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VOL. 50, ISSUE 9 Salus Populi Suprema Lex Este Lightning Strikes…Again
T he PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on recently received a second distribuon of $620,000 from the Estate of Robert L. Lathrop. Combined with the $620,000 donatCAPT Robert L. Lathrop ed in 2012, the Lathrop Estate has donated $1.24 million to the Founda on - simply amazing. CAPT Gene Migliaccio, USPHS, (Ret.), President of the Founda on, said, “The inclusion of the PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on in their last will and testament demonstrates how impac ul the Commissioned Corps was on the lives of Dr. and Mrs. Lathrop. The same goes for many officers serving today.” Captain Lathrop and his wife Petey were devoted to the Alaskan people and northern lifestyle. Before joining the Commissioned Corps in 1963, CAPT Lathrop provided dental care for Alaska Na ves. He served as the Aberdeen Area Dental Officer and at the Indian Health Service headquarters. A er re ring in 1975, CAPT Lathrop and Petey returned to Kotzebue, Alaska, travelled the world, and se led in Anchorage. His beloved Petey pre-deceased him and Captain Lathrop passed away on June 8, 2011 in Anchorage. He was 87 years old. Their final res ng place is in Point Hope, Alaska, along the Arc c Ocean.
(Lathrop, cont’d., p. 7)
November 2013 Farrell to Step Down as COA/COF Executive Director
- Search Launched for Replacement COA Execu ve Director Jerry Farrell tes fies before he Housed Government Reform
Commi ee in 2003 with former Surgeons General, the late Dr. C. Evere Koop and the
late Dr. Julius Richmond.
J erry Farrell, COA and COF’s Execu ve Director since November, 2001, has announced that he will not seek to renew his contract when it expires next year. The COA Board of Directors and COF Board of Trustees have formed a joint search commi ee to find the combined enterprise’s fourth execu ve director. The search commi ee’s goal is to have Farrell’s replacement installed by 1 April 2014. The search commi ee has engaged the services of an associa on execu ve search firm to assist in the na onal search for a new execu ve director. More informa on about qualifica ons and how to apply can be found on the COA website at www.coausphs.org. In his le er to the Boards, Farrell wrote: “Serving as COA/COF Execu ve Director
has been a privilege and honor. And I
want to thank the COA and COF Boards
for the opportunity to serve as the
enterprise execu ve director for the last
twelve years. Much has been accom‐
plished and I am proud of that record;
but much remains to be done. I am
confident that my successor will be able
to help propel the PHS Commissioned
Corps to achieve its full poten al
in ensuring both the Na on’s public
health security as well as global health
security.”
A farewell for Farrell is being planned as part of the 2014 PHS Scien fic and Training Symposium. The COA and COF Boards encourage officers wishing to thank Jerry for his years of dedicated commitment to the Associa on, Founda on, and the PHS Commissioned Corps to make plans now to a end the Symposium from 10-12 June in Raleigh, NC. COA Member Benefits
Capitol Hill Representation
Efforts on Capitol Hill
continually support all Commissioned Corps officers - active-duty,
and retired.
Car Rental Discount Avis & Budget
Members enjoy discount rates on
Avis and Budget rentals.
Financial Services Pentagon Federal Credit Union
PenFed is an on-line credit union
providing full service to members
worldwide.
Frontline
COA’s newsletter reports on monthly activities and items of interest
about the Corps & COA.
Insurance Programs - AGIA
Participate in low-cost insurance
programs that may continue
after leaving the PHS as long as
your membership in COA remains
current.
Local Representation
COA Branches generate new venues
for meeting fellow officers within
your local area while providing a
forum for the discussion of concerns
within the Commissioned Corps.
Publication Public Health Reports
Free subscription to the Journal
Public Health Reports.
Scholarship Program
COA offers thousands of dollars
towards college scholarships for
children and spouses of COA
members.
MPH@GW
$7500 scholarship to earn completely
on-line, accredited Master of Public
Health degree.
Ribbon
Authorized to be worn on the PHS
uniform by members in good standing when attending COA functions.
2
Legislative Update
Unpopular Government Shutdown Ends
A er what seemed an eternity rather than 16 days, the shutdown of the federal government ended as messily as it began. When word came Wednesday a ernoon, 16 October, that Senate leaders had reached a bipar san agreement, I turned on C-SPAN to catch the vote live from the Senate floor. I assumed senators would vote immediately to get the bill off their plate and over to the frac ous House as fast as possible. But no. Senator a er senator took to the podium (some actually made the trip twice) to lengthily congratulate themselves and each other for coming together, on behalf of the American people, to reopen the federal government and avoid what would have been the first default in American history. (Well, yes; thank you, elected leaders.) The vote took place later that evening. PHS officers remained on the job and helped hold things together across the federal bureaucracy. It was an opportunity to show they could do that. At the same me, it underscored the reality that PHS officers cannot be furloughed – a historical fact and legal finding that for some reason took the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over two years to make clear to its own uniformed PHS officers. For ac ve-duty PHS officers and COA members who remained standing, it was not a walk in the park. CAPT Craig Wilkins, who chairs the COA Board’s Legisla on and Benefits Commi ee, was one of only four professionals le to run a CDC opera on that is normally staffed by 500 employees. Altogether, more than 9,300 of CDC’s 11,000 employees were furloughed. Some had to be quickly recalled to deal with emergencies such as disease outbreaks and heavily contaminated chicken for sale on grocery store Commissioned Officers Association
shelves. The need to do that soon came to symbolize the folly of the shutdown to an increasingly disgusted public. COA on Capitol Hill For COA staff, it is nice to be able to pick up where we le off on 30 September. On that day, the very last before the shutdown, Jerry Farrell and I met with Sen. Bernie Sanders’ health policy staff. The senator chairs the primary care subcommi ee of the senate’s Health, Educa on, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Commi ee. As always, we welcomed the opportunity to talk up the PHS and the s ll-unfunded Public Health Sciences Track. Military Moderniza on Commission As I write, COA staffers are preparing for a mee ng on 6 November with staff of the Military Compensa on and Re rement Moderniza on Commission (MCRMC). The mee ng, requested by Jerry Farrell, will be held at the COA offices in Landover, Maryland. As Front‐
line readers know (see October issue), President Obama last month directed the Commission to “consider differences between service in the Armed Forces and service in other uniformed services.” That immediately raised alarm bells because it sounds like an invita on to exclude PHS and NOAA. At its September mee ng, our Legisla on and Benefits Commi ee created a work group to follow the Commission’s work and advise COA staff. The work group chair is CDR Michelle Colledge. She thus reprises her 2011 role as chair of the Commi ee’s work group to study the recommenda ons of a business group advising the Defense Department. (As I never re of poin ng out, the Commi ee had the informa on in hand and a work (Legisla ve Update, cont’d. on p. 15)
COA Chair’s Corner
Don’t Waste an Opportunity to Teach or to Learn
I just found out my first PHS supervisor, CAPT Tom Heintzman, is re ring from the Corps this month. Tom spent his 28-year career as an engineer in the Sanita on Facili es Construc on (SFC) program of the Indian Health Service, doing water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure projects in Indian country. I don’t think Tom was widely known outside of IHS or PHS engineering circles, but I know I wouldn’t be where I am now were it not for his guidance. I’m pre y sure dozens of other PHS engineers would say the same thing about Tom. When I accepted my first job with IHS in Parker, AZ, Tom men oned that I could accept the job as a civil servant or as a Commissioned Corps officer. I had never heard of the Corps. Here I am, si ng in my parents’ kitchen in Kentucky, talking to a man I’ve never met or seen, and making a decision that would change the course of my life about a uniformed service I had never heard of un l that moment. A er maybe 10 minutes of conversa on, I was sold. I got my applica on approved, got medically cleared, and was boarded in about a month (I understand it takes a li le longer these days…). I had orders in hand the day before I started my crosscountry drive to Arizona. A er I started working, of course Tom taught me about IHS, the SFC program, the Commissioned Corps, uniform wear, benefits, and the like. More importantly, he showed me how to be calm and clear