Spotlighting the Career of LCDR Sarah Trinidad

Biography Contributed by: LCDR Nichole Vetter and LCDR Trinidad

This Nursing Spotlight is brought to you by LCDR Janice Arceneaux, LCDR Allison Gallen and LTJG Alyssa Givens

LCDR Sarah Trinidad began her nursing career in 2003 as an Active Duty Air Force Nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at Andrews Air Force Base. She served two deployments in the Aeromedical Staging Facility, caring for wounded soldiers evacuated from Iraq. In 2007, she joined the US Public Health Service (USPHS) and was assigned to Federal Occupational Health (FOH). She held many positions during her tenure with FOH to include Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Clinical Operations Lead, and Deputy Chief of Operations  and Customer Care. In 2013, she was awarded the USPHS Outstanding Service Medal for her dedication and efforts towards FOH and USPHS missions. In October 2013, LCDR Trinidad transitioned to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the Bureau of Primary Health Care as a Public Health Analyst.     

At HRSA, she fulfills her passion of helping the underserved and appreciates the mission of HRSA: To improve health and achieve health equity through access to quality services, a skilled health workforce and innovative programs. LCDR Trinidad assists communities in accessing high quality primary and preventive health care.

As a USPHS officer, LCDR Trinidad recalls that one of her best experiences so far was a deployment in 2012 with Immigration Health (ICE). She was sent to a Detention Center in El Paso, TX,    following the loss of key nursing staff in hard to fill positions. 

On that mission she provided direct    nursing care to illegal detainees. She triaged, identified and managed minor illnesses and/or referred to higher level providers for more serious conditions and distributed daily medications. She was a key team member in coordinating the health care needs of these detainees. She feels that working with this  population was a unique experience and is something she would not have done had she not been a USPHS officer. She gained a greater respect and understanding for the mission and role of nurses within the ICE Health Service Corps.

With her varied work experiences and deployments throughout her career, LCDR Trinidad certainly has taken advantage of the diverse opportunities the nursing profession affords. Her biggest influence in becoming a nurse was her mother, who was also a nurse. “It was all I ever knew.”

LCDR Trinidad holds a Master of Public Health Degree and is board certified as a Nurse Executive. She enjoys her time off with her husband and 4 children. LCDR Trinidad is excited about her future challenges and opportunities in the USPHS.

*If you are interested in learning more about the agency or duty station where LCDR Trinidad serves you may contact her directly at strinidad@hrsa.gov. 

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