Vol. 23 Winter 2013 - U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Vol. 23 Winter 2013The Operational Dress Uniform (ODU)Parka & Utility JacketContributed by LCDR Gene R. Gunn, Jr.In our last issue we convered details of the new OperationalDress Uniform (ODU). Given that it is winter, we thoughtit would be a good idea to take a closer look at the FoulWeather Parka II & Utility Jacket that are worn over theODU in inclement weather.Both the Foul Weather Parka II and the Utility Jacket canbe worn alone (over the ODU blouse) or can be zipped togetherfor especially cold, wet weather. Like the BlackWindbreaker, when worn, they must be zipped at least ¾ ofthe way closed. Both jackets shall be worn with the slideonembroidered rank centered on the front tab.The Foul Weather Parka II (Figure 1a) is made of 100%nylon with a GORE-TEX® membrane. Waterproof, windproofand breathable GORE-TEX® fabric makes this garmentcontamination-resistant to diesel fuel, jet fuel, DEET,petroleum, oils and lubricants. The parka features two externalcargo pockets, two hand warmer pockets, a stowablehood (Figure 1b), hidden map pocket, and elastic and Velcro®wrist closures (Figure 1c). Unlike the All WeatherPage 3Parka I, this garment has a storm flap at the collar and islonger in length. The Foul Weather Parka II and its accompanyingLiner II (ODU Utility Jacket) are designed to fitproperly over the new ODU.The ODU Utility Jacket (Figure 2a) features a waterrepellentsurface that sheds rain and snow. Made of Polartec®fleece material, the Utility Jacket features a full zip-through collar (Figure 2b) and two zip-front welt pockets.Waist drawstrings have barrel locks and the cuffs are elastic(Figure 2c).Sizing information regarding both jackets can be found atthe following web address: http://www.uscg.mil/hr/udc/fwparka.asp.In addition to being the recurring author of the “UniformCorner”, LCDR Gunn is also JOAG's voting representativeon the Uniform Advisory Committee. Please send any ideasfor future “Uniform Corner” columns to LCDR GeneGunn at gene.gunn@fda.hhs.com.

The JOAG JournalPage 6Volunteerism: How USPHS officers can give backContributed by LCDR Frank VerniVolunteerism benefits both society at large and you, theindividual officer, by strengthening trust, solidarity, reciprocityamong citizens, and by promoting “Esprit deCorps”. Volunteering brings together a diverse range ofpeople from all backgrounds and walks of life. You cangain a rich source of inspiration and enhance your interpersonalskills through interactions with the recipients of yourvolunteer efforts as well as your fellow officers. Volunteeringalso offers an incredible networking opportunity.Not only will you develop lasting personal and professionalrelationships, but it is also a great way to learn aboutpeople from all walks of life, different environments, andnew industries. Networking is an exciting benefit of volunteeringand you can never tell who you will meet, whatnew information you will learn and how this can collectivelyimpact your life.As officers of the United States Public Health Service(USPHS), we are ideal candidates for volunteering as ourdaily work involves making an impact on the public healthof our nation. Our training, specialized degrees, experiencesand resources allow us to help those in need like no othergroup can. Our combination of clinical providers(physicians, dentists, behavioral health personnel, nurses,pharmacists, veterinarians) coupled with officers with otherscience & engineering based degrees allows us to handlea variety of tasks. Our operating divisions (OPDIV)also provide officers with additional skills and resourcesthat are helpful in a volunteer setting.How do you initiate a volunteer activity? Like others whovolunteer, the initiation must be made by the individual, orgroup of individuals. Excellent ways USPHS officers cancoordinate volunteer events are through:Professional Advisory Committees (PACs) - OurPACs allow us to consolidate a specific category ofofficer to share volunteer ideas on a national and internationallevel. Many PAC have lists of officers withspecific & unique skill sets that can be called upon asthe need arises for a volunteer opportunity. If not inplace already, I would suggest assembling a subcommitteeto coordinate community outreach eventswhich would include volunteer opportunities.Professional Advisory Groups (PAGs) - Our PAGsare another excellent way to group together officerswith varying skill sets, educational background andexperiences which can provide volunteers for a varietyL to R: LCDR Elena Vaouli, CAPT JeanKelahan, LCDR Frank Verni @ 2012 ProjectHomeless Connect in Trenton, NJevents.Local Commissioned Officer Association (COA)Branches - Like PAG local COA branches are anotherexcellent way to group together officers with varyingskill sets, educational background and experiences.The major advantage is that all of the officers are locatedwithin a specific area which makes coordinatinga volunteer event a much easier task.Finding volunteer opportunities is probably the easiest partof the equation. There are numerous non-profit organizations,homeless shelters, hospitals, national/state/localevents, etc. that