in a hos le environment. He allowed young engineers to learn from their own mistakes (I gave him plenty!). He showed me that the rela onships you build with your Tribal customers are at least as valuable as your technical skills. He was never flummoxed by any difficult situa on, yet he was never arrogant to believe he had all the answers. He repeatedly said and demonstrated that, first and foremost, his job was to serve the employees that work under him. This is not to imply that he ignored the upper management over him in the organiza on, but rather he realized that the growth opportuni es he provided for his staff would reap benefits that would long outlast his tenure. If you’re one of those few dozen engineers, technicians, or other staff who have worked under Tom or who have benefited from an outstanding mentor, you know what I’m talking about. To this day, I speak with Tom from me to me, some mes for major advice, some mes just to check on the family. Long a er I had ceased working for him, I called him once asking about whether I should apply for a certain posi on that had opened up. A er some discussion, I apologized for taking his me, saying that he had be er things to do with his me. Without hesita on, he told me, “Don’t apologize. This is the most important thing I have to do.” Thank you Tom! Best of luck in the next stage of your career! I hope I can be half the mentor over my career that you have been. If I can gather some lessons on mentoring I got from CAPT Heintzman and the many other mentors I’ve had over the years, here are a few: -Mentoring is not always formal. In fact, it usually isn’t. Every category has a mentoring program in place, and those programs are a valuable tool, no doubt. But don’t expect such programs to be the beginning and end of your du es as a mentor or as a protégé. They should be augmen ng a mentor/
protégé network you have already established around you. -One is not enough. I think you need to have mul ple mentors, each with different strengths and abili es you seek to learn from. As you grow in knowing yourself, your character, your strengths and weaknesses, choose mentors to bolster those facets of yourself that you would like to improve. This is not always done consciously. I would encourage everyone to make me and prac ce introspec on to understand your needs and seek the most appropriate guidance. -Anyone can be a mentor. Of course, don’t just limit yourself to Corps – members of your community, your church, your civic organiza on, or your family could all be good candidates to be a mentor or protégé. However, if you want to make a career out of the PHS Commissioned Corps, you need at least one Corps officer mentor. Similarly, a mentor is not necessarily older or of higher rank. Be open to the possibility of learning from a more junior person – old fogies don’t have a monopoly on wisdom. -Whether you want it or not, you are a mentor. Respect this and always seek to set a posi ve and consistent example. Don’t get hung up on the word “mentor” and assume that you only have a mentor-protégé rela onship where those terms are used. Every personal rela onship you have has some element of teaching or learning embedded in it. Don’t waste an opportunity to teach or to learn. -Don’t force it. The lessons you want to teach may not be the lessons that are learned. You may want to teach a be er way to construct a hydraulic model, but your protégé may learn the value of your precision, while never learning your hydraulic modeling skills. You can’t control the outcome, so just be authen c and do your best. November 2013 - Frontline
(Chair, cont’d. on p. 5)
3
2013 Symposium/Recent Events/COF Scholarship Program/Jerrold M. Michael
Fellowship/History of USPHS/Emerging Leaders/Programs/Services/History
COF President’s Corner
Commissioned Officers Foundation (COF) Installs RADM Jerrold Michael as
First Emeritus Trustee -- Plus, The Work of COF via Committee Reports
I am excited to write this column for Frontline to tell you about one of our own -- RADM Jerrold Michael a public health warrior, patriot, and leader who served with dis ncon in the U.S. Public Health Service within the Indian Health Service. And, who con nued to serve the field of public health in re rement as Dean of the School of Public Health, University of Hawaii, and most recently as Professor of Global Public Health at George Washington University. On 20 October 2013, current and former COF Trustees and COA leadership honored the work of RADM Jerrold Michael to the Founda on. In recogni on of RADM Michael's extraordinary commitment, dedica on, and leadership to and for the Founda on, and by unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees, RADM Michael was installed as the Foundaon’s first and only Emeritus
Trustee. Being named Emeritus Trustee ensures that Jerry will remain closely bound to this Founda on in perpetuity and that the future Trustees will always remember the great footsteps in which we all follow. In 2000, a er a long study and consideraon, COA determined it was me to establish another organiza on whose focus would be educa on and charitable support for PHS officers and public health ac vi es in general. On 3 May 2000, the PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on for the Advancement of Public Health was incorporated in the State of Maryland. RADM Michael served as the 4
founding president of the Founda on, it was to a great extent, the dynamic leadership, clear vision, unbounded enthusiasm, absolute convic on, and fierce determina on of Jerry Michael that set the Founda on’s course. In 2000, our Founda on began with less than $25,000 in the bank. Today, the Founda on has assets totaling more than one million dollars. In 13 years, the Founda on has assumed responsibility for sponsoring the annual PHS Scien fic and Training Symposium – an event that con nues to grow in size and importance as a respected interna onal public health educa onal event. We have merged with two other organiza ons – the PHS Wives Club and the Anchor and Caduceus Society and assumed responsibility for their programs. We have published four books and four reports on a variety of public health topics. The Founda on has established partnerships with several academic ins tu ons and similar organiza ons in the United States and interna onally. COF has provided almost one million dollars in scholarships, educa onal grants, and fellowships to PHS officers and their family members. In short, we’ve come a long way! And, it was Jerry Michael who led the way. Jerry served for two years as the Founda on’s first president; then, a er a short hiatus, a third year as president. He served a total of four three-year terms as a Founda on Trustee – 12 of the Founda on’s 13 years of existence. He has been and remains one of the Founda on’s most consistent and Commissioned Officers Association
generous donors – a true leader both in terms of me, talent, and treasure. I salute you, RADM Michael and thank you for your con nued service to the Na on's health agenda, PHS, and COA/
COF. Mrs. Lynn Michael accepts floral bouquet from
CAPT Gene Migliaccio following the naming of
RADM Michael as Emeritus Trustee
The Work of COF via Commi ee Reports As COF con nues to build a future as noble as our past it certainly has been a busy me with our work on development, the 49th Annual USPHS Scien fic and Training Symposium, and other business. I have important updates to share with you as follows: on October 8, 2013, the Founda on’s Board of Trustees held its quarterly mee ng. The following commi ees provided these updates. Finance CommiƩee, chaired by RADM Mike Milner: Based on advice from our investment advisor, the trustees agreed to monitor the market to determine if a (Michael, cont’d. on p. 17)
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Yes, It’s True
Dear Friends of the Commissioned
Corps,
F
east or famine as the old saying
goes. Some months I struggle to
find things to write about in this
space. Other months there is not
enough room for all the news. This
month is the latter case.
My 12th anniversary as COA/COF
Executive Director is November 1st.
After twelve years, you all deserve
Jerry Farrell, Execu ve Director fresh ideas, new perspectives, and a
renewal of energy and vision to propel COA and COF to the next
level – and the Commissioned Corps along with the Association/
Foundation enterprise. Thus, I have decided that the time is right
for me to retire for a second and final time. My bride, Sherry, has
been retired for a year now and we need to start executing some of
the travel she has been planning!
As I prepare to leave COA and COF, you all need to know that I
remain fully invested in the future of these organizations and the
Corps itself. I am confident that both the Association and the
Foundation are in better shape now than at any time since I’ve
been here. The COA Board of Directors and the COF Board of
Trustees are both strong and proactive with effective leaders. The
Commissioned Corps itself is in good hands with RADMs Lushniak and Giberson in charge. They are as effective leaders as the
Corps has ever had. Finding the right individual to take over as
COA and COF executive director is as important to me as it is to
all of you.
