December COA FL 14_Final Color

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VOL. 51, ISSUE 10 A
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Salus Populi Suprema Lex Este FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
50th Annual Scientific and
Training Symposium
T
hinking about
the 2015
Symposium
It’s not too early to
be thinking about
the 50th annual
USPHS Scientific
and Training Symposium, which will
take place in AtlanJames T. (Jim) Currie, ta from 18-21 May
PH.D Colonel, USA (Ret.) 2015. Our headquarters will be the
Atlanta Sheraton, and COA Deputy Executive Director John McElligott and I
have already visited it and determined
that it will provide a great venue for us.
We took the Atlanta subway from Hartsfield Airport, and it came within three
blocks of the Sheraton. At $2.50 per ride,
it is a genuine bargain and is quite easy
to use.
The theme of this year’s Symposium is
“Public Health Diversity: Succeeding in
a Flatter World.” (If you don’t think the
world is flat in a figurative sense, I urge
you to find a copy of Tom Friedman’s
2005 book The World Is Flat: A Brief
History of the 21st Century. I saw it on
Amazon this morning starting at one cent
for the hardback version. If you were
thinking otherwise about the world,
Friedman will almost certainly change
your mind and send you thinking in
another direction that is most relevant in
the world of public health professionals.)
(Executive Director, cont’d. on p. 20)
December 2014 2014—The Year in Review
A s we come to the end of 2014, your COA headquarters thought it might be interes ng to recap some of the events that have shaped the Commis‐
sioned Corps, the Public Health Service, and COA during the past twelve months. January ‐ Ac ng Surgeon General RADM Boris Lushniak joined 16th Surgeon General David Satcher, and COA Execu ve Direc‐
tor Jerry Farrell, in laying a wreath at the Arlington Cemetery gravesite of former Surgeon General Luther Terry, commem‐
ora ng the 50th anniversary of the re‐
lease of Terry’s “Report on Smoking and Health” in 1964. They were joined by members of the Terry family. ‐ The Commissioned Corps, having been brought into statutory existence in 1889, celebrated its 125th Anniversary. ‐ The Commissioned Corps became the first of the seven uniformed services to go smoke‐free while in uniform. ‐ Congress enacted legisla on that would have reduced the COLA benefit for re rees by one percent for those under the age of sixty‐two. The Military Coali on, of which COA is an ac ve member, was able to persuade the Congress to repeal this decrement, thus saving PHS re rees thousands of dollars. February ‐ The U.S. Senate Health, Educa on, Labor and Pensions Commi ee held a hearing on the nomina on of Dr. Vivek Murthy to become the 19th Surgeon General. The commi ee subse‐
quently voted 13‐9 to send Dr. Murthy’s nomina on to the full Senate for considera on. March ‐ The Na onal Rifle Associa on announced its opposi on to Dr. Murthy’s nomina on as Surgeon General. April ‐ Centers for Disease Control and Pre‐
ven on Director Dr. Thomas Frieden was announced as the COA Health Leader of the Year. ‐ Col. James T. Currie, USA (Ret.), Ph.D. assumed the posi on of Execu ve Direc‐
tor of the Commissioned Officers Associ‐
a on and the PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on for the Advance‐
ment of Public Health, succeeding CAPT Jerry Farrell, USN (Ret.), who had served in the posi on for almost thirteen years. ‐ Two members of Congress dra ed legisla on that would have excluded PHS re ree dependents from TRICARE cover‐
age for certain au sm treatments. A er considerable discussion with COA staff, the legisla on was changed prior to introduc on so that PHS re rees (as well as those of the Coast Guard and NOAA) were included. TRICARE subsequently agreed to provide such coverage without the need for legisla on. May ‐ Rep. Duncan Hunter (R‐CA) proposed an amendment to the FY 15 Na onal Defense Authoriza on Act (NDAA) that would prohibit the Secretary of Defense or the Military Service Secretaries from banning the sale of tobacco products in exchanges and commissaries. It was adopted by a 53‐9 vote in the House (2014, cont’d. on p. 23) 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.
Legislative Update
PHS (and the Acting Surgeon General) Shine
on Capitol Hill
B efore a Congressional oversight commi ee in a crowded hearing room on Capitol Hill, RADM Boris Lushniak, ac ng U.S. Surgeon General, provided House lawmakers with a de‐
tailed and compelling report of the Ebola response by PHS Commissioned Corps officers deployed to West Africa. The occasion was a November 18th hearing called by Rep. Tim Murphy (R‐PA), who chairs the Energy and Commerce Commi ee’s Subcommi ee on Oversight and Inves ga ons. Rep. Murphy said he wants to encourage “working together to break the chain of infec on.” RADM Lushniak, an invited witness, de‐
livered a five‐minute opening statement, then offered to take ques ons. PHS offic‐
ers “bring valuable skills and experience in providing culturally appropriate care in austere condi ons,” he said, “making the Corps a unique resource to combat Ebola.” He described the new 25‐bed 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/MHA@GW
$7500 scholarships to earn completely online, accredited Master of
Public Health and Master of Health
Administration degrees
Ribbon
Authorized to be worn on the PHS
uniform by members in good standing when attending COA functions.
2
RADM Boris D. Lushniak, USPHS Ac ng Surgeon General hospital in Liberia, which is managed and staffed by PHS officers. It is dedicated to the treatment of Ebola‐infected health care workers, including Liberian na on‐
als and medical volunteers in West Africa who are sponsored by other na ons and by interna onal charitable organiza ons. At the me RADM Lushniak tes fied, shortly a er the hospital’s opening, four Commissioned Officers Association
infected health care workers were being treated there. RADM Lushniak also used the opportunity to describe the Corps – “the only uniformed service of its kind in the world” – and its 125‐year history of figh ng infec ous diseases at home and abroad. He described the ered system of 41 response teams and noted that every ac ve‐duty PHS officer is assigned to an emergency response role. Over the past ten years, he said, the Corps has undertaken 15,000 deployments in support of nearly 500 dis nct missions and events. These have included human‐
itarian missions and mul ple responses to terrorist a acks, natural disasters, and infec ous disease epidemics. RADM Lushniak’s opening statement can be found on the COA website. Several subcommi ee members pressed the idea that anyone traveling from the three affected West African countries should be barred from entering the Unit‐
ed States. This issue arose again and again. At one point, a subcommi ee member directed the ques on to RADM Lushniak, referring to the ac ng U.S. Surgeon General as a “pure public health professional.” But RADM Lushniak sup‐
ported the public health posi on, which is that airport screening procedures now in place, along with other common‐
sense public health measures, are suffi‐
cient to keep America safe. The disap‐
pointed Congressman said he just didn’t see how screening, tracking, and moni‐
toring people could possibly be be er than keeping them out of the country in the first place. Panel members took sly digs at Ron Klain, the President’s choice to serve as (Legisla ve Update, cont’d. on p. 16) COA Chair’s Corner
Getting to Know Our COA Executive Director
O ur Execu ve Director, Colonel James T. Currie, (Ret.), has been with the COA for a mere eight months, and the moment he entered the COA head‐
quarter offices, he hit the ground running. Only two weeks into the job Jim had a le er to the editor published in The Washington Post commending Na onal's shortstop for his effort to quit tobacco use (April 10). Since then, he has wri en more than two dozen le ers to na onal newspapers and to agencies appealing for Corps visibility, raising awareness about the cri cal work we do in public CAPT Sara Newman, USPHS health, and advoca ng for parity for our officers. See all of his le ers on line at h p://
