3-21-02 SciPAC Meeting

CDR	Angela González Willis	HRSA (Chairperson)
LCDR	Nelson Adekoya	CDC (Vice Chairperson)
CAPT	John Bartko (ret)	(Treasurer)
LCDR	Tom Hendricks	FDA (Recording Secretary)
CDR	Pam Ching	CDC
CDR	Richard Troiano	NIH (Past Chairperson)
LCDR	Boris Aponte	SAMHSA
LCDR	Daphne Moffett	ATSDR
LCDR	Doug Thoroughman	IHS
Dr.	Stephen S. Goldman	NIH

CAPT	Mark Paris	DoD
CAPT	Gil Sanders	HRSA
CAPT	Armen Thoumaian	CMS
CDR	Kevin McGuinness
CDR	Ralph O'Connor	ATSDR
CDR	Doris Ravenell-Brown	FDA
LCDR	Jon Daugherty	FDA
LT	Joseph Temenak	FDA

1. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has made available at http://sgreports.nlm.nih.gov/NN/ all reports issued by the US Public Health Service Surgeon General. This new site, which makes some 70 digitized reports public, results from collaboration between the NLM and the Office of the Surgeon General.

The Acting Surgeon General requests that each Commissioned Corp category nominate at least one member for an AMSUS Award.

Our CPO would like to be notified about any policies, practices, etc. that a Scientist Officer may hear about that might affect Scientist Category, Commissioned Corp or DHHS.

A request for new members will be in the April Bulletin. Scientist Officer candidates need their supervisors concurrence.

5. Scientist Officers should provide a list of all associations, and organizations that they are members of to the CPO.

CDR González Willis is the SciPAC representative to this taskforce, which will meet April 9, and 10, 2002. Please send to CDR González Willis any comments, ideas, suggestions, etc. that you wish to make on this process.

7. DC-COA provided $750.00 to DMAT 1 for 2002. DC-COA has pledged to provide $500.00 a year on going support to DMAT 1.

8. "Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” has been extended to PHS Commissioned Corps Officers. This promotion ends April 30, 2002. The offer is open to all active-duty PHS commissioned officers and includes a free 7-day admission to any of the Disney theme parks in Florida and California, a 50 percent discount for up to five family members, and a limited number of discounted room rates at Disney resorts. Officers making reservations or calling to purchase tickets should identify themselves as “Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers” and be prepared to show their PHS identification cards when picking up tickets or entering the parks.

Additional information and details may be found on the Disney Web site— http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/relief/salute.html.

1. The Acting Surgeon General has the following interests: Health for Aging Populations, Correctional Health - Physical and Mental, Organ Donation, Osteoporosis, Mental Health and Bioterrorism, Health Information Technology, Diabetes/Obesity Relationship, Workforce Health - Protection of Needs and Mix, Immunization, Youth Violence, and Racial/Ethnic Disparities.

2. CDR Troiano is the category contact for Scientist CCRF training. Please send your ideas to CDR Troiano.

The 2000-2001 PAC year for SciPAC was a year of transition that included successes as well as frustration. CAPT Lireka Joseph came on board as the new CPO in September with the beginning of the new PAC year. With the expected arrival of the new CPO, CAPT Dunn opted not to fully staff the PAC with new members to allow CAPT Joseph to make some selections. Only two new members were added in September 2000. However, the member selection process takes time, and with other demands on the new CPO, accelerated member selection did not occur. The reduced number of new members, combined with the loss from the Commissioned Corps of a PAC member and executive board member, led to there being only 9 SciPAC members for 2000-2001.

As PAC chair, my goals for 2000-2001 were to continue previously introduced activities of improved communications with the Category, recognition of outstanding officers through the Scientist of the Year awards, and the CV review for promotion-eligible officers. I also hoped to revitalize the member alternates and mentoring programs, to finalize the revision of the Charter and Standard Operating Procedures to comply with new OSG policies, and to update the Scientist Handbook. Success in achieving these PAC goals was mixed.