The Boards and I have been working on a transition plan for a
number of months. We all want to ensure a seamless transition
that enables both COA and COF to continue functioning and
growing without missing a beat. Hiring a deputy executive director last year was the first step in this process. We are fortunate to
have John McElligott on board and he will ensure continuity of
operations throughout the transition.
Finding the right person to replace me will be an all-hands effort.
We will make the vacancy announcement in all the right places, but
experience tells us that the successful candidate will most likely
come via networking. So I ask you all to work those networks and
help us find COA and COF’s next executive director.
The plan is for us to have someone in place on 1 April so I won’t
be leaving soon and I expect to be at the 2014 PHS Scientific and
Training Symposium (10-12 June in Raleigh, NC). That will give all
our members an opportunity to say goodbye or good riddance!
Bob Lathrop Just Keeps on Giving…And So Can You
Competing for headlines in this issue of Frontline is the second
$620,000 check received from the estate of the late Captain Bob
Lathrop to the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation. That’s a
total of $1.24 million dollars given to the Foundation from Captain
Lathrop’s estate thus far.
I encourage all PHS officers – active duty, retired, and former officers – to take a page from Captain Lathrop’s playbook. The PHS
Commissioned Corps obviously meant a great deal to Bob Lathrop,
as I hope and am sure it does to many of you whose professional
lives owe much to the Corps. There are many ways to give back.
You can mentor junior officers. You can help recruit new officers.
You can tell the Corps story in different venues. You can be a
COA member. And you can donate to the PHS Commissioned
Officers Foundation which helps all of the aforementioned.
The annual Foundation sponsored PHS Scientific and Training
Symposium is a great vehicle for mentoring and recruiting. Books
and articles published by the Foundation help to tell your story and
being active as a COA member and helping us tell your story on
Capitol Hill are other activities supported indirectly by the Foundation.
Donations to the Foundation at all levels are important and welcome. If you have the means like Bob Lathrop, I encourage you
to consider adding the Foundation to your estate planning and
(See Execu ve Director, p. 19)
(Chair, cont’d. from p. 3)
-Most importantly, whether you are a protégé or a mentor: Listen! As Commissioned Corps officers, we are seen in our agencies, in our service units, and in our communi es as leaders. We have maintained this leadership, and we are further building this leadership capacity every day, thanks to genera ons of mentoring. The personal one-on-one rela onship between a mentor and a protégé yields results in a way that a large-scale mass communicaon format cannot. I don’t think I’m oversta ng the situa on when I say that mentoring, hundreds of mes a day throughout the country, is the glue that holds the Corps together. I’d like to ask each of you to enter into mul ple mentor/protégé rela onships, consciously providing or seeking the sort of guidance most needed. Also, I would like each of our COA local branches to foster the development of mentor/protégé rela onships. If you would like guidance on how to create a program at the local branch level, I’ll be happy to help out with that – just e-mail me ([email protected]). Learn from the best, then teach the next genera on, so they will con nue to be the best… Inspire them as your predecessors have inspired you. November 2013 - Frontline
5
Commissioned Officers Foundation
Acknowledges Donations Received September 16, 2013 - October 15, 2013
LEADERSHIP SOCIETY The Estate of CAPT Robert L. Lathrop, (Ret.) GOLD CAPT Philip C. Nyberg, (Ret.) CAPT Leah Bigalow, (Ret.) RADM John G. Todd, (Ret.) CAPT Steven P. Geiermann, (Ret.) Kiamichi Branch BRONZE CAPT Nita Sood** CAPT Robert J. Schollard, (Ret.)* CAPT Darrell R. Hazle, (Ret.)* CAPT Terry T. Cavanaugh, (Ret.)* LCDR Andrea D. Smith* CDR Jonathan C. Dando CAPT Mitchell H. Gail, (Ret.) CAPT Olive P. Brown, (Ret.) RADM Fitzhugh S. Mullan, (Ret.) CAPT Bruce R. Chelikowsky, (Ret.)**^ CAPT Mar n D. McCarthy, (Ret.) CAPT Peter J. Kowalski FRIENDS CAPT Mar n J. Walsh, (Ret.)* CAPT Felicia L. Collins CAPT Jacqueline K. Thomas CAPT John J. Henderson, (Ret.) CAPT Charlo e A. Spires CAPT Michelle T. Hall, (Ret.) LCDR Harlem J. Gunness LCDR Dawn Benth Frequently Asked Questions
Donations Can be Made
at Several Levels:
Leadership Society .... $10,000
President’s Society .... $5,000
Founder’s Society .... $2,500
Platinum .... $1,000
Gold .... $500
Silver .... $250
Bronze .... $100
Visit www.phscof.org/giving to
donate online today!
*C. Evere Koop Living Legacy
** In memory of CAPT Milt Nichaman, (Ret.)
^In memory of CAPT John Brandt, (Ret.)
Q: “Can I use airport USO lounges?” Q: “Is my PHS pay subject to state income tax?” Q: “Why can’t COA get my rank correct?” COA staff gets asked lots of ques ons about a variety of subjects by our members and even by PHS officers who are not members. To help facilitate communica ons with our members, we’ve updated the Frequently Asked Ques ons (FAQ) “Quicklink” on the le side of the COA website homepage (www.coausphs.org). We’ve gone from five FAQs to 30. If you’ve got an urgent burning ques on for COA staff, odds are it’s been asked before. We urge you to visit the FAQ site before you call or email. 6
Commissioned Officers Association
Retired Officers’ Corner
Retired Officers—Pay Information – IMPORTANT!