www.coausphs.org/legis.cfm. Thanks to Jim’s efforts, and the work of other COA staff, for the first me in our history the Commissioned Corps received coverage on 60 Minutes and was men oned on the front page of The Washington Post for our efforts in the Ebola response. As COA Chair, I have had the honor and pleasure of working with Jim and ge ng to know him. I have been astounded at how quickly he has go en to know the Corps. He communi‐
cates eloquently about our mission and can speak with specifici‐
ty about our history, our work, and our challenges. I asked Jim if I could interview him so I could dedicate my column to sharing what I learn about him with you. What this interview doesn’t capture is Jim’s calming and warm personality, and his great story telling ability, but I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about him and have the chance to meet him in person yourself. Jim is the oldest of three siblings and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. His father was a B‐17 pilot during WW II, and his mom was a secretary. He graduated from Ole Miss with a Sum‐
ma cum Laude BA in history and poli cal science and the Uni‐
versity of Virginia with an MA and PhD in history and poli cal science. He is also is a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Jim occupied the Bernard M. Baruch Chair of Na onal Security Studies at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces where he served as professor of poli cal science and na onal security studies. He taught history at Mississippi College and Jackson State University and was historian for the U.S. Department of Educa on and Associate Historian for the U.S. House of Representa ves. Jim was also director of federal rela‐
ons for the Na onal Associa on of State Treasurers. Jim has extensive experience on the Hill and with the media. He served as a legisla ve assistant to Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, Jr., and was press spokesman for the Senate Select Commi ee on Intelligence. Jim was also the moderator and host of the na onally‐broadcast TV program “America’s Army." Jim has authored three books, (Enclave: Vicksburg and Her Planta ons, 1863‐1870; The United States House of Representa‐
ves; and Twice the Ci zen: A History of the United States Army Reserve, 1908‐1995) and numerous ar cles. His op‐ed pieces have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post and other newspapers. Jim served 30 years combined ac ve and reserve duty with the Army and re red with the rank of colonel. Sara: What’s your favorite part of being COA Exec Director? Jim: This is going to sound hokey, but it is ge ng to know and working with the commissioned officers. This is a group of incredibly dedicated and highly‐trained professionals. I learn something new from every officer I meet, and it is a privilege and honor to learn about the incredible work they are doing on a daily basis and to have the opportunity to tell their story. Sara: What surprised you most about this job? Jim: How much we s ll need to educate both the general public and Congress about the Commissioned Corps. Sara: What's the hardest part of your job? Jim: The acronyms. To me a PAC is a poli cal ac on commi ee and a CPO is a chief personnel officer. But I'm learning! Sara: What do you like least about the job? Jim: There's seriously nothing I don't like. I love ge ng up every morning and coming to work. I enjoy everything about this job. Sara: What would you describe as your proudest accomplish‐
ment or milestone in your professional career? Jim: I hope it hasn't occurred yet; but thinking back, when I worked as a congressional staffer, I dra ed legisla on that became na onal law and policy. This was extremely rewarding. Sara: What would you describe as your proudest accomplish‐
ment or milestone in your personal life? Jim: Neither of my parents graduated from college, but they encouraged educa on in every form. They both were very proud of me when I finished my PhD. (COA Chair Corner, cont’d. on p. 19) December 2014 - Frontline
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Advancing public health and public health leadership for a healthier Na on.
Visit the Founda on online at www.phscof.org.
COF President’s Corner
Aloha and Hau’oli Lanui*
H awaii!! Just the name conjures up all types of beau ful scen‐
ery and island adventure and excitement. And, because “ s” the season RADM Robert C. Williams, to be merry and (Ret.), USPHS joyful, it reminds me of one of my favorite Christmases in Oahu with my extended Irish family. There is simply no way to describe all that we did and all that we saw – but to say, if you haven’t been, you really need to go. For those of you who really know me, you know I hate to fly, but what a “pot of gold” was realized at the end of 10 hours of flight! We were fortunate to have the “Moritsugu Travel Agency” provide some ps for side trips and great eateries. And, because the military presence is large and expansive, there are many opportuni es to use government beaches and facili es across the islands. I men on Christmas in Hawaii because it has great memories but also I have al‐
ways found the holidays in general to be a me for relaxa on and reflec on. At this me of year, I tend to think of all my blessings and what a difference they have made in my life. And, I am also reflec ng on the blessings of the Commissioned Corps. Those on ac ve duty, as well as those of us re red, are blessed with a vibrant and totally dedicated Commissioned Corps family. This is never more evident than when there is great public health need. At all mes, but especially at those mes, our Corps runs towards the danger and delivers. We insert our‐
selves into situa ons where few would accept the challenge no ma er the money and, most o en, we volunteer to go. As I write this we have a team in Liberia standing up and manning a 25‐
bed hospital for Ebola pa ents. What courage and devo on to public health! Ask your non‐PHS neighbors and friends if they would go. Not many, if any, will say, yes. But this team has gone not fully knowing what the assignment will bring. You have seen the news about frightened Americans who shun those who returned from West Africa or have a family member who travelled there months ago. Yet, these brave PHS offic‐
ers deployed to Liberia with no thought of what might await them upon their return. These officers ran toward a public health danger – to me and you and the people of West Africa they are a blessing. We are also blessed with great leadership. I believe this to be true throughout the Corps at all levels, but here I am talking about the top levels. Our ac ng deputy Surgeon General, RADM Sco Giberson, is in Liberia with the team. Definitely a “talk the talk and walk the walk” type of leader. Our ac ng Surgeon General, RADM Boris Lushniak, con nues to amaze with his bold and deliberate insistence to place public health at the forefront of policy discussions. He is not only courageous, but highly influen al as well. My 93‐
year‐young neighbor, a World War II veteran and former federal employee, who has no use for the government at all, knows that the current Surgeon General is talking about the dangers of skin cancer, and my neighbor is heeding the call. Even more so, have you no ced that “enough is enough” is being used by many to describe frustra ons with pre‐
ventable diseases if not the health care system in total? Personally, I have always been annoyed with the label “ac ng.” People, who don’t know, tend to think that “ac ng” implies a lack of influence, authority, and determina on. Hardly the case for these two outstanding officers. We in the Corps, and we of this Na on, are truly blessed to have leaders such as these. This brings me to the folks who are relessly working on behalf of the Com‐
missioned Corps who aren’t always recognized for doing so and are some‐
