Vol. 18 Summer - U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICEThe Junior Officer Advisory GroupVol. 18 Summer 2011A newsletter by junior officers for junior officersORIGINAL FEATURESChair Article: Page 1Junior Officer Spotlight: Page 2Uniform Corner: Page 3Fitness Corner: Page 4Meeting Information: Page 16FROM THE COMMITTEESMy First AMSUS Conference:Page 5Recruitment and RetentionMatters: Page 9Officer Promotions andNew Officers: Page 10Merchandise: Page 15OFFICER CONTRIBUTIONSInternal Locus of Control:Page 6BCOAG Social: Page 7You Are Not Alone: The Challengesof Being the Only PHSOfficer at a Duty Station Page 8Editor:LTJG Tracy TilghmanCopy Editors:LCDR Janice ArceneauxLCDR Willy LanierLT Melanie DraytonLT Natalie GibsonLTJG Samantha SpindelFellow junior officers,The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, alongwith the Office of the Surgeon General and JOAG arepromoting Let’s Move!, (http://www.letsmove.gov), acampaign that was launched by First Lady MichelleObama over a year ago in an effort to galvanize allAmericans in the fight to end childhood obesity within ageneration.Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative dedicated to solving the problem of obesitywithin a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursuetheir dreams. The Surgeon General has played an integral part in this initiative from its beginning.As an advisory group under the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), one ofJOAG’s primary missions is to support the Surgeon General’s (SG) initiatives. Given thelarge number of Commissioned Corps officers expected to attend the 2011 USPHS Scientificand Training Symposium in New Orleans, the leadership of JOAG felt this is the perfectopportunity for officers to participate in a local community-based event in support ofLet’s Move!.JOAG is in the planning phase of organizing two Let’s Move! New Orleans events duringthe 2011 USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium. JOAG has formed the Let’s Move!Planning Workgroup to help coordinate, organize, and promote these events. The firstevent is planned around the Surgeon General’s 5K on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, and willfocus on getting the local community involved in the 5K. The second event will take placeon Thursday, June 24, 2011 and will be a collaborative effort between the USPHS/JOAG,Chris Paul’s CP3 After School Zone, and the Partnership for Youth Development in NewOrleans. This event will focus on educating school age youth (5-12 year old) on the importanceof physical activity and healthy eating.JOAG’s Let’s Move! New Orleans events will directly support the First Lady’s and the SurgeonGeneral’s initiatives to encourage active and healthy lifestyles and the New Orleanscommunity at large. Let’s Move! New Orleans will serve as JOAG’s pilot, and lessonslearned will be used to plan and organize similar Let’s Move! events in the future.If interested in participating or volunteering for the Let’s Move Campaign, pleasecontact me at Carlos.Bell@fda.hhs.gov.With Warm Regards,LCDR Carlos BellChair, Junior Officer Advisory GroupVisit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalJunior Officer SpotlightPage 2Officer: LTJG Patric C. KlotzbuecherCategory: Engineer (Biomedical)Education: A.A.S., Aerospace Armament Systems, CommunityCollege of the Air Force; B.S., BiomedicalEngineering & Biomathematics, Rutgers UniversityMBA, Engineering Management, Drexel University(December 2011)Home town: Atlantic City, New JerseyAgency: FDACurrent Assignment and Duties: I am assigned to the FDA'sOffice of Regulatory Affairs, San Juan District, InvestigationsBranch as an Investigator/Consumer Safety Officer in Ponce,Puerto Rico. I plan and conduct regulatory inspections of FDAregulatedindustries (e.g., medical devices and pharmaceuticaldrugs), including analyzing investigative data and initiating regulatoryactions.Previous Assignment: I was previously assigned to an FDA fieldoffice in Falls Church, VA. Given my desire to branch out fromWashington, D.C. metropolitan area while I still had the desire formobility, my focus in the areas of medical devices and pharmaceuticaldrugs, and the high concentration of large manufacturingfacilities for both industries in Puerto Rico, I accepted a transferto the island in late 2009.How did you find out about the PHS? I was negotiating a startdate with the FDA as a civilian employee when a PHS liaison forthe FDA contacted me. I was a Staff Sergeant in the United StatesAir Force (USAF) at the time, and planned on transitioning to theUSAF Reserve/National Guard position and work at FDA fulltime.Transferring to the PHS afforded me the opportunity to obtaina commission, carry over much of my prior service time, andpursue a career as a uniformed service member as a BiomedicalEngineer.What are your goals with the PHS? A sense of leadership beyondthe scope of our professional credentials or our individualbillets is still evolving in the Corps. As an officer, I aspire to beone of those who leads the way. In true engineering fashion, Ihope to bring together many of my interdisciplinary skills to contributetoward