SCIENTIST PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Office of the Surgeon General

United States Public Health Service

Minutes of 25 October 2001 Meeting Number 84

 

 

 

I.  LOCATION/DATE/TIME

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

1300-1600 HOURS

 

II.  ATTENDANCE

A.  MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE 

CDR   Angela González Willis         HRSA             (Chairperson)                       

CAPT John Bartko (ret)                                           (Treasurer)

CDR   Richard Troiano                    NIH                  (Past Chairperson)  

CAPT Bryan Jones                           HRSA

CDR   Joseph Despins                    EPA

LCDR Tom Hendricks                      FDA

LCDR Daphne Moffett                      ATSDR

LCDR Doug Thoroughman              IHS

 

B.  EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ATTENDING

CAPT Lireka Joseph                        FDA                (CPO)

 

C.  GUESTS  ATTENDING

CAPT Mark Paris                             DOD

CAPT Armen Thoumaian                 CMS

CDR   Laila Ali                                  FDA

CDR   Francois Lalonde                  NIH

CDR   Rebecca Sheets                   FDA

LCDR Darin Weber                          FDA                (Webmaster)

LCDR Jon Daugherty                       FDA

LCDR Mark Seaton                          FDA

LT        Joe Temenak                        FDA

 

D.  MEMBERS EXCUSED OR ABSENT

LCDR Nelson Adekoya                    CDC               (Vice Chairperson)

LCDR Boris Aponte                         SAMHSA

Dr. Stephen S. Goldman                  NIH

 

III.  STANDARD AGENDA ITEMS AND REPORTS

A.  CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order at 1305 hours by CDR González Willis, followed by a violin rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by CDR Despins.

 

B.  GREETINGS FROM THE CHAIR

 

CDR González Willis greeted the participants and asked them to introduce themselves.  New officers and members were introduced.  LCDR Tom Hendricks was nominated and agreed to serve as recording secretary.  He was elected unanimously. Because LCDR Hendricks had to leave for another engagement, CDR Troiano volunteered to take notes for the meeting.

 

CDR González Willis discussed the role of PACs in supporting disaster response. She suggested that a potential role would be to provide home support to officers deployed through DMAT or CCRF.  She asked for other suggestions or ideas.  CAPT Jones pointed out the need to promote abilities of scientists whose skills may be useful in non-clinical deployments, e.g., for FEMA assessments of terrorism readiness.  He proposed a tabulation of specialties/skills in the category, similar to that produced by Engineer Category.  LCDR Weber reminded that PAC that we are supposed to have a CCRF Scientist training module on line by January 2002.  CAPT Jones noted the potential for officers to be part of the OEP Crisis response team (Rockville is part of Region 3).  Officers were encouraged to take advantage of the current situation to promote the visibility of the Corps by wearing the uniform every day.

 

C.  REPORT FROM THE CHIEF PROFESSIONAL OFFICER

 

CAPT Joseph presented a PHS Citation to CDR Troiano for his service as PAC Chair.  SciPAC Certificates for service to the Category were presented to:  CAPT John Bartko, CAPT Susanne Caviness, CAPT Rickie Davis, CAPT Derek Dunn, CAPT Ron Jans, CAPT Mark Paris, CDR Laila Ali, CDR Joseph Despins, CDR Angela González Willis, CDR Rebecca Sheets, CDR Richard Troiano, LCDR Nelson Adekoya, LCDR John Mosely Hayes, LCDR Daphne Moffet, LCDR Doug Thoroughman, and LCDR Darin Weber.

 

CAPT Joseph provided a brief summary of the presentation of the uniform survey results at the Joint SG PAC/CPO PAC Chair meeting of October 11. There was clear endorsement by many of that group for daily uniform wear. It was pointed out that the Secretary is in strong favor of officers in uniform.  Several IHS Area Directors have mandated daily uniform wear in their areas.

 

From this morning’s CPO/PAC Chair meeting, CAPT Joseph noted that DSG Moritsugu had been detailed full time to serve as Congressional Liaison for the anthrax incident.  There has also been increased visibility of SG Satcher.  The designee for Assistant Secretary for Health is Dr. Eve Slater.  The AMSUS meeting was cancelled because of security concerns.  However, the scheduled bioterrorism session will be make available on a CD-ROM.  The Air Force will host AMSUS next year due to the cancellation, which means that PHS will host in 2003.  CAPT Joseph described and circulated the handout from a presentation by CAPT John Babb on recent activities of the CCRF.

 

A discussion of trauma acute response training followed.  It was noted that officers could identify the need for this training, which is offered by the Red Cross for mental health professionals. This may be an activity on which Scientists could take the lead.

 

Other items noted or discussed included: need to decline SGLI dependent coverage if not desired, sign up for TSP by 10 January.  CAPT Jones brought up the potential need for a waiver of the 60 day leave carryover for officers deployed in response to terrorist acts.  The DoD has a 2 year moratorium already in place.  The COA foundation is listed in the Capital Area CFC directory, listing #7584.

 

D.  REPORT FROM THE TREASURER (CAPT Bartko) – CAPT Bartko reported our stable balance of $2599.65.  Signature cards have been submitted to reflect the new Executive Committee members.

