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The Signal

The Signal

3rd Quarter 2017

2017 Signal Committee LCDR James Dixon Editor in Chief LT Jona Johnson Managing Editor LCDR Natasha Hollis Editorial Assistant LCDR Mark Macyszyn Copy Editor LTCDR Virginia Bowen Copy Editor CDR Maleeka Glover Layout Editor CDR Jemekia Thornton Layout Editor CAPT John Iskander Technical Editor LCDR Joy Hsu Technical Editor CAPT Charlene Majersky Staff Writer LCDR Zewditu Demissie Staff Writer LCDR Alison Laufer Halpin Staff Writer

Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association

ACOA—The Signal Page | 2

Table of Contents

President’s Corner

CDR Timothy Cunningham .................................................................................................... 3

2017-2018 ACOA Executive Committee .................................................................................. 4

Featured Articles

June 2017 USPHS Remote Area Medical Mission ................................................................... 5

ACOA Community Service Event with Trees Atlanta - June 24, 2017 ....................................... 7

Teaching a Leadership and Management Course to Epidemiology Trainees from Thailand

and India ............................................................................................................................... 8

My Experience in Thailand with the International Experience and Technical Assistance

Program ............................................................................................................................... 9

Op-Ed

Introductory The Signal Op-Ed ………… .................................................................................. 11

Kindness Matters …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .. 12

Atlanta Commissioned Officer Association Announcements

2017 U.S. Public Health Service Atlanta Metro Area Promotion Ceremony ………… ................ 13

Blue Star Museums ............................................................................................................. 14

PHS Pride …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .............. 15

ACOA Uniform Store ………………………………………… ................................................................. 16

Membership Page…………………………………………………………………………………………………… ........... 17

Request for Abstracts - 2017 Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Annual

Meeting .............................................................................................................................. 18

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Dear ACOA,

I was recently reminded why ACOA has remained very special to me throughout

my USPHS career. I am humbled and in awe of the outstanding volunteers who

compose ACOA. On July 1, I worked with fellow ACOA volunteers at the Atlanta

Community Food Bank to box and sort 12,036 meals for people in food insecure

households across metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Without hesitation, ACOA

volunteers continually promote the visibility of USPHS, serve with pride and dedi-

cation in our community, manage the merchandise and uniform stores, coordi-

nate Lunch and Learns, and plan other events such as the upcoming 2017 Promo-

tion Ceremony on August 7.

I am thankful for the unique experience serving as ACOA President and deeply

appreciative of the 2016-2017 Executive Committee members who have support-

ed and sustained this organization. Your commitment and support are greatly

appreciated. Your generosity has benefited countless others in our community and promoted a multitude of opportu-

nities for ACOA members to enjoy camaraderie and esprit de corps. Thank you for your time and talent. It has truly

been an honor to serve ACOA with you all.

I had two goals as ACOA President. I am proud to report that we have steadily increased our membership by activating

the Membership Committee and working to make ACOA more welcoming to newly-commissioned USPHS Officers. Fur-

thermore, I truly believe that ACOA is in a stronger position to support our mission than it was when I was started as

ACOA President. Each and every task completed by ACOA volunteers and the 2016-2017 Executive Committee was tru-

ly an important contribution to making this happen.

On a final note, it is my pleasure to welcome the 2017-2018 ACOA President, LCDR Erika Odom. LCDR Odom is an ACOA

veteran who previously served as Vice President, Secretary, and Community Service Committee Co-Chair. She brings a

wealth of experience and new ideas. I have complete confidence that ACOA will be in great hands. I look forward to a

great year with the 2017-2018 ACOA Executive Committee!