mes even forgo en. I’m speaking of our wonderful COA/COF Execu ve Director, Deputy Director, and en re staff. Even if you never read “Frontline,” which I hope you do from cover to cover, you can see their presence and hear their words. Their efforts are evident on Capitol Hill as they remind Congress that there is a Corps and that public health ma ers. Their efforts are visible with the military as they press for ending the sale of tobac‐
co products and the use of tobacco prod‐
ucts. Their influence is notable in the media, the ar cles in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other “poli cally influen al news outlets,” who have never seen a reason to men on, let alone praise the Commissioned Corps, are now doing so with regularity. These things don’t just happen. They happen because of caring, compassionate, and devoted individuals who go way beyond the mere “running” of an organiza on to embrace the Corps and become the (President’s Corner, cont’d. on p. 8) 4
Commissioned Officers Association
Annual Symposium
Registration Open for USPHS Symposium in Atlanta on May 18-21, 2015
R egister today for the 50th annual USPHS Scien fic and Training Symposium. This year’s event will be bigger and be er than ever with more con nuing educa on, networking, and a endees! Visit h p://symposium.phscof.org/ for all of the details. Agenda Highlights:




The conference kicks off Monday a ernoon with opening ceremonies, the Luther Terry Lecture and more. Monday evening will feature the annual Anchor and Caduceus Dinner with more fun and less talk! Tuesday is Category Day featuring lively and robust agendas. Visit the web page for your category and learn more. Wednesday and Thursday will focus on the Exhibit Hall, track sessions, keynotes and more. We wrap up mid‐day Thursday with a closing keynote by the Ac ng Surgeon General. Hotel Rooms
The hotel room block at the Sheraton is almost sold out. Overflow hotels will be available. Exhibitors/Sponsors
There are again many great opportuni es to exhibit or sponsor this year. Learn more on the web site and sign up now! Pre‐Conference Events:

Join us Sunday May 17 for the popular Leadership Workshop and the Re rement Seminar. Sea ng is limited for both. Sign up when you register.  Monday morning we are again offering several half‐day pre‐conference workshops. Don’t miss out! Register today!! RADM Helene Gayle, (Ret.) CEO, CARE USA RADM James Curran, (Ret.) Dean, Emory Rollins School of Public Health Dr. Valerie Montgomery‐Rice President, Morehouse School of Medicine RADM Boris Lushniak Ac ng Surgeon General December 2014 - Frontline
Dr. Karen DeSalvo Ac ng Assistant Secretary for Health 5
Annual Symposium
T he Planning Commi ee for the 2015 USPHS Scien fic & Training Symposium invites interested par es to submit an abstract for considera on for presenta on at the conference. The theme for the 2015 Symposium is “Public Health Diversity: Succeeding in a Fla er World.” Accepted abstracts will be selected for a 30‐minute oral presenta on as part of a themed track session presented on Wednesday, May 20 or Thursday, May 21. The commi ee seeks abstracts that provide an opportunity for those engaged at all levels and se ngs of 6
public health to share innova ve and effec ve best prac‐
ces and research. Abstracts should iden fy how the presenta on will improve the competence or perfor‐
mance of the a endees or improve public health or clini‐
cal outcomes. Any topics falling within the scope of the overall theme or sub‐themes will be considered. The top‐
ics listed under each track are intended to s mulate your thinking not limit it! Visit h p://symposium.phscof.org/speaker‐informa on for details on the tracks and to submit. Commissioned Officers Association
Commissioned Officers Foundation
Acknowledges Donations Received October 16-November 15, 2014
FOUNDERS BRONZE (cont’d.) District of Columbia Branch^^ CAPT Carl E. Miller, (Ret.) CAPT Helen L. Myers, (Ret.) CDR Kimthoa T. Nguyen RADM Paul J. Seligman, (Ret.) CAPT Hyosim Seon‐Spada, (Ret.) CAPT William D. Wallis, (Ret.) GOLD RADM Ward B. Hurlburt, (Ret.) SILVER CAPT Amy C. Barkin, (Ret.) CDR Sandra G. Magera^^^ CAPT Barbara A. Sloop, (Ret.)^ CAPT Charles P. White, (Ret.) BRONZE CAPT Michael J. Kopcho 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
FRIENDS CAPT George A. Durgin, Jr. CAPT John J. Henderson, (Ret.) CDR James L. Kenney, III CAPT Peter J. Kowalski CAPT Charlo e A. Spires Visit www.phscof.org/giving to
donate online today!
^C. Evere Koop Living Legacy ^^Dependent Scholarship Program Fund ^^^Emerging Leaders Scholarship Fund Oldest Living WWII Veteran Hears USPHS Choral Ensemble Performance at the
National WWII Memorial
By CDR Ge e Audain, CDR Tessa Brown, LT Erin Griffiths, and LCDR Molly Rutledge, USPHS USPHS Choral Ensemble O ur Surgeon General, RADM Boris Lushniak proudly efers to the United States Public Health Service Music Ensemble as the “Surgeon General’s Own.” This high profile group shares the dis nc on with their sister Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines Ceremonial Bands and Choruses. In Washington, DC, 26 July 2014, the USPHS Choral Ensemble shared their gi of music to honor the memories of the “Greatest Genera on” at the Na onal WWII Memorial for their 4th annual performance. For the last four years, PHS has joined their sister services in performing at this summer concert series. This year’s performance was dedicated to the oldest living female military veteran, 108‐
year‐old Sergeant Lucy Coffey, who served in WWII in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. In addi on to the Sergeant Lucy Coffey WWII Memorial, her visit culminated with a trip to the White House to personally meet President Barak Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, and she was inducted into the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. A surprise visitor during the concert was 91‐year‐old Senator Bob Dole who also served in WWII and who led the successful fund‐raising campaign to build the World War II Memorial. This momentous occasion was witnessed by an audience, which included WWII veterans, tourists, ac ve and re red uniformed (WWII Veteran, cont’d. on p. 15) December 2014 - Frontline
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COF President’s Corner,
cont’d. from p. 3)
embodiment of what public health is all about. I am thankful that we have blessings such as each and every one of them. Take the me this holiday season to reflect on these and your many other blessings. Hug your families and friends. Tell them you appreciate them and their support which enables you do to the very im‐
portant public health work you do. Remind yourself to take a li le me to relax and enjoy the season. Even if you aren’t in Hawaii, there is beauty and tran‐
quility surrounding you – just sit back and enjoy! Most of all, thank you all for being a part of a great public health organiza on and allowing those of us on the COA and COF Boards to con nue to address the issues that help make the Commissioned Corps strong. Yours in public health, Lopaka** Bob Williams, P.E., DEE RADM, USPHS (Ret.) President PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on * How my Hawaiian friends say “hello” and “Happy Holidays” ** What my Hawaiian friends call me (Robert) Author Mike Stobbe to Speak at USPHS
Symposium
R ead the book so many are talking about. Check out the controversial recommenda ons the author shares about the future of the Surgeon General. COA members can receive a 30% discount on journalist Mike Stobbe’s new book. Use discount code 14W5566 at the online checkout. Addi onal informa on about the book is available online. COA staff have read the book and carefully reviewed the author’s sugges on of doing away with the posi on of Surgeon Gen‐
