March COA FL 14_Final - Sign In - Commissioned Officers Association

Transcription

C
O
VOL. 51, ISSUE 2 A
U.S. P
Salus Populi Suprema Lex Este FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Spring at Last! And with
it, New Beginnings
M
arch!
Spring!
At last!
The mid-February winter storm forced
postponement of the Foundation-hosted
reception in Raleigh aimed at introducing
the June Symposium to the local public
health community and attracting new
sponsors and exhibitors.
The Symposium, thanks to the hard work
of the planning committee led by RADM
Epi Elizondo and CAPT Jason Woo,
along with COA/COF Deputy Executive
Director John McElligott and Tim
O’Neill of Leading Edge, is shaping up to
be one of our best ever. We have recently partnered with the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation and the Center for
Creative Leadership to add to the presymposium leadership seminar curriculum.
(Executive Director, cont’d. on p. 24)
S
March 2014 Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy Testifies at Senate HELP
Committee Confirmation Hearing
Dear COA
and COF
Friends,
For those of
us in the MidAtlantic region; indeed
for most of us
Jerry Farrell, Execu ve Director throughout the
country, unless you happen to live in the
southwest, warm weather and the last
snowfall of the season can’t happen too
soon. It’s not that we’ve had a lot of
snowfall in the DC Metro area this year,
it’s just that is seems to have been snowing all the time since January. Enough
already.
H
Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy T he Senate Health, Educa on, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Com‐
mi ee held a confirma on hearing Feb‐
ruary 4th on the nomina on of Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy to be the 19th Surgeon General. Following an opening statement by HELP Commi ee chair‐
man Tom Harkin (D‐IA), Dr. Murthy was introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D‐MA). In his opening remarks, Chairman Harkin specifically commented on the role of the Surgeon General as com‐
mander of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which is the only statutory responsibility of the Surgeon General. In his opening statement, Dr. Murthy responded by acknowledging the important work of Corps officers across the full spectrum of public health. Comments and ques ons from the Democrats on the panel were laudatory and so balls, as might be expected. Republicans ex‐ pressed concern about the poli cal support for the Affordable Care Act undertaken by Dr. Murthy as founder and presi‐
dent of Doctors for America (former‐ ly Doctors for Obama), and his previous com‐
ments about gun control and marijuana legaliza on. However, there was no apparent opposi‐
on to Dr. Murthy’s confirma on. A few of the Republican senators went so far as to invite Dr. Murthy to their states to help address public health issues a er his confirma on. For his part, Dr. Murthy said all the right things and provided though ul, substan‐
ve answers to every ques on. His performance was impressive as he was confident without appearing arrogant, and maintained a cool, calm composure throughout the 90 minute hearing. There is no reason to doubt that the Commi ee will recommend his confirma on to the full Senate in a me‐
ly manner. Late News: On Feb 27th the Senate HELP Commi ee voted 13‐9 to send Dr. Murthy’s nomina on to the full Senate. 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
COA Tax Advisory: Avoid Risky Behavior
A ll year long, but especially at tax‐filing me, COA hears from PHS officers who have taken a risk they need‐
n’t have taken…and lost. I am talking about PHS officers who claim “military” state income tax exemp ons to which they are not en tled under the tax laws in their par cular states. Such high‐risk behavior can be costly. In a 2013 New Mexico case, described below, a PHS officer was ordered to pay $26,000 in back taxes, plus an addi onal $3,000 in penal es and interest that con nued to accumulate even as he struggled to se le his case. Most of the cases I hear about, including this one, involve PHS officers who are not COA members. I like to think that is because our members have been paying a en on to what has become running commentary in the pages of Frontline. When we do hear from COA members who find themselves in trouble, it is usually too late to be genuinely helpful. Preven on is the answer here. Keep yourself out of harm’s way by not claim‐
ing a “military” tax break unless you know for certain that your state’s defini‐
on of “military” incudes the PHS. Most state defini ons do not. (In response to a query I received a couple of weeks ago, I offered to send the caller the relevant chapter from the New Mexico Adminis‐
tra ve Code. “Oh, don’t bother,” the officer told me, “nobody reads the tax code.” My point, exactly.) Fact‐finding on Taxes How do you find out if your state regards you as ac ve‐duty or re red military for tax purposes? In some states, such as Arizona and Maryland, it’s as simple as reading the instruc on booklets especial‐
ly prepared for individual tax filers. The booklets are wri en in reader‐friendly language and are easily accessible online. Commissioned Officers Association
Just visit the website of your state government and look for the state’s department of revenue and taxa on, an execu ve branch agency. If you need to dig deeper, then find the state’s tax code and use search terms such as military, veteran, uniformed services, etc. In this issue of Frontline, CAPT Alan Echt shows the way; he has done preliminary Internet research on behalf of PHS re rees and reports his findings in the Re ree Column on page 11. (But don’t ask CAPT Echt for individu‐
al tax advice because he, like me, is not a tax professional.) State Tax Authori es v. PHS We acknowledge upfront that it seems unjust for states to deny to PHS officers the tax breaks they readily offer to ac ve
‐duty and re red armed forces person‐
nel. It is especially irrita ng when this happens in states such as Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Colorado, where the Indian Health Service is cri cally important but governors and state legislatures seem oblivious. As we have said here before, however, the harsh reality is that state tax authori‐
es seem to be cracking down. In the New Mexico case, decided in June, the state argued that it does not regard PHS as one of the armed forces and has made that fact widely known and perfectly clear. State tax authori es said their materials expressly instruct taxpayers that wages or salaries paid by the U.S. Public Health Service do not qualify for the exemp on. They also said that in any dispute, taxpayers bear the burden of proof, and “the statute must be construed strictly in favor of the taxing authority.” Finally, the court chided the PHS officer for relying on “representa ons of his colleagues” to (Legisla ve Update, cont’d. on p. 30) COA Chair’s Corner
“Active Duty” COA Membership
N ext me you are among a group of fellow officers at your duty sta on, do this simple task: Look at the officer to your le . Look at the officer to your right. One of those officers is probably not a COA member. The percentage of ac ve duty PHS officers who are ac ve COA members has hovered around 60% for the last several years. COA has led numerous ini a ves to improve our membership totals – most recently, a member‐
ship drive in 2012 and free introductory memberships for new calls to ac ve duty over the last year. These efforts have resulted in marginal increases, but not spectacular gains. There is no clear pa ern to the officers who choose not to belong to COA, the only organiza on in the world looking out for their interests as a PHS officer. They are junior and senior officers; they comprise every category; they are sta oned with‐
in every agency/OPDIV with a PHS presence of more than 5 officers. They are people you know well, your peers, your friends. Almost all of those non‐members with more than five years of ac ve duty have been COA members in the past, but have let their membership lapse (accidentally or inten onally). Many of these people s ll claim to be COA members, either through confusion or outright lying. Many new calls to ac ve duty enjoy their introductory free membership, but then take no steps to con nue paid member‐
ship a er the trial period expires. Again, some of these officers wrongly assume they are s ll members, while others don’t grasp the value and importance of COA. “What does it ma er to me?” you might ask. Well, for one, membership dues make up the vast majority of COA’s income. Decreases in membership make it harder for COA to provide the advocacy on Capitol Hill, the educa onal opportuni es, and the membership benefits you enjoy. I am not exaggera ng to state that membership losses for COA would threaten the very viability of the USPHS as a uniformed service. There are efforts underway every year (inten onal or accidental) to undermine our parity with our sister services. COA is the only guardian
protec ng that gate, reliably and fiercely, every single me those threats arise. On the other hand, increases in membership could really do wonders for expanding COA’s services. If COA were at 80% ac ve duty membership or higher, we could provide even more valuable benefits. We could hire more staff to fight for the USPHS Commissioned Corps on the Hill. Perhaps contract with a tax a orney to provide some free tax guidance to members. Maybe provide more forums for leadership training and building our sense of iden ty as a Corps. Or maybe the COA member‐
ship would want to retain current levels of service and see a reduc on in membership dues. It really is your organiza on, and your voice ma ers in planning for COA’s future. But while we dream of what a stronger COA could accomplish, we first have to do our part, each one of us, to build this associa on stronger than it was yesterday. And by far the most important way we can do this is to increase COA membership among our peers. Wherever you are reading this issue of Frontline – si ng at the kitchen table going through the mail, reading on your computer between bites of your lunch, relaxing with your morning cup of joe – I would like for you to make concrete plans to do one or more of the following ac vi es to help increase our membership:  Work with your local COA branch to develop a membership commi ee. The func on of this commi ee would be to encourage na onal and local COA membership and to check the na onal COA membership database regularly to know who to target. CDR Blakeley Fitzpatrick and the na onal COA Membership Commi ee are working with local branch‐
es to encourage this. If you would like assistance with such an effort, please reach out to CDR Fitzpatrick at [email protected].  Think of four officers at your duty sta on you interact with regularly. When you get a chance over the next week, ask them each if they are COA members. Then verify their mem‐
bership status*. Privately speak to those who are not COA members and tell them why membership is important to you, why you would like them to join as well. Then don’t just leave it at that. Follow up a month or so later; make sure they follow through if they indicate they will join.  Ask your spouse, parents, or other immediate family mem‐
bers to join COA. Associate membership for civilians is just $55/year, and it is a great way for them to show their sup‐
port for your service in the Corps. One thing I have learned from my six‐plus years on the COA Board of Directors – just like all poli cs is local, all membership gains are local. Na onal policies and programs do ma er, but nothing ma ers more than a one‐on‐one conversa on between a member and a prospec ve member – individual COA mem‐
bers talking to officers they know. Some people may feel uncomfortable about this, but at the same me, think about how and why you became a member yourself. It probably all March 2014 - Frontline
(Chair, cont’d. on p. 7) 3
2013 Symposium/Recent Events/COF Scholarship Program/Jerrold M. Michael
Fellowship/History of USPHS/Emerging Leaders/Programs/Services/History
COF President’s Corner
The Foundation in Action – Building Leadership in Public Health!
The tle of this ar cle focuses on the mission of the PHS Commissioned Offic‐
ers Founda on (COF) which is: “Building
leadership in public
health through advo‐
cacy,
educa on,
research,
partner‐
ships and program support.”