With gratitude,

CDR Timothy Cunningham

President’s Corner

CDR Timothy Cunningham

CDR Deborah Dee

CDR Timothy Cunningham

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2017-2018 ACOA Executive Committee

President: LCDR Erika Odom, CDC

Vice President: LCDR Katrina Sloan, CDC

Past President: CDR Timothy Cunningham, CDC

Secretary: LCDR Bryan Shelby, CDC

Treasurer: LCDR Rachael Cook, FDA

2017-2018 ACOA Committee Chairpersons

Communications: CDR Mark Macyszyn, CMS

LCDR Virginia (Ginny) Bowen, CDC

Community Service: LCDR Angela Thompson-Paul, CDC

LCDR Tamara Henderson, FDA

Professional Development: CDR Eric Tai, CDC

LCDR NaTasha Hollis, CDC

Events Planning: LT Aaron Grober, ATSDR

LT Tanesha Tutt, CDC

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In late 2016, the USPHS Commissioned Corps and Remote Area Medical (RAM) signed a Memorandum of Understand-

ing (MOU) to share resources and information, as well as to provide direct clinical care. RAM is a Tennessee–based non

-profit that provides free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assis-

tance to people in remote areas of the United States. With this partnership, Corps Officers attend RAM events and are

able to provide free medical, dental, and vision care to any individual in need on a first-come, first-served basis. This

MOU will also provide an opportunity for more Corps Officers to receive training in a field environment.

During June 3-4, 2017, 115 USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers participated in the first RAM event under this MOU at

Red Bank High School in Chattanooga, TN. Twenty participating officers were ACOA members. Officers worked with 64

RAM volunteers to provide care to 641 patients from eight states over the two day clinic period. Of these 641 patients,

410 received dental care, 127 received medical care, and 260 received vision evaluations. Some individuals received

more than one service. More than $275,000 worth of free services were provided.

In addition to the typical scope of care provided by RAM, Commissioned Corps Officers also provided 39 physical and

occupational therapy consultations, 42 pharmacy consultations, 70 behavioral and mental health evaluations and con-

sultations, stress management resources to 190 dental patients in a large group setting, and general health education

to 383 patients. The Acting Surgeon General, RADM Sylvia Trent-Adams, visited the clinic and met with RAM Founder,

Stan Brock, Officers, and volunteers.

CDR Neelam Ghiya, an ACOA communications committee mem-

ber, led the health education team that helped provide written

health education materials to patients, both in English and Span-

ish. Materials were provided by agencies including CDC, FDA, and

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMSHA), CDR Ghiya was joined by fellow ACOA members, LT

Marcienne Wright and LT Tanesha Tutt, along with LCDR Aaron

Chen Wendorf from RDF3.

Other ACOA Officers volunteered for the event and held a variety

of leadership positions during the RAM mission, including the

following: RDF3 Team Commander and Officer in Charge, CAPT

Holly Williams; Public Information Officer, CDR Eva McLanahan;

Planning Section Chief, LCDR Erin Grasso; APHT1 Team Com-

mander and participant, CAPT Theresa Harrington.

June 2017 USPHS Remote Area Medical Mission CAPT Holly Williams, CDR Eva McLanahan, and CDR Neelam Ghiya

(Continued on page 6)

Left: RAM Health Education Team with Acting Surgeon General and Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness (DCCPR) Direc-tor. PHS Dignitaries: RADM Sylvia Trent-Adams (Acting Surgeon General) and RADM Joan Hunter (DCCPR Director). ACOA Members: CDR Neelam Ghiya, LT Tanesha Tutt, and LCDR Marcienne Wright.

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At the conclusion of the RAM Mission, ACOA and RDF3 team member CDR

Shauna Mettee Zarecki was presented with the USPHS Responder of the Year

Award (see photo to the right).

Other Atlanta-based Officers who participated in the RAM mission included

CAPT Alan Peterson, CAPT Stardust Mazzariello, CAPT Jennifer Williams, CDR

Leslie Leonard, CDR Valarie Wilson, LCDR Ayana Anderson, LCDR Zewditu De-

missie, LCDR Folasade Kembi, LCDR Martin Stephens, LCDR Demas Sylvera, and LT Carin Molchan. ACOA member

LCDR Jason Dailey voluntarily coordinated the GSA van pooling from Atlanta to Chattanooga.

The event was highly successful in providing health services to an underserved population and increasing the visibil-

ity of the Corps. RAM leadership was pleased with the

work completed by our Officers. Officers volunteered their

time and provided their own transportation to the event –

even from places as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. There

will be additional RAM volunteer opportunities with the

Commissioned Corps in the future. Keep an eye out for

ways you can participate and get involved!

Above: RADM Sylvia Trent-Adams (Acting Surgeon General) meeting RAM Founder.