can greatly benefit from our help. Not tomention that volunteering increases the USPHS’s exposureto the public as well as helps the general public understandwho we are and what we do.On a personal note, I want to mention two volunteer eventsthat were performed by the New York Commissioned OfficersAssociation branch (NYCOA). On 6/9/12, officersfrom NYCOA volunteered at the 2012 Brooklyn Children’sSports & Fitness Expo and on 6/28/12, officers volunteeredat the 2012 Project Homeless Connect in Trenton,NJ. At both events, volunteers provided educational resourcesand health screenings on a variety of topics (seephotos attached). In speaking for all of the officers involved,they were both very rewarding events! So I urgeyou to get your “Boots on the Ground” and enhance thepublic health of the nation one event at a time…one personat a time.of

Vol. 23 Winter 2013Page 7Addressing Children’s Healthby Revealing Prescription TrendsContributed by LCDR Scott SteffenAs a member of the JOAG Welcoming Committee, I getto meet officers very early in their careers. LT Chai wasan Officer Basic Course candidate for class 50 in February2012. I was quite impressed with her at the openhouse and I knew she was going to go far in her career Ijust did not now when. Fast forward to the 2012 Scientificand Training Symposium- what an event! I had the privilegeto talk to many officers that I met throughout theyear, including LT Chai. LT Chai is a team leader in theDivision of Epidemiology at the Food and Drug Administration(FDA). An article she spearheaded was publishedthis past June in the journal Pediatrics, garneringnational attention from several mainstream publications(e.g., USA Today, NY Times, CNN, US News and WorldReport, Time, WebMD, ABC, NBC, and Fox News). Infact, over 160 articles have cited the publication, “Trendsof Outpatient Prescription Drug Utilization in US Children,2002-2010.”LT Chai explains that until recently, little informationwas accessible pertaining to the nationwide utilization ofdrugs among children. LT Chai's background in pediatrics(clinical pharmacist at Children's National Medical Centerfrom 2005-2008) inspired her to look for ways to helpadvance the health of children on a national level. Afterjoining the FDA, she saw an opportunity to use prescriptiondrug use data, an underutilized field of research, asan additional tool in the arsenal of advancing drug researchin children.Using national prescription databases, the objective inthis manuscript was to take a first step in better understandingpediatric drug utilization and provide insight intopotential therapeutic needs for future pediatric drug developmentand research. LT Chai’s research uncoveredseveral important trends. From the years of 2002 to 2010,the number of prescriptions dispensed decreased by 7%.Specifically, there were significant decreases in the numberof prescriptions. For example, the number of prescriptionsissued from 2002-2010 for antibiotics declined byLT Grace Chai14% suggesting that large-scale efforts like those by theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics to educate “parentsabout the futility of treating viral infections with antibiotics”and the concerns of antibiotic-resistant bacteria propagation,provided some benefit. These data also revealedother notable trends. Specifically, the off-label use of protonpump inhibitors (PPIs) and an increase in attentiondeficit/hyperactivitydisorder (ADHD) medication use. In2010 alone, over 350,000 PPIs prescriptions were issuedfor off-label use in infants 12 months and younger whereeffectiveness has not been demonstrated. Drug utilizationdata suggesting off-label use of products in children highlightareas for further research.Studies like these have far-reaching impact and are instrumentalto public health in the United States. As LT Chaiexplains, “By identifying drugs with the highest numberof patients, experts can strategically focus on drug productswith the highest impact to the pediatric populations.”Hopefully, LT Chai’s efforts will trigger similar researchfor other affected populations.Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

Vol. 23 Winter 2013JOAG Policy Development andInformation Dissemination Survey ResultsContributed by LCDR Tracy Powell, PhDPage 9In 2011, JOAG’s Executive Committee (EC) saw the need toassess the knowledge base of junior officers as it relates topolicy development within the United States Public HealthService Commissioned Corps. To complete this task, the ECrecommended that a Policy Development & Trainingworkgroup be formed under the umbrella of the JOAG’s Policyand Procedures Committee. The workgroup developed aninstrument to assess junior officers’ knowledge of policy developmentand to determine future training needs. In late2010, the Information Dissemination Survey was developed,consisting of 26 questions. The survey was an anonymous,self-reported survey disseminated to junior officers via SurveyMonkey. A total of 309 junior officers completed the survey.The results are below.Commissioned Corps Force Management was responsible forpolicy development under the Office of the Assistant Secretaryfor Health. However, within