United States Public Health Service

Minutes of 28 September 2000 Meeting Number 79

Parklawn Building, Surgeon General’s Conference Room 18-57

28 September 2000

1300-1600

CDR Richard Troiano NIH (Chairperson)

CDR Allen Albright FDA (Executive Secretary)

CDR Rebecca Sheets FDA (Past Chairperson)

CDR Laila Ali FDA (Treasurer)

LCDR Nelson Adekoya CDC (Vice Chairperson)

LCDR Aponte SAMHSA

LCDR Weber FDA (Liaison to DC-COA)

Dr. Stephen S. Goldman NIH

B. EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ATTENDING

CAPT Derek Dunn CDC (past CPO)

CAPT Lireka Joseph FDA (CPO)

CAPT Susanne Caviness SAMHSA

C. GUESTS ATTENDING

D. MEMBERS EXCUSED OR ABSENT

CAPT John Bartko (Ret.)

CAPT Alejo Borrero-Hernandez BOP

CDR Pamela Ching CDC

CDR Angela González Willis HRSA (Recording Secretary)

A. CALL TO ORDER

CDR Sheets called the meeting to order at 1310 hours and passed the meeting over to CDR Troiano, the new SciPAC Chairperson for the 2000-2001 term.

B. GREETINGS FROM THE CHAIR

CDR Troiano and CAPT Dunn introduced the new CPO, CAPT Lireka Joseph (FDA). CDR Troiano requested new and old members introduce themselves. New members include CDR Pamela Ching and LCDR Boris Aponte. CAPT Dunn suggested calling for new PAC members earlier in the calender year (e.g., January).

CDR Sheets was recognized with an award for her term as SciPAC Chair.

CDR Albright announced that he has accepted a position in private industry and will be inactivating from the Commission Corps effective the 16^th of October, 2000. The SciPAC will discuss holding another election for the position of Executive Secretary to replace CDR Albright.

CDR Troiano discussed PAC goals and objectives for this year. Activities and efforts that began last year will continue to be supported. The Alternates and Mentoring Program will be expanded. Efforts will continue to improve and facilitate communication among officers and the PAC. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for PAC activities as they relate to the Charter will be developed. Biographical sketches of PAC members will be developed and made available.

C. REPORT FROM THE DCP STAFFING OFFICER

SciPAC no longer has a staffing officer.

D. REPORT FROM THE CHIEF PROFESSIONAL OFFICER

1. CAPT Dunn acknowledge the efforts of officers and recognized current and outgoing officers with awards. The following officers were recognized with the

SG Certificate of Appreciation: CAPT Alejo Borrero-Hernandez, CAPT Helena Mishoe, CAPT Gilbert Sanders, CAPT Carolyn Strete, CDR Carl Ohata, CDR Rebecca Sheets, CDR Richard Troiano, and LCDR Darin Weber.

The following officers were recognized with SciPAC Certificates:

CAPT John Bartko (ret.), CAPT Alex Borrero-Hernandez, CAPT Susanne Caviness, CAPT Helena Mishoe, CAPT Mark Paris, CAPT Gilbert Sanders, CAPT Carolyn Strete, CDR Allen Albright, CDR Laila Ali, CDR Francois Lalonde, CDR Angela Gonzalez Willis, CDR Carl Ohata, CDR Richard Troiano, LCDR Nelson Adekoya, LCDR Tom Hendricks, LCDR Sheilah Maramark, LCDR Meta Timmons, and LCDR Darin Weber.