Remote Area Medical Mission , continued

Above: Dental services, including 526 tooth extractions, 171 fillings, and 204 cleanings, were provided in the gymnasium. Below: 272 pairs of eyeglasses were created in the Re-mote Area Medical mobile lab, seen here.

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ACOA Community Service Event with Trees Atlanta – June 24, 2017 LCDR Laura Cooley and LCDR Brooke Hoots

On June 24, a group of 10 PHS officers and one family member braved the inclement weather alongside a crew of local volunteers to remove kudzu from trees along the BeltLine in the greenspace behind Ansley Mall. The event was spon-sored by Trees Atlanta, a nationally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting Atlanta’s urban for-est through planting, conservation, and education. Founded in 1985, Trees Atlanta, has been responsible for the planting and maintenance of more than 113,000 trees in the Atlanta area.

Since 2010, ACOA members have been part of the growing community of Trees Atlanta volunteers. On June 24, volun-teers LCDR Laura Cooley (co-lead), LCDR Brooke Hoots (co-lead), LCDR Heather Scobie, LCDR Terry Lo, CDR Sherry Burrer, CDR Mark Macyszyn, CDR Jennifer Bornemann, CDR Kamil Bar-bour, LCDR Matt Karwowski, CAPT John Iskander and his son, freed over 50 trees from the invasive kudzu that was threaten-ing their future. Trees Atlanta, which relies heavily upon the efforts of volunteers, thanked ACOA for bringing such an en-thusiastic group of volunteers and expressed a desire to collab-orate again in the future.

For more information about Trees Atlanta, visit http://treesatlanta.org/.

Volunteers, PHS Officers, and ACOA members (LCDR Laura Coo-ley, CDR Kamil Barbour, LCDR Matt Karwowski, CDR Sherry Burrer, CDR Jennifer Bornemann, CAPT John Iskander, and CDR Mark Macyszyn).

PHS Officer volunteers (above) and CAPT John Iskander and son (right).

CDR Mark Macyszyn (left) and ACOA members: LCDR Matt Kar-wowski, CDR Kamil Barbour, and CDR Jennifer Bornemann (below).

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The Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) is a fellowship training program in applied epidemiology that is built

on partnerships between CDC (specifically the Center for Global Health, Division of Global Health Protection, Work-

force and Institute Development Branch) and ministries of health in multiple countries. FETP helps its trainees acquire

the epidemiologic skills necessary to solve medical mysteries as well as the leadership skills to effectively manage re-

sponses to public health emergencies (e.g., lead poisoning, fireworks injuries, medicine contamination, and outbreaks

of Q fever, Ebola, and bubonic plague). In April 2017, I had the distinct honor and privilege to develop and teach two 3-

hour leadership and management courses for FETP fellows from Thailand and India.

In the first part of the course, I used a pragmatic didactic approach and focused on the following topics: concepts and

theories of leadership and management, qualities of a great leader, common leadership styles, guiding principles of a

mindful leader and mindfulness meditation, basic pillars of management, tips for managing effectively and successfully,

methods for developing and fostering a positive workforce, and connecting the dots—leading and managing—in a real

work example. In the final part of the course, the participants engaged in case studies and role-played a myriad of sce-

narios in the workplace; these activities emphasized the problem-solving and solutions-oriented aspects of leadership

and management. This type of instruction was designed to enhance the FETP fellows’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in

dealing with administrative, personnel, and financial management issues when they assumed leadership roles after

graduation.

The training was well received by the fellows, and its impact was positive and value-added. These future leaders and

managers now have additional knowledge and various tools to perform their leadership and management roles in an

effective and successful manner. Having the knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead and manage effectively in today’s

highly complex and often challenging health care arena is a good thing. It’s one thing to have learned something and

another to be able to apply knowledge in a meaningful and positively impactful way in the work environment. Applying

the knowledge and skills gained from the training will be the next challenge for these FETP fellows, as they embark up-

on their journey as leaders within their countries’ public health systems.

I have a deep passion for teaching, especially for teaching individuals who are open and receptive to learning. It’s a gift

and truly a blessing to be able to touch peoples’ lives in a positive way, to connect with folks, and to share knowledge

in a meaningful way. Through our engaging interactions, I was gingerly reminded about the purpose and value of shar-

ing knowledge, the importance of education and training initiatives in the workplace, and the gift of the human spirit.

