RADM Helena O. Mishoe

Meet the New Chief Professional Officer for the Scientist Category

RADM Helena O. Mishoe was selected as the Chief Professional Officer for the Scientist category effective 1 August 2005. As Chief Scientist Officer, she is responsible for providing leadership and coordination of Public Health Service (PHS) scientist professional affairs for the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) and the Department. RADM Mishoe will provide guidance and advice to the Surgeon General and the Scientist Professional Advisory Committee on matters such as recruitment, retention, and career development of PHS scientists.

RADM Mishoe currently serves as the Associate Director for Minority Health Affairs in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In this capacity, she serves as Director of the Office of Minority Health Affairs OMHA) in the Office of the Director, NHLBI.

RADM Mishoe received her PhD in microbiology from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. In 1981, she joined the NIH intramural research teams and moved up the research ranks as staff fellow, senior staff fellow, and expert in molecular biology and gene expression research areas. She joined the extramural program in the NHLBI in 1988 and was commissioned in 1990. During her tenure as a PHS Commissioned Corps officer, she has served several offices in the Department including the OSG.

RADM Mishoe’s distinguished PHS career has allowed her to serve the Corps in scientific leadership both nationally and internationally. In 1988, RADM Mishoe joined the extramural program as an Extramural Health Scientist Administrator in the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, NHLBI. She has many notable accomplishments in her distinguished career in science administration of blood cell development, stem cell biology, and stem cell transplantation programs.

To more effectively address the public health needs in this country, RADM Mishoe completed the MPH degree in 2002 at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine. Upon her return to the NHLBI, she was appointed as the first Director of OMHA. The office is dedicated to ensuring greater participation in the NIH training and career development programs through recruitment, mentoring, and retention of individuals in biomedical and behavioral research. Among its roles, OMHA fosters greater participation by underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities in research, research training, and career development programs. The office’s responsibilities include oversight, coordination, and support of Institute programs related to minority health outcomes, including research, research training and career development, public outreach, and translation of research findings.

RADM Mishoe’s memberships are numerous including the Commissioned Officers Association and the Reserve Officers Association. She was assimilated into the Regular Corps in 1996 and has received PHS awards for her extraordinary leadership and service. Among these are two Outstanding Service Medals, the Commendation Medal, the Achievement Medal, the PHS Citation, two Outstanding Unit Citations, and the Unit Commendation.