My comments focus on our mission star ng with the work of the Founda on via our recent Board mee ng. On Febru‐
ary 5th, the COF Board of Trustees met to discuss Commi ee reports on Finance, Development, Educa on, Nomina ons, Studies and Research, COA/COF Joint Search Commi ee, and an Execu ve Director Update. The work of each Com‐
mi ee solely focused on our work in advocacy, educa on, partnerships, and suppor ng Commissioned Officer programs. Selected board mee ng highlights follow: Finance Commi ee. Execu ve Director Farrell presented the 2012‐2013 final audit report to the board; a clean audit was reported with no discrepancies. COF Trustee Treasurer, RADM Milner, high‐
lighted outliers in the Profit and Loss Budget vs. Actual report. The Founda on is fiscally sound and he remains pleased with the changes in investment strategy made months ago. Development Commi ee. RADM Haffner noted the Founda on exceeded its goal of raising $150k for FY 2014 but that is mainly because of the $620k Lathrop dona on. She suggested we priori ze ge ng all trustees to donate and add members to the John Adams Society. 4
RADM Haffner advised our next mass solicita on be an email merge with a reminder to COA members of past dona ons. Educa on Commi ee. RADM Ber n reported on the planning for the 2014 Symposium is moving along well. He advised trustees with ideas of loca ons for the 2015 Symposium to submit them soon. Our goal is to confirm a loca on before the 2014 Symposium begins. The board agreed to include language in the 2014 Dependent Scholarship essay por on of the applica on which asks students how their proposed area of study related to the PHS categories. Jerry Farrell noted the COA board approved a new contract with 2U to market both the MPH@GW and the new MHA@GW to COA members. 2U will increase its monthly dona on to the Founda on from $1000 to $1500. Nomina ons Commi ee. CAPT Haffner noted there will be no board vacancies to be filled in this cycle. The board approved the commi ee’s recommenda‐
ons of RADM Williams for President, RADM Haffner for Vice President, and RADM Milner for Treasurer beginning in June 2014. Studies and Research. RADM Williams reported we did not receive any papers related to the 50th anniversary of the Smoking and Health report. We may partner with the Center for Strategic and Interna onal Studies (CSIS) to inves gate the various services’ roles in global health. Founda on staff will reconnect with CSIS about their level of interest. Joint Search Commi ee. RADM Williams noted 50 candidates applied for the Commissioned Officers Association
posi on of Execu ve Director. With the assistance of contractor AERG, the list was narrowed to five or six candidates for in‐
terviews on March 1 and 2. The search commi ee will ask both COF and COA boards for a mely response to their recommenda on. Execu ve Director Update. The wreath laying ceremony on January 11th for Surgeon General Luther Terry was a suc‐
cess. We grew our circle of supporters by hos ng a luncheon a er the ceremony. Jerry Farrell a ended the White House release of the 50th anniversary SG report and the sold‐out Anchor and Caduceus dinner in Atlanta. Staff a ended Dr. Vivek Murthy’s Surgeon General nomina on hearing and invited him for an interview and to speak at the Symposium in Raleigh. Good of the Order. The next board mee ng will be on June 13, 2014. On A Personal Note: COF Receives a Lead‐
ership Award from Arizonians Concerned About Smoking (ACAS)! On February 15th ‐ I accepted the ACAS Health Leadership Award on behalf of the COF in Phoenix, AZ. We received the award for our sup‐
port to ACAS that we provided during our symposium in 2013 and for COF's support to the Office of the Surgeon General's "no tobacco use policy when in uniform" ‐ which is the first no smoking in uniform policy for all Uniformed Services. Many of you already know of the dedica on of ACAS because of its deep PHS Officer in‐
volvement. For those of you do not know of ACAS's work let me tell you the story. ACAS is a non‐profit, pro‐health organiza‐
on. Their goal is to save lives through public awareness regarding the hazards of tobacco use, especially when in enclosed (COF President, cont’d. on p. 7) Junior Officers Gain from USPHS Symposium
S ince registra on opened in February, over 40 junior officers (O3 and below) have applied for a Junior Officer Scholarship which covers the cost of registra on for the 2014 Symposium in beau ful Raleigh. Eligible junior officers must be a COA member and cer fy in wri ng that funding has been requested from his/her agency and been denied. Scores of junior officers a end the annual conference seeking valuable con nuing educa on credits, networking opportuni es with poten al mentors, and more. LT Jennifer Cockrill wrote of the 2013 Symposium, “Given its importance to careers of Com‐
missioned Corps officers, a endance at the annual USPHS Scien fic and Training Symposium should be deemed essen al.” LT Cockrill received career advice, presented data on an explosive ordnance personnel study, served as an aide‐de‐camp, and estab‐
lished data sharing partnerships. For more informa on on the Junior Officer Scholarship, visit h p://symposium.phscof.org/registra on. Call for Nomina ons The Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Officers Founda on (COF) is seeking Nomina ons for the 2014 Carruth Wagner and Mabel May Wagner Awards Deadline for submission of Nomina ons: March 21, 2014
Visit www.phscof.org for details. REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
2014 USPHS Scientific and
Training Symposium
June 10-12, 2014 to be held in
Raleigh, NC
http://symposium.phscof.org/
March 2014 - Frontline
5
Commissioned Officers Foundation
Acknowledges Donations Received January 11 - February 25, 2014
FOUNDER'S SOCIETY
RADM Suzanne Dahlman, (Ret.)^ PLATINUM
CAPT Lowell F. Miller, (Ret.) RADM Roscoe M. Moore, Jr., (Ret.)^^ RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu, (Ret.)^ GOLD CAPT Hugh Mainzer^^^^
RADM Richard A. Rubendall , (Ret.)**^ DC COA Branch—The Military & Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem SILVER CAPT Amy C. Barkin, (Ret.)^ CDR Karen J. Sicard^ LCDR Leslie D. Wehrlen^ CAPT Wynona A. Woolf, (Ret.)^ BRONZE
CAPT Timothy W. Ames, (Ret.) RADM David L. Ashley*
RADM William D. Bailey CAPT Kathy L. Balasko^ CAPT John J. Bartko, (Ret.)^^^ CAPT Frank A. Bell, Jr. (Ret.)^ CAPT James N. Bogden, (Ret.)^ CAPT Annie Brayboy^ CAPT William M. Chapin, Jr., (Ret.) CAPT Richard Q. Dunn, (Ret.)*^ CAPT George A. Durgin, Jr. ^ CAPT Gerard M. Farrell CDR Cindy J. Flacks^
CDR Cheryl A. Ford^ CAPT Charles P. Froom, (Ret.)*^ CAPT David M. Frucht^ 6
RADM Jerome A. Halperin, (Ret.)^ CAPT Ferdinand R. Hassler, (Ret.)*^ CDR Elizabeth A. Has ngs^
CAPT William F. Holcomb, (Ret.) CAPT Walter F. Hunter, (Ret.)^ CAPT John Iskander CAPT David B. Jones, (Ret.) CAPT Herbert F. Klein. (Ret.)^ CAPT Bernadine B. Kuchinski, (Ret.) CAPT Carol A. Lewis, (Ret.)*^ CAPT Robert C. Lloyd, Jr.^ CAPT Charles O. Mann, (Ret.)*^ CAPT Mehran S. Massoudi
CAPT Evelyn L. Maxwell, (Ret.)*^ RADM Fitzhugh S. Mullan, (Ret.) CAPT Helen L. Myers , (Ret.)^ CDR Sue N. Newman
CDR Michelle A. Pelkey^
CDR Ivan N. Pierce, Jr.^ CAPT John R. Sundell, (Ret.)*^ LCDR Robin L. Toblin^ CAPT Gerald G. Vurek, (Ret.)*^ CAPT Julie E. Warren*^ RADM Donald L. Weaver, (Ret.)*^ FRIENDS CAPT Eugenia F. Adams, (Ret.)*^ LCDR Michael B. Ahmadi*^
CDR Bradley M. Bishop***
CAPT Merilys P. Brown, (Ret.)* CAPT Bruce M. Burne , (Ret.)*^ CAPT William D. Compton, (Ret.)*^ CAPT Felix A. Conte, (Ret.)*^ CDR John H. Freer*^
LCDR Harlem J. Gunness^ CAPT Arthur S. Kawatachi, (Ret.)^ CDR James L. Kenney, III^ Commissioned Officers Association
CAPT John J. Henderson, (Ret.) LT Erin K. Imada^
CAPT Margaret A. McCombs, (Ret.)* CAPT James E. Mills, (Ret.)* CAPT Mark L. Paris, (Ret.)^ CAPT Linda M. Po ern, (Ret.)*^ CAPT Charlo e A. Spires
LT Oanh K. Vo^ CDR Jacob H. Wamsley, III *C. Evere Koop Living Legacy **RADM Jerrold Michael, (Ret.) Fellowship Fund ***Emerging Leaders Scholarship Fund ^Members inadvertently omi ed from previous issue ^În Memory of RADM James Steele ^^În Honor of CAPT Gerard Farrell ^^^^Designated to the VetPac 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!