the new structure, the Divisionof Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness(DCCPR) is now responsible for policy and is under the Officeof the Surgeon General. (38% answered correctly)Who is responsible for establishing regulations/directives?Answer: The Secretary establishes all regulations and directivesfor the Corps. (15% answered correctly)Which title of the US Code specifically provides guidanceto the US Public Health Service?Answer: Title 42. (54% answered correctly)RankOf the respondents, 9.7% (30) were LTJGs, 38.2% (118) wereLTs and 51.1% (158) were LCDRs.Years of ServiceFifty-four percent of the survey participants reported servingbetween 2-4 years in the Corps.Represented AgenciesThe top three agencies represented by participants were FDA24.6% (76), IHS 23% (71), and CDC 13.6% (42).Professional CategoryThe top three categories represented by respondents were theHealth Services 28.8% (89), Pharmacist 19.1% (59), andNurse 14.9% (46) categories.Knowledge AssessmentThe purpose of this section of the survey was to assess participatingofficers’ knowledge of the Corps’ policy developmentprocesses and procedures. However, we are aware that sincethe completion of survey, the Corps has gone through a reorganization.Below are the questions and answers from theknowledge assessment.Who has signatory authority over instructions and personnelpolicy memorandums in the Commissioned Corps?Answer: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health hassignatory authority over instructions and personnel policymemorandums. (43% answered correctly)Which office is responsible for policy development?Answer: Prior to the new structure of the Corps, the Office ofWhat is the website for Commissioned Corps policies?Answer: Commissioned Corps Management Issuance System(CCMIS). (82% answered correctly)In what order are major issuances in the CommissionedCorps developed?Answer: Directives issued by the Secretary, Instructions issuedby the Assistant Secretary for Health, Personnel PolicyMemorandum (PPM) issued by the Assistant Secretary forHealth, Personnel Operations Memorandum (POM) issued bythe Surgeon General. (52% answered correctly)Professional Development InterestParticipants expressed interest in learning more about policydevelopment (84.6%), while 80.8% of participants would beinterested in policy development training. Recommendationsfor training formats are as follows: 74.4% (230) expressedinterest in web-based trainings or conference calls; 54.7%(169) preferred in person training; and 27.8% (86) would likebreakout sessions at professional conferences.Among the participants who were interested in participatingin policy development trainings, 55% (170) recommendedthat training not exceed 1 hour, while 24.6% (76) recommended30 minutes.As it related to dissemination of information, 98.4%(304) of participants preferred receiving information via emailor listserv, particularly the JOAG list serve (95.5%). Regardingsocial media, 73.1% (226) of respondents currently usesocial media. Among the them, Facebook appeared to be themost popular form of social media used.Continued on Page 11

The JOAG JournalPage 10Junior Officers Promoting the Public Health ServiceCommissioned Corps at the 2012 USA Science and Engineering FestivalContributed by LCDR Qiao Bobo, LCDR Theodore Garnett and LT Samantha SpindelScience is cool... and so are scientists and engineers! Thatwas the message of the 2nd USA Science & EngineeringFestival, held April 28-29, 2012 at the Washington, D.C.Convention Center. Twenty five USPHS CommissionedCorps officers (23 of whom were Junior Officers), representing5 categories and 6 agencies, volunteered at thecountry’s largest science festival to raise public awarenessof the importance of science and engineering.With more than 3,000 exhibits and 150 stage shows, thefestival celebrated science in much the same way as societycelebrates Hollywood personalities, professional athletesand pop stars. The crowd cheered science luminaries includingastronauts, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and even theScience Cheerleaders (think molecular biologists, astrophysicistsand surgeons who also happen to be current orformer NFL and NBA cheerleaders). The organizers clearlydid something right because more than 150,000 attendeesbattled the rain, traffic and crowds to attend thedays' events at the Convention Center.The theme of the USPHS exhibit booth was “Inspiring theNext Generation of Public Health Responders.” In thisspirit, our enthusiastic volunteers greeted over 1,000 visitors,many of whom had never heard about the UnitedStates Public Health Service. The visitors included highschool students, undergraduate and graduate students, aswell as teachers, parents, nurses, doctors, and other uniformedservice officers from our sister branches. We engagedstudents about their career interests, promoted ourstudent opportunities, fielded questions about the CommissionedCorps, handed out PHS promotional materials, anddirected them to our online resources for additional information.We emphasized jokingly to the students that whilewe may not carry rifles, we surely know how to use a genegun!The event