P HS Commissioned Corps re rees dodged a bullet with respect to their retainer paychecks with the end of the government shutdown on October 17th. Unlike the re red pay of DOD service members, PHS officers’ re red pay comes from an annual DHHS appropria on. The government shutdown resulted from the failure of Congress to pass any appropria on bills by 1 October, the beginning of the government’s fiscal year. Had the shutdown con nued un l late October, 1 November re red pay could have been delayed. COA con nues to receive inquiries from re red members who have yet to receive any informa on from DHHS regarding the shi in re red pay disbursement from DHHS to the Coast Guard beginning on 1 January 2014. The ability of the Office of the Surgeon General to contact re red officers about pay issues, including the planned 1 January transfer of re red payroll management to the Coast Guard is hampered by inaccuracies in the contact informa on maintained by the Department. Email and postal mail addresses for some re rees are not current. Re red officers should verify their contact informa on is current with the OSG Compensa on Branch. We didn’t help by not including the complete informa on necessary to access a copy of the le er to re red officers in the October Frontline. We included a link in the online digital version, but that didn’t help folks who received the paper copy! So here is the correct link: h p://www.coausphs.org/docs/news/
PHS_Re reePayToCoastGuardLe er‐09052013.pdf
That’s a lot to type, so we recommended visi ng the COA website at www.coausphs.org and loca ng the le er through Member News or the digital version of this issue of Frontline. There are three things re rees and annuitants are asked to do by 1 December: 1. Confirm your current address by checking in your Lyceum On-Line Viewer Account at h ps://phs.lyceum.com. If unable to log-in to this account, send email to [email protected]. Your correct address should be mailed or faxed to Commissioned Corps Compensa on, 8455 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20857; fax: (301) 4273431/3432. 2. If your state or legal residence differs from your current payroll address, provide your current state of legal residence to the Coast Guard by email, fax or le er: USCG Pay & Personnel Center 444 SE Quincy Street Topeka, KA 66683-3591 Phone: (800) 772-8724 (toll-free) FAX: 785-339-3415 Email: ppc‐dg‐[email protected] Web: h p://www.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/ 3. Every re ree should complete Coast Guard form CG-3600, “Designa on of Beneficiary for Unpaid Re red pay.” The form can be found online at h p://www.uscg.mil/forms/
cg/CG_3600.pdf. Please write “PHS” and your PHS service
number in block 3 of this form. SAVE THE DATE
2014 USPHS Scientific and
Training Symposium
June 10-12, 2014 to be held in
Raleigh, NC
http://symposium.phscof.org/
November 2013 - Frontline
(Lathrop, cont’d. from p. 1)
Include COF in your Estate Planning Follow CAPT Lathrop’s lead and consider including an alloca on of your estate to the Founda on. Ensure your legacy of support for the Corps and its officers con nues. Contact Founda on staff for more informa on. Donate online today at www.phscof.org/giving. 7
COA Branch Activities
Mindfulness & Tai-Chi at Thompson Elementary School: Prevention through
Active Community Engagement (PACE)
By LCDR Luz E Rivera and LT Ruvalcaba, USPHS
L CDR Rivera lead a group of four USPHS officers under the PACE Program, on July 30, 2013, to work with CDR Rice, LCDR Rivera and LT Whi aker with
the Asian Amerstudents
ican Leadership Empowerment and Development for Youth and Families (AALEAD). The AALEAD’s mission is to promote the wellbeing of Asian-American youth and families through educa on, leadership development and community building. The officer’s involvement included a presenta on in Mindfulness and an interac ve prac ce of TaiChi/QUIGONG at Thompson Elementary School to 38 elementary school students from the fi h and sixth grade. One of the AALEAD Mentoring Program objec ves is to match young children and teenagers with role model mentors that assist from academic to recrea onal ac vi es. The officers provided a background on the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and the Surgeon General’s Na onal Preven on Strategy (NPS) focusing on two priori es: Mental & Emo onal Well Being and Ac ve Living. They introduced the concept of Mindfulness as living in the moment and awakening to experience as ac ve, open, inten onal a en on on the present. Students learned the rela onship between thinking, feelings and behavior. Students were also physically involved with prac ces of QUIGONG such as; breathing and moving exercises that increased their awareness on the present moment. The students were asked to perform breathing exercises as a mindfulness and Tai-Chi technique. The officers that contributed to this Na onal Preven on Strategies event were: CDR Morrisa Rice (HSO), LT Margaret Whi aker (HSO), LT Rogelio Ruvalcaba (Die an) LCDR Dip Kalra (Pharmacist) and LCDR Rivera (Scien st). This volunteer ac vity is one of the various effort and opportuni es developed through the Preven on through Ac ve Community Engagement (PACE) Program. For more informa on about being a volunteer, please see the following fact sheet: h p://dccoa.org/NPS‐PACE%20MCPS%20Volunteer%
20Partnership.pdf. Officers Supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
By LCDR Shayna Wilborn, USPHS
O n Sunday, September 8, 2013, the District of Columbia Metropolitan Commissioned Officers Associa on Branch (DC COA) chapter USPHS Cares team par cipated in the “Out of the Darkness” community walk. The “Out of the Darkness” community walk is a fundraising event benefi ng the American
FoundaƟon for Suicide PrevenƟon (AFSP). AFSP is the leading na onal not-for-profit organiza on exclusively dedicated to understanding and preven ng suicide through research, educaon and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. Suicide claims more than 38,000 lives each year in the United States alone, with someone dying by suicide every 13.7 minutes. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. among adults 18-65, the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults, and individuals ages 65 and older account for 16 percent of all suicide deaths. The event provided the opportunity for the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) officers to support not only the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Na onal Strategy for Suicide Preven on but also the Surgeon General’s call to ac on to support and promote walking and walkable communi es. The USPHS Cares 8
Planning Sub-Commi ee consisted of CDR Aline Moukhtara, CAPT Sophia Russell, CDR Vicky Borders-Hemphill, CDR Jill Hammond, LCDR Latonia Ford, LCDR Loan Nguyen and LCDR Shayna Wilborn. The Planning Sub-Commi ee is comprised of officers who have been dedicated to suppor ng local and na onal health ini a ves in previous events such as the annual Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure and the AIDS Walk Washington. The USPHS Cares team consisted of 11 members and raised over $200. This year was the first year the USPHS Team par cipated in the “Out of the Darkness” community walk. Serving as examples of health and fitness while wearing the USPHS t-shirts, the team members took on the scenic walk on a path in Fairfax, Virginia. The day served as a remembrance of those tragically affected by suicide and a call to ac on to educate and provide support to those affected by mental disorders. We are grateful to all who contributed to this year’s “Out of the Darkness” community walk and encourage your con nued support to raise awareness and reduce the s gma associated with this public health issue. Commissioned Officers Association
COA Branch Activities
USPHS Cares – Creating Opportunities to Serve
By LCDR Candice Co le‐Delisle and LT Kristen Cole, USPHS
T he AIDS Walk Washington has been in existence since 1987, recruit enough members to form a commi ee which comprised which was started by the Whitman Walker Clinic. Their of nine officers at the me. mission is to be the highest quality, culturally competent community health center serving the diverse urban community Once the commi ee was formed, they were able to come up of greater Washington, DC. They serve and offer care to individ- with a list of goals. The AIDS Walk commi ee’s goals were to uals facing barriers to accessing care and with a special exper se increase USPHS visibility, promote physical ac vity-physical in lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV care. fitness and provide an opportunity to network between agenLCDR April Poole, a USPHS officer, found it to be a worthy cause cies, thereby increasing USPHS Officer unity. These goals all fit to support the AIDS Walk not only because the USPHS mission is in with DC COA’s mission to improve and protect the public inclusive of the Whitman Walker Clinic mission. She was also health of the United States by advoca ng for the Commissioned searching for a leadership opportunity that fulfilled her personal Corps and its officers. mission to being an outstanding officer. In 2008, LCDR Poole started working on Outpa ent Clinic on the 8th Floor at the As a result of this hard work, the “USPHS Cares AIDS Walk Team” Na onal Ins tutes of Health Clinical Center, which takes care of has been in existence for 5 years and contributes to the cause by HIV/AIDS pa ents. LCDR Poole quickly realized that she needed raising more than $1,500 per year. There are 35-40 officers that a leadership opportunity. She read about a fellow officer that par cipate in the walk/run every year. This year there are organized a Breast Cancer walk team and thought it would be a currently 10 officers on the commi ee that are making this wonderful event a success. In 2009, the USPHS Cares AIDS Walk good idea to start one of her own. Team was the largest federal group par cipa ng which Unfortunately, she had no idea what star ng a USPHS team increased USPHS visibility in a very impressive way. The AIDS entailed. As she did more research, she found out that she had Walk is held every year in the month of October, and this year it to form a commi ee, have a budget in place, a list of goals that will be held on October 26, 2013. aligned with the DC COA mission and sign a charter. Luckily, the fellow officer that started her own Breast Cancer walk team Thank you to LCDR April Poole and her dedicated commi ee agreed to serve as a mentor to LCDR Poole and guided her members for making this a great opportunity to serve and through the process. In July of 2008, LCDR Poole was able to represent the USPHS. She is an example of an excellent Officer. 6th Annual DCCOA Golf Outing
