Chair:  LCDR Bryan Wimer	Vice Chair:  LCDR Timothy Martin

Meeting Times:

• Join on computer or call-in:  3^rd Thursday of Each Month, 1400 ET.
  • FDA Zoom

Now, more than ever, engineering is being recognized across industries as a key aspect to maintaining public health. Pandemic mitigation measures and creating infrastructure resilient to changing climates has been added to the long list of public health engineering works (e.g. water supply and treatment and power generation) that have built our society.

The Public Health Engineering Practice (PHEP) subcommittee provides a means for engineers from multiple federal agencies to reach out to others working in similar fields or on similar projects. Some of the biggest and most game-changing ideas come from small projects started by single engineers and picked up by like-minded colleagues. Connecting with engineers across Agencies and across the country can increase the impact of individual projects and show the value of new or developing engineering techniques. Engineers of varying levels of experience and expertise can also share experiences and lessons learned, disseminate new technologies, and discuss issues of importance which are faced by engineers every day.

The PHEP subcommittee advises the Engineer Professional Advisory Committee (EPAC) and develops resources for Public Health Service (PHS) agencies and their beneficiaries. Based on the EPAC Bylaws, the PHEP subcommittee serves to promote a forum to discuss common concerns and provide a professional practice bridge, both between PHS OPDIVs and with outside agencies and organizations. The PHEP subcommittee currently consists of approximately 20 engineers representing the Indian Health Service (IHS), National Parks Service (NPS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration0. The PHEP subcommittee has the potential to represent any agency served by PHS engineers

Purpose

• To develop resources for the PHS agencies and their beneficiaries, expanding the understanding and direction of current engineering topics affecting the future health and safety of the nation.
• To increase the efficiency of our work by:
  1. Sharing experiences and lessons learned on issues related to various areas of engineering
  2. Bringing to light new technologies on the horizon or in use by members; and
  3. Promoting discussion and seeking input from members regarding potential solutions to any engineering issues encountered or anticipated in our daily work.
• Present public health engineering practice issues with analysis, information and possible solutions to the EPAC

Please find PHEP's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on the following link: PHEP SOP (2020 AUG 21)

Public Health Infrastructure Assessment Guide: A Guide for USPHS Engineer Officers (2017)

PHEP Workgroup Involvement

PHS engineers interested in leading or starting a new workgroup can contact the PHEP Subcommittee Chair, LCDR Bryan Wimer, or Vice Chair, LCDR Timothy Martin. We can put you in touch with the leads for any of the projects, or you can suggest a topic that you would like to pursue!

Subcommittee History

The subcommittee was previously known as Building Design and Construction (BDC), but was expanded and renamed to Public Health Engineering Practice in 2008. At that time the use of the term "practice" vs "practices" was discussed by the subcommittee members with the decision being made to use the word "practice," for its broader connotation. Here "Practice" is used similarly to the way "Service" is used in both the Public Health Service and the Indian Health Service. Webster defines the term "practice" as: the continuous exercise of a profession.