COA Chair’s Corner (cont’d. from p. 3)

started with a conversa on you had with a supervisor, a mentor, or a friend. Now it’s your turn to be the mentor, to give the advice that another officer will always cherish and never forget. Just as we all have numerous ac vi es we need to carry out as part of being ac ve duty members of the Corps, I would en‐
courage you to think of your COA membership as something you do ac vely, not passively. Whether ac ve duty or re red from the Corps, you should strive to be an “Ac ve Duty” COA member. ALL HANDS MESSAGE TO COA MEMBERS: The future of our Associa on is in your hands. Take an ac ve role in promo ng and increasing COA membership.  How can you verify someone’s COA membership status? If your local COA branch has a membership commi ee, ask them to verify.  If not, if you know the local branch Chair or a na onal COA Board member, ask him/her to query the database. If that individual does not know how to do this, point him/her to the this link for instruc ons: h p://www.coausphs.org/documents/MEMBER SHIPDIRECTORYDEMONSTRATION_NEW.pdf COF President (cont’d. from p. 4)
seeing so many PHS ac ve duty and re red members involved. So I close by salu ng the ACAS for their advocacy and by saying thank you for the award on behalf of the COF. The mission of COF thrives because of the giants within our PHS Officer Corps (Ac ve and Re red) who everyday are Building
Leadership in Public Health! Gene Migliaccio, DrPH, CAPT (ret) USPHS President, PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on public places. They accomplish this by advoca ng public policy which promotes a more healthy, smoke‐free society. Right now leading the fight for a smoke free world ‐ is Execu ve Director Phillip Carpenter and re red PHS Captain (Dr.) Leland Fairbanks, President of ACAS, who is a public health legend ‐ beginning his work in 1957 as a leading advocate against the use of tobacco. ACAS cares about the issue of smoking dearly and have many successes over the years to show for their hard community engagement. At the Awards ceremony I enjoyed If those two op ons fail, please e‐mail me at [email protected] and I will be happy to check mem‐
bership status and get back to you ASAP. Just send me the name, rank, and duty sta on of each officer you want to check, and I will tell you if each is or ever was a COA member, info needs upda ng, etc. Don’t worry about bothering me or taking up my me; actually nothing would make me happier than to be overwhelmed with requests. :) Remembering the Legacy of NIOSH’s Dr. Derek E. Dunn
(Reprinted with permission from NIOSH)
T o close out Black Histo‐
ry Month, the NIOSH Diversity Steering Council remembers the life, dedica on and legacy of CAPT Derek Dunn (1945 ‐
2002). Dr. Dunn was serving as the ac ng NIOSH Associate Director for Sci‐
ence when he passed away suddenly in De‐
cember of 2002 in the midst of a dis nguished career as a scien st, leader and Public Health Service officer. A na ve of Cincinna , CAPT Dunn received his B.S. (1969), M.A. (1970), and Ph.D. (1972) from the University of Cincinna , and was devoted to the University and its stu‐
dents throughout his career. CAPT Dunn also completed an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in electron microscopy and coch‐
lear morphology at Ohio State University, and was a guest researcher at Sweden's University of Lund. He was an adjunct professor at both the University of Cincinna and the Miami University. CAPT Dunn had a remarkable career at NIOSH. He authored many publica ons on the e ology of noise‐induced hearing loss and preven on of occupa onal hearing loss. He was a natural leader, assuming successive leadership roles which included Sec on and Branch Chief, Division Associate Director for Science and Division Director, all in the Division of Biomed‐
ical and Behavioral Sciences (DBBS). In 1998‐99, he re‐located (Dunn, cont’d. on p. 23) March 2014 - Frontline
7
Commissioned Officers Foundation—Annual Symposium
Symposium Track Topics Announced
T he Planning Commi ee for the 2014 USPHS Scien fic and Training Symposium has announced the track session agenda for Wednesday, June 11. Highlights will include: Track 1: Emergency Preparedness
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Chemical, Biological, and Radiological A acks and the Psychological Effects of Bioterror Public Health Impact of Acute Chemical Releases in Schools Chemical Weapons Elimina on in the U.S. and Public Health Commissioned Corps Hospital Assistance Team’s Mission to Saipan Navy Yard Shoo ng: Collabora ve Response via Navy/Public Health The Na onal Healthcare Preparedness Program: Impact on the Na on and Deployment Teams Panel Session: Assets and Assessments: Keys to Na onal Readiness CDC Responder Workforce: Addressing Preparedness Learning Needs Development of the Na onal Health Security Preparedness Index Healing in Times of Chaos: Federal Disaster Resources Track 2: Preven on
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Workplace Violence Preven on Leading the Way to Wellness: One Community at a Time Building Capacity to Implement and Evaluate Obesity Preven on Get Healthy, Healthy Diet: Challenges of Remaining Fit and Healthy Dental Therapists as Part of a Dental Preven on Strategy Understanding Na ve American and Alaskan Na ve Suicide Diabetes Self‐Management Educa on as Key to Preven on Track 3: Clinical Services
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Military Behavioral Health Specialists: Increasing Access to Care Achieving Excellence: Leadership in a Clinical Se ng Post‐War to Prison‐Con nuing Clinical Skills in the Future Provision of Culturally Competent Care Transla ng Evidence‐Based Pediatric Obesity Care into Prac ce Implementa on of an Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Service Track 4: Pharmacy
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Exposures to Drugs in Pharmacies Clinics, and Other Se ngs Reducing Medica on Errors Using a Human Factors Approach Medica on Therapy Management (MTM) in Medicare and the ACA How an An dote Becomes a Poison Role of New drug Development to Fight Against Rare Diseases Trials and Triumphs HIV Pharmacy Clinic Program Track 5: Innova on
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Innova ons in Vital Sta s cs Panel Discussion: Innova ve Public Health Strategies in Selected Communi es Suppor ng the Surgeon General's Walking Ini a ve in Prison Integra ve Holis c Medicine: An Op mal Healing Environment Building Partnerships on Tribally Built Health Care Facili es Visit h p://symposium.phscof.org/ for more informa on or to register. 8
Commissioned Officers Association
Commissioned Officers Foundation—Annual Symposium
Symposium Category Day Highlights
A gendas for the 11 Category Day (June 12) mee ngs at the USPHS Scien fic and Training Symposium are being finalized. Highlights will include: Dental  Oral Medicine: Biopsies and treatment  David Satcher Lecture  Non‐fluoride caries interven on Die ans  Nutri on Today: Preven on, Innova on, and Progress  New Menu Labeling In Restaurants  Head Start Healthy Heart Program Engineers  Chief Engineer's Address  Healthcare Facili es Accredita on ‐ Facility Engineer Per spec ve  Alterna ve Energy Technologies and Web‐Based Remote Monitoring Environmental Health Officers  Changing the Safety Culture One Step at a Time  Lessons on School Indoor Air Quality from the “Free to Breathe, Free to Teach” Study  Enhancing Environmental Health Prac ce through Increased Use of Qualita ve Research Methods  The Na onal Tribal Water Center: An Example of Collabo ra on across USPHS Categories Health Services Officers  Leadership, Life and Legacy: What is the meaning of a Public Health Service Career?  Journey to Excellence: “Leading, Thriving and Adap ng in New Times”  Round Table Discussions Covering More than 30 Topics Nurses  Public Health Nursing Spreading Health Awareness and Preven on from Domes c to Global Community Health  Iden fying High‐Yield Opportuni es for Transi onal Care: Findings from Community Care of NC  Heads Up/Heads Down: What does sleep have to do with it Pharmacists  Personalized Medicines and Pharmacogenomics  Disaster Relief Se ngs  Over the Counter Drug Regula on  Implementa on of Pharmacist Managed Clinics Physicians  Public Health Engagement Along the Humanitarian Emer gency Con nuum  The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innova on at CMS  PHS Physician Career Update Scien sts  Public Health Improving Popula on Health: Lessons from ACA Implementa on and the Future Public Health Work force  Psychological First Aid Response to Washington Navy Yard Shoo ng  Using Public Data to Inform U.S. Health Workforce Policies Therapists  The Role of Physical Ac vity in a System for Health  Diagnosing and Managing Acute Upper Extremity Injuries within the Bureau of Prisons  The Clinical Impact of the Ankle Brachial Index Veterinarians
 Back to Basics: A Na onal Preven on Strategy Data Collec on Project  The One Health Commission: A na onal mul ‐disciplinary ini a ve to advance the health of people, animals and the environment  "Animals as Sen nels for Environmental Exposures Visit h p://symposium.phscof.org/ for more informa on or to register. March 2014 - Frontline
9
COA Nominations
Call for Nomina ons National COA is seeking nominations for the Board of
Directors. The full details are located on the COA Website (www.coausphs.org) under “Latest Stories.” The
deadline to submit a nomination is March 14, 2014.
Branch of the Year Nominations Sought
N omina ons for the Branch of the Year Award will be accepted from any COA member in good standing. The most likely sources of nomina ons will be individuals most knowledgeable of Branch ac vi es, e.g. COA Board liaisons, branch officers and agency managers. All nomina ons must be transmi ed electronical‐
ly to Teresa Hayden Foley, Director of Administra on, by e‐mail to [email protected]. Each shall consist of a transmi al le er that summarizes the basis for the nomina on and such addi onal material as is required to support the nomina on. The suppor ng material should reflect ac vi es and accomplishments that are considered deserving of special recogni on, (e.g., notable community or facility‐based projects, unusual efforts to inform and encourage Branch member par cipa on, successful interac ons with other branches, and effec ve advocacy for commissioned officer interests, etc.). Selec on Determinants and Weigh ng
The Awards Commi ee will consider all material provided with the nomina on transmi al le er. The Commi ee will pay special a en on to the size of the Branch rela ve to its accomplishments. The Commi ee will give addi onal weight to accomplishments of Branches that have been in existence five years or less. In considering the merits of the respec ve nominees, the Awards Commi ee will give about 50% weigh ng to a global assessment of Branch esprit, enthusiasm, and the rela ve impact of Branch ac vi es/
accomplishments as described in the nomina on. Examples are: notable community or facility‐based projects, successful interfaces with other Branches, effec ve local and/or na onal advocacy for commis‐
sioned officer interests. Note that the emphasis should be on ac vi es that are completed or substan ally underway, rather than planned future ac vi es. Special considera on will be given to Branches that have improved drama cally over past years. In addi on, the Awards Commi ee will give about 50% weigh ng cumula vely to the following factors:  The frequency of Branch mee ngs. This may include other than face‐to‐face mee ngs with adequate descrip on.
 The degree of par cipa on and scope of topics presented at general mee ngs of the Branch.
 The extent to which the Branch par cipates in the Mee ng of the Assembly (e.g., presen ng resolu ons, par cipa ng on commi ees).
* This informa on is available online at www.coausphs.org. To ensure considera on, nomina ons must be received by April 18, 2014. 10
Retiree Corner
A Limited Review of State Income Tax Provisions for PHS Retirees
By CAPT Alan Echt, USPHS A few years a er I received my commission, the Division of Commissioned Personnel presented a two‐day orienta on course in Cincinna . Two lessons that have remained with me from that class are that PHS officers are in charge of their own careers, and that re rement is mandatory a er 30 years of service. So you’d be er plan accordingly. Among the many variables that we consider when we plan for re rement and choose our des na on are access to medical care, cost of living, and taxes. In this ar cle, I’ll provide links to a couple of open‐access sources for state income tax informa on for re rees and review some of the states’ policies regarding re red PHS officers. This ar cle is not intended to
provide income tax advice or recommenda ons. Consult a
qualified tax professional.