the advancement of public health.What is your most memorable PHS experience so far? As theMobilization Branch Director of the Tier I PHS-2 Rapid DeploymentForce (“Second to None”), my most memorable experiencesinclude serving with fellow PHS officers while billeting on concretefloors for weeks during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike andworking hand-in-hand with the Assistant Secretary for Preparednessand Response (ASPR) during the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.What advice would you give to prospective PHS applicants (orPictured: LTJG Patric Klotzbuecherother Jr. Officers)? First, get to know the ‘ins & outs’ of yourAgency and PHS. Especially with civilian supervisors, a working knowledge of the system allows you to educate your managementand provides you more leverage when dealing with issues.Second, don’t accept anything that is not 100% accurate just to“push it through” administrative processes. A simple mistake ormiscalculation can result in many hours in correction later. Third,surround yourself with good mentors, whether official or unofficial.What were the difficult aspects of your recent inter-servicetransfer? As an officer on a Tier I deployment team, balancingthe demands of both my Agency and PHS can be challenging. Inother uniformed services, Reservists and Guardsmen maintaintheir civilian careers around the operational requirements of theirservice. In a way we do the same, but it seems that our Agenciesare less sensitive to the dichotomy required of us.What are your favorite things about living in PuertoRico? What are the challenges?" I am nearly fluent in Spanish,but locals tend to speak very fast. So, when working in the regulatoryenvironment where it is very important to be clear, direct,and fully understood, the language barrier can be a challenge. Forexample, FDA has a statutory English language requirement forall documentation, including Investigators’ regulatory notes. Ioften find myself interacting in Spanish, mentally translating anddocumenting items in English, then re-translating into Spanish tocarry on a conversation. It takes a great deal of patience and cansometimes become a limiting factor during an investigation.On the upside, I get to skip winter! I am fortunate to be stationedin a location where many vacation. Puerto Rico is perfect for anyonewho enjoys working hard, but also appreciates playing hard.

Vol. 18 Summer 2011Uniform Corner: Proper Wear ofUniform Award Ribbons, Part IContributed by LCDR Gene R. Gunn, Jr.Page 3This issue of the Uniform Corner focuses on the properwear of ribbons. Hopefully we can clear up any misconceptionsthrough an explanation of the regulations found inCC26.3.3 which can be found at the following web address:http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_3.pdfThe arrangement of ribbons shall be worn in order ofprecedence in rows of three, originating at the top inboardposition and ending at the bottom outboard position. Aminimum of three ribbons shall be worn by those officerspossessing more than three ribbons with the three beingthose of highest precedence. Clear as mud, right? Let’ssee if we can clarify using Figure A.Figure A. (Top left to bottom right): Commendation Medal, OutstandUnit Citation, Unit Commendation, Crisis Response ServiceAward, Officer Basic Course Training Ribbon.If awarded ribbons are not in multiples of three the uppermostrow shall contain the lesser number of ribbons. Thecenter of the top row shall be centered over the center ofthe row below it. The figure above shows the proper alignmentof the top two ribbons.Ribbons shall be worn so that they are ¼ inch above the leftbreast pocket. Rows of ribbons shall be worn so that theyare touching and there is no space between them. I havefound that laying a regular #2 pencil on top of the pocketand placing the ribbons on top provides the appropriate ¼inch spacing.Attachments to ribbons, such as stars, shall be centered ona horizontal line that evenly bisects the ribbon with twopoints of the star pointing down. In instances where a goldor bronze star is worn with a Silver Star, the Silver Starshall be placed on the wearer’s left.PHS Honor and Unit Awards are worn in the order ofprecedence (See the brochure at the following address formore information, http://dcp.psc.gov/PDF_docs/CCPM_P67.pdf ). Service Awards are worn in the orderearned. In all cases of relative equivalence, PHS awardstake precedence over other Uniform Service awards. Precedencefor wear of individual honor ribbons of other Servicesis as follows: Department of Defense (DOD), Navy,United States Marine Corps (USMC), United States CoastGuard (USCG), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), Army, and the Air Force. The CommissionedOfficers Association (COA), Association ofMilitary Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), and ReserveOfficers Association (ROA) ribbons are worn in thatorder and are only to worn while attending meetings andconventions and may only be worn if the officer wears anapproved uniform service decoration or service award atthe same time. The Regular Corps ribbon is worn afterhonor and service awards, but before the COA, etc., ribbons.This information really just scratches the surface of theregulations concerning proper ribbon wear. In the next issuewe will discuss the proper wear of medals. If you havespecific questions about either ribbons or medals pleasefeel free to contact me via the e-mail address below.On another note, I wanted to let you know about the newuniform newsletter that the Uniform Sub-Committee willdistribute monthly. It is called “With Pride and Distinction”and it will focus on uniform wear as well as provideinteresting information on the history of the CommissionedCorps. It will be distributed via the JOAG listserv.