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Welcome to the website of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service. COA is dedicated to improving and protecting the public health of the United States by addressing unmet health needs and providing support for more than 7,000 members.
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Howard Koh Confirmed as ASH; Elects to Assume Post as Civilian |
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06/29/2009 - One week after his June 19th confirmation as the new Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), Dr. Howard K. Koh sent an open letter to all officers of the PHS Commissioned Corps, alluding to an "ambitious agenda" for the Office of Public Health and Science. He praised the Corps for its "remarkable history of service" and "unparalleled integrity," and he thanked PHS officers for their commitment to public health.
Dr. Koh, a former Massachusetts Health Commissioner, has won widespread praise for accepting the Assistant Secretary's post while at the same time declining the four-star rank that is offered along with it. COA Executive Director, Jerry Farrell, endorsed the decision, noting that it represents a welcome departure from recent history. The two previous Assistant Secretaries elected to become "instant admirals" despite the fact that neither had served in the PHS Commissioned Corps or any other U.S. uniformed service.
In addition to his service as the top public health official in Massachusetts, Dr. Koh's professional background includes clinical practice, academic medicine and public health, and scientific research.
CAPT Russell W. Hart, (Ret.) Passes Away: One of COA's Oldest Life Members and a Past President of COA |
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06/22/2009 - Captain Russell W. Hart, USPHS, (Ret.), 102, of Dunwoody, GA, and one of COA's oldest life members, passed away on June 16, 2009.
Born in Alexandria, KY, July 14, 1906, he grew up in Cincinnati, OH. While attending the University of Cincinnati, he earned five varsity letters in basketball and baseball. In 1938, he received a Masters in Sanitary Engineering from the University of Michigan. As chief sanitary engineer for Atlanta in the early 1940's, he cleaned up the milk industry for the Atlanta area, helping to eradicate tuberculosis, undulant fever and other diseases affecting whoever drank the raw milk. In 1942, he became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. After a year in New Orleans, he was transferred to Kansas City, MO, where he spent 13 years before being assigned to San Francisco, CA, where he remained until his retirement in 1969.
One of his fortes was public speaking. He had an extensive vocabulary. On more than one occasion his listeners would comment, "Russ Hart sounds great! I just wish I knew what he was talking about." His areas of expertise included communicable diseases and water pollution. He spent his career seeking answers to improve environmental and health issues for the benefit of the public.
In 1965, he was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal by the Surgeon General of the U.S. In 1966, the California Conservation Council honored him with an award for his efforts in water conservation with the state water project. He served as national president of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service. In 2004, the Armed Forces Benefit Association honored him as their oldest living member. He was married for 74 years to the former Goldie Kelleher Hart of Albany, GA, who died in 2005. Retiring to St. Pete, FL, in 1969, he spent the next 40 years golfing, playing the stock market, tending to his yard and enjoying his family. When he moved to Atlanta in 1981 he joined the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Sandy Springs. His cheerful personality will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Battaglia and Betsy Prewette; grandson, Eric Brast; and two great grandchildren, Ingrid and Owen Brast.
The funeral was held on Sunday, June 21, in the Arlington Chapel of H.M. Patterson & Son, 173 Allen Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (404) 851-9900. Entombment followed at Arlington Memorial Park on Mt. Vernon Highway.
06/19/2009 -
Did you apply for benefits under the New GI Bill and get turned down? Were you told that PHS officers aren't eligible? Did you get an annoying letter to this effect?
Hard to believe, but this has happened to some COA members. Click here if this has happened to you.
06/16/2009 -
Memo to All Ohio Officers:
A legislative proposal to exempt uniformed services retirees from state income taxes was introduced in Ohio's House of Representatives on May 19. It is House Bill 188, sponsored by Rep. Peter J. Stautberg, a Cincinnati Republican, and Rep. Peter Ujvagi, a Toledo Democrat.
To move this bill forward it is essential for all Ohio PHS officers, both active-duty and retired, to make their voices heard. HB 188 is now before the House Committee on Financial Institutions, Real Estate, and Securities. Winning the approval of this key committee is the first hurdle.
Click here to see how you can help!
Washington Post Reports Retired RADM Susan Blumenthal Rumored as Next Surgeon General |
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06/12/2009 - According to Al Kamen's "In The Loop" column (June 12), a regular feature on the Federal Page of the Washington Post, retired PHS Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal "is emerging as a leading candidate to be surgeon general." Most recently honored as COA's Health Leader of the Year, RADM Blumenthal retired from the PHS Commissioned Corps several years ago after a twenty year career in the Public Health Service. A strong advocate for women's health, she rose to be the first ever Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health and a senior global health advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services. Admiral Blumenthal's name has been mentioned as a potential candidate for surgeon general since Dr. Sanjay Gupta withdrew his name from consideration several weeks ago. The nation has been without a senate confirmed surgeon general since VADM Rich Carmona stepped down in August, 2006. Since then, this key leadership position for the nation's public health has been ably filled by Acting Surgeons General RADM Ken Moritsugu (2006-2007) and RADM Steve Galson (2007-present). At a time when the nation and world are threatened by a global influenza pandemic and the nexus of public health and national security is more clearly understood, we have never needed a presidentially nominated, senate-confirmed surgeon general who is an experienced public health professional more than we do now. As a retired career officer of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rear Admiral Blumenthal fulfills COA's principal criteria for the post. We urge the President to avoid further delay and act promptly to nominate the 18th Surgeon General.