was sponsored by DC COA and supported byDr. Lesley Russell, Sr. Advisor for Science and Policy forthe Office of the Surgeon General, RADM Boris D. Lushniak,Deputy Surgeon General and RADM Christopher G.Halliday, Chief of Staff. Dr. Russell visited our booth onSaturday to show her support and encouragement. It iscomforting to know that the future of the PHS is in thehands of such a supportive, charitable, gifted and generousgroup of officers.The USPHS representation at this highly attended and visiblefestival would not have been possible without the hardwork of the PHS Science and Engineering Festival Committee,which included LCDR Ted Garnett, LCDR KunShen, LT Samantha Spindel and LT Pattama Ulrich andwith the full support of DC COA president: CDR VickyBorders-Hemphill, DC COA Community Outreach CommitteeChairpersons: LT Dustin Price and LT Ulrich andScience Fair Judge Subcommittee Chairpersons: CDRJacqueline Rodriguez and LCDR Yvette Waples. The PHSScience and Engineering Festival Committee, under LCDRTed Garnett’s leadership, is now part of the DC COA ScienceFair Judge Subcommittee. DC COA Science FairJudge Committee also hosts the development of the SurgeonGeneral’s Science Award’s criteria and implantationplan. Many of the officers mentioned above are part of thisinitiative. The committee plans to continue its effort foryears to come.The 3rd USA Science & Engineering Festival will be heldon April 26-27, 2014 at the Convention Center in Washington,D.C. LCDR Ted Garnett, LT Samantha Spindel,LCDR Kun Shen and LCDR Qiao Bobo have formed anew PHS Science and Engineering Festival Committee toplan for the event. If you’re interested in being a volunteernext year, a call for volunteers will be sent out on the DCCOA and PACs’ listservs.Many thanks to our volunteer officers: LCDR Qiao Bobo(Scientist, FDA), LCDR Christye Brown (HSO, DOD),CDR Chekesha Clingman (Scientist, FDA), LCDRCarol Corbie (Nurse, HRSA), LCDR Dat Doan(Pharmacist, FDA), LCDR Nga (Nicole) Doan (Pharmacist,FDA), LCDR Dominic Frasca (Scientist, FDA), LCDRTheodore Garnett (Scientist, FDA), LT Tanya Grandison(HSO, HRSA), LT Leo Gumapas (Engineer, NIH), LCDRJill Hammond (Engineer, FDA), CAPT Omar Hottenstein(Scientist, DOD), LT Simleen Kaur (HSO, FDA), LT JonathanKwan (HSO, FDA), LT Jung Lee (Pharmacist, FDA),LT Neil Mafnas (HSO, FDA), LCDR Lana Rossiter,(Scientist, FDA), LCDR Shane Sims (HSO, ASPR/NDMS), LT Samantha Spindel, (Engineer, FDA), LT NancyTian (Scientist, ASPR), LT Nadra Tyus (Scientist,HRSA), LTJG Anthony Valloric (Nurse, NIH), LT SherriWheeler (Nurse, BOP), LT Niketta Womack (HSO, FDA),LCDR Jyl Woolfolk (HSO, FOH).

Vol. 23 Winter 2013Page 11Chair Article - Continued from Page 1These officers have set the stage and paved the way for JOAG to be a viable and trusted advisory group to the Officeof the Surgeon General (OSG).For those of you who are new to the Commissioned Corps, JOAG serves as an advisory group to the OSG, providinginput on policies and programs affecting the future of the Corps, specifically as they relate to junior officers. JOAGprovides representation on behalf of all junior officers at high-level meetings with PHS leadership. As issues arisewithin PHS, JOAG communicates this information to the JOAG general body and develops workgroups and committeesto discuss and address these specific needs or concerns. JOAG then provides the OSG and PHS leadership withthese recommendations from a junior officer perspective.JOAG is a truly exceptional organization. I am always amazed at the breadth of experience, the organization, expertise,and most importantly, the dedication of the committee chairs and members who have an idea or recognize a needand work to see it implemented on a policy or operational level. I encourage you all to be the change you wish to createand get involved with JOAG. There are a variety of opportunities to get involved, including but not limited to: participationin JOAG general meetings, journeyman series, and local Meet and Greets, in addition to other ad-hoc activities.There is something for everyone, and if we have not developed it yet, feel free to make the recommendation. Ifyou have not already done so, please visit the JOAG website at www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/ for more informationto and subscribe to the JOAG listserv.I also highly encourage junior officers to become familiar with and knowledgeable of the policies being implementedand released. You can familiarize yourself with these policies by visiting the Commissioned Corps and Issuance System(CCMIS) website at http://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/.JOAG is where it is today because of junior officers like yourself. Remember that what we may lack in rank we willmake up for in leadership, integrity, service, and excellence. Continue to strive to make it to the next level, rememberingto set the best example possible for those that may come after you. Maintain respect for your peers and senior officers,and strive for excellence in all that you do.Very Respectfully,LT Tracy TilghmanChair, Junior Officer Advisory GroupJOAG Policy Development - Continued from Page 9As a result of the survey, the Policy Development & Training workgroup became a formal subcommittee of the Policyand Procedures Committee. The Subcommittee reviewed the survey results and made the following recommendations. Invite the Team Lead for the Policy Group to participate in the 2013 JOAG Journeyman Series Facilitate a presentation on policy development at the 2013 USPHS Symposium Ensure that all JOAG members are signed up for the Commissioned Corps eBulletin. Submit articles on policy development updates and trainings in the JOAG Journal.Special thanks to all the junior officers who participated in the survey.Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 12Admiral’s Corner - Continued from Page 4AC: Many who work at DoD may not be familiar withPHS. Are there any training programs available for civilianand military managers who supervise PHS officersabout the PHS personnel system, i.e., for promotions, CO-ERs etc.?RADM McGinnis: First, as PHS officers, it is our duty toinform those who are not familiar about PHS. Also, theDoD-PHS Liaison regularly coordinates with Division ofCommissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness (DCCPR)to schedule training sessions on PHS promotions, awardsand COER, etc., that are open to all officers including theirsupervisors. The announcement for these training sessionsis shared via TMA email notification. PHS personnel relatedinformation is also posted on the PHS webpage ofthe Military Health System website at www.health.mil/PHS.AC: The DoD is an exciting and fluidic work environment.Would you like to highlight any important initiativesof interest in your organization?RADM McGinnis: TRICARE Pharmaceutical OperationsDirectorate (POD) has been at the forefront of many initiativesto control rising pharmacy benefit costs and to improvehealth outcomes. I’d like to highlight two programsin particular; the first, expanded vaccine coverage for ourbeneficiaries. TRICARE retail network pharmacies areauthorized providers for the administration of TRICAREcovered vaccines in the retail pharmacy setting. The TRI-CARE pharmacy benefit covers all preventative care vaccinesthat are recommended by the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention at no cost to TRICARE beneficiaries.Over 1 million vaccines have been administered underthis program since December 2009. The other is the FederalCeiling Pricing (FCP) program that was implementedin 2009 through Congressional authority, where by theDoD is able to obtain federal discounts for TRICARE prescriptionsfilled in the retail pharmacy venue. To date, theFCP program has collected over $5.3B in refunds fromdrug manufacturers since fiscal year 2009.AC: In 2012, many PHS officers deployed in accordancewith our mission. Do you foresee a greater number ofDoD agencies permitting Corp officers to participate indisaster response?RADM McGinnis: The number and discipline of PHSofficers deployed is contingent upon the requirements ofthe mission. With the exception of a hand full of PHS officerswho are considered mission critical, all PHS officersat TMA are on deployment rosters. It is important for officersto keep their supervisors informed of their roster oncallstatus. A notification is usually sent by OFRD a fewdays ahead of the on-call month, which is a good time forofficers to inform and seek concurrence for deployment.Should an officer be called to support a DHHS mission,they should always inform their supervisor and the PHS-DoD Liaison prior to deploying. Voluntary deploymentmissions need supervisory approval.AC: In light of the President’s Affordable Care Act, theremay be a need for expansion of healthcare providers. Howcan other disciplines in the Corps help fill this need at theDoD?RADM McGinnis: The Affordable Care Act expands accessto healthcare however it had little impact on the TRI-CARE benefits. Additional legislation, the TRICARE DependentCoverage Extension Act, created TRICAREYoung Adult, a premium-based program that extendedhealth benefits for adult children of TRICARE beneficiariesup to age 26.AC: Communication at all levels is the key to success inevery organization. What is the best advice you can offerto the next generation of Corps officers?RADM McGinnis: I encourage every officer whether anew call to active duty or a much senior officer to participatein mentoring programs. As mentors, officers will havethe opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise aswell as enhance their leadership skills through the developmentof others. This opportunity will contribute to anotherofficer’s success. For mentees, a personal relationshipwith their mentors can help foster professional relationships,identify strengths and areas of opportunities for professionalenhancement, and assist in achieving careergoals. The mentoring program will help shape and developfuture leaders of the PHS Commissioned Corps. I currentlymentor several officers and some of the senior officershave several other mentors. This is the best way to usementoring to its fullest since different people provide differentperspectives.If you have ideas and questions for the next Admiral’sCorner, please contact LCDR David Wright atdavid.wright@tma.osd.mil.