We maintained good communications with the Category through our listserve and the excellent web site maintained by LCDR Darin Weber at our new domain, http://usphs-scientist.org. Moving to a private web hosting service allowed SciPAC to avoid web site access problems that occurred when NIH had a security breach. We maintained the Scientist of the Year Awards, and improved the process by clarifying the criteria for the awards. The awards nomination packages were used as the basis for the first Scientist Officer profiles on the web site. In fall of 2000, the CV review process was strained by a high demand for reviews and a low response from potential reviewers leading to each CV being reviewed by only one officer. However, in 2001, a generous response from past and current PAC members and guests allowed sixteen promotion-eligible Scientist officers to have their CV reviewed by two officers. This service continued to be highly valued by those officers who took advantage of it. The PAC's involvement in recruitment has grown with several officers making presentations at colleges and through LCDR Nelson Adekoya's communication with Scientist Officer applicants regarding potential positions. LCDR Adekoya and CAPT Caviness were selected to represent the category in DCP's newly revitalized Associate Recruiter Program. Other highlights included several outstanding and highly visible performances by the Scientist sponsored Commissioned Corps brass, choral and chamber Ensembles under the direction of CAPT John Bartko and an excellent Scientist Category Day organized by CAPT Mark Paris at the Annual COA meeting. PAC meetings have had increased attendance via teleconference from officers all around the country, who has contributed their experience, expertise, and energy. Unfortunately, the revitalization of the member alternates and mentoring programs did not make any progress. The Charter and SOP process was not completed due to delays in the OSG. That process is now ready for completion. With the revised charter and SOP, the revision of the Scientist Handbook is long overdue and ready to proceed.

An unexpected, but highly visible major accomplishment was the Commissioned Corps Uniform Survey. In January 2001, the Scientist Category was asked by DSG Moritusugu to take the lead on this project. With input from other CPOs and PAC Chairs, CAPT Joseph and I designed and analyzed the survey that was hosted on the DCP web site. Survey results were presented to DSG Moritsugu and VADM Satcher in separate briefings as well as to a joint meeting of the SG PAC and CPO/PAC Chairs. With the end of VADM Satcher's term, it is not clear how the information from the survey will be used.

SciPAC is a team that needs widespread participation to be effective. The combination of reduced membership, all new leadership, and the intensive Uniform Survey effort led to some planned efforts not being completed in 2000-2001. I learned (or was reminded) that follow-through can be difficult to achieve, personally and organizationally. A balance of support and encouragement from the PAC Chair with independent leadership and initiative from subcommittee chairs and members is needed to accomplish the many tasks of the PAC. Increased numbers of active members and guests, as we are now experiencing, along with committed subcommittee leadership can lead to greater accomplishments. SciPAC needs to maintain the level of communication and support of the Category that we have achieved, clean up the loose ends of Charter and Handbook Revision, and move on to revitalizing the member alternate and mentorship programs. We also need to tackle the larger issues of the impending retirement of a large proportion of the category and the need to rationalize the assignment of Psychologists to categories in DCP. I look forward to contributing to the ongoing valuable service that SciPAC provides Scientist Officers and the Commissioned Corps.

The Winners of the SciPAC Awards have been notified. These awards will be given out during COA meeting in Atlanta.

1. Emory University: LCDR Nelson Adekoya was invited to the Career Action Day at the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University on February 21, 2002. CAPT Lireka Joseph and the ARP provided brochures which were distributed to more than 120 students. Several people requested information about the Corps, and this was an opportunity to educate these students. Participants were directed to the DCP website to learn more about the Corps. LCDR Adekoya has been invited to participate in the 2003 Career Day.

2. ARP: The ARP program is progressing well. Captain Terry Golden, Chief, Recruitment and Assignment Branch, attended the last meeting of the ARP group and provided information on the New Applicator Tool. The tool is meant to introduce applicants to the expectations of a Commissioned Officer including factors that may prevent an applicant from further consideration: weight height requirements, medical conditions, etc. ARP reps, CPO, Liaisons, and PAC have access to this tool, and they can access and use it to provide feedback to the applicant.

LCDR Adekoya forwarded several documents relating to ARP to CAPT Joseph, CDR Gonzalez-Willis, CDR Troiano, and LCDR Hendricks to determine if it will be appropriate to place these documents on our list serve given the increasing role that the categories will continue to play in recruitment. It is necessary for officers who wanted to be a member of the ARP to read the draft policy, complete the application forms, submit references letter, and most importantly, understand their expectations. Further questions on the ARP may be directed to LCDR Adekoya at 770-488-4642.

