SCIENTIST PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Office of the Surgeon
General
United States Public Health
Service
Minutes of 22 February 2001
Meeting Number 81
Highlights |
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I. LOCATION/DATE/TIME
FDA/CDRH/Office of Science and Technology Conference
Room 274
Rockville, MD
22 February 2001 1300-1600
HOURS
II. ATTENDANCE
A. MEMBERS
IN ATTENDANCE
CDR Laila Ali FDA (Treasurer)
CDR Angela González Willis HRSA (Recording
Secretary)
CDR Richard Troiano NIH/NCI (Chairperson)
LCDR Nelson Adekoya CDC (Vice Chairperson)
LCDR Darin Weber FDA (Liaison to DC-COA)
CAPT John Bartko (ret)
Dr. Stephen S. Goldman NIH
B. EX-OFFICIO
MEMBERS ATTENDING
CAPT Lireka Joseph FDA (CPO)
C. GUESTS ATTENDING
CAPT Susan Caviness SAMHSA
CAPT Victor Krauthamer FDA
CAPT Mark Paris DoD
CAPT Armen Thoumaian HCFA
CDR Joseph Despins FDA
CDR Charles Kemsey CDC
CDR Ralph O’Connor ATSDR
LCDR Lisa Colpe NIH/NIMH
LCDR John Hayes CDC
LCDR Tom Hendricks FDA
LCDR Kathleen McDuffie CDC
LCDR Daphne Moffett ATSDR
D. MEMBERS
EXCUSED OR ABSENT
CDR Pamela Ching CDC
CDR Rebecca Sheets FDA (Past Chairperson)
LCDR Boris Aponte SAMHSA
III. STANDARD AGENDA ITEMS AND REPORTS
A. CALL TO
ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 1305 hours by CDR
Troiano.
B. GREETINGS
FROM THE CHAIR
CDR Troiano greeted the participants and asked them
to introduce themselves. CDR Troiano
reported that PAC Chair meeting had not been held earlier that day but he did
provide a summary/update on the following from the CPO/PAC Chair meeting -
Model Charter is near completion.
A draft final copy is expected to be available for comments out within
the next few weeks. There will be a short period for comments. Once this Charter is approved, we can
proceed to finalize our own.
Hiring freeze - There is a limited freeze (O-4 and below). This should not affect placing officers at
the level of O-4 and below. Discussion
centered on the recruitment of new civil service employees. Officers are encouraged to discuss with new
civil service hires the advantages the Corps.
We need to promote ourselves and do a better job at marketing
opportunities the Corps provides.
Basic Officer Training Course (BOTC) - All officers are encouraged, and especially junior officers, to attend the training
course. This course is different from
the old orientation course in that this course will emphasize esprit de corps.
Some of the topics that are covered include military bearing and courtesy,
career development, promotions, awards,
and standards of conduct. Course
schedule is available on the DCP web site (http://dcp.psc.gov). The DCP is working on an Advance Officer
Training Course which is intended to provide leadership training as part of
professional development/career advancement of mid-to senior level
officers.
Uniform Survey - As of
2/21/01 there were a total of 800 responses (14% of active duty officers). The deadline for responding to the survey has
been extended to allow additional responses.
The scientist category was over-represented in terms of response rates
relative to our proportion of active duty officers. Preliminary results suggest that officers are not opposed to
wearing the uniform on a regular basis.
DCP is encouraging officers to be on the DCP list serv and to use the
electronic systems to update their records.
C. REPORT
FROM THE CHIEF PROFESSIONAL OFFICER
CAPT Joseph provided an update on the following
activity -
Category Specific Uniform Devices - A quick survey of
responses revealed that most officers favored a category specific device. Those that opposed indicated that such a
device would further divide the Corps and that we should not emphasize our differences. CAPT Joseph noted that at this point no
decision has been made and that it is imperative that further discussion focus
on the rational/reason for having a category specific device. What would such a device gain us?
D. REPORT
FROM THE TREASURER (CDR Ali) – CDR
Ali suggested activities the PAC may want to consider to generate funds for the
treasury. It was proposed that a
subcommittee look at this issues and bring back suggestions to the PAC. CAPT Bartko (ret.) will work with CDR Ali
on this effort.
There was a brief discussion of transferring the
account from the Henry Jackson Foundation (HJF) to the COA. CAPT Bartko
(ret.) reported that the COA. is competitive and would be willing to provide
the same benefits as the HJF. These
issues are to be discussed further at the next Executive PAC meeting.
IV. OLD BUSINESS -SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND
PROJECTS
A. AWARDS
(CDR Troiano) - An e-mail message was
sent out requesting nominations for the Scientist of the Year Awards. This information is also listed in the
Scientist Category web site (http://usphs‑scientist.org). We do not have time to get the call in the
CC Bulletin, so only electronic notification will be possible. Please help
spread the word. CAPT Joseph will
contact those officers nominated within the last 2 years to notify them of
their continued eligibility and to encourage them to send an updated CV.