This was a rewarding and priceless experience; to this day, it continues to bring a warm smile to my face, and radiant

joy fills my heart.

At a fundamental level, teaching imparts knowledge on a particular subject and can elicit a change in attitudes and be-

haviors. What joy it is to learn and to expand our lens of how we view the world. Specific to the workplace, education

and training initiatives presents an opportunity to augment the knowledge base of its employees. Furthermore, educa-

tion and training opportunities provide an organization and its employees with unlimited experiences to grow and

evolve into their best selves—resulting in tangible and intangible benefits that make the time spent a worthy invest-

ment.

Teaching a Leadership and Management Course to Epidemiology Trainees from

Thailand and India CAPT Charlene Majersky

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My Experience in Thailand with the International Experience and Technical Assistance

Program LCDR Zewditu Demissie

CDC’s International Experience and Technical Assistance

(IETA) program is a year-long professional development/

technical assistance program that is open to employees

working at Department of Health and Human Services

agencies, with the majority of participants coming from

CDC. Since the program’s start in 1997, there have been

more than 300 IETA participants. IETA participants attend

three short workshops in Atlanta and must complete an

overseas assignment for a minimum of 12 weeks at one

of CDC’s offices in a less-developed country. IETA assign-

ments require various skills, including epidemiology, pro-

gram management, laboratory, and policy.

To be accepted into the IETA program, an employee must

submit a written application and interview with CDC staff

with international health experience. In 2016, 21 other

HHS employees and I were selected to compose IETA Cohort 18. The majority of assignments are located in Africa;

however, multiple fellows from Cohort 18 were assigned to offices in Asia and the Pacific. I interviewed with several

countries and ended up matching with CDC Thailand. In February 2017, I began my 12-week assignment in Bangkok.

CDC Thailand’s office is one of CDC’s largest and oldest overseas offices. The office includes staff in the following pro-

gram areas: HIV/AIDS Research Program, Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB, Division of Global Health Protection,

Influenza Program, and Immigrant Refugee & Migrant Health. The objective of my assignment was to help build a

Center for Excellence in Informatics (CEI) within the Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) – U.S. CDC Collabora-

tion (TUC). The CEI was established to serve as MoPH’s unit for coordinating, managing, analyzing and reporting da-

ta, including TUC data, to significantly improve public health programs and response. Goals of my assignment includ-

ed strengthening informatics, data management, and data capacity at MoPH; supporting the development of a stra-

tegic plan/road map for the CEI group; and strengthening necessary

MoPH infrastructure.

With CDC Thailand providing technical assistance, the CEI project

was implemented by MoPH. By the end of my assignment, I was

able to construct a draft data catalogue template to collect data on

CDC Thailand projects, develop a draft umbrella data sharing agree-

ment, create a Terms of Reference document for the CEI Technical

Working Group, and produce a five-year roadmap for the group. I

also gave oral presentations about my work to staff in the CDC Thai-

land office and MoPH. In August, I will also report on my overseas

experience to my IETA colleagues.

LCDR Demissie at a temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

(Continued on page 10)

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

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My Experience in Thailand, continued

IETA is an unaccompanied assignment, meaning family members are not al-

lowed to go with you on your assignment. This can make your time overseas a

bit lonely. It is also important to note that you are not allowed to take annual

leave while in country. The intent is for you to stay focused on the mission.

However, you are allowed visitors for a limited time during your IETA experi-

ence. Friends visited Thailand during my assignment, and I was able to spend

time with them In Bangkok and then joined them in Phuket for a weekend. My

parents and brother also came to visit for just under two weeks. Most of our

time together was spent in Bangkok, but we took a weekend to explore Siem

Reap, Cambodia. At the time of my assignment, I was the only IETA fellow

working in Thailand. However, a CDC-Hubert Global Health veterinary fellow’s

assignment overlapped with mine. Together, we spent time exploring Bangkok and traveled within Thailand, includ-

ing trips to Chiang Mai (northern Thailand), Cha Am, and Phetchaburi. On my own, I explored Ayutthaya, an ancient

capital of Thailand, went to see the bridge over the River Kwai, and spent a weekend in Singapore.