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 Gene Gunn atgene.gunn@fda.hhs.com.Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 4Fitness CornerContributed by Physical Training Subcommittee, on behalf ofthe Inter-Services Collaboration CommitteeP90X (an extreme home exercise system) and now he is on his secondtour of the program. Bringing health and wellness to a lovedone is also a big fitness accomplishment!In 2007, I qualified for the Boston Marathon while running theNYC Marathon with a time of approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes,a personal best! I ran the Boston Marathon in 2008. I ran myfirst marathon, the Chicago Marathon, in 2004. That’s three of thefive World Major Marathons.What are your fitness goals for the future?My personal goals include running the remaining two World MajorMarathons, Berlin and London. I also want to remain committed tofitness throughout my life and encourage the same behavior in myloved ones.Officers running the APFT at OBC, September 2009. From left toright: LT Thompson, LT Beer, and LT SimpsonOfficer: LT Catherine M. BeerCategory: Health ServicesEducation: MS, Medicinal Chemistry, Illinois State UniversityHometown: Chicago, IllinoisCurrent Location: Albany, New YorkAgency: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of RegulatoryAffairs (ORA)What do you do to stay fit?I stay fit doing a variety of activities and limiting my televisiontime at night to less than two hours. On my personal time, I run 30minutes three days a week and incorporate some Pilates three daysa week. Aside from running, I enjoy taking my black lab “Gibson”for a walk every day with my husband and working on house projectssuch as redecorating, yard-work or re-organizing. I often relaxdoing activities requiring movement such as playing darts, pool orNintendo Wii! The less I sit still, the healthier I feel! While at workin the office, my colleagues and I started a ‘lunch-walk’ group backin 2008. Each day, depending on our availability, as many as 6 ofus get together at lunch to go for a brisk 20-30 minute walk. It actsas a stress reliever in addition to being a great way to incorporatefitness into the work day. We walk year around, even when thetemperature is below 0 and there is a foot of snow on the ground!Now that is dedication! We keep each other motivated.What are your fitness accomplishments?Last year, at OBC I obtained APFT Level 3 and missed Level 4 bythree push-ups! This year, I proudly achieved my goal and improvedmy fitness to APFT Level 4. Having a goal in mind makesdoing the APFT test more fun!This year, I motivated my husband to complete his first 90 days ofMy goal as a PHS officer is to increase the importance of physicalfitness within the Corps and to align USPHS fitness expectations tothose of our sister services. I think it is important as officers servingthe Public Health to emulate the message that we convey. Visibleexamples send a strong message to those around us.Finally, our office plans to keep our ‘lunch-walk’ group goingstrong. We feel it is a great way to promote physical fitness byleading by example, and we hope sharing our story will motivateother officers to do the same.STRETCHING TIPSStretching can increase your flexibility, improve yourexercise ability, improve your balance, and help preventinjuries. Here are a few tips on stretching,brought to you by The Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fitness/MY00396/DSECTION=stretching-and-flexibility• Perform stretches only after a proper warm-up (5-10minutes of light activity) or preferably after exercise.Performing static stretches on cool muscles can actuallyincrease your risk of injury• Incorporate dynamic stretches (such as swinging yourleg from side-to-side in front of you) into your stretchingroutine• When in a static stretch, do not bounce or hold yourbreath. Do not stretch a muscle so far that you feelpain• Optimally, hold stretches for at least 30 seconds• When stretching, try to target specific muscle groupsyou’ll be using in your workout or activity• Stretching major muscle groups at least three times perweek can improve your flexibility over time