By LCDR Andrew Fine, USPHS
T he 6th Annual DC-COA golf ou ng was held on September 30, 2013 at beau ful Maryland Na onal Golf Club (MNGC) to benefit the Commissioned Officers Founda on (COF). The event a racted more golfers than previous year, a whopping 116 golfers. This record field consisted of both current and re red PHS officers, and many civilian friends, family, and supporters from all over the DC Metropolitan area. This was the first year MNGC hosted the event, and golfers were delighted by the wonderful scenery, perfect condi ons, and challenging layout. Addi onally, several generous sponsors supported the events led by our Gold Sponsors: Securitas, Inc., Geico, FCN, Inc. and Intui ve Business Concepts. Many new features and contests added to the excitement. In addi on to our successful raffle, a silent auc on of unique sports memorabilia took place throughout the day, and par cipants got a great laugh with the marshmallow driving contest. Prizes were awarded to the top 3 teams, longest drives and closest to the pin, and even last place walked away with a special prize. Each player also received goodie bags filled with golf balls and numerous donated items. The success of this year’s event can be summed up by the more than $5,000 raised for the COF; easily se ng an event record. The event commi ee consisted of co-chairpersons LCDR David Schwab and LCDR Andrew Fine and LT Ruby Tiwari and LT Rana Kim. With all this success, we have already commi ed our return to MNGC in 2014! November 2013 - Frontline
9
COA Branch Activities
Phoenix Branch Officers Help Phoenix Area 2013 Promotion Ceremony
“Break the Silence”
By CDR Karen Kilman, USPHS
By CDR Karen Kilman, USPHS
T O n September 22, 2013 nine PHS officers and their families joined the Na onal Ovarian Cancer Coali on (NOCC) Valley of the Sun 5th Annual Run/Walk to “Break the Silence” on Ovarian Cancer. The event celebrated survivors, remembered those who lost their ba le to ovarian cancer, and increased awareness of ovarian cancer through educaon. The team par cipated in the 5K run/
walk and through sponsorship and dona ons raised $600 of the overall total of $78,000 to support research to aid in educa on and preven on of ovarian cancer. he Phoenix Area COA hosted a promo on ceremony on 17 September 2013 for local Phoenix Area Officers. The ceremony was opened by a presentaon of the colors by the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service Honor Guard followed by the invoca on presented in the tradi onal Navajo language by Harrison Baheshone, a local Na ve American employee at Phoenix Indian Medical Center (PIMC). The Dis nguished Speaker was RADM George Blue Spruce (Ret), who was the first Na ve American Den st for the Public Health Service. We then had the honor of our Ac ng Surgeon General RADM Boris Lushniak joining us to share some words of wisdom to the newly promoted officers by teleconference. A er reaffirma on of the Oath of Office and “pinning” on all the new ranks for those promoted, we were able to close the ceremony with refreshments for our family and friends. Congratula ons to all promoted officers! WV COA Team in 2013 Greater Morgantown Heart Walk
By CDR Toni A. Bledsoe, USPHS
M embers of the WV Commissioned Officers Associa on along with their friends and family were among the 300+ walkers in the 2013 Greater Morgantown Heart Walk. The 3 mile walk was held at Mylan Park, a 300acre recrea onal (L to R) CAPT Margaret Ki , CDR Toni
complex located in Bledsoe, LCDR Patricia Corbin, Mei Lin
Corbin, LT Kelly Fath, Elizabeth Fath, Sadie Monongalia County Fowler
near Morgantown, WV, on September 21, 2013. The WV COA Team and 50 other teams from the Morgantown community walk to support the American Heart Associa on/ American Stroke Associa on (AHS/ASA) in their 10
mission of “Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.” Currently, heart disease is the #1 killer and stroke is the #4 killer of all Americans. Heart Walks are held in ci es and towns throughout the USA. Funds raised by the walkers are directed toward research, educa on and pa ent support programs. The eight member team placed 14th out of 51 teams in fundraising efforts. The team endeavored to make the local community aware of the USPHS Commissioned Corps presence and familiar with its mission to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of our Na on- a mission similar to that of the AHS/ASA. While at the event, walkers had opportunity to visit several sta ons to learn about how to make healthy lifestyle choices and had the chance to enter a drawing for several heart healthy prizes. WV COA Team member LT Kelly Fath won the Grand Prize of a one hour massage provided by Healthworks Rehab and Fitness. (Congratula ons Kelly!) A statement posted on the 2013 Greater Morgantown Heart Walk’s Commissioned Officers Association
(Heart Walk, cont’d. on p. 11)
Shadow of a Doubt: The Rewards of Animal Rescue Work
F irst you see it, then, you don’t. You look closely; listen for sounds, a slight movement in the bushes. Like an experienced animal tracker, I have learned to look for these signs. Occasionally, in the early evenings of Bethesda, MD, a dark, shadowy blob was spo ed. I would spend evenings going back and forth to this spot. This ki en was first seen in bushes outside a Vet’s office prior to severe Maryland storm. A er hearing crackling from several birds (I thought one was injured or a fledgling had fallen), I discovered a beau fully spo ed tabby ki en fla ened to the ground in fear. I followed it a er it sca ered off, only to have it run into an abandoned building. A er meowing out to it, it desperately responded to my calls. But then it disappeared, despite even a er leaving food out for several weeks. In the evening of another storm several weeks later, it resurfaced. I have always throughout my life done animal rescue work. Due to my strength and strong knowledge base of animal behavior, I volunteered at a shelter where I was able to work with the big dogs: Germans Shepherds, Ro weiler’s, Pi Bull mixes, etc. With each animal I go by the same premise: that most animals will not a ack human unless scared or guarding. Reading an animal’s behavior, the subtle signs and movements, such as a slight flicker of an ear, is an art I am always learning. It is not uncommon for me a er a storm to walk through my neighborhood making sure there are no displaced, lost animals. A er a bad snow storm several years ago, a young pigeon immediately scurried towards me, starving. A er monitoring the site for a while, the parents could not be located. Amongst snowy streets and an old car, I transported the chick to a wildlife rescue shelter. A er good care, it was released happily in the spring with several other young pigeons. I have o en transported injured birds to this center. Lee Prouty, a former federal worker, is a Maryland Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. Wildlife Rehabilitators can be licensed via qualifica ons directed by the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Permit Sec on. Lee is on-call and o en gets deployed to oil spills. “Sadly, a lot of the injuries to animals are man-made,” Lee shared. “When I work with an animal and release it to the habitat which supports it, when it successfully has the ability to feed itself and be with its species that is the op mal and that’s the reward.” Lee was very instrumental several weeks ago when a Canadian Goose was (Heart Walk, cont’d. from p. 10)