One of the best sources for state‐specific military tax informa on that does not require a subscrip on or member‐
ship is the Navy’s State Tax Guide. Updated annually by the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, the 2014 edi on (for the 2013 tax year) is available at h p://www.jag.navy.mil/organiza on/
documents/tax/2014_State_Tax_Guide.pdf. However, like eve‐
rything else geared to our armed forces comrades, it requires more digging to determine how a state treats re red members of the Commissioned Corps. As President Reagan said, “Trust, but verify.” One of the great features of the Navy Tax Guide is that it includes hyperlinks to each state’s tax department, which simplifies the digging. Another good open‐source review of state income tax policies on re rement income was published in 2011 by the Na onal Conference of State Legislatures (h p://www.ncsl.org/
documents/fiscal/taxonpensions2011.pdf). Although the NCSL document is a few years old, it is a more in‐depth review of state income tax policies. A review of both documents shows that Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming have no personal income tax, and New Hampshire and Tennessee do not tax earned income. The other 41 states and the District of Columbia have a personal income tax. How the states that levy an income tax deal with PHS re rement income varies widely. More than half of all re red PHS officers live in just eight states: Maryland, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, New Mexico, Washington, California, and Texas. As I noted above, Florida, Washington, and Texas do not have a personal income tax. So, I’ll focus on the five of those eight states that do tax personal income, and add a few more states that I found interes ng while researching this ar cle. Arizona makes it clear that PHS re rees may subtract up to $2500 from their gross income h p://www.azdor.gov/
LinkClick.aspx?file cket=dP0HZsuDhJc%3d&tabid=70&mid=478 California is one of just five states that do not allow taxpayers to exclude any federal pension income (the other four are Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont). Califor‐
nia doesn’t give the military any preference, either. There, a resident’s military pension is taxable, regardless of where the service was performed h ps://www. b.ca.gov/forms/2013 /13_1005.pdf. For tax year 2013, the maximum re rement income exclusion is $35,000 for Georgia taxpayers who are 62 ‐ 64 years of age, or less than 62 and permanently disabled to such an extent that they are unable to perform any type of gainful employment. The re rement exclusion is $65,000 if the Georgia taxpayer is 65 or older h ps://etax.dor.ga.gov/inctax/2013_forms/
TSD_Form_IT511_Instruc ons_2013.pdf . In Maryland, re red PHS officers can subtract up to $5,000 of their PHS re rement income received during the tax year. As a result of a lengthy effort by COA, Maryland defined the term “military service” to include ac ve duty with the Commissioned Public Health Service h p://
Corps of the taxes.marylandtaxes.com/Resource_Library/Tax_Publica ons/
Administra ve_Releases/Income_and_Estate_Tax_Releases/
ar_it23.pdf . New Mexico doesn’t permit any re rement deduc ons for PHS officers. The state allows a deduc on for taxpayers who are over age 65 or blind with a maximum adjusted gross income of $51,000 for a joint return; $28,500 for a single taxpayer; or $25,500 for married taxpayers filing separately h p://
realfile.tax.newmexico.gov/2013pit‐1‐ins.pdf. New York doesn’t tax any federal pension income h p://
www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/informa on_for_seniors.htm. Arkansas allows military re rees to take a $6,000 exemp on and defines PHS wages as military compensa on h p://
www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/incomeTax/individual/
Documents/LongBooklet_2013.pdf . Colorado permits uniformed service re rees between 55 and 64 years of age to subtract a maximum of $20,000 from their taxable income. Re rees 65 and older can subtract a March 2014 - Frontline
(Re rees, cont’d. on p. 31) 11
COA Branch Activities
Intergenerational Fun and Bingo at the Berman Jewish Home
By LCDR Le a Boseman and CDR Monica Leonard , USPHS H eld at the William Breman Jewish Home, the At‐
lanta Commis‐
sioned Officers Associa on (ACOA) volun‐
teers and their families played approximately 15 games of highly compe ve Bingo with senior residents and gave away a $1 “Tax Free” prize to each winner. This year marked the fi h year in a row that ACOA organized and par cipated in this fun‐
filled event. The day began with an orienta on and a tour of the Breman home’s newly renovated auditorium. During the tour ACOA volunteers and their families viewed and learn about the Torah and some facts about Jewish tradi ons and ceremonies. A er‐
wards, the volunteers visited the residents’ rooms and helped them to the Garden Room for some lively Bingo games. ACOA volunteers assisted residents with their Bingo cards while LCDR Zanethia Eubank’s son Cobe called out the Bingo numbers. LCDR Le a Boseman was fortunate to play Bingo with a young lady who had just turned 100 years old she even tried to give LCDR her $1 prize. A er Bingo, ACOA volunteers prepared and shared life stories and refreshments with the residents and helped them back to their rooms. Events such as this are great opportuni es for officers to teach their child(ren) joy of volunteering while sharing quality me with them. A Record Number of ACOA Volunteers Support Project Open Hand
By CDR Tegan Boehmer, USPHS A tlanta‐based PHS officers and their family members showed up in force in 2013 to volunteer at Project Open Hand (POH). A total of 21 USPHS officers and 17 of their family members volunteered to package or deliver meals on behalf of the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Associa on (ACOA)—a record turnout! For 25 years, POH has met the daily nutri on needs of homebound seniors and low‐income men, women, and children who are dealing with a cri cal, chronic, or terminal disease. POH currently serves 5,000 clients and delivers 1.7 million meals each year! Sixteen adult and four child ACOA volunteers worked relessly for three hours packaging a variety of nutri ous meals to meet the diverse health needs of POH clients. Registered die ans design meals to meet the dietary requirements of individual clients. For example, the “Healthy Balance” meal plan is designed for those seeking to prevent or control high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. The meals ACOA packaged on Sunday morn‐
ing were deliv‐
ered to clients the following day, providing them with Monday’s 12
dinner as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Tuesday. The labels below provide the contents and nutri‐
onal informa on for each meal, plus a short health promo on message for the clients. POH clients have meals delivered to their front door every two days. Thirteen adult and five child ACOA volunteers delivered packaged ‐meals to clients along some of the 45 delivery routes across the Atlanta metro‐
politan area that POH must cover every weekend. Weekend meal delivery is 100% volunteer driven and a rewarding, family‐
friendly volunteer experience. If you’d like more informa on on POH and how to volunteer on your own, please visit www.projectopenhand.org. Commissioned Officers Association
Ready, Set, Go…Speed Mentoring
By LCDR Neelam D. Ghiya, LT Candis M. Hunter and LTJG Roberto Garza, USPHS D o you ever wish that you can ask senior leaders at your agency how to best move forward in your career? Or, how they moved up the ladder? Or, what are some ps for professional development? In 2013, Atlanta Commissioned Officers Associa on (ACOA) partnered with the CDC Young Professionals Network (YPN) to provide two speed mentoring sessions to YPN and ACOA members. (Think speed da ng for your professional development.) Each of the two sessions kicked off to a great start, including a visit with the CDC Director and ATSDR Administrator, Dr. Thomas Frieden, who provided remarks on the importance of mentoring for professional and personal growth. He also expressed his apprecia on for USPHS Officers and young professionals taking me to mentor and give guidance. During both mentoring events, senior Officers and civilian leaders from across CDC fielded ques ons and provided advice in 8 minute increments to 1‐2 mentors per round. During these sessions, mentees were provided with the opportunity to gain insights from senior leaders on how to best posi on themselves to advance their career and enhance their professional development. Ms. Rashon Lane, YPN Professional Development Chair advised that young professionals should never be afraid to ask someone that they admire if they can learn about what they do, what is their professional background and whether they could provide men‐
torship. Some of the best advice that shared during the sessions included:  Listen! Enhancing your listening skills is an important skill that will only benefit you as you look for opportuni es for advancement.  Be flexible: it’s important to be flexible in both every day job tasks and in path of your career. You never know where an unexpected opportunity might take you, so be open to the journey.  Consider if you want to be an expert at your agency or a generalist.  Don’t be shy! Speak up if there is a professional opportunity that you’re interested in. Find a great supervisor or mentor! It really makes a difference in your long term career growth. A special thank you to all of the CDC/ATSDR mentors who took me from their busy schedule to mentor young CDC/ATSDR professionals and ACOA members: Thomas Frieden, CDC Director and ATSDR Administrator RADM Sven Rodenbeck, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry CAPT Louisa Chapman, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services CAPT Walter Holt, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response CAPT John Iskander, Office of the Associate Director for Science CAPT Charlene Majersky, Center for Global Health CAPT Ross Spears, Office of the Chief Opera ng Officer CDR Darrlyn Cornelius‐ Averhart, Office of the Chief Opera ng Officer CDR Jessilyn Taylor, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry LCDR Neelam D. Ghiya, Office of the Chief of Staff Jacqui A Butler, Na onal Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabili es Juliana K. Cyril, Office of the Associate Director for Science Heather Duncan, Office of the Chief of Staff Adele Etheridge, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response Jannelle Gunn, Na onal Center for Chronic Disease Preven on and Health Promo on Darlo Koldenhoven, Office of Diversity Management and Equal Employment Opportunity Gayle Payne, Na onal Center for Chronic Disease Preven on and Health Promo on Marla Vaughan, Na onal Center for Chronic Disease Preven on and Health Promo on Thank you to Ms. Rashon Lane from CDC YPN for co‐hos ng this event and to Ms. Kelly Carr, CDC University for her leadership in suppor ng our speed mentoring event. March 2014 - Frontline
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DC COA Members Make Impact at Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB)
By CAPT Monique Brooks, USPHS O n Saturday, December 7, 2013, members of the District of Columbia Metro‐
politan Commis‐
sioned Officers Associa on Branch (DC COA) volunteered at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington DC. CAFB’s mission is to feed those who suffer from hun‐
ger in the Wash‐
ington DC metro area by acquiring and distribu ng food products and educa ng and empowering the community about issues with hunger and nutri on. According to the CAFB website, its partner agencies reported an increase from 30 to 100 percent in those who seek food assistance due to unem‐
ployment, economic and other circumstances. The Capital Area Food Bank:  Distributes 37.5 million meals per year  Provides 17 million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables per year  Serves nearly 500,000 people in the region struggling with hunger Spends 92 cents of each dollar raised for food distribu on, transporta on and programs (h p://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/learn/about‐ca ) DC COA members sorted and packed an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. Availability of these food items is o en limited for children living in vulnerable communi es. This cri ‐
cal ac vity allowed officers to address the significant issue of hunger among youth. Their efforts provided nutri onal suste‐
nance for 1,580 needy teenagers and children in faith based organiza ons, a er school and youth programs in the Na on’s capital. The following officers met an important need for DC’s under‐
served popula on: CAPT Monique Brooks (Coordinator), LCDR Chitra Mahadevan, LCDR Luz Rivera and LT Samantha Spindel. A special thank you is extended to the employees at the Capital Area Food Bank for providing DC COA members the opportunity to par cipate in the program. DC COA Participates in the 2013 Toys for Tots Program
By CDR Iris E Valen n‐Bon and LCDRs Michael Ahmadi and Tina Walther, USPHS O n Saturday, December 14, 2013, members of the District of Columbia Commissioned Officers Associa on (DC COA) had the great opportunity to collaborate hand in hand with the Toys for Tots organiza on for the first me sor ng toys. Around 10 officers showed up on me during that cold morning eager to work and make USPHS proud, and they truly exemplified PHS pride. Tons of toys were sorted in a ma er of a few short hours, impressing the organizers. The 2013 campaign was the first me DC COA supported the Toys for Tots Program and we would like to con nue this collabora on in the upcoming years, which will provide the USPHS Commissioned Corps visibility to the public by pro‐
mo ng community outreach as part of the DC COA volunteer work. The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during the months of October, November and December of each year, and distrib‐
ute those toys as Christmas gi s to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. This year Toys for Tots was a great success! Just over 98,000 toys, books and stocking stuffers were donated from 230 drop sites from individuals, businesses and corpora ons, and DC COA was part of this success. The objec ves of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate chil‐