Vol. 23 Winter 2013Page 13Demonstrating Value of the Corps through LeadershipContributed by LCDRs Elizabeth Garza and Heidi HudsonThe JOAG’s Journeyman Speaker Series (JSS) is a bimonthlyhour-long speaker series hosted by the organization’sProfessional Development Committee, which providesinformation on career advancement and officership toJunior Officers. In 2011, two distinguished USPHS seniorofficers, RADM Scott Giberson and RADM (ret) Robert C.Williams, P.E., DEE shared their wisdom for successfulprofessional development with junior officers in presentationsfocusing on officership and leadership.Looking at our core value of leadership, how do we asJunior Officers strive to provide vision and purpose in publichealth through inspiration, dedication, and loyalty? Oneway is to learn from great leaders around us like RADM(ret) Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE, former Deputy SurgeonGeneral, who served over 34 years in uniformed servicein environmental engineering and public health.RADM (ret) Williams discussed several key leadershipprinciples in his presentation Public Health Leadership inChallenging Environments including: Vision, Focus, Drive, Commitment, Determination –to do the “unbelievable” Communication – leaders need to be effective in allforms of communication Flexibility Empathy & Patriotic call to duty Persuasive use of health statistics to translate scienceinto public health action Owning responsibility – right way and wrong way toexert your authority Diplomacy and Humility Honor and Courage Integrity above allRADM (ret) Williams gave examples how junior officerscan apply the aforementioned leadership principles throughstories and photos of well-known leaders within andoutside of the USPHS Commissioned Corps. He also gaveRear Admiral Robert Williams (ret)officers a few “rules” on leadership: Tell the truth: it takes fewer words, it’s easiest to tell,easiest to remember Have respect for higher level positions (even thoughyou may not respect the person) Control your emotions; anger rarely succeeds Pick your fights: some things are worth fighting for Challenge those things that are illegal, immoral or badpublic health practice Training and experience can make you an outstandingleader, but only you can choose your integrity.“The USPHS Commissioned Corps needs leadership fromeach of us – all of you!”Leadership, Service, Excellence and Integrity!*The presentations covered in this article may befound on the JOAG Resource Page.Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 14JOAG Congratulates all Junior Officerson their recent/upcoming promotions!(Promotion Cycles Aug 2012–March 2013)To Commander (O-5)DentalDaniel Thomas Barcomb 01/01/2013Mandie Lynn Smith 10/01/2012EngineerJill Rochelle Hammond 01/01/2013Benjamin Albert Marnell 10/01/2012Janis Marie Mccarroll 01/01/2013Michael Garrett Roberts 01/01/2013Steven Karl Sauer 10/01/2012Varsha B. Savalia 01/01/2013Daniel Neil Webster 10/01/2012Environmental Health OfficerDerek A Newcomer 11/01/2012Michelle E. Noonan-Smith 01/01/2013Carolyn Jean Oyster 10/01/2012Troy Lee Ritter 10/01/2012Charles David Woodlee 01/01/2013Health Services OfficerAnn Marie Arnett 01/01/2013Allyson A. Brown 01/01/2013Rebecca A. Bunnell 10/01/2012Luis A. Carrion 01/01/2013Julie Anne Chodacki 01/01/2013Darrlyn W. Cornelius-Averha 10/01/2012Ulgen Semaye Fideli 02/01/2013Anna S. Johnson 01/01/2013Kristin J. Kelly 10/01/2012Kara Nichelle Ellis Lampasone 01/01/2013Kenneth Matthew Monahan 01/01/2013Cara Ann Nichols 10/01/2012Melanie Renee Ross 10/01/2012Karen S Russell 10/01/2012To Lieutenant Commander (O-4)EngineerQuentin Brad Allen 01/01/2013Leonard C. Brown 01/01/2013Jason Alvin Schneider 10/01/2012Charles Daniel Thompson 01/01/2013Tristan Thomas Woster 01/01/2013Environmental Health OfficerTravis R Bowser 10/01/2012Thida G Buttke 01/01/2013Hristu Bogdan Chepa 10/01/2012Christopher Andrew Fletcher 01/01/2013Valerie Sue Herrera 01/01/2013Brian