06/11/2009 - Acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steve Galson has named Captains Sharon Williams-Fleetwood and Michael Welch as, respectively, the next PHS Chief Scientist and Chief Environmental Health Officers. Captain Williams-Fleetwood will relieve Rear Admiral Helena Mishoe as Chief Scientist Officer on August 1, 2009. Captain Welch will relieve Captain Craig Shepherd as Chief Environmental Health Officer on November 1, 2009. CAPT Williams-Fleetwood is assigned to the Division of Health Assessments and Consultation, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; she serves as the Deputy Director of the Division. Her previous assignments were as Acting Division Director and Branch Chief, Superfund Site Assessment Branch, at ATSDR. CAPT Welch is assigned to the Phoenix Area Office, Indian Health Service where he serves as the Acting Associate Area Director, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering. His previous assignment was as the Director, Division of Environmental Health Services, Phoenix Area Office. Both are long term members of COA and we extend our hearty congratulations and best wishes for success in these important positions. COA also extends our congratulations to Rear Admiral Mishoe and Captain Shepherd as they complete their terms as Chief Professional Officers. They have provided outstanding leadership for their Categories and the entire Corps during often difficult and demanding times. COA is especially pleased once again to see two key leaders who are COA members replaced by officers who are also COA members continuing the strong correlation between COA membership and leadership in the Commissioned Corps.
06/10/2009 - Colorado Springs, July 28-31. This seminar, sponsored by the Engineer Professional Advisory Committee, follows a previously used very successful format of (1) leadership training by Harry Chambers of Trinity Solutions (www.trinitysol.com), (2) guest lecturers by noted leaders, (3) small group table-top exercises, and (4) a field trip. Participation is limited to 80. This training is applicable to all categories and all grades.
Among the guest lectures will be a briefing on NORTHCOM/NORAD operations in Colorado Springs, and a lecture on leadership in the Air Force with a focus on leadership training at the Air Force Academy. Attendees will participate in one of two field trips; a tour of the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center (a high security location) or a guided tour of the Air Force Academy featuring areas not available to the general public. These tours are not optional, but intended to add value to the leadership training.
The registration fee includes the training, tours, a reception, and buffet lunch each day. The Crowne Plaza Hotel has rooms costing $88 per night single or double occupancy (per diem rate) and includes a free hot buffet breakfast, free WiFi, and free airport shuttle. This is a great opportunity to learn about leadership while your family enjoys the amenities at the hotel and surrounding natural attractions.
A detailed course agenda will be published soon. Register online now to reserve your place in the class. The contact person for additional information is LCDR Vivian Porter at vivan.porter@ihs.gov or (301) 443-4752.
Seminar Registration is at www.regonline.com/usphs (this is the only way to register), Hotel Reservations is at www.cpcoloradosprings.com/, 719-576-5900 or 1-800-981-4012 (block: Public Health Service Leadership).
Click here for the flyer.
Record Crowd Turns Out for 2009 US PHS Scientific and Training Symposium |
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06/08/2009 - The 44th annual US Public Health Service Scientific and Training Symposium attracted more than 1265 participants - a record high - during the first week in June in Atlanta, GA. Opening ceremonies on Monday morning, June 1st, were followed by plenary session presentations with the Acting Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Steven Galson, and the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Richard Besser. RADM Galson awarded Dr. Besser the Surgeon General's Medallion (see photo above) for his outstanding leadership during the H1N1 influenza outbreak in the weeks immediately preceding the symposium. Following lunch, the Luther Terry Lecture was delivered by Doctor Chip Rice, President of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. The Luther Terry Lecture was introduced by Michael Terry, youngest son of former Surgeon General Terry, who provided some personal context for his famous father's important work. Monday was capped off the the Anchor and Caduceus Dinner celebrating the PHS and Commissioned Corps' birthdays with the Dr. C. Everett Koop Honorary Lecture delivered by 16th Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher. The rest of the week was full of interesting and informative presentations including a closing keynote by the Army Surgeon General, LTG Eric Schoomaker who spoke at length on the importance of public health to military medicine. If you missed the 2009 conference, you won't want to miss the 2010 event which will be held in San Diego, CA during the last week in May. Make plans to attend now!
04/30/2009 - Beginning 1 May 2009, the VA Education Service will begin taking applications to determine service members' eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, which commences on 1 August 2009. A copy of VA's 'timeline' slide and other info is at the link below. The VA's website has additional information and a link to the application at http://www.gibill.va.gov/.
Click here to see the slides.
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New COA Membership BenefitsAVIS and BUDGET Rental Discounts Click on the AVIS or BUDGET logo below to find out about the available discounts.
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COA Affiliations:
HOSA is a student organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in health care and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people, and is interested in partnering with COA local branches around the country to promote the Corps to HOSA members. There are also opportunities for Corps officers to participate with HOSA as judges in competitions, guest instructors, role models, etc. This is an excellent activity for COA local branches to promote careers in the PHS Commissioned Corps to motivated youngsters interested in a career in health professions. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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