dren throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an ac ve role in the development of one of our na on’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communi es in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collec on and distribu on campaign; and to contribute to be er communi‐
es in the future. The DC COA Toys for Tots Subcommi ee Chair, CDR Iris E. Valen n‐Bon, coordinated all correspondence with the Toys for Tots organizers and coordinated all event‐day opera ons at the assigned warehouse sta on in Gaithersburg, MD, (Toys for Tots, cont’d. on p. 15) 14
Prevention through Active Community Engagement (PACE)-Blair Ewing Center
By LCDR Leo Angelo Gumapas, USPHS T hrough the District of Columbia Commissioned Officer Associa on (DC COA) PACE Program, on December 11, 2013, LCDR Gumapas par cipated in a career day at Blair Ewing Center in Rockville MD. LCDR Gumapas was paired in a class‐
room with Stacey Ehring, Business Development Specialist at Shapiro & Duncan Inc, to provide three 40 minute career advice sessions to 26 high school students on Environmental Engineer‐
ing/Uniformed Service and Marke ng careers, respec vely. LCDR Gumapas’ talk consisted of the following:  Provided educa onal creden als and what is needed to become skills necessary to be successful in environmental engineering  Explain Environmental Engineering and what are the pros and cons of the field  The ra onale of why I enjoy Environmental Engineering Explana on of the Public Health Service  Ra onale of why Engineers are in Public Health Service The students were highly engaged and enlightened a er de‐
scribing the impact an environmental engineer can have while serving in the United States Public Health Service. An example of this impact was illustrated by presen ng a graph of epidemi‐
ological data showing the decline of infec ous diseases in the United States from 1900 to 2000. This was followed by asking the class to provide a ra onale of the reason for the sharp de‐
cline that was observed from 1920 to 1950. A er some spirit‐
ed debate, the students were able to arrive at clean water be‐
ing the source of the decline. I went on to explain how this is a prime example of how non‐medical interven ons can have a profound effect on public health by focusing on preven on instead of treatment. The session was wrapped up by going into further depth re‐
garding the role Engineers play in the United States Public Health Service and how they are an integral part of the (PACE, cont’d. on p. 25) (Toys for Tots, cont’d. from p. 14) Opportunity to Teach or to Learn.”) including tracking volunteer par cipa on. The volunteers arrived right on‐ me and immediately started sor ng toys in The DC COA Board of Directors would like to acknowledge the different categories by gender, by age, and by toy type. event organizer from Montgomery County MD Toys for Tots Coordinator ‐ Mr. Paul Gunther and to all the par cipa ng Officers formed small teams and took a “divide and conquer” USPHS officers who collaborated in this inaugural event; among approach to the task at hand. LCDR Michael Ahmadi shares his them: story about one li le girl who wanted to be on his team. He quickly named her “Co‐Captain” of the team and put her to CAPT Sco Dallas work, assis ng in choosing and sor ng age‐appropriate girls’ CDR Iris E Valen n ‐ Bon LCDR Michael Ahmadi toys, making the counts of the orders, and labeling the bags to be delivered to the reques ng organiza ons. Later that day, her LCDR Tina Walther mother expressed gra tude for including her daughter in the LCDR Jonathan Kwan ac vity, sta ng how she benefi ed from having a posi ve male LCDR Trang Q. Tran role model. LT Michelle Di rich This was a clear example of how PHS Officers posi vely impact We hope to con nue to work with the organiza on in the future people’s lives in the community (some mes, without even real‐ and solicit a call for more volunteers for the 2014 event during izing it), and reminds us how, in the words of COA Chair CDR the Holidays. For more informa on about Toys for Tots and how Jonathan Rash, “Whether you want it or not, you are a mentor” to get involved in your community, please see: h p://
(see November 2013 issue of COA Frontline “Don’t Waste an www.toysfortots.org/ March 2014 - Frontline
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“Holiday Giving”: Four Corners Branch
By LCDR Deanna De Vore and CDR Pam Abrams , USPHS N avajo Area IHS Shiprock Service Unit Commission Officers of the COA Four Corners Branch located on the Navajo Na on provided Christmas Gi Baskets to ten elders residing on the eastern part of the Navajo Na on. The elders live in isolat‐
ed areas, have no family support, and live on fixed incomes. A majority of elders s ll live in substandard homes with no electricity, no indoor plumbing and no central hea ng system. They use kerosene lamps for lights, use outhouse for toilet needs, use wood burning stove for heat and propane for cook‐
ing. The roads to their homes are o en dirt roads that become impassable during rainy and winter seasons. LCDR De Vore has been coordina ng Christmas Gi Baskets since 2005. As a social worker, she makes home visits to follow up on at‐risk members of the surrounding rural communi es and iden fies elders that live alone with no modern ameni es, no transporta on and no means of immediate communica on. LCDR De Vore and CDR Pamela Abrams coordinated the dona‐
ons despite their duty sta ons being 75 miles apart from each other. LCDR De Vore also shopped for addi onal items with monetary dona ons and distributed the gi baskets. Items donated were gloves, scarves, knit caps, thermal underwear, and blankets. Other items in the gi baskets were lo on, sham‐
poo, hand/body soap, toothpaste/brushes, combs and hair brushes. Dish soap, table cloths, oven mi s and containers for food. The items are specifically chosen to ensure elders have items to stay warm, toiletries for hygiene care and kitchen items for cleanliness. Gi baskets delivery was made the Friday before Christmas so elders would have a gi to open on Christmas morning. The COA Four Corners Branch also held their first clothing drive during the month of December. LT Jennifer Bongartz and LT Lauren Davis asked staff to clean out their closets and donate gently used or new clothing for the drive. As a result staff do‐
nated many bags of clothing. Several officers sorted through the bags and arranged the clothing out on tables the evening before the event. Community members were no fied of the clothing and many of them came and took clothing home. The le over clothing was taken to a local community center for further distri‐
bu on to community members. Other outreach ac vi es in 2010: 1) Coats donated and distrib‐
uted to local dormitory students and other children in communi‐
ty, 2) Gi Bags given to 72 students that reside in nearby dormi‐
tory from Monday thru Friday to a end school. These children from kindergarten to 12th grade live in the dormitory due to problems at home and/or lack of transporta on. 3) New Year Baby Gi Basket given to first newborn that received prenatal care at DZHC. These community involvement ac vi es include dissemina on of educa onal informa on as well as preven ve educa on. As Indian Health Service Commission Officers on Navajoland, we proudly accomplish our USPHS mission through involvement in various community ac vi es through‐out the year to “Protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the Na on.” LCDR DeVore making deliveries Gi s basket deliveries to elders CDRs Deegala and Abrams wrapping gi s 16
(Back) CDR Chandima Deegala, CDR Pamela Abrams, and CDR Grace McAtasney, (Front) LTJG Thomas Tran, LT Michelle Begay, LCDR Deanna De Vore, and LCDR Lenora Tso Commissioned Officers Association
First Service Event for Newly Established Great Plains Branch
By CDR Joseph Lambert and LCDR Jessica Hensley, USPHS T he Great Plains Branch of the Commissioned Offic‐
ers Associa on was established in Octo‐
ber 2013. On Decem‐
ber 7, 2013, CDR Jo‐
seph Lambert, LCDR Jessica Hensley, LCDR Kurt Kesteloot, and LCDR Ismael Olvera, (L‐R) LCDR Ismael Olvera, CDR Joseph Lambert, members the newly LCDR Kurt Kesteloot and LCDR Jessica Hensley established Great Plains Branch, volunteered their me, energy, and organiza on‐
al skills to the Open Door Mission, Omaha, Nebraska, as the branch’s first service event. Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission founded in 1954 commi ed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 816 safe, shelter beds to homeless men, women and children, serves over 2,000 hot, nutri ous meals and provides preven ve measures to more than 275 people living in poverty. The Great Plains Branch members volunteered at the Open Door Mission’s Timberlake Outreach Center. Open Door Mis‐
sion’s Timberlake Outreach Center provides preventa ve measures to empower families to remain in their own homes by supplemen ng their income through monthly assistance with food, clothing, household goods, furniture and appliances. The Center serves 5,000 households in the Omaha metropoli‐
tan area monthly and offers a variety of free classes, such as GED comple on, computer training, life skills, case manage‐
ment, employment readiness, and English as a Second Lan‐
guage. Addi onally, the center serves thousands with their sea‐
sonal preven ve programs which include Great Thanksgiving Banquet, Turkey 'N Fixins, Super Duper Give Away and Project Santa. This service event was organized through the United Way of the Midland’s Holiday Helpers project, and the work and me volunteered by the Great Plains Branch members was much appreciated by the management at the Open Door Mission in Omaha, NE. The event was a success and opened the door to future volunteer opportuni es through the United Way of the Midlands and also the Open Door Mission. The Beat Goes On!
By CAPT Martha Culver, USPHS T he HHS Region VI Basic Life Suport (BLS) instructors offer BLS classes for Health Care Professionals free! In December 2013, the BLS training program celebrated its first year as a cer fied training facility under the leadership of CAPTs Martha Culver and James Dickens. Cardiopulmonary resuscita on (CPR) performed early is a cri cal link in the chain of survival for out‐of hospital sudden cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Associa on, nearly 360,000 out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the United States and is the leading cause of death. One of Healthy People 2020 impact goals is to increase the survival rate from cardiac arrest by increasing bystander response from 31% to 62%. With the increase in HHS community outreach ac vi es we hope to make a posi ve impact in reducing deaths for this major public health problem. More than 55 health care providers and non‐health care providers were trained in 2013. As a community outreach effort, CPR was provided at the Mar n Luther King Family Health Center to increase the number of individuals living in South Dal‐
las trained to preform CPR. Research indicates CPR training opportuni es are limited in lower socio‐economic areas. In addi on, a class was offered in October. Nine officers, members of the Greater Texas Branch COA, a ended the ses‐
sion to maintain force readiness requirements. It ended with a surprise visit by Admiral Elizondo, HHS Region VI Regional Health Administrator. The exis ng HHS BLS team also includes CDRs Angela Girgen and Cindy Adams, with four addi onal BLS instructors coming on board in 2014. March 2014 - Frontline
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PHS Officers from NCCOA Supported 2014 MLK Day of Service
By LCDR Babatunde Oloyede and LT Tyketra Dale, USPHS M LK Day of Service was a day set aside by Healing with CAARE Inc., located in the heart of Durham, North Caro‐
lina and directed by Dr. Elliot‐ Bynum to commemorate the remembrance of the late Civil Rights ac vist Dr. Mar n Luther King Jr., on January 20, 2014. The social background of Dr. Mar n Luther King Jr., led to exemplary life with commitment to humanity. His life was sold out to the cause of inclusive governance and freedom for all. There were 15 local PHS officers from the North Carolina Commissioned Officer Associa on chapter supported this year’s MLK memorial celebra on. This year MLK memorial event focus on a day of community service. Healing with CAARE Inc. provided community health services that included; tobacco cessa on, blood pressure screening, diabetes screen‐
ings, Children nutri on monitoring and physical ac vity such as Zumba base line dancing. PHS officers checked blood pres‐
sures, handed tobacco cessa on informa on, educated youths on healthy ea ng habits and using “eat smart and play hard” concept. The MLK day of service was well par cipated and a ended by many health professionals including UNC and Duke University medical professional students, local veteran’s associ‐
a on group, and local non‐profit organiza ons. The Durham community took advantage of this act of kindness and service as soon as the doors of the venue were opened on the day of the event as early as 10:00am on a Monday morning by senior ci zens, young adults and children. There were approximately hundreds of ci zens served in this event. 18
The day of service began and ended well. Both volunteers and par cipants were given the opportunity to share talents, me and treasures. We are proud and inspire once more to the dedi‐
cated PHS officers whom took their personal me to make a difference to the community. Commissioned Officers Association
5th Annual ACAS Health Leadership Award Ceremony: 50 Years Fighting
Smoking Addiction
By CAPT Ron West, CDR Thomas Addison and CDR Karen Kilman, USPHS T wenty years a er Dr. Luther Terry's groundbreaking US urgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, the 13th U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Evere Koop challenged America to aim for nothing less than a “Smoke‐Free Society by 2000." This "Smoke‐Free Society" challenge was delivered in 1984 at the Na onal American Lung Associa on Annual mee ng and at the Na onal USPHS Commissioned Officers Symposium. When Surgeon General Koop, delivered his "Smoke‐Free Society" Challenge at the USPHS Symposium in Arizona June 1984, the 20 foot‐long banner above the podium read: "Arizonans Are
Concerned About Smoking, We Welcome the Surgeon
General.”