eral. We reject his conclusion and look forward to hearing the author’s argument as the Luther Terry lecturer during the Anchor and Caduceus Dinner at the Symposium in Atlanta. Join us for a discussion about the value of the Surgeon General to improve public health. "Mike Stobbe's history of the U.S. Surgeon General is more than a grand tour of American medicine. It is a though ul and engaging analysis of what the Surgeons General did and do while pursuing the not always so straight line of advancing the public's health." — Howard Markel, M.D., Ph.D., The University of Michigan Mike Stobbe is a na onal medical correspondent for The Associated Press and is based in New York City. He covers the CDC and writes on a range of health and medical topics. He has a doctorate in public health policy and administra on from the University of North Carolina. Share this Special Offer with Your Non-COA Colleagues
8
Commissioned Officers Association
By James T. (Jim) Currie, Ph.D Colonel, USA (Ret.) COA/COF Execu ve Director Letter to the Editor: Surgeons General aren’t always
‘nannies’
Army Times
November 3, 2014 By The Washington Times — Tuesday, October 21, 2014
T he Washington Times’ recent editorial “Ebola crisis needs more than a bureaucrat czar” (Web, Oct. 19) missed the mark in several ways, though the cri cism of the appointment of a Democra c poli cal opera ve as this country’s “Ebola czar” is on target. First, I disagree with the asser on that the surgeon general is “more a nanny than a general, more public‐rela ons flack for the administra on than a surgeon.” If you think Surgeon Gen‐
eral Luther Terry, who issued the first “Report on Smoking and Health” 50 years ago, was being a “nanny,” then we have different defini ons of “nanny.” Adult smoking rates have declined in the past 50 years from 42 percent to 12 percent, saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year. If you think that reducing the incidence of a disease such as skin cancer (melanoma), which kills 9,000 Americans every year and costs $8.1 billion to treat, cons ‐
tutes being a “nanny,” then we again define that word differently. Poin ng out avoidable health risks to the American public is a worthy undertaking for any surgeon general and does not by any stretch of the imagina on fall into the category of what one might term “nannyism.” Not all surgeons general have been as effec ve as Terry, but the blanket indictment of the men and women who have held that office since 1889 is unworthy of a newspaper such as The Washington Times. As for the current surgeon general and his response to Ebola, I have only to remind readers that 65 of the officers under his command in the Public Health Service are being deployed to Liberia where they, not personnel of the Department of Defense, will be the only U.S. government medical personnel directly trea ng Liberians with Ebola. These officers, all vol‐
unteers, are risking their lives to help end the Ebola epidemic in West Africa before it can spread here in numbers greater than ones and twos. This is the leadership of ac ng Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, who believes that you can fight lung cancer, skin cancer and Ebola at the same me. James T. Currie Execu ve Director Commissioned Officers Associa on of the U.S. Public Health Service Landover, MD COA Testimony Submitted to Senate Appropriations Committee
I n response to an invita on from commi ee staff, COA recently submi ed Tes mony‐for‐the‐Record (h p://www.coausphs.org/
documents/Tes mony_US_Senate_Appropria ons_Commi ee_November_2014_2.pdf) to the Senate Appropria ons Commi ee, which held a 12 November hearing on “U.S. Government Response: Figh ng Ebola and Protec ng America.” The COA Legisla on & Benefits Commi ee has a Policy Agenda item calling for budget autonomy for OSG, and we think that the $5 million in training funds requested in this tes mony is a good start toward such. We also used the tes mony as an opportunity to educate Senators and Senate staff as to what the PHS Commissioned Corps is and how it has responded to public health emergencies in this country. ‐Jim Currie December 2014 - Frontline
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10
Commissioned Officers Association
COA Branch Activities
Greater New York Marches in New York City Veterans Day Parade
By LCDR Amy Constan ne, LCDR Lia e Krueger, and LCDR Stephen Mo ola, USPHS O n November 11, 2014, 35 Public Health Service officers marched in the 95th Annual New York City Veterans Day Parade. The event was hosted by the Greater New York Branch of COA (NYCOA), and was a ended by PHS officers from all over the United States including New York, New Jer‐
sey, New England, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District of Colombia and Virginia. This year RADM Helena Mishoe, Director for the Office of Research Training and Minority Health for the Na onal Ins ‐
tutes of Health, served as the VIP. RADM Mishoe received her PhD in microbiology from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, in 1981, and MPH degree in 2002 at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine. She was commissioned in 1990 and promoted to Chief Professional Officer for the Scien st Category in August of 2005. RADM Mishoe was a guest in the reviewing stand with flag officers from other services and proudly marched alongside the PHS officers. The theme for this year’s Parade was LAND OF THE FREE / HOME OF THE BRAVE, in honor of the 200th Anniversary of the wri ng of the “Star Spangled Banner” (1814 ~ 2014). The Parade honors all eras and branches of service, with the U.S. Marine Corps as this year’s Featured Service Branch. This is the fourth year that the PHS Commissioned Corps as well as the Commissioned Officers Associa on were represented in the NYC Veterans Day Parade. Under the cadence of Commander Andrew Chen, the officers marched up Manha an’s Fi h Avenue and onto the red carpet sprawled out by the reviewing stand in front of the New York Public Library and were then announced and displayed on na onal television while they were cheered by patrio c spectators! The Veterans Day Parade Subcommi ee members within the Greater NYCOA Visibility & Marke ng Commi ee worked hard in prepara on for Greater New York’s par cipa on in this Veterans Day Parade. Invita ons were sent out to all Chief Professional Officers (CPOs), Flag officers, Commissioned Corps Liaisons, as well as COA Branch Presidents na onwide. This same commi ee developed and designed the USPHS/COA Banner and Unit flag as well as coordinated RADM Mishoe’s i nerary. Volunteers from our Photojournalism Subcommi ee and other par cipants who marched with us provided many photos of our day’s journey up 5th Avenue while marching proudly in the parade. Many thanks to every single volunteer and par cipant who helped to make the 95th Annual New York City Veterans Day Parade a really great day and lovely memory for all. December 2014 - Frontline
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COA Branch Activities
Heart of America COA Branch Works to End Hunger at Harvesters' Community
Food Network
By CDR Kevin Tracy, USPHS H arvesters' Community Food Network is a centralized food collec on and distribu on facility that provides food and household products to agencies serving peo‐
ple in need. In 2013, Harvesters distributed more than 42.3 million pounds of food in a 26‐county service area in northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas. To assist Harvesters in fulfilling its mission of "Feeding hungry people today, Working to end hunger tomorrow," Heart of (L to R) LT Vu, LT Blakeslee, LCDR Huffman, CDR Tracy, CDR Gilliam, LCDR Palmer, CDR Jones, USPHS America COA members CDR Lisa Gilliam, CDR Kevin Tracy, CDR (Heart of America, cont’d. on p. 13) 12
Commissioned Officers Association
COA Branch Activities
(Heart of America, cont’d. from p. 12) Shary Jones, LCDR Melva Palmer, LCDR Carl Huffman, LT Francis Vu, LT Clare Blakeslee and five family members volun‐
teered for Harvesters' BackSnack program. The BackSnack program provides a weekly backpack filled with nutri ous, child‐friendly food for schoolchildren to take home over the weekend. On November 6, 2014, the team of 12 people worked a combined 25 hours with other volunteers to package, seal, box and label an es mated 1,000 BackSnacks. LT Blakeslee CDR Jones, CDR Tracy LCDR Huffman, CDR Gilliam Do You Want To Help Your
Fellow Service Members?