Vol. 18 Summer 2011Page 5My First AMSUS ConferenceContributed by LCDR LT Ana Pereira on behalf ofthe JOAG Professional Development CommitteePictured from left to right: LTJG Ana Pereira, VADM ReginaBenjamin, RADM James Galloway, and LTJG Cody ThorntonHow lucky could I be? After just one year as a brand new clinician inthe Public Health Service (PHS), graduating from Physical TherapySchool, and leaving my prior U.S. Air Force Reserve enlisted life, Isuddenly find myself having the wonderful opportunity to attend theAssociation of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS)conference. From what I understood after having attended the OfficerBasic Training (OBC) earlier that year, after the COF USPHSScientific and Training Symposium, AMSUS was the biggest conferencefor USPHS officers. Now I had a chance to come together withthese officers—see and feel like part of a bigger picture! Not onlythat, this conference meant that other Uniformed Services would beexposed to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, which is really importantconsidering the normal struggles in trying to explain what itmeans to be a USPHS officer to our sister services and civilians.Being a new call to active duty can be challenging at times. Thereare a lot of things you don’t know, even with prior service experience.The challenges range from the wear of the uniform, to learninga new set of behaviors among fellow officers, and in my case, attemptingto fit into the “officer world” especially being the priorservice enlisted member that I am. Suddenly, I found myself minglingwith national and international authority and public figures,such as Army and Air force Generals, Navy Admirals, and Nationaland international Surgeon Generals such as our own Vice-AdmiralRegina Benjamin. It was a true gift to be present in the same hall assome of these previously mentioned officers. These officers gaveinformative, educational, and inspirational speeches from their ownexperiences. Hearing their personal experiences made the conferenceworth attending.Aide-de-camp, or a personal assistant, to RADM James Galloway,the Assistant Surgeon General and Regional Health Administrator ofRegion V. Those who do know him, can attest to my saying that thisis one of the most humble and knowledgeable people holding such aposition. It was truly a pleasure assisting RADM Galloway duringthe conference and learning from the wealth of knowledge that hehas, especially considering his background in the Indian Health Service,which is where I presently serve. A message to junior officers -If given the opportunity to serve as an Aide-de-Camp, please do nothesitate. It is truly an amazing experience, where not only does mentorshipoccur, but it serves as a wonderful integration into the essenceof the Commissioned Corps. This opportunity provides fortrue exposure to our current leaders such as the Assistant SurgeonGenerals, Deputy Surgeon General and the Surgeon General herself.It really gives a different and heightened perspective to an officer toa junior officer to come in contact with its leadership on such a personallevel. It was truly something special.Along with having the wonderful opportunity to be part of such aconference, the ability to connect with members from the other servicesin attendance as well as with international delegates was veryrewarding. AMSUS allows exposure to most branches of the USMilitary such as the Air Force, Army, Navy, and of course our veryown Public Health service which is heavily in attendance. This is ofgreat importance, because as PHS officers, it is our duty to educatethese other services about the USPHS and to endorse our mission topromote the health and safety of the nation, which may be unfamiliarto our sister services. At the conference, I reunited with some of myprior service colleagues from McGuire Air Force Base. Not only wasI able to reminisce about my foundational years spent in the AirForce, but I was also able to discuss with them my current PublicHealth Service and give them my new perspective as a PHS officer.Finally, among all the amazing things AMSUS had to offer, meetingfellow Commissioned Corps officers was the best part of attendingAMSUS. PHS is a tight knit community where networking is key.Finding out where your peer comes from, their background and interestsis the way to connect and assist each other in future endeavors.I am very thankful to the officers that made it possible for me toattend The AMSUS National Conference of 2010, and will continueto strive to promote the PHS mission within and outside of ourUSPHS Commissioned Corps.The 2011 AMSUS Conference will be in San Antonio, TX at theRiver Walk November 6-10, 2011.For additional AMSUS information, please see:http://www.amsus.org/or e-mail David.lau@dhs.gov,USPHS AMSUSCommittee Co-Chair and USPHS AMSUS MSC (Medical ServiceCorps) ChairAs a new LT, I was granted the opportunity of working as anVisit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 6Internal Locus of ControlContributed by LCDR Charlene Majersky, Ph.D.The ability to lead skillfully and successfully in today’scomplex and fluid health care arena requires a leader with asolid internal locus of control. What is internal locus of control,you might ask?From my perspective, internal locus of control is the core ofyour being or sense of self. For example, if a leader has asolid internal locus of control, s/he is usually able to facechallenges with poise, grace and dignity instead of with selfcenterednessand vindictiveness. A leader