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Pre-Medical Student Osteopathic Medical AssociationAdventures in Healing: The U.S. Public Health Service
Posted on August 4, 2008
Filed Under Medical (MD, DO), Medical Students
Contributed by the United States Public Health Service
CAPT Richard Caldwell, a physician in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned 
Corps, is an experienced medical officer who is the sole health care provider for the Havasupai American Indian community in Arizona. His dedication to his job ensures that he is always available to provide calm, confident, and experienced medical care to a community that is underserved and lives in a very remote location. CAPT Caldwell also works with wilderness rescue in the Grand Canyon to respond to emergencies involving visitors to the National Park. “Serving as the sole medical officer for the community is demanding, but it is also extremely rewarding,” says CAPT Caldwell.
As a medical toxicologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LCDR Joshua Schier is part of a team responsible for protecting the country’s health from terrorist acts involving chemical agents. LCDR Schier and his team constantly monitor and analyze the data for many chemical-based public health threats. LCDR Schier is a trained physician and is board-certified in both emergency medicine and medical toxicology. “Service to the Corps is a demonstration of a commitment to a higher purpose, beyond simply doing one’s job,” says LCDR Schier.
LCDR Jamal Gwathney cares for patients with some of the poorest health statistics in our Nation’s capital. “That is where the Commissioned Corps puts you: where the need is greatest,” he says. In his current assignment through the Health Resources and Services Administration, LCDR Gwathney serves as associate medical director at East of the River Health Center, a Unity Health Care facility, located in Washington, DC’s Ward 7. As a family medicine physician, he provides cradle-to-grave care for his mostly African-American patients. In addition, LCDR Gwathney is a member of the Commissioned Corps’ elite Ready Responders program. Approximately 70 to 80 commissioned officers are trained specifically to decontaminate and treat individuals and communities in the event of any type of natural or human-made disaster. Being involved in all of these aspects of public health makes LCDR Gwathney proud to be an officer in the Commissioned Corps.
While many health care professionals have traditional careers, an elite number of health experts like these officers use their health care training to treat community members in need, respond to disasters, and help protect the Nation’s food supply.
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is a team of more than 6,000 well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals. They work to promote and protect the Nation’s health and safety by responding to large-scale health disasters and emergencies wherever and whenever they strike.
The Commissioned Corps recently launched a recruitment effort that will hire hundreds of doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and other health care professionals from across the country. Here’s a closer look at what a career in the Corps entails:
Making a Difference
Commissioned Corps officers provide health care to underserved communities; help prevent the spread of disease; and even help ensure that the Nation’s food supply, drinking water, drugs, medical devices, and environments are safe. Other assignments include:
• Conducting and supporting cutting-edge research for the prevention; treatment; and elimination of diseases, health disparities, and injuries.
• Working with other nations and international agencies to address global health challenges.
Rushing Relief
As 1 of the 7 Uniformed Services of the United States, more than 2,400 members of the Commissioned Corps were deployed to the Gulf Region before, during, and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Corps members set up and staffed field hospitals and emergency medical clinics, treated sick and injured evacuees, conducted disease surveillance, and worked closely with local and State health authorities to plan for long-term public health needs.
Benefits
Commissioned Corps officers receive competitive compensation, including health and dental care at no cost, tax-free housing, 30 days of paid vacation a year, malpractice insurance coverage, and a host of other benefits.
“Serving our country is a noble calling,” says Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H. “Our officers prevent and treat disease, ensure the safety of food and medicine, and restore health and hope in times of greatest need. Right now we’re increasing the number of Commissioned Corps officers and restructuring the deployment process to meet those needs even better.”
For more information, visit www.usphs.gov.
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7 Responses to “Adventures in Healing: The U.S. Public Health Service”
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The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps do not seem to get that much coverage. Thanks for the article.
Nice article. Hope to see one with a focus on the Indian Health Service (IHS). They currently have many vacancies in their database.
Yeah, I agree that the US PHSCC does not get much coverage. I was always a little in shock when I saw people in military uniforms, yet they had beards (a la former surgeon general C. Everett Koop and David Satcher). Seriously, how come they get to have beards? Not fair!!!
Thanks for the comments. As a nurse officer who has served with the USPHS for the past 7 years I have had the good fortune of finding out about one of the best kept secrets this nation has to offer-The U.S. Public Health Service.
I now have a new assignement in the Division of Recruitment after serving with Indian Health for 6 1/2 years. In the coming months I hope to be able to share additional information about career opportunities with agencies like Indian Health Services for health care professionals.
The Academy for Educational Development has a medical residency placement and scholarship program. We are looking for U.S. communities with high needs for medical doctors to place our residents. The AED medical residents must go to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education certified programs. They are ECFMG certified. Please contact me for more information at cfenn@aed.org or 202/464-3778.
Thanks for running this story. I was looking for a way to service my country but as a pacifist I had a hard time dealing with joining an armed service branch. This is perfect!
Well, even pacifists may have difficulty here. USPHS and NOAA (the two uniformed services not considered “Armed”) can be militarized by executive order of the president. Just food for thought, but I still think USPHS is an important and oft-overlooked aspect of health care in the U.S.