Y our help is needed in a research study! The purpose is to create a norma ve database of healthy Service Members for comparison to studies with injured Service Members. The benefits include providing more informa on about your overall health and contribu ng to improved diagnosis and treatment of concussion. You may be eligible if:  you are a Service Member 18‐50 years old  you have never had a concussion or blast injury over the course of six months,  you are available for about 14 hours for in‐person and phone sessions For more informa on, please contact the Brain Assessment Research Laboratory at (301) 219‐1687 or BARL‐ggg@usuhs.edu. December 2014 - Frontline
13
USPHS Cheers at 39th Annual Marine Corps Marathon
By LCDR Anna Park and CDR Quynh M. Nguyen, USPHS DC COA Members par cipate in 39th Annual Marine Corps Marathon O n October 26, 2014, more than 30,000 par cipants from the United States and around the world took part in the 39th Annual Marine Corps Marathon. In support of their fellow USPHS officers and all the race par cipants, the Commissioned Officers Associa on, District of Columbia Metropolitan Area Branch (DC COA) organized a team of 14 USPHS officers plus their family and friends to enthusias cally cheer on all the runners. The Marine Corps Marathon has a rich history and a mission “to promote physical fitness, generate community goodwill and showcase the organiza onal skills of the United States Marine Corps.” The first marathon was held on November 7, 1976, with 1,175 par cipants. Today, it is the fourth largest marathon in the country and the ninth largest in the world.1 It is also known as the “People’s Marathon” and the “Marathon of the Monu‐
ments.”1,2 The race begins in Arlington, Virginia, passes through many famous scenic areas and monuments in Virginia and the District of Columbia, and ends at the Marine Corps War Memo‐
rial in Arlington, Virginia. Some of these great scenic views include Georgetown, Rock Creek Parkway, the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Memorial, the Mar n Luther King, Jr. Na onal Memorial, the Na onal Mall, the Washington Monument, the Na onal World War II Memorial, and Arlington Na onal Cemetery.2 The goal of the USPHS volunteers was to show their support and encouragement for the race par cipants as they took up the challenge to complete the 26.2‐mile race. The cheer team lined the street along the race path near mile marker 18 on the Na onal Mall, which can be a challenging point in the race for many compe tors. The USPHS cheerers were thus posi oned at this stretch to give the runners an extra boost of morale. The cheer team waved their USPHS and American flags proudly, applauded loudly, and rang their noisemakers non‐stop to let the par cipants know that they were not alone in their race to the finish line. In addi on to suppor ng their fellow USPHS officers as well as all the marathoners, this event also promoted PHS visibility and esprit de corps. LT Dana Robison, a fellow USPHS officer running in the race, expressed her gra tude to the cheer team “for giv‐
ing [her] a much‐needed burst of energy at mile 18!” She shared, “I was really ge ng red by that point, and I was so excited to see all of you and the PHS flags! In fact – a fellow runner came up to me a er the race (I was wearing my PHS shirt) to tell me that she was impressed with the PHS cheer area. She didn’t recognize the flag (or know of PHS) but had to read it because you all had such a presence.” Many other runners also acknowledged their apprecia on as they passed by the USPHS cheerers with apprecia ve smiles, high‐fives, and words of thanks. The drive and perseverance of the marathon par cipants were truly inspiring and mo vated the USPHS volunteers to cheer even louder as a group. This event also gave USPHS officers in the local area a great opportunity to network with each other in a fun way. Thank you to all the USPHS officers, family members, and friends for energe cally cheering on this year’s Marine Corps Marathon par cipants to the finish line. References: 1
h p://www.marinemarathon.com/MCM_Vault/MCM_History.htm 2
h p://www.marinemarathon.com/MCM_Runner_Info/Course_details.htm Follow COA on Facebook
and Twi er @coausphs
14
Commissioned Officers Association
APOAC celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
By LCDR Eric Zhou and LCDR Karen Chaves, USPHS I (L‐R) LCDR Karen Chaves (Vice Presi‐
dent of APAOC); CDR M. Liza Linden‐
berg, LCDR Eric Zhou, and CDR Fei Xu (WWII Veteran, cont’d. from p. 7) n observance of May as Na onal Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, APAOC members par cipated the annual Ethnic Food Fair held at the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland on May 21. The food fair was a ended by over 100 visitors and employees who enjoyed a variety of Asian foods from local restaurants, Asian‐style accessories, and nice weather. A endees also took part in hands‐on ac vi es such as origami‐making and learned about professional organiza ons and community health groups. APAOC members, CDR M. Liza Lindenberg, CDR Fei Xu, LCDR Karen Chaves (Vice‐president of APOAC), LCDR Eric Zhou, and LT Xinzhi Zhang of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps volunteered during the event. During the food fair, APAOC members answered inquiries from par cipants on career opportuni es in USPHS. The event not only honored the culture, tradi ons and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, but also ac vely fostered the recruitment, career development and advancement of AAPIs in the USPHS. service personnel, from their families, and friends. Our Surgeon General, RADM Boris Lushniak was the Master of Ceremonies and CDR Michael Ahmadi and LCDR James Trinidad led the Choral Group. This year’s program featured a soloist from the US Marine Corps Band who sang the Na onal Anthem, a bugler who played ‘Taps,’ and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard” that presented the Colors, all well‐deserving of media coverage from WJLA, a local ABC news affiliate. Out of 11 songs celebra ng pride and the sacrifices of our Na on’s service members, the members of the Choral Ensemble honored our veterans with a majes c a cappella rendi on of the same spiritual song sung at the Surgeon General Evere Koop’s 2013 memorial service, “Mansions of the Lord.” There was not a dry eye within earshot of the memorial. The WWII Memorial opened April, 2004. It is a 7.4‐acre memorial site built with 17‐foot granite pillars represen ng 56 States and U.S. Territories, and bronze sculpture monuments, with surrounding fountains and waterfalls, including a historic Rainbow Pool with waterworks centered in the heart of Washington, DC. Through dedicated leadership, perseverance and hard work, the USPHS Ensemble has been in existence for nearly 15 years with currently 75 officers volunteering throughout the Na on. Each performance has a unique aspect impac ng the visibility of USPHS. Ensemble officers throughout the na on serve as outstanding ambassadors and representa ves of the Commissioned Corps. Are you interested in contribu ng your musical, technical, and/or administra ve skills to the Ensemble? More informa on can be found at www.PHSensemble.org. About the Authors:
CDR Audain is the Chair of the USPHS Communica on Subcommi ee, 2014‐2016. She established the Publica on Team to increase visibility and awareness of the “Surgeon General’s Own” through informa ve ar cles of annual event performances with na onal impact. CDR Brown, LT Griffiths, and LCDR Rutledge are members of the four‐member Publica on Team. December 2014 - Frontline
15
(Legisla ve Update, cont’d. from p. 2) “Ebola Czar” and help coordinate the “whole‐of‐government” response to the Ebola outbreak. They ques oned whether a lawyer with no background in public health or infec ous disease control could add much in the way of emergency response coordina on. opportunity to rest and reconnect with family and friends, providing support, and thanking them for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of our Na on and the peoples of West Africa.” He also took a moment to tell Congressional overseers how very proud he is of the PHS Commissioned Corps and its Ebola response. I think we all share that sen ment. Well done. ‐Judy Rensberger RADM Lushniak concluded his own remarks by saying, “We look forward to welcoming home our personnel who are returning from West Africa, giving them the COA extends acknowledgement to authors CAPT Liza Figueroa and CDR Sandra Oquendo for the November COA Frontline’s (Volume 51, Issue 9) lead story, Unaccompanied Children Mission (UC) ‐ Service Access Team Deploy to McAllen, TX and Nogales, AZ 16
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please visit the COA Members Only website
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Commissioned Officers Association
PHS Officers and Families Get Active: State and Federal Parks
By LCDR Sara Anderson, USPHS I ni ally, I just looked for the white ones and never the black ones. Un l, I learned what I should really be looking for are the black ones. Miocene fossils (23.03 to 5.332 million years ago) of the Western Shore of Maryland, including shark’s teeth, turn dark with oxida on. I head out from Washington, DC, to Mary‐
land’s Western Shores’ State Parks to get fresh air, indulge in a hobby, and that awful, dirty word “exercise.” As I walk out to the beaches via nature trails, I get sunshine, and non‐ci fied oxygen. I take great joy that I might leave with a croco‐
dile scute, prehistoric dolphin tooth, Indian arrowhead or bead in my pocket. CDR Amy Webb, one of the leaders of the Federal Nursing Strategic Plan’s Imple‐
CDR Webb’s son, Owen, at the peak of Kachina, an menta on Team (h p://phs‐nurse.org/PHSNurseStrategicPlan/), takes full outstanding accomplishment, 12, 481 . of a trans‐