with a solid internallocus of control is astutely aware of his or her strengthsas well as limitations and, as a result, is able to exercisegood judgment and skillfully (versus unskillfully) handlecomplex issues in the workplace.Developing one’s internal locus of control is no easy tasknor is it accomplished overnight. Instead, it is a lifelongjourney that requires hard work, self-motivation, and perseverance.Oftentimes the work can be discouraging becausejust when you think you are making progress and taking astep forward, you might then take two steps backwards.However, if you keep working at it, the time and energy ofyour efforts can reap unlimited rewards.A critical and necessary first step to developing a solid internallocus of control is engaging in self-awareness work. Thisrequires your openness and willingness to look completelyand honestly at yourself; including your values, beliefs, attitudes,and life experiences. It is peeling back the layers ofthe core of your being, exposing your fears, vulnerabilities,and hopes, for example.My sense is that Mindfulness work plays a pivotal role here.To me, Mindfulness is welcoming and fully embracing theebb and flow of life, come as it may. Mindfulness can bedefined as careful, openhearted, and present moment awareness.It is cultivated by our paying attention at each momentto what we are experiencing, without judgment to whateverarises in the present moment. Furthermore, it is recognizingand accepting the present reality without fighting it, movingonward to the next moment of consciousness, and then discerningwhat direction to take.By examining our own experience and behavior, and themanner in which we interact with others, we can live morefully, being more present and grounded in our important roleas a leader. The practice of Mindfulness can strengthen ourability to remain fully open to our experience and canstrengthen our ability as human beings to empathize withothers. The beauty of Mindfulness practice is that it canbring tranquility and liberating understanding into your life.The highly practical nature of Mindfulness can definitelyinfluence our day-to-day activities in the workplace and ourinteractions with others. This practice of ongoing Mindfulnesscoupled with a tranquil state of mind that is able to noticehow we and others are feeling, can be used as a startingpoint to explore further what we then bring up for considerationand discussion with others whom we are interactingwith.In respecting our human interconnectedness with others andour ability to nurture each other in this profound way, theprocess of transformation of mind or shifting our states ofmind makes use of our understanding, appreciating, andsympathizing with one another. In this realm of human interconnectedness,when we experience deep compassion, understanding,and full acceptance for who and what we are,we can then begin to come to calm, clarity, wisdom, andhappiness.The value of human interconnectedness that is respectful,gentle, compassionate, understanding, supportive, nurturing,and accepting is priceless. Moreover, an interpersonal relationshipof this magnitude enriches our life and encouragesus as leaders in our efforts to build and maintain our internallocus of control.

Vol. 18 Summer 2011Page 7BCOAG Social for Atlanta-Area OfficersContributed by LT Malaika Pepper Washington,LT Zanethia Eubanks, and LCDR Pilgrim SpikesFebruary 17 th 2011 marked the 1 st Black Commission Officers AdvisoryGroup (BCOAG) Social for Atlanta area PHS officers. Theevent was held at the Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse - Embassy SuitesBuckhead, with 35 officers in attendance, including the esteemedRADM Clara Cobb and CAPT Doris Ravenell-Brown. The occasionserved as a collaborative event sponsored by the Social andHealth Disparities Committees, led by Chairs LT Zanethia Eubanks(BCOAG Social Committee Chair) and LCDR Pilgrim Spikes(BCOAG Health Disparities Committee Chair), to bring officers inthe Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Region IVOffices together for shared camaraderie and networking. Both committeechairs invited officers in the Atlanta area to become activemembers of BCOAG.RADM Cobb commended the Social and Health Disparities committeesfor taking the initiative to organize the social. She encouragedboth junior and senior officers to meet regularly so that there wouldbe opportunities for mentorship and professional networking to Atlanta-basedCommission Corps Officers. CAPT Ravenell-Brownalso spoke of her passion for mentorship and charged officers towork within the Atlanta community to promote the USPHS CommissionCorps to local high school and college students. During theinformal discussion period of the social, senior officers stepped up toencourage junior officers to seek career development opportunitiesand assistance.CAPT Wanda Barfield, Director of CDCs Division of ReproductiveHealth, personally reached out to several Junior Officers to emphasizeher interest in mentoring and collaborating on future outreachmissions within the Atlanta University Center. The Atlanta UniversityCenter consists of the following educational institutions: MorrisBrown College, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark AtlantaUniversity, and Morehouse School of Medicine.BCOAG social events serve as venues for Junior Officers to networkwith local officers. The impact is the development of lasting relationshipsthrough informal mentorship; career development and progressionby category and/or agency; information sharing for deploymentroles and opportunities to join deployment teams; and collaborationsurrounding mutual interest such as outreach and volunteerism.Additionally, officers are encouraged to discuss the variousUSPHS Commissioned Corp (CC) organizations and activities inwhich they are active and support participation by others; solicitmembership opportunities to Junior and Senior Officers; and providesupport for one another as BCOAG embarks upon strengtheningvisibility in community based-collaborations/partnerships. Theachievements of local officers that have made significant contributionsto public health are also highlighted during these gatheringswith a charge to other officers to continue to serve with excellence.Pictured from left to right: LT Jacinta Smith, LT Jemekia Thornton,LT Malaika Pepper Washington, LT Zewde Demissie; LT LatashaAllen, CAPT Wanda Barfield, LT Erika OdomThe BCOAG Social Committee also works closely with otherBCOAG committees, such as, the Health Disparities Committee inwhich the current agenda of RADM Dr. Regina Benjamin is of criticalimportance to the health and safety of our nation. To support theU.S. Surgeon General’s agenda, a primary goal for the Health DisparitiesCommittee is to increase the awareness of the importance ofhealthy eating and physical activity for prevention of chronic disease.The Social Committee plans to support this goal in upcomingevents by holding socials at locations with nutritious meal options,and encouraging officers to partake in fun physical activity withfamily and friends through BCOAG family events.Overall, the event was a great success. The Social Committee isplanning to coordinate more activities for all BCOAG members inthe future. All PHS officers are encouraged to participate.If BCOAG members in other cities are interested in hosting socialevents, please contact LT Eubanks (ZEubanks@cdc.gov) for furtherguidance.The Black Commissioned Officers Advisory Group (BCOAG) providesadvice and consultation to the Surgeon General on issues relatedto PHS officers and civil servants of African-American descent.Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 8You Are Not Alone: The Challenge of Beingthe Only PHS Officer at a Duty StationContributed by LCDR Ericka Murray, MPHPictured: LCDR Ericka MurrayOn October 6, 2008, I proudly reported to duty at DallasCounty Health and Human Services wearing mynewly pressed USPHS uniform for the very first time.I remember feeling overwhelmed with pride and excitement,as I was officially serving my country in aspecial way. Before I could even make it in the frontdoor, one of my civilian colleagues stopped in histracks, stared at me, and blatantly asked, “What’s withthe khaki, Ericka?”a junior officer, it is so important to connect with aSenior Officer who can offer guidance as you movealong your career path. My mentor encourages me toget involved in local USPHS activities and to networkwith officers outside my agency.Over the course of almost three years in the CommissionedCorps, I have been respected as ‘the woman inuniform’ at my duty station. Being on active duty, Ihave developed a keen “can do” work ethic. I embracedmy ability to be versatile, to complete othertasks than just at the laboratory bench, and respond tothe call of duty during special events such as theH1N1 Influenza Outbreak of 2009, the NBA All-StarGame in 2010, and the 2011 NFL SuperBowl XLV.Although several days may go by before I see anotherPHS Officer, I realize I am not alone. If you findyourself in my situation, make it a point to show officershipevery minute of the day, answer those toughquestions from the general public with pride, and findthe support to become a well-rounded PHS Officer. Itworks very well for me.I am the only Officer at Dallas County Health and HumanServices. Every single day I report for duty, I entertainquestions from the general public about mykhaki uniform and USPHS devices. “When did theNavy make it to Dallas?”, “Do you have to wear a uniformevery day?”, and the most common question:“What is USPHS anyways?” Most civilians ask thesetypes of questions with all due respect; however, itbrought home the point, I am really all alone at thisduty station.JOAG’s mission is to provide advice and consultationto the Surgeon General, Chief Professional Officers,Professional Advisory Committees, & otherCommissioned Corps groups on issues relating toprofessional practice and personnel activitiesaffecting Junior Officers in the USPHSCommissioned Corps.I decided it was time to connect with other fellow Officersin Dallas. My first goal was to find a mentor. Iwas very fortunate to find a senior officer mentor. As