found injured on the Food and Drug Administra on’s campus in need of emergency care. Sadly, its long-term partner (most geese mate for life and demonstrate grief when their partner dies) had also been hit by a car but died. Individual animal rescue work es into the larger picture of officers roles in veterinary public health. I once spoke to an USPHS veterinarian on a deployment who described to me during Hurricane Katrina how the USPHS had built a large animal shelter. CAPT Ostrowski, DVM, MPVN, wrote in an ar cle to the CDC regarding this event: “Many New Orleans na ves I met working at the pet shelters had lost their homes, jobs, cars, worldly possessions, and did not know where all their family were. When I asked them if taking care of the pets was important to their sense of resiliency and posi ve mental health, the answer was always a resounding ‘yes!’” These acts also accentuate that Veterinary Public Health is also a part of the USPHS mission of protec ng, promo ng, and advancing the health and safety of our Na on. The American Public Health Associa on (APHA) recognizes this need. They have a Special Primary Interest Group which “focuses on the interface of humans and animals; not just the diseases but the quality of life, health benefits, and environmental health issues as well.” APHA believes in the posi ve influence of the humananimal connec on. LCDR Shukan, a veterinarian at the Na onal Ins tutes of Health, demonstrates this also. He was interna onally deployed as part of Pacific Partnership to the Solomon Islands where he helped prevent diseases and decreased world hunger by primarily working with small subsistence farmers deworming pigs and doing castra ons. He also took part in 2013 mission at Rabies Vaccina on Clinic at the San Carlos Apache Na on. States LCDR Shukan: “At NIH, I help facilitate the cure and preven on of diseases by helping researchers develop be er techniques regarding animal studies, relieve pain and distress in animals, and not only ensure that the Ins tutes follow regula ons and good prac ces for the animals’ well-being, but also protect NIH by ensuring regulatory compliance.” So the shadow of a doubt: a dark mass which occasionally appeared in the evenings was a possible abandoned or lost ki en. With the help of community animal groups, I was able to trap it and get necessary veterinary care for it. So began the (Rescue, cont’d. on p. 16)
website summarizes the day’s event: “We walk for many reasons… we walk to remember, we walk to honor, we walk to celebrate, we walk to educate, and we walk to change lives.” Note: Ar cle photo—Not pictured‐ LT Cara Halldin, LT
Melanie Moore. (Photo courtesy of CDR Toni Bledsoe)
November 2013 - Frontline
11
Identify Yourself in Media as a Corps Officer
S ome mes, your work will pique the interest of the media. Remember to always get approval from your Public Informa on Officer before communica ng with members of the media. A er being approved, you should self-iden fy as a Commissioned Corps officer. Urge reporters and journalists to include the words Commissioned Corps or Public Health Service in their stories. The strategy will help the Corps to connect with the general public and elected officials. All too o en, the COA staff see stories about the accomplishments of people working at the CDC, NIH, FDA, Indian Health Service, etc. Only upon deeper examina on do we determine the person men oned in an ar cle was not only a Commissioned Corps officer but a COA member. We encourage you and your COA local branch members to be proac ve. Don’t wait for reporters to come to you. Promote your contribu ons as a member of the community, health leader, and officer in the uniformed services. Tips on Working with Media Outlets
 Be prepared to say something you want to communicate about public health or serving the country.  Iden fy yourself and why you are calling. Be clear about why they should care about your story.  Be prepared to sell your story. Answer the ques on, “Why will they want to know this?”  Be clear and concise whenever contac ng reporters. Reporters get many leads and are on ght deadlines.  Double-check everything you send to the media for clarity and accuracy. Send thank you notes, regardless of whether your story is published. Secretary Janet Napolitano’s Final Visit and Town Hall
O n August 13, 2013, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, conducted a Town Hall mee ng at the Potomac Center North building in Washington, DC. Several USPHS officers were selected to a end. Secretary Napolitano began by thanking the hard working men and women of Immigra on and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for significant efforts and dedica on to the mission of the Department. She outlined several examples of improvements in the past few years.  Significant drop in illegal immigra on, a empts are at 40 year lows 
Improved border security, return of ar facts to countries of origin 
Increased vigilance in na onal cyber security and informa on security 
Decrease in sex trafficking Secretary Napolitano announced her resigna on from the Cabinet in July. She will be leaving federal service in September to become the next president of the University of California. Currently there are approximately 500 USPHS officers serving in the Department of Homeland Security. USPHS Officers with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, prior to her
resigna on
12
Commissioned Officers Association
Commissioned Corp Officers Engaged in the Health Disparities Course
for the Nation
O n August 5-16, 2013, NIMHD offered its Transla onal Health Dispari es Course on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. This two-week intensive course is designed to provide introduc on in the principles and prac ce of health dispari es research. The program’s objec ves are to recognize the history of health dispari es and iden fy priori es for the elimina on of health dispari es; describe a broad-based perspec ve on current health dispari es research and cri cally analyze issues pertaining to gathering and interpreta on of data, novel research methods, and resource u liza on; and integrate diverse professional background and learning skills to include cri cal appraisal of the literature focused on understanding and addressing health dispari es. The course content is developed in the context of the history of health and health dispari es in the United States. Biological and non-biological determinants of health were addressed, and a range of social, poli cal, economic, cultural, and legal theories related to health dispari es were covered extensively in the course. A number of theore cal frameworks were used for inves ga ng, evalua ng, and discussing health dispari es research, and these addressed policy and evidence-based prac ces. The course focused on integra on of various disciplines (including biological, social, behavioral, physical, and environmental sciences, and law and economics) to understand science, prac ce, and policy issues. Classes included lectures from 49 na onally and interna onally recognized experts from diverse disciplines. Lectures were followed by panel discussions to explore the module content with some degree of analy c objec vity. Ques ons and issues that are most relevant to select communi es or popula ons were chosen by course par cipants for debate. A total of 90 scholars were selected from approximately 450 applicants during a highly compe ve process. Each applicant submi ed an applica on package including relevant professional experience, educa onal history including honors and awards, essay describing interest in the course and how it will contribute to work/future career goals in the area of health dispari es, and a le er of recommenda on. Of the par cipants, 49 came from academia, 15 from community-based organiza ons, 10 from NIH, 8 from other federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Agency for Healthcare Quality Research, 4 from public en es including Michigan department of community health and Utah department of health; and 4 from the private sector. “This course demonstrates that health dispari es research is now a recognized field in the scien fic community,” said NIMHD director Dr. John Ruffin. “Yet it is a young, rapidly growing trans-disciplinary scien fic field that will benefit enormously from this gathering of dis nguished scholars and researchers.” NIMHD Director Dr. John Ruffin (center) and other course par cipants
On behalf of NIH’s third largest ins tute, the Na onal Heart, Lung, and Blood Ins tute (NHLBI), RADM Helena Mishoe explored the scope of the NHLBI’s responsibili es and its connuous efforts to reduce cardiovascular, obesity, asthma, sleep disorder dispari es. She also emphasized NHLBI’s Global Alliance for Chronic Disease, which is the first collabora on of government research funding agencies to address the needs of chronic non-communicable diseases in Australia, Canada, China, India, South Africa, Qatar, United Kingdom and United States. RADM Helena Mishoe speaking to the course
par cipants (Photo courtesy of LT Xinzhi Zhang)
November 2013 - Frontline
13
My Evening with the Surgeon General
By LCDR Phil Siebigteroth, USPHS
I received an email from the COA listserv in March. The email was an invita on to ride with Admiral Lushniak in the DALMAC 5-UP (UP is Michigan-speak for ‘upper peninsula’), a 5-day bike ride/camping adventure from Lansing to Sault Ste. Marie Michigan. Admiral Lushniak’s reasons were easily understood; he wanted to demonstrate that USPHS officers can “talk the talk and walk the walk” when it comes to group physical adventures, and he wanted to generate a sense of camaraderie within the USPHS. Prior commitments with the Mackinaw City Fire Department prevented me from biking the event, but I checked the event’s website for details anyway. It turned out that the Admiral’s entourage would be camping on the evening of August 31st at Pellston High School, a short 15-minute drive from my home. I dra ed an email, expec ng that if I were bold enough to send it, the email would either be deleted without being read, or ignored in its en rety… Dear Admiral Lushniak,
worried me, and I started to think that I had wri en a check that couldn’t be cashed: Phil,
Just to let you know what you are ge ng yourself into; I
thought you should know that there are ten people in
our group. The majority of us are PHS with a couple
non‐PHSers in the group. All are from the DC area ex‐
cept for three coming from Cincinna , OH.
Logis cs for that many may be challenging so I suggest
that you and I touch base soon.
By the me I contacted CDR Morris, the group size had grown to 13, but he assured me that was the final count. I dis-
Hello from Northern Michigan!
I am LCDR Philip Siebigteroth, the chief pharmacist
with the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and I run
their pharmacy in Saint Ignace, Michigan.