advantage of State and Na onal Parks near her home in New Mexico, Colorado & verse hike‐up. Kachina Peak is near the Taos Arizona. She o en mountain bikes there on weekends. Her son, an accomplished Peublo, Indian Health Service Clinic in New Mexico. skier, trains by biking in State and Na onal parks. States CDR Webb: “We spend most every weekend from May to October in our local parks with access to downhill mountain‐biking and even skiing in the summer on Palmer Glacier in Oregon. November to April, we ski in places like Lake Tahoe or Wolf Creek.” Unfortunately, many of her son’s local friends can’t keep up with his fitness levels so he travels with his parents on their outdoor adventures where he meets new friends who also enjoy the local mountains. CDR Webb shares: “Making sure that my child understands and has learned at a young age to be able to recognize the beauty of the outdoors is what we have ins lled in him. Even now, while biking, he will want to stop and listen to how beau ful the sounds of nature are.” CDR Webb es in her love of nature to the Federal Nursing Preven on Strategic Plan: “The health ini a ves in‐
clude emo onal well‐being, healthy ea ng, smoke free living, and heart healthy. We work to keep ourselves healthy by ea ng
well, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising frequently, and improving our resilience to meet the challenges ahead. I am
proud to be raising my son with the same goals in mind.” In my state of Maryland, there are up to 66 state parks which offer many endless recrea onal opportuni es from canoeing, kayaking and fishing, to hiking, biking and camping in many scenic natural areas. Reports Barbara Knisely, Personnel Officer for the Maryland Park Service: “As tourist des na ons, Maryland State Parks offer much more than natural spaces. Significant cultural and historical sites are preserved and protected within many park boundaries. State parks also foster environmental stewardship, through outdoor educa on and recrea on programs, as well as public involvement from thousands of volunteers who assist and support our services and programs.” Knisely further comments: “The Maryland Park Service recognizes the service provided to ci zens of the State of Maryland by members of the Maryland Na onal Guard and the United States Military. As a gesture of thanks, any member of the Maryland Na onal Guard, and all ac ve duty military personnel, who display their ac ve duty military iden fica on card to the gate a endant at any Maryland State Park day‐use area will have their service charge waived. The waiver is valid for the military iden fi‐
ca on card holder only. No other facility use service charges are waived. The service charge is not waived when honor systems or coin‐operated gates are in use.” I smile knowing that some of my favorite local deployments (Na onal Mall Independence Day Celebra on, Na onal Cherry Blossom Fes val) have been on the Na onal Mall with the U.S. Na onal Park Service. Their staff shared with me stories of tourists who get bi en a emp ng to pet or feed the local squirrels. They have told me also about the den of foxes who live near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Luckily, we only had to treat one squirrel bite. Note: According to frequently asked ques ons on the COA website, it states: “The policy of the Na onal Park Service is to deny free military passes to PHS Commissioned Corps officers. COA has asked to have this policy changed to provide free passes to all seven uniformed services but, thus far, our request has been rebuffed. The policy is not enforced uniformly at all na onal parks and some officers have, on occasion, been able to obtain a free ‘military’ pass.” I have been able to get reduced and free admissions at several of my state parks in Maryland. (Get Ac ve, cont’d. on p. 21) December 2014 - Frontline
17
PHS Strong!
By LT Danny Benbassat, USPHS I n 1915, the Norwegian Military wanted to improve the mobility of infantrymen. They trained soldiers to march long‐distances with gear and equipment. The training became a tradi on known as the Norwegian Foot March. The march requires infantry soldiers to march 18.6 miles (30 km) with a 25‐pound rucksack and regula on combat boots. Those that successfully com‐
plete the march are awarded with a special skill badge. In the United States, the Norwegian Foot March (NFM) is sponsored by the Norwegian Military A aché's Office and hosted by the United State Army. Upon successful comple on, Army soldiers are approved to wear the for‐
eign military decora on on the Army Service Uniform (ASU). The special skill badge has three levels: bronze, silver, and gold. To earn the silver badge soldiers must complete the march in the allo ed me. To qualify for the silver badge, soldiers must complete four marches. The gold badge is awarded a er successful comple on of eight marches. The 13th Annual NFM was held in Evansville, IN on 1 November, 2014. It was hosted by the University of Southern Indiana's ROTC program and sponsored by Dr. Nils Johansen, a re red Norwegian ar llery reserve officer. The event a racted over 500 cadets and soldiers from 34 states and the District of Columbia. Repre‐
sen ng the Commissioned Corps were ten officers from diverse backgrounds and experience levels. CAPT Dando, a PHS officer from IHS, was the senior ranking NFM par cipant. PHS Categories and Agencies Represented
Category
HSO, Pharmacy, Scien st, Therapist
Agency
BOP, DCCPR, FDA, IHS, SAMHSA, USCG
18
Training for the NFM started months prior to the event. Surviving the cut required physical and mental for tude. Those that made it to the star ng line had to face ex‐
tremely cold temperatures, relentless 19‐28 mph winds, and long uphill climbs. The thought of qui ng crept into the minds of the fi est. At the end, not one PHS officer boarded the fall‐out van, be er known as the "van of shame." Ten PHS officers lined up at the star ng line and ten crossed the finish line a er comple ng the course within the allo ed me. Just for perspec ve, consider that more than 100 soldiers finished the march over the allo ed me and 200 soldiers did not finish the march or were a no‐show. In fact, the official results show that, of the 500+ par ci‐
pants, individual PHS officers ranked— 1st in Male 55‐59 division 1st in Female 35‐42 division 3rd in Male 43‐49 division 13th in Male 35‐42 division 38th overall In addi on to the fitness triumph, the PHS achieved a public rela ons triumph. The drop of ODU‐blue in the sea of Army soldiers triggered a lot of interest. That interest translated to conversa ons about the Commis‐
sioned Corps mission, values, and current deployment. All told, par cipa on in the NFM increased the visibility of the Commissioned Corps and reaffirmed officer commitment to physical fitness. Congratula ons to the first Commissioned Corps officers (PHS Strong, on p. 21) Commissioned Officers Association
COA Chair’s Corner, cont’d. from p. 3
Sara: Who do you most admire and why? Jim: Through my study of history, I have found there are many, many leaders I admire. Yet even those I most admire for one qual‐
ity also have flaws. I have a high regard for people who stand up for what they believe to be right and help to make the world a be er place and who may take risks to protect people who can't protect themselves. No one is perfect, so I choose the quali es I admire in the many people I learn about and strive to adopt those quali es. Sara: What was it like growing up in Jackson, Mississippi? Jim: I was a child who grew up in the deep South in the 1950’s and 1960’s. A tudes around me were unacceptable, including racism. I was a product of that environment ‐‐ my school, my church, my parents. What changed me was my passion for history, and delving into history taught me that much of what I learned in school, in church, and at home was wrong. It was because of this that I became a historian. Sara: Tell us about your family. Jim: I have been married for 31 years to someone I met at the US Department of Educa on when it was being newly formed. I was part of a group that answered le ers to the new Secretary of Educa on, and a secretary in the Secretary's office, Janis, said that I was not answering the le ers fast enough, so I decided I needed to meet her. She is now a senior team leader at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corpora on. We have one child Ma , who is working on a doctorate to become a clinical psychologist. He's 6” 7” and lived in Tokyo for three summers, learning to speak Japanese. Sara: What is your favorite hobby or ac vity? Jim: I am a total geek. I collect historical manuscripts. In par cular, I collect free frank hand‐signed Congressional mail. (A Free Frank signature was used on 18th and 19th Century Congressional correspondence in lieu of a stamp. Today that signature is printed on the envelope, but 125 years ago you had the actual signature.) I have 500 of them from leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster. Collec ng free franks enables me to connect with these people, as they actually touched these le ers and envelopes. I also collect historical le ers. I have one le er wri en by Anna Freud‐‐ Sigmund Freud’s youngest daugh‐
ter‐‐ in which she says, in responding to a request for biographical informa on a er the release of her book on child psychiatry, that there is nothing interes ng about her life. Imagine, Sigmund Freud’s daughter saying there is nothing interes ng about her life. The le er was wri en in 1937, in English, in her own handwri ng, before she and her family fled Austria. Sara: What are you reading now? Jim: I'm reading Winston Churchill’s six volumes on the Second World War. I have found very few authors who write be er than he, and I like reading well‐wri en prose. Sara: What's your favorite movie? Jim: “Dr. Strangelove” from 1964. Most of you were not born when this came out, but it stars Peter Sellers, George C. Sco , Slim Pickens and James Earl Jones, in what I believe was his first movie role. Sara: If we are si ng here a year from now celebra ng what a great year it's been for you in this role, what did we achieve together? Jim: We would have a congressional public health caucus up and running, we would have brought enough recogni on to the Commissioned Corps that when an officer told someone that he/she is in USPHS, the response would be, "wow, that's fantas c!" and we would have educated both members of Congress and their staff and members of the Department of Health and Human Services on the unparalleled and unequal value that the Commissioned Corps brings to the American people. Sara B. Newman, DrPH, MCP CAPT, USPHS COA Board Chair December 2014 - Frontline
19
From the Executive Director, from p. 1
Curran retired from the Public Health Service with the rank
of Rear Admiral.