Present for this 20 year commemora on speech for a "Smoke‐
Free Society" was the 9th U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Luther L. Terry. In addi on were CAPT Leland Fairbanks, a young medi‐
cal officer serving in the Indian Health Service, and Be y Carnes of Sco sdale, AZ, who helped in the early days of Tobacco Con‐
trol Ac on ac vi es to curb tobacco ads and get non‐smoking sec ons on airplanes. She took the Surgeon General’s challenge to heart and founded the non‐profit organiza on Arizonans Concerned About Smoking (ACAS). The goal of this organiza‐
on is saving lives through public awareness regarding the haz‐
ards of tobacco use especially when in enclosed public places. Now, 30 years later, CAPT Leland Fairbanks (Ret.) serves as president of ACAS. He has dedicated his re red life to changing public policies for a smoke‐free society. In commemora on of the 50th Anniversary of the First Report on Smoking and Health, ACAS recognized the Commissioned Officers Founda on and the Office of the Surgeon General during the 5th Annual ACAS Health Leadership Award Ceremony at Porter Plaza in Mesa, Arizona. The historic banner: "Arizonans Are Concerned About Smok‐
ing, We Welcome the Surgeon General" was again placed above the podium where awardees were honored. Individuals from across the United States a ended including 10 COA members from Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Those officers in a endance were: RADM Richard Rubendall (Ret.), CAPT Gene Migliaccio (Ret), CAPT Leland Fairbanks (Ret), CAPT Eric Ossowski (Ret.), CAPT Ron West, CDR Karen Kilman, CDR Thom‐
as Addison, CDR Cathy Trinidad, LCDR Lore a Haven, and LT Paula Thompson. American Legion Post #39 Gilbert provided the Color Guard for the Ceremony and led the audience in the pledge of allegiance. Execu ve Director Phillip J. Carpenter presented awards to 11 Recipients of the 2014 Na onal ACAS Health Leadership Award including: Advanced Surgical Associates, Carlisle Interconnect, Ms. Brenda Serna, Ms. Talyah Sands, Ms. Connie Diaz, Mesa Community College ’Peerven on’ Volunteers, American Legion Post #39 Gilbert, American Legion Post #11 Douglas, CarMax, Inc., University of California campuses and medical centers, Ohio State University, and CVS for being courageous enough to provide smoke‐free environments. The culmina ng two 2014 ACAS Health Leadership Awards were presented by CAPT Eric Ossowski, (Ret.) to the U.S. Public Health Commissioned Officers Founda on and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Accep ng these awards were RADM Richard Rubendall, (Ret.) and CAPT Gene Migliaccio, (Ret). CAPT Migliac‐
cio the keynote speaker gave a brief update on the current state of the report from a Na onal perspec ve and the importance of leading the health of the Na on by example. The Health Leader‐
ship Awards were an acknowledgement in part to the new Com‐
missioned Corps Instruc on (CCI) CC412.01 signed on 21 June 2013 which states: Officers in an ac ve status shall not smoke or use tobacco products while in uniform effec ve January 21, 2014. This new policy promotes a posi ve role model for health promo on to ci zens of the United States. The USPHS is the first uniformed service to prohibit smoking and tobacco use while in uniform. It is important that the 6,700 U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officer’s support this "Smoke‐Free Society" na onwide. Inspira onal closing remarks were given by ACAS President CAPT Leland Fairbanks (Ret.) and Vice President Alex J. Romero. They pointed out that though a lot has been accomplished; much more needs to be done to eradicate nico ne addic on. A er‐
wards the awards, a variety of delicious snacks and beverages were served with a endees circula ng through the “Smoke‐Free Area” to enjoy camaraderie among others with the common goal of saving lives through promo on of a Smoke Free America. March 2014 - Frontline
19
Phoenix Officers Make Home Handicap COA Officers Initiate A My Plate
Relay Race Activity
Accessible with AZ Ramp Project
By CDR Karen Kilman, USPHS T he Phoenix COA joined forces with Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun on 2 November 2013 to par cipate in the Arizo‐
na Ramp Project. This project was set up to help neighbors who feel stranded in their homes secondary to illness, poverty or old age and are no longer able to maneuver the steps outside their homes, but can’t afford to have a handicap ramp built to help them. Rebuilding Togeth‐
er is a non‐profit organiza on in Phoenix that prebuild wooden modular sec ons in the safety of their warehouse and have groups of skilled or unskilled volunteer manual labor with the help of a supervisor put the units together, a ach the plywood deck and add handrails using drills and saws. This project can take a group of 6‐8 volunteers about 4‐5 hours yet change the life of the homeowner. The building supplies and tools for ramp construc on cost approximately $800 per ramp. Seven Phoenix COA members and their families par cipated as the volunteer manual labor team and were able to construct a 26 foot ramp in 5 hours for one Phoenix homeowner. Our home‐
owner was very grateful rela ng that it used to take her 20 minutes to get out of her home just to check her mail and anoth‐
er 20 minutes to get back into her home. She stated, “I feel trapped in my own home!” A er comple on of the project, the homeowner demonstrated to the team that she was able to per‐
form this same task within 5 minutes! The team had a great me and gained lots of construc on knowledge during the building stages. The best part of the project was seeing the joy of this homeowner as she was able to leave her home which she had felt “trapped” in before and safely get out to visit her neighbors and get her mail. One of the members of the Phoenix Team was heard saying, “Now that is what I call, promo ng the health and safety of our Na on, one person at a me.” By LTJG Travelle Mason and LT Robert Mon erth, USPHS R ecently the Officer Health and Wellness Promo on Sub‐
commi ee (OHWPS) of the Public Health and Community Service Commi ee announced a very exci ng opportunity for USPHS officers across the country to par cipate in the Let’s Move! Campaign. The Let’s Move! volunteer program, allows officers the chance to lead projects that promote the ideals of Let’s Move! in their community. The Let’s Move! campaign has five objec ves: 1) Crea ng a healthy start for children, 2) Em‐
powering parents and caregivers, 3) Providing healthy food in schools, 4) Improving access to healthy affordable foods, and 5) Increasing physical ac vity and encouraging healthy ea ng choices. Officers LCDR Stacey Gyenizse, LTJG Travelle Mason and LT Robert Mon erth of the Saguaro COA Branch, with the ap‐
proval of the OHWPS, prepared and carried out a My Plate ac vity that focused on the Lets Move! objec ves. The officers chose to host the event in the gymnasium of the Boys and Girls club in Bylas, AZ. The event was met with enthusias c welcome and support from the Boys and Girls club site super‐
visor and 3 of their staff/volunteers. The youth groups were children between the ages of 5 and 13, with a par cipant count of 18. The ac vity started with a brief teaching session about the MyPlate guidelines and diagram, and the importance of healthy ea ng and physical ac vity. The relay race ac vity was then explained. The officers demonstrated verbally and visual‐
ly the components of the race, which con‐
sisted of, the start line 1/3 the way of the gymnasium floor, the collec on of food group pictures that the par cipants were to pick up, run to the end of the gymnasi‐
um to where the My‐
Plate diagram was hanging on the wall, place the food group in its appropriate place and race back and tag the next team member to repeat the same steps. At the conclusion of the race, a winning team was recognized, but all the par cipants were congratulated and posi vely encouraged. A recap of the lessons learned and the reinforce‐
ment of the MyPlate food groups, por on sizes and the importance of physical ac vity followed. All the par cipants were awarded a MyPlate champion pledge cer ficate to en‐
courage the use of MyPlate food groups at home and in (MyPlate, cont’d. on p. 21) 20
INCREASING COA MEMBERSHIP IS OUR #1 PRIORITY!
HELP COA GROW AS THE COMMISSIONED CORPS GROWS —
RECRUIT A NEW/FORMER MEMBER TODAY!
(MyPlate, cont’d. from p. 20) school. Each kid also received a bag of includ‐
ing a MyPlate magnet to s ck on their refrigerator at home, an Eat Smart pamphlet, a MyPlate Tips for a Healthy Plate book mark, a MyPlate for home ar cle for their parents. In addi on, the winning relay race team received the Two Bite Club story book. All of the MyPlate prize items were acquired with no addi onal charge from USDA resources for educa on. The children enjoyed the ac vity and the staff at the Boys and Girls Club gave the officers posi ve feedback. Arrangements for the officers to return and teach other children are currently in the works! March 2014 - Frontline
21
A US Public Health Service Corps Officer Diagnosed with Breast Cancer:
My Story
I am a Commander in the USPHS Corps, assigned to the Department of Homeland Security/ICE Health Service Corps as the Unit Chief of Medical Quality Management. By experience and educa on, I am a Family Nurse Prac oner. A ccording to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a woman living in the United States has a 12.3%, or a 1 in 8, life‐
me risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. In the 1970’s, the life me risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer was 1 in 11 women. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers (ACS, 2013). It is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among wom‐
en, lung cancer is first (ACS, 2014). In 2013, an es mated 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed among US women, as well as es mated 64,640 addi onal cases of in situ breast cancer, and approximately 39, 620 women were expected to die from the disease (ACS, 2014). Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates increase with age, making it the most significant predisposing risk factor for the development of this malignancy. Although the absolute risk of breast cancer in women under the age of 40 is low (at a ra o of 3.0/1000), over 25,000 young women under 45 years old are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. As a result, this disease remains the leading cause of cancer‐
related death in women aged 15‐34 years (DESR, 2010, Stojadinovic, et al, 2011). I am a career officer in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), and I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive carcinoma in April 2012. Leading up to the ini al diagnosis, I have always strictly adhered to screening recom‐
menda ons by comple ng monthly breast self‐exams and obtaining annual mammograms since my early 30s. In Decem‐
ber 2011, I no ced a small mass in my le breast, so I scheduled an appointment with my primary care provider (PCP) in January 2012. I did not panic because abnormal changes in my breast ssue had previously happened from me to me. My PCP reassured me that the mass was proba‐
bly benign as all the others had been, but in an abundance of cau on she agreed to send me for another mammogram to be sure (I had recently completed a mammogram less than 7 months prior and the findings were nega ve). This one visit soon became my reality for the next 2 years and for a life me of “new normals”. Even though I am a clinician, I was not mentally prepared for what followed. “You have breast cancer” I was told. I s ll remember the doctor telling me this as if it was yesterday. What soon followed was an array of new terms to learn such as TNM, DCIS, IC, staging, and mul ple appointments with specialists, therapists, and case workers, necessita ng life changing decisions on what to do next. To say that the next few weeks were a tumultuous emo onal roller coaster ride is to put it mildly. I could not mentally understand what was happening to my body, nor was I ini ally willing to accept the seriousness of the disease and the prognosis. I am fairly healthy, exercise rou nely, and work hard to maintain a normal weight. I have no family history and no other risk factors, except that of being a woman; yet I was faced with the diagnosis of breast cancer. Since the ini al diag‐
nosis, I have endured mul ple surgeries, completed weeks of adjunct chemotherapy and radia on therapy and endured hours of physical therapy for lymphedema. A er a few months of convalescent leave, I returned to work, but con nued with frequent mandatory follow up appointments. I was informed that I have to follow up with my team of doctors and take prophylac c daily hormonal treatment for the next 5 years. Currently in 2014, I am s ll undergoing surgeries related to the ini al diagnosis, however, I am considered free of breast cancer. I am a survivor! Why tell my story? Since 2012, I have heard from several USPHS officers who have shared that they, too, were diag‐
nosed with breast cancer. They did not know of others in the Corps affected with this disease at the me of their diagnosis. Most had been referred to contact me through friends. With every opportunity I have, I want to share my story with other USPHS officers and all women, to stress the importance of early detec on through monthly self‐breast exams, clinical exams and mammography. If you (or a family member) no ce any changes in your breasts, you should call your doctor immediately and get it checked out. I am here today because I was proac ve in my own care. Silence is not an op on if my experience will help others. I want every woman, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, to know that this is not an easy process to go through; however, you WILL get THROUGH it. Remember, on those days when you feel your absolute worst, you WILL feel be er again….when you feel ugly and disfigured, you WILL feel beau‐
ful again…when you feel so broken and incomplete, you WILL feel whole again….when you feel your days have been clouded with darkness, you WILL see light again ….and when you feel lonely, you are not alone! You have camaraderie of others who are here to support you. References American Cancer Society (2013). What are the key sta s cs about breast cancer? Retrieved from h p://www.cancer.org/
cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast‐cancer‐key‐
sta s cs (My Story, cont’d. on p. 23) 22
to Washington DC to serve as Execu ve Assistant to Principal Deputy Assistant Lurie in the office of US Surgeon General David Satcher. He also served as na onal president of the Commissioned Officers Associa on. CAPT Dunn received over 20 significant awards for his work, including the USPHS Meri‐
torious Service Medal, the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal, and the NIOSH‐Cincinna Supervisor of the Year (awarded by AFGE Local 3840). One of CAPT Dunn’s greatest passions was mentoring young students, scien sts and officers. For several years, he was the primary NIOSH liaison to the IMHOTEP program, personally overseeing the recruitment and matching of minority students to summer research opportuni es throughout NIOSH. In his memory, the Derek E. Dunn Memorial Alumni Scholarship Fund was created in honor of his service as the long me president of the McMicken College of Arts & Scienc‐
es Alumni Associa on. In addi on, there is a conference (Dunn, cont’d. from p. 7) room at the NIOSH headquarters in Washington, DC named a er Derek, and a large bronze plaque is mounted outside that conference room in his honor. Dr. Dunn was an esteemed colleague, dedicated educator, and beloved member of the community. In addi on to his lengthy list of professional accomplishments, others recall his personal dedica on and commitment to work‐
ing men and women, sta ng “the lengthy list does not begin to capture Derek’s unique communica on style, his elegance, his concern for others, his ability to bring others along to accom‐
plish the mission, his sense of humor. We will remember the sign he had on his door for many years ‐‐ What have you done for the worker today? ‐‐ which captured his focus on mission and service, and his willingness to be accountable for the results of all that was tasked of him.” Are you currently receiving National COA’s monthly e-mails? If not, visit the
COA Members Only website (www.coausphs.org) to
update your information.