M. Lefferts 01/01/2013Holly Lynn Sebastian 01/01/2013Racquel Y Stephenson 01/01/2013Kelli Louise Wilkinson 01/01/2013Health Services OfficerPaula M. Arango 01/01/2013Olin E Bakke 01/01/2013Isaac Mutch Bell 10/01/2012Kendra Nicole Bishop 01/01/2013Donna K Chaney 10/01/2012Anita Edwards 01/01/2013Natalie Katrina Gibson 01/01/2013Stacy M. Harper 10/01/2012Joe Merritt Hill 01/01/2013Arthur Grant Hurst 10/01/2012Brandon Terrance Johnson 01/01/2013Vesnier Adam Lugo 10/01/2012Valerie Brown Marshall 01/01/2013Steven Richard Miller 10/01/2012Dina Beth Passman 10/01/2012Melinda Ruiz 10/01/2012

The JOAG JournalPage 15JOAG Congratulates all Junior Officerson their recent/upcoming promotions!(Promotion Cycles Aug 2012–March 2013)To Commander (O-5)Health Services OfficerShane S. Sims 01/01/2013Camille Sharmila Soondar 10/01/2012Willie Tompkins JR 10/01/2012Thiep Thanh Vo 10/01/2012Medical OfficerMichael Lee Bartholomew 10/01/2012John F. Beltrami 09/01/2012Paul T. Cantey 08/01/2012Sylvie Israel Cohen 10/01/2012Jon C Stucki 09/01/2012David E Sugerman 10/01/2012NurseGrafton George Adams 10/01/2012Evelyn Blaemire 10/01/2012Tonya Sue Brown-Stobbe 09/01/2012Scott Alan Colburn 01/01/2013Joyce T. Davis 01/01/2013Christine Marie Fallon 01/01/2013Monique Shantear Frazier 01/01/2013Maria Grace Gomes 10/01/2012Shelly E. Hollandsworth 10/01/2012Anitra Johnson 03/01/2013Timothy John Kiniry 01/01/2013Charles Mathew Lovell 10/01/2012Megan Janette. Mackey 10/01/2012Megan Sarah Mattingly 09/01/2012Carol A. Mcalman 10/01/2012Lisa Diane Meyers 10/01/2012Rosa Maria Peralta 01/01/2013Nicole Dawniel Plass 01/01/2013Jennifer Paulette Pope 10/01/2012To Lieutenant Commander (O-4)Health Services OfficerAvena Denise Russell 01/01/2013Brent Thomas Stephen 01/01/2013Sharyl Marie Trail 10/01/2012Rebekah Anne Van Raaphorst 01/01/2013Debra Lynn Wagner 01/01/2013Tina Rokhsareh Walther 01/01/2013David Alan Wheeler 10/01/2012Harold I White 01/01/2013Jonathan L. Whitehart 10/01/2012NurseChristine Renee Collins 01/01/2013Adrienne Janell Hall 01/01/2013Kristi Beth Henaghan 01/01/2013Lakeisha Watkins Hicks 01/01/2013Sophia Hsu 10/01/2012Solveig F Johnson 10/01/2012Jacob Samuel Malouf 10/01/2012Keith Gary Marin 10/01/2012Stacey Reid Mcbryde 01/01/2013Andrew Nyabaro Nyabwari 10/01/2012Tina Suzanne Objio 01/01/2013Katherine Ann Oconnor 01/01/2013Ebb Anthony Olwell 10/01/2012Jeneen Nicole Ratliff 10/01/2012Bernadine Laverne Russell 01/01/2013Theresa Dianne Stenmark 10/01/2012Pattama Saengsawang Ulrich 10/01/2012Ihsan F. Umrani 10/01/2012Denise Lynn Vanmeter 01/01/2013PharmacistDaniel Wayne Conant 10/01/2012Eric Kyei Oduro 10/01/2012

The JOAG JournalPage 16JOAG Congratulates all Junior Officerson their recent/upcoming promotions!(Promotion Cycles Aug 2012–March 2013)To Commander (O-5)NurseTarah Sage Somers 10/01/2012Lisa Jennifer Lynn Townshend-Bulson 10/01/2012Duane Edward Wagner 10/01/2012Viven Denise Walker-Marable 01/01/2013PharmacistKaren Dianne Abraham-Burrell 08/01/2012Peter Anthony Laluk 10/01/2012Zachery Lee Miller 01/01/2013Hyun Joo Son 10/01/2012Alice Sze-Man Tsao 10/01/2012To Lieutenant Commander (O-4)PharmacistJennie Zsuya Wong 01/01/2013ScientistJessica Cole 10/01/2012Yoran Grant 10/01/2012Mark Frederick Miller 01/01/2013Matthew Cannon Steele 01/01/2013Eboni Monique Taylor 01/01/2013TherapistAlice A Hopper 10/01/2012ScientistMinglei Cui 02/01/2013Adrienne Juanita Goodrich-Doctor 10/01/2012Keisher Highsmith 10/01/2012Matthew William Murphy 10/01/2012TherapistStanley Wayne Bennett 02/01/2013Gwendolyn Hanchey Hall 03/01/2013Amy Humann Hesselgesser 10/01/2012Michael Gregory Mcclain 10/01/2012VeterinarianHeather Dawn Bairbrake 09/01/2012JOAG’s mission is to provide advice andconsultation to the Surgeon General, ChiefProfessional Officers, Professional AdvisoryCommittees, & other Commissioned Corpsgroups on issues relating to professionalpractice and personnel activities affectingJunior Officers in the USPHS CommissionedCorps.