 

IV.  OLD BUSINESS -SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND PROJECTS

 

A.  AWARDS (CDR Troiano)  - No report

 

B.  CHARTER REVIEW/HANDBOOK (LCDR Weber) – Still on hold pending SG signature on model charter.

 

C.  MENTORING (CDR Sheets) – No report

 

D.  RECRUITMENT (LCDR Adekoya) – No report, but there was discussion of recruitment of outgoing members from other uniform services.  The policy in some agencies of only hiring via Title 42 was also discussed.  This policy excludes civil service as well as Commissioned Corps applicants.

 

E.  VISIBILITY (LCDR Weber)

1.  Poster (CAPT Caviness) —   LCDR Weber noted that CAPT Caviness would need photos and bios by the end of January or early February for the poster this year because of the earlier date of the COA Annual Meeting.

 

2.  Public Relations, Publishing, and Public Speaking (LCDR Weber) — CAPT Caviness could not attend the PAC meeting because she was participating in the CFC Kickoff ceremony at the Humphrey Building. She was also scheduled to participate in the Kickoff at Parklawn with SG Satcher.  CAPT Caviness and CAPT Bob Davidson (HSO) raised the PHS flag at Ground Zero during the DMAT deployment at the WTC.

 

DC COA Dining out was held 17 November.  Scientists were well represented.

 

3.  Internet (LCDR Weber) — An article by CAPT Caviness about her experiences at the WTC with  photos is posted on the web site.

 

4.  Science Fair Judging (CDR Sheets) — LCDR Weber and LCDR Hendricks led this activity for DC COA last year. LCDR Hendricks now has lead responsibility.  Activities are expected to begin in December or January.

 

5.  Music Ensemble (CAPT Bartko, ret.) — The Commissioned Corps Ensemble brass and choral groups performed at the Dining Out.  Scheduling for holiday performances is taking place.

 

F.  CV REVIEW  (CDR Troiano) – CV submissions have been received and reviewers were sought (and found).  Comments to officers will be provided by the end of November.

 

G.  SURVEY (CDR Troiano) – CDR Despins and LCDR Thoroughman were thanked for their suggested revisions to the survey.  They were asked to implement the suggestions.

 

V.  NEW BUSINESS

 

1.                  PAC Goals and objectives for 2002 (CDR González Willis)

CDR González Willis pointed out that the PAC belongs to the members.  She looks to them for input and suggested directions for the PAC.  Her objectives for the coming year include: finalizing the Category survey report and making it available on the web site; updating the Scientist Handbook; increasing the focus on recruitment and retention–contacting every new Scientist officer with letters from the Chief Scientist and PAC Chair and an information packet; adding more officer profiles to the web site to increase visibility and highlight accomplishments of Scientist officers, especially officers in field settings; and increasing the involvement of Scientist officers in the PAC.

2.                  Selection of Subcommittee Chairpersons and members

Officers are encouraged to notify CDR González Willis of interest in assisting with any of the subcommittees below.

1. Awards

CDR González Willis, Chair

CDR Troiano

2. Charter review

LCDR Weber, Chair

CDR Troiano

3. Mentoring

CDR Despins, Chair

CAPT Sanders

LCDR Seaton

4. Recruitment

CDR Despins, Chair

CAPT Sanders

LCDR Daugherty

LT Temenak

5. Visibility

 

6. Handbook

LCDR Thoroughman, Chair

CDR Troiano

LCDR Weber

 

A.        Other New Business.

1.  Meeting Dates for 2002

Full SciPAC                             Executive Committee

January 24                                November 29

March 28                                 February 28

June 27                                    May 23

September 26                          July 25

 

2.  Scientist Category Day (CAPT Thoumaian)

The theme of the COA Annual meeting (Atlanta, GA April 22-24) will be Leading the Public Health Response to Disease and Disaster: Global Vision, National Action.  Topics will include prevention, detection, vaccination, and genomic areas. Holding a PAC meeting during the conference was suggested, as many Scientists are in Atlanta and the conference coincides with the EIS conference. Invited speakers from Atlanta should be included for Category day.  Plans for category day need to be finalized by January.

 

D.       Status of psychologists in the PHS (CAPT Sanders)

CAPT Sanders noted that he is the Scientist Category board member on the National COA Board, so he encourages officers to contact him as needed.

As of August 2001, there were 72 Psychologist officers in the PHS, 48 in the Scientist category, 24 in the HSO category.  This split divides the profession in the Corps.  Some psychologists went to HSO because of the belief that the Psy. D. did not include original research.  This is not the case. According to the American Psychological Association, the model is the scientist-practitioner, so Psy. D. includes a research background.

 

Clinical psychologists in the PHS face challenges.  They are licensed independent providers–the JCAHO evaluates them like physicians, however, clinics want to put them under the supervision of psychiatrists, leading them to not be treated as independent.  Clinical psychologists need to be able to write orders for tests, medications, nursing, etc.  Unlike other Services, the PHS has no single chief Psychologist Officer.

 

We need to increase the recognition of multiple specialties and skills within psychology.  The current situation has led to underutilization of psychologists by CCRF and others in the PHS.

 

 

5.                  ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

The next scheduled meeting: Executive Committee - November 29, 2001

 

VI.  ADJOURNMENT

 

The SciPAC meeting was officially adjourned at 1530 HOURS.

 

Submitted by:

 

   RPT                                                                  AGW                                     

CDR Richard Troiano                                       CDR Angela M. González Willis

Acting Recording Secretary                              Chairperson

Date 11/26/2001                                              Date    11/28/01 AGW