You may be missing valuable COA/COF communication!
American Cancer Society (2014). Breast Cancer Facts and Fig‐
ures. Retrieved from h p://www.cancer.org/research/
cancerfactssta s cs/breast‐cancer‐facts‐figures Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research (DESR). Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2009‐2010. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. 2010 Stojadinovic, A., Summers, T.A., Eberhardt, J., Cerussi, A., Grundfest, W., Peterson, C.M., Brazai s, M., Krupinski, E., and Freeman, Harold. (2011). Consensus Recommenda ons for Advancing Breast Cancer: Risk Iden fica on and Screening in Ethnically Diverse Younger Women. Journal of Cancer. 2:210‐
227. Retrieved from h p://www.jcancer.org/
v02p0210.htm#headingA10 (My Story, cont’d. from p. 22) Stay in touch with COA through
our Facebook Page
(h p://ww w.facebook.com/coausphs)
23
From the Executive Director, from p. 1
The Center for Creative Leadership is a well-respected
organization that provides high profile leadership training to
Fortune 500 companies and senior officials of the US Government as well as international clients. This will add immensely to
the quality and utility of our seminar. You will not want to miss
this opportunity.
Online registration is now available and hotels are filling up fast.
As you will read in this month’s lead article, it is likely that Dr.
Vivek Murthy will be confirmed as Surgeon General before June
and we have already extended an invitation to him to spend the
second week in June with his new family in Raleigh.
The Symposium will also be an opportunity to meet COA/
COF’s new executive director. Don’t know who that will be yet;
but we will soon. Finalists for the position are being interviewed
at the beginning of March.
With that in mind, I want to thank the Atlanta COA Branch for
their hospitality and the honor extended to me and Sherry at
their 2014 Anchor and Caduceus Dinner on January 25th. In
addition to celebrating the 125th anniversary of the PHS Commissioned Corps as a uniformed service, the dinner served as a
sort of aloha event for me. I was deeply moved by all the expressions of appreciation for my work as your executive director.
As I prepare to step down as COA/COF Executive Director, I
have been receiving many expressions of gratitude for my service, and I am appreciative of them all. In 13 years, I have developed a strong bond with this Association, Foundation, and
the Commissioned Corps. It will not be easy to leave.
There are three things I would ask you to consider doing to
mark the end of my service to you and in the Frontline columns I
have left, I’ll address each of them. They are: 1) Help us grow
COA’s membership; 2) Attend the PHS Scientific and Training
Symposium; and 3) Contribute to the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation.
Membership is the lifeblood of any organization like COA.
Member dues are the fuel that powers our engine and all the
work we do. We need our members to be prompt in remitting
annual dues. And we need our members to be actively recruiting your fellow officers to membership. PHS officers who are
not COA members benefit from our work for free, and while
legal, it is hardly fair. We need OBC graduates who get a free
membership to pony up and pay dues when that free period
expires. We need members approaching retirement to make
maintaining COA membership a priority – your compensation
and benefits are as much under assault these days as the active
duty folks. Witness the recent fight over retirement pay COLA
increases for under age 62 retirees.
Making the case for why PHS officers should be COA members
is easy. It goes like this.
Do you enjoy the fact that you are still receiving compensation
and benefits as a uniformed service member and not a civil servant? You can thank COA for that. If not for COA’s efforts
several years ago, you would be paid as a civil servant today. And civil servants went without a pay raise for three years
while uniformed service members continued to receive modest
increases.
ACOA Anchor & Caduceus Dinner— Sherry & Jerry Farrell with COA Directors CAPT Craig Wilkins and CDR Heather Bair‐Brake Thanks to the leaders of ACOA for your thoughtfulness and all
the effort put into making the evening special for Sherry and I.
Thanks also to RADMs Bob Williams and Sven Rodenbeck
for your kind words. I was especially touched by RADM
Rodenbeck’s gift, a copy of the 1984 edition of The Ship’s Medicine Chest and Medical Aid at Sea, signed by everyone who attended
the dinner. What a perfectly fitting addition to my library where
it now occupies a place of honor. And a particular thanks to
CAPT Doug Hamilton for being the master of ceremonies for
the dinner. Doug and I share a connection to the Naval Academy and Navy. His son, Duncan is a fellow alum and Navy
SEAL and I got to know the Hamilton Family when Duncan
matriculated as a Midshipman several years ago.
24
How about not being subject to unpaid furloughs? Thanks to
COA’s efforts no PHS officer has to be worried about a reduction in pay due to furlough. In the aftermath of the disastrous
government shutdown last year, COA has been working to
ensure your pay continues without interruption in the next shutdown as it does for the Armed Services. We’ve also helped
USAA figure out how to extend no interest payday loans to PHS
officers in the event of another shutdown.
Have any college age kids? Eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill
and its most generous transferability of the education benefit to
dependents would not have been extended to PHS Commissioned Corps officers without the leadership of COA on this
issue. National COA is aware of scores of PHS officers who
have either used this benefit for their own advanced education
or transferred it to a dependent. Most recently, we just received
an invoice from one member who wanted to show us proof of
the $22,000 in college tuition he saved for one year of his daughter’s college education. Times four that’s $88,000 in that one
officer’s pocket alone.
(Executive Director, cont’d. on p. 25)
From the Executive Director, from p. 24
Ever thought about being a whistleblower? Hope not; but for the
first time, thanks to the work of COA, PHS Commissioned Corps
officers have whistleblower protections on a par with the armed
services.
Are you looking forward to the benefits of a generous retirement
and health benefits? They are under attack from multiple quarters
and there has already been one attempt by Congress and the Administration to carve out and exclude PHS Commissioned Corps
officers from one health benefit available to the other services. If
PHS officers (or retirees) can be excluded from one entitlement
afforded to the other services, then you can be excluded from any
or all entitlements available to the other services. COA was able to
beat down this terrifying precedent. The issue will surely resurface
in the months and years ahead. The only advocate for Corps
officers in these incidents is COA.
COA was a loud and consistent voice for PHS Commissioned
Corps officers before, during, and after both of the reorganizations of OSG that have occurred during the last ten years. COA
opposed and help kill the “three and freeze” promotion policy. We fiercely opposed the reorganization put in place in 2004
and just as urgently recommended in 2009 that the new administration return all HQ functions of the Corps under the supervision of the Surgeon General. We have just as strongly objected to
the Department’s forced reductions in staffing and budget imposed in the process of the most recent reorganization. Most
recently, the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation has commissioned and published a landmark study that speaks to the value
added to public health by the PHS Commissioned Corps. Copies
were delivered to every member of Congress and throughout the
federal government and other public health organizations. In
November, we hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill about the report.
(PACE, cont’d. from p. 15) COA has supported local COA branches across the country
in their efforts to have state tax policies for PHS officers and
retirees align with the other uniformed services. This is no small
task, but an important one for members in Ohio, Maryland,
Massachusetts and other states where these efforts have been
successful.
COA has also negotiated partnerships to have our members
become members of PENFED, the world’s second largest credit
union with very favorable rates for service members. We have
partnered with George Washington University School of Public
Health to provide scholarships for COA members who enroll in
their fully online and fully accredited MPH and MHA programs.
Is there more COA could do? There surely is, but we are
constrained to operate within the limits of our available resources. Each officer or retiree who declines membership in
COA further reduces those resources and restricts our efforts
to work for the Corps and its officers.