2. CAPT Dunn reported on the following items from the CPO meeting:

• Announcement of new CPO for the Scientist Category.
• LTCOL Beverly Pritchett, U.S. Army Medical Services Corps, Senior Service College Fellow (Army War College) is assigned to OSG for one year. LTCOL Pritchett will examine both OSG and OEP in their development of physical fitness and personal health awareness. Dr. Anne Elderkin has also been assigned to the OSG to serve as the Senior Health Policy Advisor for one year. Dr. Elderkin is the first Senior Health Policy Fellow sponsored by the American Academy of Physician Assistants and Physician Assistant Foundation.
• The OSG is active in supporting a number of different public health related reports, events and activities. The SG’s Report on Youth Violence is expected to be released in mid December 2000. The SG’s Report on Women and Smoking is expected to be released in January, 2001. Dr. Satcher recently spoke at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine graduation ceremony in Jerusalem.
• RADM Williams reported that the Engineer PAC developed a document for officers involved in emergency response and recovery efforts -- "Handbook for Deploying the Appropriate Public Health Service Engineer." RADM Moritsugu proposed that other categories consider the development of a similar document to address their category-specific involvement and needs in emergency response and related efforts.
• The CPOs for the Nurse and Pharmacy category have not been selected. Resource needs for CPO was discussed. RADM Mazella is retiring.
• DCP is rewriting the Commissioned Corps Personnel Manual in segments. Check the DCP website for status of each section. There is a 2 week public comment period.
• Mr. Curtis Coy (former Navy CDR) has been selected to serve as the new director for the Program Support Center (PSC).
• RADM Moritsugu gave an overview of the state of the Commissioned Corps including the current status of the Corps and on the vision for the Corps of the future.
• Unit commendation award has been approved for officers involved with the preparation and arrangement of the military flight to the COA meeting in Scottsdale.

E. REPORT FROM THE TREASURER

CDR Ali raised the possibility of having a picnic or sponsoring a training conference as fund raising activities. Budget proposal and draft SOPs for the Treasurer are in the process of development and will be shared with the PAC for comment before the next executive committee meeting. CAPT Dunn suggested financial support for banner for the Music Ensemble. CAPT Dunn noted that the PAC should support this effort since the Ensemble was initiated in the Scientist Category.

CAPT Dunn discussed moving PAC funds from the Henry Jackson Foundation to the COA Foundation. CAPT Dunn suggested that the PAC should consider doing a cost-benefit analysis to determine the pros/cons of each.

 

IV. OLD BUSINESS -SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND PROJECTS

A. AWARDS (CDR Troiano)

Nothing to report at this time.

B. CHARTER REVIEW/HANDBOOK (LCDR Weber)

LCDR Weber reported that the SciPAC Charter has been reviewed by CDR Flyzik (OSG) and it was recommend that the Charter be made more general and that SOPs be developed. LCDR Weber will follow-up with these recommendations.

The Handbook needs to be updated to reflect changes in Scientists names and related information.

C. MENTORING (CAPT Mishoe)

A new chair will be selected for this committee; CAPT Mishoe’s term on the PAC is over. It was noted that this programs needs to be revitalized (preliminary survey results suggest that there is an interest in the program) especially in light of changes in DCP.

D. RECRUITMENT (LCDR Adekoya)

FDA is well represented in terms of providing applicants with information on job vacancies; listings from other agencies are not readily available. Officers from other agencies should try to coordinate with LCDR Adekoya to assist in this effort. LCDR Adekoya reported on the following -

1. Scientist Category Recruitment Slides Development - Tremendous progress is being made in this area. Eight of the 10 officers contacted to provided synopses of their public health achievements responded. The responses have been edited and are ready to be included in the package. It is expected that draft of the recruitment slides to be available by November 2000. Some officers have expressed interest in reviewing the slides. Before the slides are reviewed, officers who do not currently have pictures on file with the SciPAC will be contacted. These individuals will need to make arrangements with LCDR Weber to have their pictures taken for the recruitment slides.

 

One or two volunteers are needed to put together the handout for the recruitment slide presentation. LCDR Adekoya has the information that will go into the handout. If there are some volunteers, this can be done quickly.

2. Electronic forwarding on vacancy announcements to Scientist Category applicants - Electronic forwarding of the vacancy announcements has resumed. LCDR Adekoya continues to receive requests from potential applicants. The last telephone call was from an applicant who was boarded in 1998 but never found a position.