Vol. 18 Summer 2011Page 9Recruitment and Retention Matters:John Hopkins School of Public HealthContributed by LCDR Scott Steffan on behalf of theJOAG Recruitment and Retention CommitteeI am passionate about meeting new people and discussingall kinds of topics. This made the decision of joiningthe Junior Officers Advisory Group (JOAG) Recruitmentand Retention (R&R) Committee an easy one because ofthe fulfilling opportunities that are offered to inform peopleabout the Commissioned Corps and how they as officerscould make a huge impact on Public Health. Hence,I decided to give back by looking to my Alma mater,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health(JHSPH), to see if I could talk with students about theCorps. After contacting the school, Career Services recommendedthat I participate in their 27 th Annual 2011Public Health Career Fair on March 4th. Participation ofCommissioned Corps officers in the Johns Hopkins CareerFair was coordinated by two fellow officers and myself,who are current students. For me, this was not just arecruitment event, but a chance to come back to a place Ispent nearly six years, see some old friends, and sharemy experiences in the USPHS.JHSPH is an outstanding institute to seek well-qualifiedUSPHS candidates. It is the oldest and largest school ofpublic health in the world, which was founded in 1916by William H. Welch and John D. Rockefeller. It is routinelyrated as the top ranked public health school byU.S. News & World Report. 1 The school currently enrolls2,056 students. JHSPH consists of 10 departmentsoffering numerous degrees from policy to bench science.With this extensive breadth of studies, JHSPH is a greatsource for potential officers of all disciplines in theUSPHS.The make up of the student body within JHSPH consistsof nurses, doctors, scientists, health safety officers(HSOs), and policy makers. Therefore, it was clear thatthe JHSPH career fair would benefit by having USPHSofficers from various categories in attendance to addresscareer-specific questions. Hence, volunteers were requestedfor the event through the JOAG R&R Committeealong with the Scientist, Nurse, and Physician PACs.The response was outstanding. In total, we had sevenjunior officers and two senior officers from SciPAC,PharmPAC, N-PAC, HS-PAC, and P-PAC participatingin this event. The officers were LT Quocbao Pham,LCDR Chekesha Clingman, LCDR Latonia Ford, LCDRLaurelle Cascio, LCDR Scott Steffen, LCDR SharonEdelson-Mammel, LCDR Somya Dunn, CDR ClaudineSamanic, and CDR Soju Chang. These officers did agreat job by coming together to help make the event atrue success. The career fair lasted for five hours with575 students participating.Throughout the day, we met with nearly 100 studentsfrom all disciplines with a high representation of potentialScientists and HSO candidates. I met a student whois also an Army Captain at Fort Detrick. This officer immediatelyimpressed me and I enjoyed meeting an officerfrom a sister service. She expressed interest in continuingher career in uniform, so I told her about thebenefits of being a USPHS officer with prior militaryexperience. With that conversation, she became moreexcited about the Corps and I felt it illustrated the needfor programs/initiatives for individuals with prior militaryexperience.I believe this recruitment event was a complete successfor both the students and officers involved. The officersshared their experiences while meeting many outstandingstudents with various backgrounds and excitingfutures. I am optimistic that we may see some of theJohns Hopkins students again, wearing the CommissionedCorps uniform.Please Note: All background information was used withpermission from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School ofPublic Health website: http://www.jhsph.edu/school_at_a_glance/index.htmlVisit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 10JOAG Congratulates all Junior Officerson their recent/upcoming promotions andCalls to Active Duty!Contributed by the JOAG Welcoming CommitteeOfficer PromotionsTo Commander (O-5)NurseVictoria Ezelle Ebanks 06/01/2011ScientistSally Hongyu Hu 06/01/2011Yi Zhang 06/01/2011PharmacistHyon-Zu Lee 05/01/2011New Calls to Active DutyBOPENS Ebony WestmorelandENS Rachel TaylorDOD TMALCDR Amy CasonLCDR Anthony PerryLT Caroline CoffeyLT Michelle TsaiCOMMERCELCDR Alan GoldsteinJOAG T-Shirts Now Availablefor Pre-Order!JOAG T-Shirt with Serious or Funny Slogan A gray t-shirt with the JOAG seal on the front and the serious or funnyslogan on the back. $15.00 per shirt(SM, M, LG, XL sizes available)Main Slogan“U.S. Public Health Service: Building theFoundation for a Healthier Nation”Funny Slogan“Uniform pants that actually fit: $41Ribbon for doing what you were hired to do: $1Protecting, promoting and advancing the healthand safety of our Nation: Priceless”Back by Popular Demand – Funny Slogan"U.S Public Health Service: Explaining OurselvesSince 1789. We're Not the Navy"These t-shirts are now available for pre-sell and pick-up at the COF Symposium in June. Proceeds from these t-shirts andother JOAG Merchandise will benefit the COF Junior Officer Scholarship Fund supporting officer development for thefuture. To place a pre-order please visit http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/index_files/Merchandise.htm.