I live in Mackinaw City (I drive across the bridge daily),
and live only a short distance from Pellston, where
you'll be camping on Saturday August 31st. I would
like to make myself available to you and your bikers as
host for the day. I can provide transporta on to/from
town, I know where all the less‐traveled points of inter‐
est are, and would be happy to hold a cook‐out at my
home for your group.
Please let me know how I can be of service to the
group!
Cheers!
Phil Siebigteroth, Pharm.D.
Lieutenant Commander,
U.S. Public Health Service
Much to my surprise, I had a reply from the Surgeon General himself the same day: Hey LCDR ‐‐ having your help and hospitality would be
a treat! We can work out details. Thanks much! B
Less than three weeks later, I was in contact with the Admiral’s DALMAC coordinator, Commander JT Morris. His email 14
(L‐R) Admiral Boris Lushniak, LCDR Siebigteroth,
Dr. Hoerr
covered that the key to hos ng a cookout of this size hinged on preparing as much as possible ahead of me. I smoked two pork shoulders, prepared a (fresh from my garden) kohlrabi coleslaw, and readied other side-dishes the day before. On the day of the event, I cooked burgers on the grill. Dessert was purchased from my favorite local fudge shop, and I provided an assortment of locally produced beverages. A great me was had by all…fellowship, camaraderie, esprit de corps…
the DALMAC riders were provided a hot, homeOfficers receiving career advice
cooked meal, and I was awarded with unmatched career advice, mee ng the Surgeon General, and an opportunity to break bread with other commissioned officers. Commissioned Officers Association
PHS Officers Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
By CDR Kimberly McIntosh‐Li le, USPHS
This is a public health issue that does not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. The American Cancer Society is at the forefront of research, educa on and preven on ini a ves designed to end breast cancer. O n October 6, 2013 PHS Officers lent their hearts and their talents for the 2013 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Six Flags America. This annual event main goal is to raise funds and awareness in loca ons across the country with a non-compe ve walk; all to find the cure for breast cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some me during her life is about 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 36. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and be er treatment. Right now there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. group appointed within two hours of the release of those sincediscredited recommenda ons.) Whether it’s called “moderniza on” or “reform,” the push to save money by rethinking the uniformed services compensa on and re rement system will not dissipate any me soon. A er this commission develops preliminary recommenda ons, which it plans to do quickly, there will be a lengthy public comment period. Members of Congress are the ul mate deciders; they must approve or reject, in whole or in part, whatever recommenda ons emerge. Although no current ac ve-duty or re red PHS officers will be affected, future career incen ves are clearly at risk. That suggests the viability of the PHS Commissioned Corps is at risk as well. For that reason, COA invites all members to stay informed, share views and recommenda ons with us, and visit the Commission’s website at www.MCRMC.gov. (Legisla ve Update, cont’d. from p. 2)
We were partnered to work side by side and connect with the children of Jack & Jill of America, Montgomery Chapter. The Officers and the children served in numerous capaci es from se ng up the tents for the par cipants to suppor ng sponsors and survivors to ensure success of the event. PHS Officers volunteering alongside the children was a great opportunity to mentor children in our community who have aspira ons of a career in public health. The children who a ended told me that they were excited to see and talk directly with members of the U.S. Public Health Service. If one thinks beyond the tern volunteering, you would realize that the impact is tremendous in a child’s life in this case. It sets the founda on for future opportuni es to volunteer. It is with hope that others will see the reward to volunteering is greater happiness and higher life sa sfac on. A special thank you to our PHS team who joined together in support of this event. At the end of the day, it is good to reflect on the work we have done and impact on the millions who are impacted by this disease. 21 November. Plans have been on hold because of the government shutdown; requests for room reserva ons and catering arrangements at the Capitol Visitors’ Center must be approved by one or more members of Congress – in this case, by Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Pa y Murray (D-WA). One briefing will focus on the value of the PHS Commissioned Corps. The other, co-sponsored by a large coali on of health and educa on groups, will feature the rollout of a new “austerity report” report on the devasta ng effects of the mindless cuts in discreonary spending known as sequestra on. At both briefings, COA staff will distribute copies of the 2013 University of Maryland report on the na onal and global contribu ons of the PHS Commissioned Corps. —Judith Rensberger
Congressional Briefings
COA is sponsoring or co-sponsoring two congressional briefings. One is tenta vely scheduled for 4 November and the other for November 2013 - Frontline
15
long, rewarding process of re-socializing and fostering it. What began with visi ng this seldom seen dark mass to ge ng it on an outdoor feeding schedule (a er months the ki en would come out and sit with me) then hand feeding via chicken to get the ki en comfortable with hands and touch again (by the second day a er hand feeding the ki en collapsed into my hands, just wan ng to be held and pe ed). The personal rewards are outstanding. In April, while designing my first poster to present at Nurse Recogni on Day I was struggling with a new program. The ki en ins nc vely jumped up on the couch and started licking my hand. So the found ki en, named El Derecho, is residing peacefully and well fed in my home. El Derecho, a survivor of elements and a storm, a future USPHS mascot? At least, a mascot for the USPHS Army Ten Miler Team? This team is organized by USPHS veterinarians, CAPT Hoogstraten and LCDR Shukan. NOTE: LCDR Anderson, a Nurse and Public Health Nutri onist, is a Regulatory Officer at the Food and Drug Administra on in Silver Spring, MD. In honor of all the animal lovers and Veterinarians in the USPHS, she sponsored an USPHS 2013 Army Ten Miler team called the “USPHS Feral Cats.” Please contact CAPT Hoogstraten at [email protected] and LCDR Shukan at [email protected] if you would like to be a member of the 2014 USPHS Army Ten Miler Team! (Rescue, cont’d. from p. 11)
16
Commissioned Officers Association
(Michael, cont’d. from p. 4)
more aggressive investment strategy is warranted. Trustees approved without changes the Joint Opera ng Agreement with COA. COF President and COA Chair will both sign. The board approved the staff recommended alloca ons for the recent $620,000 Lathrop Estate dona on. Development Commi ee, chaired by RADM Marlene Haffner: A mass mailing to solicit dona ons for the Koop Living Legacy Fund was sent at the end of September. The Founda on is receiving dona ons and thanks all donors for their generous support. Staff will send follow-up emails before December 31 and plan a second mailing in the Spring of 2014. To defray costs of the 2014 Symposium, staff submi ed grant applicaons to the FDA and private founda ons. The board advised staff to no fy COA members about the op on to include the Founda on in a last will and testament. Educa on Commi ee, chaired by RADM Richard Ber n: RADM Epi Elizondo and CAPT Jason Woo con nue to plan what we believe will be another successful conference. Trustees agreed to con nue the Dependent Scholarship in 2014. Calls for applica ons will go out in February of 2014. The Founda on’s MOU with the University of Maryland will con nue. We will seek joint grant opportuni es, plan ac vies together, and consider a leadership cer ficate for Corps officers. One upcoming ac vity will be a tobacco panel on April 8, 2014. More details to come. George Washington University and 2U Inc. are pleased with the numbers of COA members who convert from general interest in the MPH@GW to enrolled students. The Founda on con nues to receive $1000 monthly from 2U. Nomina ons Commi ee, chaired by CAPT Bill Haffner: There will be no board vacancies before the next mee ng on February 5, 2014. Studies and Research Commi ee, chaired by RADM Bob Williams: Staff shared the University of Maryland report with members of Congress and the Administra on. The Board would like some me during the 2014 Symposium for discussion of the report. The commi ee developed a Call for Papers for the 50th anniversary of the Smoking and Health report, which will be shared with COA members and tobacco experts na onwide. Joint Search Commi ee, chaired by RADM Bob Williams: The search for a new Execu ve Director is moving along on schedule. COA and COF agreed to hire an outside consultant. Gene Migliaccio, DrPH CAPT, USPHS (ret) President, PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on November 2013 - Frontline