The IETA Program is great for staff who are interested in gaining interna-

tional public health experience. It is a good test to see if you would be

interested in short- or long-term international assignments. You learn

what it is like to work with a ministry of health, the challenges of interna-

tional public health work, and your own personal resiliency. I was sur-

prisingly not homesick while overseas. However, when I was not in Bang-

kok, I did miss the ease of ordering food. CDC Thailand’s office is located

on the MoPH campus in one of the northern suburbs. Because this office

caters mostly to Thai staff, there was often a language barrier when it

came to lunch time. Had I been there on a more long-term basis, I would

have definitely invested in learning more of the Thai language. However,

it was wonderful experienc-

ing the Bangkok food scene.

Overall, I left Thailand feeling accomplished, brave for stepping out of my

comfort zone, and thankful for the experience and to the great people

that I met that made my trip and work go smoothly.

The IETA program is open for recruitment each year. Currently, the re-

cruitment window ends in July. The deadline for 2017 has ended. Howev-

er, if you are interested in a future IETA assignment, look out for the re-

cruitment notifications in the spring of 2018. I am happy to discuss my

experience further with interested Officers.

LCDR Demissie at the highest point in Thailand.

Insects at a night market in Phetchaburi

Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

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THE SIGNAL IS PROUDLY INTRODUCING

“OP-Ed”

Officers are People, too, Editorial

Do you have original material you would like to

publish?

Staff of the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association

(ACOA) quarterly journal, The Signal, invite you to submit your original masterpiece!

All material will be considered! Examples include poems, haikus, farewell

letters penned by retiring Officers, artwork, short stories, and original jokes.

Ground rules: The majority of editors must deem the article appropriate for publication Items published should positively reflect USPHS, the federal government, and the Officer’s duty station Items cannot contain profanity or inappropriate language Items should be no more than 1 page All text documents should be submitted as a Word document (.doc) file All pictures should be submitted as a JPEG (.jpg) file

Please send all submissions to J4Dixon@bop.gov for consideration.

ACOA—The Signal Page | 12

Our world is a rich tapestry—a mosaic of wonder to the eyes of the beholder.

Looking through our lens, if we choose to,

we can see much.

Diversity is alive!

Morning dew nourishes our heart, radiant sunlight warms our soul,

tropical breezes cool the fire that ignites from within. An abundance of petals blooms in the fields where we dance many times over.

A garden of ravishing flowers awaits—gifting us with hope.

Despite our differing views,

we are bonded by a respect for humanity—for ourselves and others. Our commitment to leading by example is key

because soulful change begins with each one of us, from the inside out.

Our words and actions tell a story, leaving our footprints through time.

What are you going to do to make the world a better place?

Kindness matters—

without it, we are trapped in darkness,

indifference, hatred,

disservice.

With kindness—love, acceptance,

peace, change,

is possible.

Sprinkle kindness—live it! Kindness matters—always!

Kindness Matters CAPT Charlene Majersky

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***SAVE THE DATE!***

2017 U.S. Public Health Service Atlanta Metro Area

Promotion Ceremony

Recognizing Promoted Atlanta-Area Officers of the

Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service

Date: Monday, August 7, 2017

Time: 1300–1500

Location: CDC’s Tom Harkin Global Communications Center Auditorium B (Roybal Campus, Building 19)

Uniform of the Day: Summer White

Questions regarding the ceremony should be sent to LCDR Elizabeth Irvin-Barnwell

(jcx0@cdc.gov) or LCDR Ayana Anderson (ing9@cdc.gov)

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Want to visit a museum…for FREE??

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America. Each summer since 2010, Blue Star Museums have offered free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve and USPHS, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. See the website below for participating Blue Star Museums in 2017. This website will be updated all summer as more museums sign up to participate. Website of participating museums by state https://www.arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums FAQs https://www.arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums/frequently-asked-questions

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ACOA MERCHANDISE

SHOW YOUR PHS PRIDE!

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What do you do with uniform items you no longer wear? Donate them to the ACOA Uniform Store!

The ACOA Uniform store sells used uniform components at 50% off Navy NEX prices. There is no

actual uniform storefront. Officers volunteer as coordinators. You are able to donate, swap, and pur-

chase items through the coordinator.