Registration
Registration is already open for the Symposium. You can reach it
by going to symposium.phscof.org. Be sure to indicate your category when you register, as prices vary, depending upon rank and
status. Please note that you do not qualify for the “Student” rate if
you are a full-time or retired PHS officer. That rate is meant for
true students, to whom we offer a reduced fee because they do
not have much money. You can make your hotel reservations on
the Symposium page. By the time you read this, the Sheraton will
undoubtedly be sold out, so you will be directed to an overflow
hotel.
Our academic partners for the 2015 Symposium are Morehouse
University School of Medicine and Emory University Rollins
School of Public Health. The Symposium is sponsored and produced by the Commissioned Officers Foundation, which fronts
the money for the Symposium—a $500,000 affair--every year.
While we were in Atlanta John and I visited with the folks at
Morehouse and met the dynamic new Morehouse School of Medicine President, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, who pledged her
support for our Symposium. What a dynamic group! We also met
with a representative of the Rollins School, and we have their
complete support as well.

Mike Stobbe, medical writer, Associated Press. If you have
not read Mike’s book, Surgeon General’s Warning: How
Politics Crippled the Nation’s Doctor, you should try to do
so before the Symposium. I found it to be thought-provoking,
informative, and terribly flawed. It is, nevertheless, the only
recent book that focuses on the Office of the Surgeon General, and for that reason alone we need to consider what it
says. Come to Atlanta and be prepared with some pertinent
questions for Mr. Stobbe.

RADM (Dr.) Boris Lushniak, Acting Surgeon General. If
you have not heard RADM Lushniak speak, you have been
deprived. He is one of the best public speakers I have ever
heard—and I have heard plenty of them. His average presentation is the caliber of a “TED Talk,” and his insights are
phenomenal.
We are working on other plenary speakers and will post their
names on our website as they are confirmed, but these three will
be outstanding and well worth a listen.
Continuing Education Credits
We heard your comments about how the 2014 Symposium was
too rushed, so we added a day to the event in 2015. You will not
have to attend the Anchor & Caduceus Dinner and then get up the
next morning at 0-dark thirty to do your official PT test and run
in the Surgeon General’s 5K. We felt that was too much to ask of
anyone. So, here are some highlights of the 2015 Symposium.
Pre-Conference and Category Day Activities
Pre-conference activities take place on Sunday, May 17. One of
these opportunities is Leadership Training, which was a totally
sold-out event in Raleigh. The other pre-conference event is the
Retirement Seminar, which is highly recommended for anyone
contemplating retirement in the near future. The Retirement Seminar runs from 0800-1600 on Sunday and costs $25. You can register for one of these events when you sign-up for the Symposium.
On Monday, May 18 the Symposium will offer a “Basic Life
Support” class, as well as a COA Branch Leadership workshop,
Nurse Skills Training, and a session on “Scientific Writing.” Category Day will take place on May 19, an all-day fiesta of activities for all eleven PHS officer categories. The details of these are
still being worked out by the categories, but I am certain they will
be familiar to you.
Plenary Sessions
Plenary sessions are still in the development stage as I prepare
this column, but the following are confirmed:

James W, Curran, MD, MPH, Dean and Professor of Epidemiology at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health. Dr.
One of the benefits of the PHS Symposium is that you can receive a significant number of CE credits at a very reasonable
cost. CE credits vary according to category, and you can see on
the Symposium website what you can claim, ranging upwards to
more than twenty credits. The Symposium is a terrific way to
pick up those much-needed credits in a relaxed and congenial
atmosphere.
5K
The ever-popular Surgeon General’s 5K Run/Walk and the
official physical fitness test for PHS officers will take place on
Wednesday, 20 May, starting at 0630. More details will be available as we get closer to the Symposium. As I recall, this is an
hour later than was the case in 2014, and for those of us who
struggled to reach the starting line in Raleigh, this more-civilized
start is a great relief.
Possible Tax Benefits
We do not offer tax advice to our membership for the obvious
reason that we are completely unqualified to do so. However, as
I read IRS Publication 463, “Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car
Expenses,” I am led to believe that many of the expenses associated with your attendance at our annual Symposium might be tax
deductible. Only your tax preparer can tell you for sure, but this
is certainly something worth exploring if you itemize on your tax
return. Other
In response to your suggestions, we have built more non(Executive Director, cont’d. on p. 21)
20
Commissioned Officers Association
From the Executive Director, from p. 20
scheduled time into the 2015 Symposium. This is designed to
allow more networking opportunities, which we believe to be
one of the benefits of attendance at such an event. We are also
printing less and going more to electronic scheduling in an
attempt to reduce the number of trees that are sacrificed for our
event each year. I don’t recall the exact number of printed pages
we will save, but 60,000 comes to mind. We believe this is a
more environmentally-sensitive way of conducting our event.
Finally
I hope my brief run-down and overview of the 2015
Symposium has made you want to go the website and
sign-up immediately. We are expecting over 1000 PHS
officers in Atlanta in May of next year, and I hope to see
you all there.