Vol. 18 Summer 2011Page 11Join Us During the2011 Scientific and Training SymposiumJOAG BOOTH!Presented by the JOAG Development CommitteeLocation: Near the Symposium Registration Desk.Hours of Operation: Monday & Tuesday (0800-1700), Wednesday (0800-1600), Thursday (0800-1330)Additional Information: Stop by and pick up this year’s featured merchandise, including PHS gym towels,mugs, and slogan t-shirts. PHS coin racks and core value coins and medallions will also be available for purchase,as well as additional information material for junior officers.VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to help organize, staff, and sell merchandise. Volunteers will also receive a thankyouletter for their participation, which will be added to their eOPF. If you are interested in volunteering tosupport this important event, please send your availability to LCDR SuzAnne Hennigan(shennigan@bop.gov).Please come and visit us at the JOAG Boothas we exemplify the esprit de corps!Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 14JOAG SocialatPat O’ Brien’sWednesdayJune 227:00 PM - Close624 Bourbon StreetNew Orleans, LACome out to thehistoric French Quarterto meet your fellowJunior Officersand have some fun!(All Officers areInvited to Join)

Vol. 18 Summer 2011Page 15MerchandiseJOAG MedallionThe JOAG Medallion serves as a constant reminderthat we are officers in the CommissionedCorps. It also serves to remind us of certain characteristicsan officer must have: generosity, elevationof mind, goodness, nobility, camaraderie, andthe continuity of these ideals through time.$10 per coin plus $1 shipping and handlingPHS Core Values CoinThe PHS Core Values Coin serves to remind allofficers of the four Commissioned CorpsValues of Leadership, Service, Integrity, andExcellence.$10 per coin plus $1 shipping and handlingUSPHS Coin RackThis solid pacific coast maple coin rackmeasures 7”x9” and has five rows that canhold military and USPHS coins. It has theUSPHS seal and mission laser engraved onthe front.Now available for pre-order for $26/rackplus $5 shipping and handlingInterested in pre-ordering? Visit the Merchandise section of the JOAG website to viewthe order form and instructions:http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/JOAG/index_files/Merchandise.htmFor questions related to purchasing items please or contact LCDR Robin Toblin, JOAGFinancial Liaison at Robin.L.Toblin@us.army.mil.Visit JOAG at: http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/joag/

The JOAG JournalPage 16JOIN OUR MEETINGSJOAG General Meeting andJourneyman Series2010-2011June 19, 2011 (at COF Symposium):General Membership Meeting/Meet and Greet1800-2000 CSTJuly 8, 2011:Journeyman Speaker Series, 1300– 1400 EDTAugust 12, 2011:General Membership Meeting, 1300-1500 EDTSeptember 9, 2011:Journeyman Speaker Series, 1300– 1400 EDTJoin us for JOAG’s monthly meetings via teleconferenceor in person* on thesecond Friday of each month.By Conference Call: (218) 936-4700Passcode: 791-9605#In Person*:Parklawn BuildingSurgeon General’s Conf.Rm 18-575600 Fishers Lane Room 18-57Rockville, MD 20857FDA’s White Oak CampusBldg 51, Conf.Rm. 121910903 New Hampshire AvenueSilver Spring, MD 20993Miss a JOAG Meeting? Don’tdespair! JOAG meetings arerecorded. Audio recordings are available “on demand” by e-mailingLT Hiren Patel at Hiren.Patel@fda.hhs.govThis newsletter has been provided by the JOAG Communications & Publications Committee.For more information on how to contribute to future editions, please contact LCDR Janice Arceneauxand LCDR Christina Coriz, Committee Chairs, or LTJG Tracy Tilghman , JOAGEditing Subcommittee lead.Any opinions or thoughts presented in the JOAG Journal are solely those of the author and do not represent the U.S. PublicHealth Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or any other government agency.