3. The OSG has signed the JOAG Policy and Procedures. So, the group is now official. Members of the group took a picture with RADM David Satcher at his send-off party, and this was printed in the current issue of the CC Bulletin. OSG has received application from six senior officers who are interested in serving as advisors to this group. Screening of the officers will begin soon, and JOAG will have an opportunity to talk to these individuals. However, selection for the position will be made by OSG.

4. Recruitment Slides: Although the draft of the slides is complete, the package needs to be polished. Because of LCDR Adekoya work schedule, he will need some officers to volunteer and work on this package. LCDR Adekoya had a meeting last month with CAPT Joseph, CDR Troiano, and CDR Gonzalez-Willis, regarding possible sections to be cut in the slides.

5. LCDR Adekoya will make a presentation at the Plenary Session, COA Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Certain members of the music ensemble will receive a unit commendation through the work of the CPO PAC Meeting Group.

A partial copy of the CV Review Report is reported below (Please go to Scientist website for full report).

In October 2001, SciPAC offered to review the CV of Commissioned Officers in the Scientist Category who were eligible for promotion in promotion year 2002 (July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003). CV submissions were received from 16 officers: 3 Captains (up for P-grade promotions), 5 Commanders, 5 Lieutenant Commanders, and 3 Lieutenants. These submissions came from a pool of 70 Scientist officers who were eligible for temporary promotions plus 34 eligible for permanent promotion alone.

Each CV was reviewed for consistency with recommendations in the Scientist Handbook, including format, appearance, clarity, and appropriates content. Current and former SciPAC members and guests were asked to serve as CV reviewers. Twelve officers agreed to serve as reviewers. This generous response and the relatively lower number of review requests allowed each CV to be reviewed by 2 reviewers. Having two reviewers provides broader perspective in the comments, which was appreciated by officers receiving reviews. If a junior officer reviewed a CV, it was also reviewed by a senior officer. An effort was made to assign a Captain to review the CV of officers eligible for promotion to O-6. This approach led to each reviewer having two or three CVs to review.

In early January 2002, an e-mail was sent to officers who had submitted a CV for review, seeking their feedback on the process. Thirteen (81%) officers replied. Their responses and comments are summarized in a report on the website.

CAPT Thoumaian presented an overview of the activities and presentations for Scientist Category Day at the COA conference in Atlanta and provided the following copy of the current agenda.

Moderator: CAPT Armen H. Thoumaian, Health Program Evaluation Officer, Quality Measurement & Health Assessment Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

8:30-9:00 AM INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME BY CHIEF SCIENTIST OFFICER CAPT Lireka Joseph, Chief Scientist Officer, USPHS

9:00-10:00 AM THE ROLE OF GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS IN BIOLOGICAL DISCOVERY:

Speaker: Andreas D. Baxevanis, Ph.D., Associate Director for Intramural Research; Director, Computational Genomics, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health

10:00-11:00 AM GENOME SEQUENCING OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS AND OTHER BIOWARFARE PATHOGENS

Speaker: Timothy D. Read, Ph.D., Assistant Investigator, The Institute for Genomic Research

11:00AM-12Noon THE SYSTEMIC AUTONFLAMMATORY DISEASES: WINDOW ON THE MOLECULAR REGULATION OF INFLAMMATION

Speaker: Ivona Aksentijevich, M.D., Staff Scientist, Genetics and Genomics Branch, NIAMS, National Institutes of Health

2:00-2:45 PM APPLICATION OF GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS TO THE DETECTION OF BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGENTS

Speaker: Joan S. Gebhardt, Ph.D., Head, Molecular Diagnostics, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center

2:45-3:30 PM A NEW CANCER GENOME ANATOMY PROJECT (CGAP) INTERNET RESOURCE FOR THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY

Speaker: Lynette H. Grouse, Ph.D., Scientific Projects Manager, Office of Cancer Genomics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

3:30-5:00 PM RISK COMMUNICATION - AN OVERLOOKED ROLE FOR PHS OFFICERS IN EMERGENCIES?

Speaker: CDR Ralph O'Conner, Division of Health Education and Promotion at ATSDR

5:00-6:00 PM MEET THE CHIEF SCIENTIST OFFICER AND FELLOW SCIENTIST OFFICERS, Pool Area of Hotel

MTH	AGW
LCDR Tom Hendricks	CDR Angela M. González Willis
Recording Secretary	Chairperson
Date 4/2/2002	Date

CAPT	Bryan Jones	HRSA
CDR	Joseph Despins	EPA