Yours Aye!
uniformed service because they define what is possible, iden fy exis ng limita ons, and shape workable solu ons. This volunteer ac vity was just one of the opportuni es developed through the DC COA Preven on through Ac ve Community Engage‐
ment (PACE) Program. For more informa on about being a volunteer, please see the following fact sheet: h p://dccoa.org/NPSPACE%20MCPS%20Volunteer%
20Partnership.pdf. March 2014 - Frontline
25
26
College of Charleston 2013 Young Alumna of the Year
LT Felder, Charles J. Baker, President of the Alumni Associa on (R) and George Benson (L) President, College of Charleston L T Stephanie Felder was chosen by the College of Charleston to receive the 2013 Young Alumna of the Year Award. The Young Alumna of the Year Award recognizes an alumna or alum‐
nus whose life has expressed the finest of College of Charleston tradi ons through service to church, community, or profession. The recipient must have been graduated within the last ten years. LT Felder was honored with this pres gious award due to her hard work and dedica on to helping Veterans and progres‐
sive movement in her social work career. LT Felder served as the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Coordinator for the Faye eville VA Medical Center, and appeared on NBC Nightly News, LA Times, NPR, and other local media sta ons advoca ng for ending homelessness among Veterans. She is currently sta oned at the Substance Abuse Mental Health Ser‐
vices Administra on (SAMHSA) and works in the Center for Mental Health Services FEMA Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program as a Program Project Officer. In addi on, LT Felder is working on her Doctorate in Social Work at The Catholic University of America, and her research focus is homeless female Veterans and understanding the role of trauma. LT Felder presented her latest research findings on homeless female Veterans at the USPHS Symposium in May 2013. The College of Charleston came to Rockville, Maryland in the early summer and concluded their visit in Faye eville, NC where they made a film of LT Felder at the Jubilee House, the only residence in Faye eville NC that accepts homeless female Veterans and children. LT Felder officially accepted the Young Alumna Award November 21, 2013 at the awards Gala in Charleston, SC. The film can be viewed at the following link h p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ywbF_h3A8c March 2014 - Frontline
27
In Memoriam
CAPT Kenneth C. Lynn, USPHS, (Ret.)
D r. Kenneth C. Lynn, a Logan County na ve and COA Life Member, passed away Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, at his home in Rockville, MD. He was born in Iron City, Ohio, on May 22, 1924, a son of the late Clyde L. and Grace S. Lynn. He a ended Bellefontaine schools through eighth grade and graduated from West Liberty High School in 1942. In 1947 he married Be ylu Hines of West Liberty. He made his home in Montgomery County, MD since 1957. He is survived by his wife, Be ylu and their two sons, Dr. Chris‐
topher K. (Elloise) of Holland, Ohio, and Dr. Nicholas J. (Lisa) of West End, N.C.; and brother‐in‐law, David D. (Anne) Hines of Springfield. An Ohio licensed embalmer and funeral director, he worked with his father at the Troyer‐Lynn Funeral Home (now Eich‐
holtz, Daring & Sanford) in West Liberty before entering dental school at The Ohio State University. in Sea le. During a 32‐year career as a Commissioned Dental Officer in the USPHS, Dr. Lynn saw service in the Division of Hospitals and Outpa ent Clinics, Office of the USPHS Surgeon General, Na onal Library of Medicine and the Na onal Ins ‐
tute of Dental Research, one of the Na onal Ins tutes of Health. At the NIDR, he was instrumental in developing online databases that improved coordina on and dissemina on of informa on to the research community at large. He received the USPHS Commenda on Medal in 1984 and the USPHS Meri‐
torious Service Medal in 1989. He was a World War II Army veteran with duty stops in China, Korea and Japan. He par cipated in many professional organi‐
za ons and was an invited member of the editorial board of the Journal of the History of Den stry. He was a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honorary and Beta Phi Mu library honorary. Dr. Lynn was an elder of the Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church. Upon gradua on in 1956, Dr. Lynn was selected for a rota ng internship at the United States Public Health Service Hospital 28
In Memoriam
CAPT Carnick A. Markarian, USPHS, (Ret.)
C aptain Carnick “Mark” Markarian, COA Life Member and one of a group of Public Health Service officers who helped develop the modern system of full use of Physician Assistants, passed away in Tampa, Florida on January 10, 2014 at age 88. Captain Markarian served in the US Navy in World War II and following his academic work at Bona‐
venture University he con nued his military career as an officer in the United States Air Force. He transferred to the United States Pubic Health Service and served its Commissioned Corps with dis nc on. He worked in a variety of assignments culmina ng in collabora on with the University of Washington and the Univer‐
sity of Hawaii where he worked with PHS physician, Captain Richard Smith, in the development of the MEDEX, an early US model for the current Physician Assistant. Captain Markarian was also a key member of the Public Health Service staff which in the early 1960s joined with the Staff Officers Associa on, a Merchant Marine purser officer’s union, to establish a Marine Physician Assistant Training Program at the Staten Island Pubic Health Service Hospital. The graduates of the program went on to serve on the US merchant ships as the on board health and medical care provider for the crews of those ships in addi on to their service as the ship’s purser. Following his re rement from the Commissioned Corps, Captain. Markarian worked with USAID in the establishment of clinical facili es in Africa. Upon reloca on to Tampa, Florida he established and managed a series of innova ve assisted living facili es in that area. Captain Markarian is survived by his wife of 61 years, Irene Linnehan Markarian and two daughters, Anne and Mary Markarian. Frequently Asked Questions
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. March 2014 - Frontline
29
(Legisla ve Update, cont’d. from p. 2) claim the tax exemp on. “Taxpayers have a reasonable duty to report accurately their tax liabili es,” the court said, and “to conduct their own research about the requirements of the law or consult with a tax professional.” The failure to do so “may cons ‐
tute negligence.” As in New Mexico, tax authori es in Arizona have taken steps to make clear they do not provide an income tax exemp on to PHS officers. A boxed statement in the 2012 instruc on booklet for taxpayers reads, “You may not subtract pay received for ac ve duty service as a member of the U.S. Public health Service or NOAA.” The boxed statement goes on to reference a two‐page 2010 ruling that says, “the subtrac on for armed forces personnel…does not apply to Arizona residents who are ac ve duty service members of the commissioned corps of the United States Public Health Service or the Na onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra on.” I am now hearing from Arizona officers who report they are being audited for tax year 2009. In a 2011 case involving a re red PHS den st in Oregon, state taxing authori es were especially unforgiving. Oregon has an income tax, but neighboring Washington State does not. Although the PHS officer cited many legi mate es to Washington State, Oregon’s tax court did not accept his claim of residency there. In fact, the court went so far as to hint that he was trying to game the system. Can the SCRA Help? Does the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA), as amended in 2003, provide protec on to PHS tax filers? The answer seems to be yes and no. The Defense Department’s website, www.dfas.mil, has a page that cer fies the ac ve‐duty military status of federal uniformed services personnel. Frontline reported on this promising development in its issue of December, 2012. We included instruc ons on how to access the website and obtain the two‐page cer fica on. COA members soon began repor ng success in a variety of contexts. Our own thinking was, if DoD is willing to cer fy PHS officers as “ac ve‐duty military,” who could possibly quibble? Arizona, it turns out. In its 2010 tax ruling, Arizona explicitly rejected the applicability of the federal SCRA statute. The state argued that “while the USPHS and NOAA are part of the uniformed services and are covered by the SCRA, they are not a part of the armed force of the United States.” But other states appear to be more accommoda ng. An exhaus vely researched paper published by the Los Angeles County Bar Associa on in November, 2012, argues that the SCRA’s income tax protec on is focused on preven ng “double taxa on” of service personnel who, because they move around so much, can find themselves in a tangled web of compe ng tax jurisdic ons. The paper’s author, Lt. Col. Evan M. Stone, serves as execu ve director of the Armed Forces Tax Council in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He writes that Sec on 571 of the SCRA “specifically protects service members from double state taxa on of income and personal property.” SCRA protec on was extended to spouses (including PHS spouses) of service members in 2009. But the SCRA is not intended to help service personnel escape state income taxes altogether, which the author calls “the double non‐taxa on issue.” In fact, the paper emphasizes that “states are within their authority to cri cally examine service members’ claims of SCRA‐protected, out‐of‐state domicile.” A trial a orney who handles SCRA ma ers in the U.S. Department of Jus ce informally told COA’s Cincinna Branch that nothing in the SCRA says that state taxing authori es must treat all seven federal uniformed services the same. What is one to make of all this? Unless the issue of double taxa on arises, or the SCRA (or MSRRA) is cited as the very reason for a state’s denial of a “military” tax exemp on, it would seem that PHS officers cannot look to that federal statue for help in this context. Want More Informa on? COA members who would like electronic copies of the documents referenced in this ar cle may e‐mail me at [email protected] with TAX PACKAGE in the subject line. COA does not have official, state‐specific informa on for most states. —Judy Rensberger 30
Welcome New COA Members
LCDR Jeremy K. Burtenshaw, Unaffiliated
LCDR Deborah L. Hastings, Unaffiliated
LT Russell A. Moore, Atlanta
LT Rosson Smith, Unaffiliated
LCDR Ann N. Truong, Oklahoma
LT Billita L. Williams, Tucson
(Re rees, cont’d. from p. 11) COA DONATION
CAPT G. Bryan Jones Attention COA Members &
Local Branches
maximum of $24,000 h p://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?
c=Document_C&cid=1178305482562&pagename=Revenue%
2FDocument_C%2FREVXAddLink . Thankfully, Massachuse s (h p://www.mass.gov/dor/docs/
dor/tax ps/seniors‐re rees.pdf),Wisconsinh p://www.reve‐
nue.wi.gov/faqs/pcs/re red.html#retr2) and Ohio (h p://
www.tax.ohio.gov/ohio_individual/individual/military_ tax_provisions.aspx) are three states that definitely allow PHS re rees to deduct their re rement pay from their taxable income. As in most of the country, this winter has been harsh in Ohio. I some mes think about re ring to a place with a warmer climate, like San Diego, where I spent part of my childhood. However, beginning this year, Ohio allowed PHS and NOAA re rees and their survivors to deduct their pensions from their state income tax. To quote the Be y Comden and Adolph Green musical Wonderful Town, “Oh, why Oh, why Oh” would “I leave Ohio?” Na onal COA thanks you for devo ng your me and efforts involved in submissions for COA Frontline publica ons. Please note that for all submissions for Frontline publica on, the required Guide‐
lines are available at www.coausphs.org, Members Only, Quicklink/Frontline. For Local Branches reques ng inclusion of an adver sement in Frontline, please be sure to provide the adver sement in PDF format, in adherence with the 15th day of the month deadline. GO GREEN by “Opting-Out” of your hard copy of the Frontline mailing online at COA’s
Members Only website - www.coausphs.org. COA Members receive monthly e-mail alerts
when Frontline becomes available online for reading!
31
The COA Frontline (ISSN 10937161) is published monthly except
a combined issue January/February and July/August by the
Commissioned Officers Association of the United States Public
Health Service, 8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Landover, MD
20785, (301) 731-9080; Toll-Free: (866) 366-9593; Fax: (301) 7319084; Periodicals Postage Paid at Hyattsville, MD and additional mailing offices.
COA Frontline
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COA Frontline c/o
Commissioned Officers Association, 8201 Corporate Drive,
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A report of timely information concerning activities of the
Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Distributed exclusively to Association Members.
Executive Director
Jerry Farrell
[email protected]
Program Assistant
Donna Sparrow
[email protected]
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John McElligott
[email protected]
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Erica Robinson
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Teresa Hayden Foley
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Judith Rensberger
[email protected]
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(888) 633-6459
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Frontline Editor
Malissa Spalding
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© 2014 Commissioned Officers Association
visit us: www.coausphs.org
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