mission successfully, followed by targeted post-deployment programs for recovery and repair. Also, the ability to prevent, diagnose and treat injuries needs to be integrated into the training paradigm. Incorporation of these processes is continuous and dynamic.

To date, extensive resources are expended to ensure that equipment and materials are state-of-the-art and in good repair; yet minimal resources are invested in determining how to maintain and improve human performance and health. Most biomedical research has focused on prevention of disease through physicals, health risk screening, and reduction of unhealthy habits such as smoking and alcohol use. Research that examines approaches that may optimize performance and sustain optimal health throughout the lifecycle of our warfighter is needed Additionally, research needs to result in translational products, e.g. policy, doctrine, or evidence-based practice recommendations, for clinicians, commanders and warfighters.