B. CHARTER
REVIEW/HANDBOOK (LCDR Weber) – LCDR Weber had nothing to report at this
time -- we are waiting for the OSG Model Charter to be finalized before further
activity is undertaken.
C. MENTORING
(CDR Sheets) – Nothing to report.
D. RECRUITMENT
(LCDR Adekoya) – LCDR Adekoya reported that the recruitment slides are almost
completed.
LCDR John Hayes reported that he did a recruitment
presentation at the University of Puerto Rico in December. He handed out over 300 flyers on the Corps.
E. VISIBILITY (LCDR Weber)
1. Poster (CAPT Caviness) — The 2001 Scientist Category
poster is being assembled
by CAPT Caviness for the national COA meeting.
This is the 8th year for the poster. To have your work included contact CAPT
Caviness at (301) 443-7614. Information
must be received by April 1, 2001.
2. Public Relations, Publishing, and Public
Speaking (LCDR Weber) —
As part of Commissioned
Corps Readiness Force (CCRF) preparedness training for officers, LCDR Darin
Weber participated in the Critical Reactions Aimed Toward Emergency Response
(CRATER). The course provided
participants with information about biological, chemical, and radiological
weapons of mass destruction, identification and treatment modalities, personal
protective equipment, decontamination procedures, and live agent testing. The course
was held at the new USPHS Noble Training Center and at the Dept. of Justice
Center for Domestic Preparedness, both located in Anniston, AL at the former FT
McClellan army base (now closed). The
course took place September 10-16, 2000.
There were approximately 60 participants.
CAPT Susan Caviness and
CAPT Armen Thoumaian were deployed as part of the PHS-Disaster Medical
Assistance Team (DMAT) to support the Presidential Inauguration in
January. Approximately 70 DMAT members
from around the country were deployed to assist in this event. Members of the CCRF were also activated. If there are other Scientist Officers
that were also deployed, please send us your name.
3. Internet (LCDR Weber)
— Information on Scientist of the Year Awards to be posted on the web site.
4. Science Fair Judging (CDR Sheets) —
Nothing to report at this time.
5. Music Ensemble (CAPT Bartko, ret.)
— CAPT Bartko reported that the Ensemble performed for the Surgeon General in
December and at the Anchor and Caduceus luncheon held in January, 2001.
The Ensemble was very well received and has been highly praised by the
OSG. The Ensemble will perform at the
annual COA meeting in May (at the opening ceremony and reception).
F. CV REVIEW (CDR Troiano) – CDR Troiano thanked all officers who served as
reviewers. Approximately 21 CVs were
reviewed. CDR Troiano surveyed these
officers about their overall satisfaction with this service. Approximately 14 responded. Overall, these officers were very pleased
with this service. Officers found it
very valuable to have someone who did not know them personally provide
feedback/comments.
G. SURVEY (CDR Sheets) -- CDR Sheets was
not present. CDR Troiano reported that
a final survey report is
forthcoming.
V. NEW BUSINESS
1.
COA Meeting (CAPT Paris) – CAPT Paris reported that the
format for the Scientist program will be similar to that offered last year – in
the morning, there will be a joint mental health symposium held in
collaboration with the HSO category.
Dr. Everett Jones, Acting Chief of Staff, Director/Mental Health, of the
Salem VA Medical Center will speak on Development, Implementation and
Impact of the MDD Clinical Practice Guidelines in the VA . LTC Charles C. Engel, Jr., Chief, Deployment
Health Clinical Center, Walter Reed
Army Medical Center; and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry of the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences will present Overview
and DoD Implementation of the VA DoD
Major Depressive Disorder Guidelines.
A tentative meeting agenda is listed on the COA. web site (http://www.coausphs.org).
2.
PAC
responsibility for civil service scientists (CDR Troiano) - CDR Troiano noted that we need to consider how the PAC
would identify, represent and address the needs of civil service
scientists. This responsibility is
included in our current charter as well as the new model charter.
3.
New Members (CAPT Joseph) CAPT Dunn had left it so that
the new CPO would be able to bring in new PAC members. CAPT Joseph anticipates the call for new
members to occur soon.
4.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The
next scheduled meetings:
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Full SciPAC |
SCIPAC
Executive Committee |
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April 26, 2001 |
March 22, 2001 |
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July 26, 2001 |
May 24, 2001 |
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September 27, 2001
|
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VI.
ADJOURNMENT
The SciPAC meeting was adjourned at 1445
hours.
Submitted by:
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____________________________ CDR Angela M. González Willis Recording Secretary Date 3/1/2001 |
____________________________ CDR Richard Troiano Chairperson Date |