3. Junior Officers Ad hoc Workgroup (JOAHG) - JOAHG has drafted its charter and forwarded it to the Deputy Surgeon General but have not heard back. Election of officers is expected before the end of this year.

E. VISIBILITY (LCDR Weber)

1. Poster (CAPT Caviness) — SciPAC poster #7 is currently on display and #8 is in the process of development. The Dining Out is scheduled for November 18, 2000 and volunteers are needed. The Music Ensemble will perform at the Dining Out.

2. Public Relations, Publishing, and Public Speaking (LCDR Weber) — The DC COA picnic was a success. About 105 officers and families attended.

Many CCRF and DMAT members participated in the Department of Justice CRATER Course (first responder training).

3. Internet (LCDR Weber) — The Scientist Category website has been updated and should be easier to navigate. LCDR Weber’s term on the PAC is over but he is willing to continue to maintain and help with the website. CDRs Troiano and Albright acknowledge LCDR Weber’s efforts and involvement in this activity.

Remote broadcast of SciPAC meetings is still under consideration per CDR Lalonde’s efforts.

LCDR Weber will be working on the effort to put the Healthy Lifestyle survey on the web. LCDR Weber will also be coordinating with CAPT Bartko (ret.) to download the music for the Music Ensemble group on the Scientist webpage.

4. Science Fair Judging (CDR Sheets) — No report.

5. Music Ensemble (CAPT Bartko, ret.) — The Ensemble had its premier performance at the DC-COA picnic on Saturday, September 23, 2000. There were ten Ensemble officers, six choral members and four instrumentalists. The four pieces played were: The National Anthem, The PHS March, America the Beautiful, and My Country Tis of Thee. The Ensemble is schedule to appear at the DC-COA Dining Out and at the Anchor and Caduceus functions.

F. REVIEW OF CV FOR SCIENTIST OFFICERS (CDR Troiano)

Requests for CV review has been sent out. CDR Troiano reported that he has received 8 CVs to review to date. October 15^th is the deadline date for receipt for review. Comments are to be provided back to officers by mid-November. Volunteers for CV reviews will be needed.

V. NEW BUSINESS

A. CCRF WORKGROUP REPORT – It was reported that training and certification of officers is highly emphasized. The workgroup is discussing the scientists’ role in this activity.

 

B. SELECTION OF SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS/MEMBERS FOR 2000-01

Announcement was sent out for subcommittee volunteers; SciPAC nonmembers are welcomed to work on subcommittees. As of 10/17, subcommittee Chairs and members are listed below-

1. Awards (CDR Troiano, Chair, LCDR Hendricks)

2. Charter Review (needs a Chair, LCDR Weber, LCDR Moffett)

3. Mentoring (CDR Sheets, Chair, LCDR Hendricks)

4. CV Review (CDR Troiano, Chair)

5. Recruitment (LCDR Adekoya, Chair, LCDR Aponte)

6. Visibility [Poster -CAPT Caviness, Chair; Internet -LCDR Weber, Chair;

7. Science Fair Judging-CDR Sheets, Chair, CDR Ali, LCDR Hendricks, LCDR Weber; Public Relations - CAPT Sanders]

C. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

A letter will be sent out to all non-members Senior Scientist Officers to invite them to attend PAC meetings in an effort to encourage participation as well as benefit from the knowledge, experience and training of these officers.

Scientist Category article for the Bulletin is due in April to be published in the May 2001 issue.

CAPT Joseph will contact each SciPAC member individually to get to know them better.

D. ANNOUNCEMENTS

The schedule for the SciPAC meetings for the year are as follows:

Full SciPAC SCIPAC Executive Committee

September 28, 2000 October 26, 2000

November 30, 2000 January 25, 2001

February 22, 2001 March 22, 2001

April 26, 2001 May 24, 2001

July 26, 2001 September 27, 2001

 

VI. ADJOURNMENT

The SciPAC meeting was adjourned at 1540 hours.

Submitted by:

CDR Angela M. González Willis CDR Richard Troiano

Recording Secretary Chairperson

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