Women’s Uniform Store (acoawomensuniforms@gmail.com):

LCDR Candis Hunter

LCDR Tanya Simmons

Men’s Uniform Store (acoamensuniforms@gmail.com):

LCDR Andy Geller

LCDR Paul Smith

For ACOA Uniform Store policies and FAQs, check out the website:

http://www.atlantacoa.com/uniform-store

ACOA UNIFORM STORE

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ACOA MEMBERSHIP PAGE

ABOUT

The mission of the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) is to offer opportunities

to Atlanta-area officers to give back locally to the community enjoy camaraderie and build esprit

de corps. The Atlanta Branch is the largest COA branch in the state of Georgia and was named

Branch of the Year in 1994, 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2012!

WHY JOIN

Every year ACOA sponsors several events that provide members a variety of professional develop-

ment, community service, and networking activities, as well as great discounts on merchandise

and uniforms.

Discounted PHS Pride Merchandise

Used Uniform Store

Atlanta-area Officers’ Promotion Ceremony

Anchor and Caduceus Dinner

Community Service Events (e.g. USO, Habitat for Humanity)

Professional Development Lunch & Learn topics such as readiness, uniforms & promotions

APFT events

Quarterly publication of our newsletter, The Signal!

Capitol Hill representation to ensure parity between the Commissioned Corps and other

uniformed services

Participation in a Local Branch

COA Group Insurance Program

Discount on USPHS Symposium registration

HOW TO JOIN

An officer must be a member of our parent organization the Commissioned Officer Association

(COA). To become a member, officers must complete the COA membership application available

on the COA membership page at www.atlantacoa.com/membership. When prompted, insert

“Atlanta” as the name of the local branch you wish to join.

And we can’t do any of it without the help of our members!

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CALL FOR LECTURE AND POSTER ABSTRACTS FOR:

Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) 126th Annual Meeting

November 28-December 1, 2017

National Harbor, MD

http://www.amsusmeetings.org/

Do you want to present at one of the oldest and most prestigious Uniformed Service conferences in the United States? If so, have you considered presenting at the 2017 AMSUS Annual Continuing Education Meeting?

The AMSUS Annual Meeting, provides a platform of special interest for federal healthcare professionals, including Departments of Defense (DoD), Veteran’s Affairs (VA), the Coast Guard, USPHS, International Military Medical Offic-ers, and healthcare professionals – public or private sector – to develop strong professional relationship networks by sharing knowledge of cutting edge medical research, innovative medical advances, and superior practices in patient care. Visit http://www.amsus.org/about/ for more about AMSUS.

Deadlines for Abstract Submission:

Lecture Submission deadline was Wednesday, 31 May 2017, 11:59 pm ET;

Poster Submission deadline is Friday, 1 Sept 2017, 11:59 pm ET.

The theme of the 126th AMSUS Annual Continuing Education Meeting is “From Battlefront to Homefront,”in recogni-tion of the wide range of skills and specialties which must work synchronously to care for those who go in harm’s way, as well as their families. The meeting will have a keen focus on readiness, as speakers discuss a forward re-sponse, as well as the spectrum of multidisciplinary, joint medical care and rehabilitation leading to the healing of the whole family – our new normal.

For more information about abstract submissions and the general focus of this year’s tracks including the submission portal, please go to: http://www.amsusmeetings.org/call-abstracts/

Oh, and we almost forgot! If you are presenting at COF this year, why not leverage the work you have already done and submit your relevant presentation or poster to AMSUS? Let PHS showcase the amazing work we do to our sister services and other federal healthcare partners by presenting on our research, policy, domestic and internation-al responses, and partnerships championed by PHS Officers, like HRSA's BPHC and VA for veterans and so many oth-ers!

Recruitment: In addition, we are looking for volunteers to assist with USPHS planning activities for the AMSUS 2017 annual conference. If you are interested in joining the AMSUS planning team, please reach out to CDR Damon Smith at damon.smith@hhs.gov and LT Evette Pinder at evettepinder@gmail.com.

Respectfully,

The USPHS AMSUS Planning Committee Taken from EHOPAC Email Announcement