Vol. 23 Winter 2013Page 17JOAG Welcomes 110 Newly Commissioned Officers!(September – December 2012)Contributed by the JOAG Welcoming CommitteeATSDRLT Ayana AndersonLT Theresa Ann GrantBOPLCDR Beatrice Lunsford-WilkinsLT Kelly Marie FaithLT Mark ArenaLT Negassi Mebrahtu BireLT Jennifer ConnLT Francelyse PaulLT Wayne WeissingerLTJG Kassidy BurchettLTJG Camillus EzeikeLTJG Alex Abimbola FolamiLTJG Amaryllis JohnsonLTJG Lirissia Yulchell MccoyLTJG Okezie OkoliLTJG Jerome Ranson SimpsonLTJG Jennifer UnderwoodLTJG Eric WilsonLTJG Michael Addison MeadorENS Rachel ChannerENS Robert ChavarinENS Stephanie HagelsiebENS Ramona KistlerENS Jennifer PetroENS Charles ThomasENS Mark UbbensENS Jasmine WandersENS Shukriya ZarifENS Chelsea Patricia TrueENS Eric WongCDCLT Corey CampbellLT Travis MannLT Avi SteinCMSLT Ellen Imani DieujusteDHSLCDR Jason BenedictBuenaventuraLCDR M Masih SoltaniLT Yandace BrownLT George ChowLT Debra A. CooperLT Lisa EllisLT Karly Anne GomezLT Peter Thomas HughesLT Luis IturriagaLT Joseph NewcombLT Michael John ReedLT Diana Yi Fei WongLTJG Shannon BestLTJG Cynthia Matilde CabelloLTJG Steven EssienDODLCDR Christopher PerdueLT Jennifer CockrillDOD TMALCDR Jessica SchultzfischerLT Trami NguyenLT Rosson SmithLT Monique WorrellLT Cara AlexanderFDALCDR Jamila Abdullah MwidauLT Henry AllenLT Oluwaseun Adekemi AsanteLT Onieka CarpenterLT Matthew Adam JohnsonLT Rana KimLT Christina Lee KirbyLT Richard Anthony LyghtLT Justin MathewLT Osamede OnaghiseLT Shawn Marie ShermerLT Ruby TiwariLT Anne Crandall Tobenkin,HRSALCDR Deborah S. BelskyIHSLCDR Sherry HammockLCDR John Andrew LangLT Holly Anderson-CaldwellLT Jonathan BoressLT Jason BrownLT Rose GaikowskiLT Dustin HamptonLT Kathryn Elizabeth HanlonLT Ross HansonLT Paul HoffmanLT James Keith Ireland,LT Nicole LawrenceLT Benjamin LeLT Peter LittlehatLT Weston Wayne LovelleLT Monica MurieLT Dustin Joseph OxfordLT Antonio ParameswaranLT Mary Lee PetersenLT Randal SherronLT Jamie Ann SmithLT Travis Robert SpaethLT Ann TruongLT Brad WeekleyLT Billita WilliamsIHSLTJG Trevor BairdLTJG Timothy SchmidtLTJG Kendra VieiraINTERIORLT Danielle Elise ButtkeNIHLCDR Joseph Raymond FontanaLT Kristen ColeLT Corey Allen CosgroveLT Cynda HallLT Ick Ho KimLT Sarah LeeLTJG Leslie PoudrierOSLT Alyson Rose-WoodLTJG Toni Lachanda HallmanLTJG Donnamarie SpencerVisit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

Vol. 23 Winter 2013Page 18MerchandiseJOAG MedallionThe JOAG Medallion serves as a constant reminderthat we are officers in the CommissionedCorps. It also serves to remind us of certaincharacteristics an officer must have: generosity,elevation of mind, goodness, nobility, camaraderie,and the continuity of these ideals throughtime.Buy one for $10 and get a 2nd coin 1/2 off(plus shipping and handling)PHS Core Values CoinThe PHS Core Values Coin serves to remind allofficers of the four Commissioned CorpsValues of Leadership, Service, Integrity, andExcellence.Buy one for $10 and get a 2nd coin 1/2 off (plusshipping and handling)USPHS Coin RackThis solid pacific coast maple coin rackmeasures 7”x9” and has five rows thatcan hold military and USPHS coins. It hasthe USPHS seal and mission laser engravedon the front.$26 and receive a free coin with purchase(plus shipping and handling)Interested in ordering? Visit the Merchandise section of the JOAG website to viewthe order form and instructions:http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/JOAG/merchandise.aspxFor questions related to purchasing items please or contact LCDR Tina Walther,JOAG Financial Liaison at Tina.Walther@fda.hhs.gov.Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

Vol. 23 Winter 2013Page 19JOIN OUR MEETINGSJOAG General Meeting and Journeyman Series 2013Apr 12, 2013: JOAG Membership Meeting, 1300-1500 EDTMay 22, 2013: General Meeting at COF SymposiumJul 12, 2013: Journeyman Speaker Series, 1300-1400 EDTAug 9, 2013: JOAG General Membership Meeting, 1300-1500 EDTSept 13, 2013: Journeyman Speaker Series, 1300-1400 EDTJoin us for JOAG’s monthlymeetings via teleconference on thesecond Friday of each month.By Conference Call: (218) 936-4700Passcode: 791-9605#Miss a JOAG Meeting? Don’tdespair! JOAG meetings arerecorded. Audio recordings are available“on demand” by e-mailingLCDR Hiren Patel atHiren.Patel@fda.hhs.govAny opinions or thoughts presented in theJOAG Journal are solely those of the authorand do not represent the U.S. PublicHealth Service (USPHS), United StatesDepartment of Health and Human Services(HHS), or any other governmentagency.This newsletter has been provided by the JOAGCommunications & Publications Committee. For moreinformation on how to contribute to future editions,please contact Committee Chairs LCDR GeneGunn at Gene.Gunn@fda.hhs.gov,LCDR Willy Lanier at William.Lanier@fda.hhs.gov,or JOAG Editing Subcommittee Lead LCDR DavidWright at David.Wright@tma.osd.milVisit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/