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Welcome New COA Members
LTJG Adlaide Addawoo, Unaffiliated
LT Isaac N. Ampadu, Unaffiliated
LT Michael P. Anderson,
North Carolina
LTJG Michele R. Baker, Unaffiliated
LCDR Deborah S. Belsky, Unaffiliated
LTJG Alissa Berryman, Unaffiliated
LT Quinn D. Bott, Unaffiliated
LT Virginia B. Bowen, Atlanta
LT John D. Burkart, Unaffiliated
LT Kimberly A. Compton, Unaffiliated
LT Ronell D. Copeland, Unaffiliated
LTJG Rhonita L. Culver, Unaffiliated
LCDR Dean J. Cuttillar, SoCal
LT Agatha L. D Costa, Unaffiliated
LTJG Mikayla K. Deardorff,
Unaffiliated
LT Amanda S. DeJong, Unaffiliated
LCDR Barbara Del Sesto,
Middle Tennessee
LT Kai Elgethun, Unaffiliated
LT Aisha S. Faria,
District of Columbia
LT Kelly M. Fath, West Virginia
LT Juana F. Figueroa, Atlanta
LCDR Amy Flynn, Heart of America
LCDR Shikha Garg, Atlanta
LTJG Gena R. Gorman, Unaffiliated
LT Megan Hayden, Unaffiliated
LT Garrett L. Heitmann, Unaffiliated
LCDR Joy Hsu, Atlanta
LCDR Julia Hutter, Unaffiliated
LT Jessica L. Janda, Unaffiliated
LCDR Lillian Jones, Navajo
LT Njeri J. Jones, Unaffiliated
LT Christina L. Kirby,
District of Columbia
LT Jina Kwak, District of Columbia
LTJG Jamie L. Lawson, Unaffiliated
LT Brian Lees, Aloha
LTJG Nathanael M. Lemmon,
Unaffiliated
LT Michelle R. Locke, Unaffiliated
LTJG Dana Marshall, Unaffiliated
LT Desiree M. McNair, Atlanta
LT Miles Morimoto, Unaffiliated
LT Craig Morin, Bemidji
LCDR Diane F. Morof, Atlanta
LTJG Chao Moua, Rio Grande
LT Dien N. Nguyen, Unaffiliated
LT Elizabeth A. Peters, Unaffiliated
LTJG Lisa A. Pigott, Unaffiliated
LCDR Craig Rennard, Unaffiliated
LTJG Hector Reyes, Unaffiliated
LT Carrie L. Schuler, Blue Grass
LT Sam Shell, Killer Whale
LCDR David C. Shih, Unaffiliated
LT Sarah E. Swift, SoCal
LT Danielle B. Terrett, Unaffiliated
LTJG Charles Thomas, Unaffiliated
LT Beverly M. Thomas-Lepage,
Unaffiliated
LT Dustin P. Tran, Unaffiliated
ENS Chelsea P. True, Unaffiliated
LT Morgan A. Walker, Unaffiliated
LT Adam L. Walters, Unaffiliated
LTJG Juanj Wu, Unaffiliated
COA Welcomes Erica Robinson
N a onal COA welcomes Mrs. Erica Robinson who has come on board as COA’s Administra ve Assistant. A true humanitarian at heart, Erica Robinson served as the Opera ons Assistant for Volunteers of America, prior to joining COA. Erica has also func oned as a Data Analyst for FEMA HQ and assisted in philanthropy opera ons for United Way of America. Erica is currently pursuing a degree in accoun ng, she plans to help lower-income families secure a be er financial future for their children. 18
Commissioned Officers Association
COA DONATIONS
LT Juana F. Figueroa LTJG Chao Moua CAPT Charles H. Weir INCREASING
COA
MEMBERSHIP IS OUR
#1 PRIORITY!
HELP COA
GROW AS
THE
COMMISSIONED
CORPS
GROWS.
RECRUIT A
NEW/
FORMER
MEMBER
TODAY!
From the Executive Director, from p. 5
becoming a member of the Foundation’s John Adams Society.
Help us help you and the Commissioned Corps.
And thanks to Bob Lathrop for his incredible generosity.
COA to Brief Military Compensation and Retirement
Modernization Commission
As reported in last month’s Frontline, we are concerned about
the president’s instructions to the Military Compensation and
Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) to consider
differences between the Armed Services and other Uniformed
Services.
As we noted then, there are only two other Uniformed Services –
the PHS and NOAA Commissioned Corps. The president’s instructions appear to be an ominous invitation to segregate the
PHS and NOAA Corps’ compensation and benefits from the
other services. It would not be the first time for such an attempt
to be made.
COA will mount whatever effort is required to ensure that PHS
compensation and benefits remain the same as the other Uniformed Services. We will make that case on Capitol Hill, within
the Administration, and to the general public. A first step is to
make that case to the MCRMC and we will do that in a meeting
with the Commission staff on 6 November. We are also planning
an event on Capitol Hill in November to inform and educate key
Congressional staff members about the Corps. MOAA, ROA and
the entire Military Coalition stand with COA on this issue and will
help us maintain parity for the Corps and the other Uniformed
Services.
No one knows what the Commission will recommend and we
may not like whatever conclusions the Commissioners reach. But
the future of the Commissioned Corps lies in its identity as a
Uniformed Service and we must accept our fate collectively with
the other Services or begin walking down a lonely path to an
uncertain future.
The Good News here is that we have never told the Corps’ story
to anyone and had them fail to see why the Corps’ role and function as a uniformed service is so critical to the nation’s public
health security. We don’t expect that to change anytime soon.
default for a while. I like to think that the press conference held
by The Military Coalition at the World War II Memorial on 15
October demanding an end to the shutdown was the precipitating
event for Congressional action the very next day. COA was at the
press event and two of the speakers specifically noted the unfair
treatment of the PHS and NOAA Corps, whose members remained on the job without pay while the other services were getting paid during the shutdown.
The shutdown appears to have ended soon enough to have all
active duty and retired PHS officers receive paychecks on time on
1 November. Now we can start looking forward to the next crisis
in January.
RADM Jerry Michael Named Foundation Emeritus Trustee
Congratulations to RADM Jerry Michael for having been named
Emeritus Trustee of the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation
(p. 4). As a Foundation “plankowner” and first president, RADM
Michael’s vision set the course for the Foundation’s future. Anyone who has benefited from the Foundation’s work, and that
includes just about everyone who has served in the PHS Commissioned Corps for the last decade, or who will serve in the future,
owes Admiral Michael a sincere thank you and a huge debt of
gratitude, myself included.
And finally…
November brings with it the beginning of the holiday season. As
our thoughts turn toward family gatherings, feasts, and general
good times, I join with the COA and COF boards and the staff to
extend our best wishes to all for a Happy Thanksgiving. October
may have been an awful month as our country staggered through
the shutdown and debt ceiling crisis, and we may all feel betrayed
by our political leadership; but the United States of America remains the best place in the world to be and we as citizens of this
great country have much to be thankful for and much work still to
do. I am thankful for your service as officers of the PHS Commissioned Corps. Happy Thanksgiving!
Semper Sanis!
Shutdown Ends; Crisis Postponed
Congress finally got its act together at the eleventh hour and
passed a bill to fund the government for a while and to avert a
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coausphs) November 2013 - Frontline
19
The COA Frontline (ISSN 10937161) is published monthly except
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A report of timely information concerning activities of the
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Distributed exclusively to Association Members.
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Jerry Farrell
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Donna Sparrow
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