Jim Currie
(Get Ac ve, cont’d. from p. 17) to earn the NFM Special skill badge. The ac ons of the follow‐
ing officers reflect dis nct credit upon themselves, the uniformed services, and the United States Public Health Service: CAPT Jonathan Dando CDR Ma Armentano CDR Alex Brenner CDR Chris na Eaker LCDR Clifford Coleman LCDR Benjamin Keller LCDR Brian Saunders LT Tyson Baize LT Danny Benbassat LT Sean McMahan (PHS Strong, cont’d. from p. 18) Every other weekend I go for a walk at Maryland’s Seneca State Park. This hike is filled with hills, crags, and wild‐
life. Its fresh air can clear my mind a er a long week at the FDA doing regulatory work and coordina ng the de‐
mands of mul ple deadlines and key players. Its lake is teaming with wildlife. For an amateur wildlife tracker like myself, I get a kick out of spo ng beavers, ny tur‐
tles, and an assortment of birds. Some mes I pretend that I am a wildlife scien st in the Pacific Northwest mon‐
itoring Orca whales (unfortunately, they don’t breach out of this lake). In the summer, I go there to kayak, and dis‐
appear far away from the rigors of regulatory work or agency needs. A natural form of stress management, I call it. _________________________ LCDR Anderson, a Nurse and Public Health Nutri onist, is a Regulatory Officer at the Food and Drug Administra on in Silver Spring, MD and a member of the Federal Nursing Preven on Strategic Plan (h p://phs‐nurse.org/
PHSNurseStrategicPlan/) since its ini a on. El Derecho is the mascot of the USPHS Army Ten Miler Team, the USPHS Feral Cats. Interested in running in the 2015 ATM or being more involved with PHS Athle cs? Start training with walks/jogs at State and Na onal parks and contact CAPT Hoogstraten at shoogstr@mail.nih.gov or LCDR Shukan at shukanet@ninds.nih.gov. INCREASING COA MEMBERSHIP IS
OUR #1 PRIORITY!
HELP COA GROW AS THE COMMISSIONED CORPS GROWS —
RECRUIT A NEW/FORMER
MEMBER TODAY!
El Derecho December 2014 - Frontline
21
Welcome
New COA Members
$7500 Scholarships for GW Degrees
T hanks to a partnership with the George Washington Milken Ins tute School of Public Health, COA members are eligible to receive a $7,500 scholarship to a end one of GW’s renowned online master’s degree pro‐
grams: MPH@GW — A Master of Public Health that develops leaders who impact the health of communi es worldwide. Learn more. MHA@GW — An Execu ve Master of Health Administra on for profes‐
sionals with three or more years of experience in the health care or health services industry who are seeking leadership roles in their organi‐
za on. Request more informa on. Both of these online programs blend top‐level curricula, face‐to‐face interac ons and real‐world experiences to help you advance your career without pu ng it on hold. Frequently Asked Questions
COA staff is often contacted with questions about
a variety of subjects by our members and even by
PHS officers who are not members. To help
facilitate communications with our members,
we’ve updated the Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) “Quicklink” on the left side of the COA
website homepage (www.coausphs.org). We’ve
gone from five FAQs to 30. If you have an urgent,
burning question for COA staff, odds are it’s been
asked before.
COA encourages you to visit the FAQ site
before you call or email.
LT Jaime Altman LT Tyson Baize CAPT Linda Bedker LT Clare Blakeslee Ms. Tiffany Cheng LT Gene Crisp LT Kelly Dalton Ms. Ashley Fike CDR Tara Gabriel CAPT Francis Hussion LT James Ireland LCDR Amanda Irving LCDR Naki a Jackson Ms. Pam Jahnke LT Denise Jones LT Andrew Klevos Ms. Jennifer Lamermayer CDR Veronica Lugo LT Theresa McKinney LCDR Roxana Mirabal LCDR Denise Morrison CDR Brian Murphy Mr. Jonathan Ohman LCDR Amy Peterson LT Emiko Petrosky Ms. Jamie Platz Ms. Sheila Scheuer Mr. Charles Sieberg Ms. Jill Spitzmueller LCDR Ellen Yard LT Maggie Ze le LT Ryan Ze le COA DONATIONS
LT LaRissa N. Foster CAPT Coy B. Fullen 22
Commissioned Officers Association
(2014 - Year in Review, cont’d. from p. 1)
Armed Services Commi ee and subsequently became part of the House version of the NDAA. ‐ COA staff formed the “Ad Hoc Coali on on DoD and Tobacco” to lobby against the Hunter Amendment. In addi on to COA, its members include the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Ac on Network, the American Heart Associa on, the American Lung Asso‐
cia on, the American Dental Associa on, Ac on on Smoking and Health, and the Campaign for Tobacco‐Free Kids. The coali on met with twenty Senate offices during its campaign against the Hunter Amendment. June ‐ COA members and others met in Raleigh, NC, for the 49th annual PHS Scien fic and Training Symposium. Over 1000 PHS officers and local health professionals a ended the Symposium. ‐ The Commissioned Officers Founda on published a new and improved PHS officer’s guide. Wri en by CAPT Jim Knoben, (Ret.) and CAPT Alice Knoben, the book is en tled Leadership, Protocol, and Service Standards. A copy of the book is given by the COF to every officer who graduates from the PHS Officer Basic Course, and the book can be ordered from the COA website. ‐ COA and members of the Commissioned Corps were saddened when RADM Robert Brutsche, (Ret.), died on June 11. RADM Brutsche served forty years in the PHS, and an award is given yearly by COA in his memory. ‐ RADM Robert C. Williams, (Ret.) became President of the PHS Commissioned Officers Founda on for the Advancement of Public Health and CAPT Sara Newman became Chair of the Commissioned Officers Associa on of the U.S. Public Health Service. ‐ Members of the Commissioned Corps of the USPHS began their deployments to the U.S.‐ Mexico border to assist the unaccom‐
panied minors who were streaming into the United States from Mexico. July ‐ With support from The Military Coali on, of which COA is an ac ve member, Congress passed a law expanding GI Bill benefits. Provisions of the bill are explained in COA Government Rela ons Director Judy Rensberger’s column in the September 2014 issue of Frontline, which can be found on the COA website. August ‐ COA Execu ve Director Jim Currie sent a le er to the Director of the U.S. Army’s Morale, Welfare, and Recrea on division asking about parity for members of the PHS Commissioned Corps. The le er and response can be found at: h p://www.coausphs.org/legis.cfm September ‐ During a visit to CDC on 16 September, President Obama expressed support for the Commissioned Corps and its response to the Ebola outbreak. More on this can be found in the October issue of Frontline, which can be accessed at h ps://
members.coausphs.org/secure/Pages/Secure/documents/OctoberCOAFL14_Final_color_000.pdf October ‐ Almost 250 PHS officers and supporters, led by Ac ng Surgeon General RADM Boris Lushniak, completed the Army 10‐Miler. ‐ PHS officers deployed to Liberia to staff a 25‐bed hospital dedicated to trea ng Liberian healthcare workers with Ebola. There was considerable news media coverage of the deployment, links to which can be found on the COA website at h p://www.coausphs.org/globalhealth.cfm November ‐ COA submi ed tes mony on the need for the Surgeon General to be appropriated funds for Commissioned Corps officer train‐
ing. The tes mony can be found on the COA website at h p://www.coausphs.org/legis.cfm ‐ Ac ng Surgeon General RADM Boris Lushniak tes fied on 18 November before the Subcommi ee on Oversight and Inves ga‐
ons of the House Commi ee on Energy and Commerce. More on his tes mony can be found in the December issue of Frontline. ‐ A le er from COA Execu ve Director Jim Currie about PHS officers in Liberia was read on the CBS news magazine program 60 Minutes on 16 November. A screenshot of the le er can be found on Facebook at h ps://www.facebook.com/coausphs/photos December ‐ Cuts to servicemembers' benefits (pharmacy co‐pays and BAH reduc on) were blunted in the compromise version of the FY 2015 Na onal Defense Authoriza on Act. The Act permits annui es for special needs trust for a dependent child considered disa‐
bled who is incapable of self‐support. December 2014 - Frontline
23
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