Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style 8/9/20151 United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps An Overview Rank Name

Today’s Commissioned Corps Who We Are

Lead by the 18 th SURGEON GENERAL PHOTO VICE ADMIRAL Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A.

6,500+ well-trained, highly qualified health care professionals Essential component of the largest public health program in the world WHO WE ARE

Physicians Dentists Clinical psychologists Clinical social workers Nurses/Nurse Practitioners Pharmacists Engineers Environmental health officers Optometrists Physician assistants Scientists/Researchers Physical, occupational and respiratory therapists (SLP and Audio) Veterinarians Many other health-related disciplines

Today’s Commissioned Corps Why We’re Here

WHY WE’RE HERE To protect, promote, and advance the public health and safety of our Nation.

Protecting public health and safety For more than 100 years… Source: A PROUD HISTORY From Ellis Island… …To tribal lands. Across America Around the World

Today’s Commissioned Corps What We Do

WHAT WE DO Serving underserved populations Behavioral health care to include wounded warriors and their families Health care delivery Disease control and prevention Biomedical research Regulation of food, drugs, and medical devices Administration of Public Health Programs Emergency and humanitarian response

EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE Types of missions: Earthquake response in Haiti Hurricane response to include Katrina, Gustav and Ike Suicide response in American Indian community Toxic exposure alerts in the Gulf Coast area Humanitarian assistance to rural America in places such as Kentucky, Texas and South Dakota

Today’s Commissioned Corps Where Physicians Work

WHERE OUR PHYSICIANS WORK

WHERE OUR PHYSICIANS SERVE PHOTO

Corps Benefits What the Corps Offers You

BENEFITS Competitive compensation package Health care and medical care at no cost Tax-free locality pay and meal allowance Thirty days paid vacation—beginning the first year Paid sick and maternity leave Malpractice insurance coverage Retirement plan with benefits including health care for life Thrift Savings Plan—retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) Low-cost life insurance

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR PHYSICIANS… $75,000 accession bonus for physicians who sign a 4-year active-duty agreement Special pays and bonuses, ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 per year, that augment an already competitive compensation package. To ease the financial burden of your medical education, assignments with certain Federal agencies, such as the Indian Health Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Immigration Health Service Corps offer loan repayment and/or other educational and family support programs.

National Health Service Corps, Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

LRP Eligibility NHSC Loan Repayment Program is open to licensed primary care medical and dental Commissioned Corps Officers who: Are employed or seeking employment at approved federal sites in the Indian Health Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Immigration Health Service Have unpaid government or commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses, segregated from all other debts

The full-time program offers up to $60,000 in tax-free loan repayment for 2 YEARS of service, and up to $170,000 for a 5-YEAR service commitment. $60,000 2 YEARS UP TO $170,000 5 YEARS UP TO With continued service beyond 5 years, health care providers may be able to pay off all their student loans.

Another Option: National Health Service Corps, Scholarship Program (SP)

The scholarship* includes: Payment of tuition and required fees (tax-free) Some other tax-free educational costs (books, etc.) A monthly living stipend (taxable) Students pursuing careers in primary care can receive a scholarship now and serve later. *available for up to 4 years Another option – the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (SP) SUPPORT YEARS OF SERVICE YEARS OF =

For Medical Officers: Students to Service Loan Repayment Program ( S2S LRP)

Eligibility: U.S. citizen or national Full-time student in the last year at an accredited school, pursuing a degree in Medicine (MD or DO) Planning to complete an accredited primary medical care residency in an NHSC-approved specialty (Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Geriatrics) Have unpaid government or commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses, segregated from all other debts

The NHSC offers up to $120,000 in tax-free loan repayment for 3 years of full-time or 6 years of half-time service. $120,000 3 YEARS FULL-TIME SERVICE UP TO $120,000 6 YEARS PART-TIME SERVICE UP TO With continued service, eligible providers may be able to pay off all their student loans.

Corps Requirements What You Have to Offer the Corps

Basic qualifications: U.S. citizen Less than 44 years of age (with waivers, up to 50) Medically qualified Ability to pass a suitability review M.D. degree from a program that is accredited by the American Medical Association Current, unrestricted, and valid medical license to practice in one of the 50 States; Washington, DC; Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; U.S. Virgin Islands; or Guam.

28 Today’s Commissioned Corps How Physicians Serve

CDR NANCY KNIGHT Current Position: Epidemiologist Millville Health Center Cincinnati, OH Service time: present PHOTO The uniform depicted is not reflective of Knight’s promotion from LCDR to CDR shortly after the picture was taken.

CAPT SARAH LINDE-FEUCHT Current Position: Chief Public Health Officer Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Washington, DC Service time: present PHOTO

CAPT Jeff Salvon-Harman Current Position: Operational Medicine Division Chief, Health, Safety, and Work- Life Service Center U.S. Coast Guard Washington, DC Service time: present PHOTO

CDR Jamal Gwathney Current Position: Associate Medical Director, East of the River Health Center Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Washington, DC Service time: present PHOTO

HOW WE SERVE Perform clinical practice Educate individuals and communities about public health Participate in disaster response efforts as part of multi-disciplinary teams

Today’s Commissioned Corps Opportunities for You

Educational & Training Opportunities Center for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program: two-year, post-graduate program service and on-the-job training for health professionals in epidemiology. National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program: a competitive program awarding scholarships in return for a commitment to provide care in underserved communities through a Federal agency. Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program: assists health professionals in repaying their student loans while they help fill the staffing needs of Indian health programs.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP): Eligible after just one year of medical school Paid a salary during externship Work 1 to 4 months No obligation after graduation Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (SRCOSTEP): Full-time students Paid a salary and active duty benefits while finishing final year of medical school (up to 18 months) Obligated to the Corps for twice the amount of time sponsored

Position: JRCOSTEP Service time: 2 ½ months Assignment: Washington, DC Office of the Asst. Secretary for Health; NHSC Scholar Professional Education: Physician Currently attending pediatric residency Ensign Ryan Van Ramshorst

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How do I apply? How long does the application process take? Will I have to serve a specified number of years with the Commissioned Corps, as required by other uniformed services? Why do applicants’ names have to be sent to the Senate and what happens once my name is submitted? Please visit for the answers to more FAQs.

U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS America’s Health Responders For more information, call 1–800–279–1605 or visit and