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United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

An Overview

Rank Name

Today’s Commissioned CorpsWho We Are

Lead by the 18th SURGEON GENERAL

PHOTO

VICE ADMIRAL Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A.

• 6,500+ well-trained, highly qualified health care professionals

• Essential component of the largest public health program in the world

WHO WE ARE

WHO WE ARE

• Physicians• Dentists• Clinical psychologists • Clinical social workers• Nurses/Nurse Practitioners • Pharmacists• Engineers• Environmental health officers

• Optometrists• Physician assistants• Scientists/Researchers• Physical, occupational and

respiratory therapists (SLP and Audio)

• Veterinarians• Many other health-related

disciplines

HealthMarketingandRecruitmentOutreachU.S.PublicHealthServiceCommissionedCorps

Today’s Commissioned CorpsWhy We’re Here

WHY WE’RE HERE

To protect, promote, and advance the public health and

safety of our Nation.

Protecting public health and safetyFor more than 100

years…

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/phs_history/intro.html

A PROUD HISTORY

From Ellis Island… …To tribal lands.

Across America Around the World

Today’s Commissioned CorpsWhat We Do

WHAT WE DO

EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Types of missions:• Earthquake response in Haiti• Hurricane response to include Katrina, Gustav and Ike• Suicide response in American Indian community• Toxic exposure alerts in the Gulf Coast area• Humanitarian assistance to rural America in places such as

Kentucky, Texas and South Dakota

Today’s Commissioned CorpsWhere Physicians Work

WHERE OUR PHYSICIANS WORK

WHERE OUR PHYSICIANS SERVE

PHOTO

Corps BenefitsWhat the Corps Offers You

BENEFITS• Competitive compensation package• Health care and medical care at no cost• Tax-free locality pay and meal allowance• Thirty days paid vacation—beginning

the first year• Paid sick and maternity leave • Malpractice insurance coverage• Retirement plan with benefits including health care for life• Thrift Savings Plan—retirement savings and investment plan

similar to 401(k)• Low-cost life insurance

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR PHYSICIANS…

• $75,000 accession bonus for physicians who sign a 4-year active-duty agreement

• Special pays and bonuses, ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 per year, that augment an already competitive compensation package.

• To ease the financial burden of your medical education, assignments with certain Federal agencies, such as the Indian Health Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Immigration Health Service Corps offer loan repayment and/or other educational and family support programs.

National Health Service Corps, Loan Repayment Program

(LRP)

LRP Eligibility

NHSC Loan Repayment Program is open to licensed primary care medical and dental Commissioned Corps Officers who:

•Are employed or seeking employment at approved federal sites in the Indian Health Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Immigration Health Service

•Have unpaid government or commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses, segregated from all other debts

The full-time program offers up to $60,000 in tax-free loan repayment for 2 YEARS of service, and up to $170,000 for a 5-YEAR service commitment.

$60,0002 YEARS

UP TO

$170,0005 YEARS

UP TO

With continued service beyond 5 years, health care providers may be able to pay off all their student loans.

Another Option: National Health

Service Corps, Scholarship

Program

(SP)

The scholarship* includes:

Payment of tuition and required fees (tax-free)

Some other tax-free educational costs (books, etc.)

A monthly living stipend (taxable)

Students pursuing careers in primary care can receive a scholarship now and serve later.

*available for up to 4 years

Another option – the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (SP)

SUPPORTYEARS OF

SERVICEYEARS OF=

For Medical Officers:

Students to Service Loan Repayment Program

(S2S LRP)

Eligibility:

U.S. citizen or national

Full-time student in the last year at an accredited school, pursuing a degree in Medicine (MD or DO)

Planning to complete an accredited primary medical care residency in an NHSC-approved specialty (Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Geriatrics)

Have unpaid government or commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses, segregated from all other debts

The NHSC offers up to $120,000 in tax-free loan repayment for 3 years of full-time or 6 years of half-time service.

$120,0003 YEARSFULL-TIME SERVICE

UP TO

$120,0006 YEARSPART-TIME SERVICE

UP TO

With continued service, eligible providers may be able to pay off all their student loans.

Corps RequirementsWhat You Have to Offer the Corps

Basic qualifications:• U.S. citizen• Less than 44 years of age (with waivers, up to 50)• Medically qualified• Ability to pass a suitability review• M.D. degree from a program that is accredited by the

American Medical Association • Current, unrestricted, and valid medical license to practice

in one of the 50 States; Washington, DC; Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; U.S. Virgin Islands; or Guam.

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Today’s Commissioned CorpsHow Physicians Serve

CDR NANCY KNIGHT

Current Position: • Epidemiologist• Millville Health Center

Cincinnati, OH

Service time: • 2001 - present

PHOTO

The uniform depicted is not reflective of Knight’s promotion from LCDR to CDR shortly after the picture was taken.

CAPT SARAH LINDE-FEUCHT

Current Position: • Chief Public Health Officer• Health Resources & Services

Administration (HRSA)• Washington, DC

Service time: • 1988 - present

PHOTO

CAPT Jeff Salvon-Harman

Current Position: • Operational Medicine Division

Chief, Health, Safety, and Work-Life Service Center

• U.S. Coast Guard• Washington, DC

Service time: • 1998 - present

PHOTO

CDR Jamal Gwathney

Current Position: • Associate Medical Director,

East of the River Health Center• Health Resources & Services

Administration (HRSA)• Washington, DC

Service time: • 2004 - present

PHOTO

HOW WE SERVE

• Perform clinical practice

• Educate individuals and communities about public health

• Participate in disaster response efforts as part of multi-disciplinary teams

Today’s Commissioned CorpsOpportunities for You

Educational & Training Opportunities

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program: two-year, post-graduate program service and on-the-job training for health professionals in epidemiology.

• National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program: a competitive program awarding scholarships in return for a commitment to provide care in underserved communities through a Federal agency.

• Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program: assists health professionals in repaying their student loans while they help fill the staffing needs of Indian health programs.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP):• Eligible after just one year of medical school• Paid a salary during externship• Work 1 to 4 months • No obligation after graduation

Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (SRCOSTEP):• Full-time students• Paid a salary and active duty benefits while finishing final year of

medical school (up to 18 months)• Obligated to the Corps for twice the amount of time sponsored

Position: • JRCOSTEP

Service time: • 2 ½ months

Assignment: • Washington, DC• Office of the Asst. Secretary for Health; NHSC Scholar

Professional Education: • Physician• Currently attending pediatric residency

Ensign Ryan Van Ramshorst

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• How do I apply?

• How long does the application process take?

• Will I have to serve a specified number of years with the Commissioned Corps, as required by other uniformed services?

• Why do applicants’ names have to be sent to the Senate and what happens once my name is submitted?

Please visit www.usphs.gov/questionsanswers/ for the answers to more FAQs.

U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

COMMISSIONED CORPSAmerica’s HealthResponders

For more information, call 1–800–279–1605

or visit www.usphs.gov and www.facebook.com/usphs