Spotlighting the Career of LCDR Traci Kelm

March 2020

                                                                                                   LCDR Traci Kelm

LCDR Traci Kelm is passionate about serving and caring for others, and nursing has been the perfect fit for her. She received a Bachelor of Art in Nursing from the University of Augustana in 2006.  LCDR Kelm began her nursing career in Yuma, AZ as an ICU nurse where she was introduced to the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). Intrigued by the mission and vision of the USPHS she decided it was something that she wanted to pursue. In 2009, LCDR Kelm was called to active duty and has led a distinguished USPHS career over the past 9.5 years.  “It has been one of the best things I have done as a nurse.” 

LCDR Kelm was interested in gaining knowledge not typically seen as a nursing role. Since 2009, LCDR Kelm has worked at the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) with the Office of Biological Products Operations (OBPO) in Sioux Falls, SD. Both unique and challenging, LCDR Kelm’s position support’s both the Public Health Service ACT and the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which regulate biological products. LCDR Kelm is tasked with inspecting facilities to ensure compliance with standards, maintaining safety, purity, potency and efficacy of these products. “My position allows me to contribute to the health of our nation and as a nurse I feel the need to take care of everyone by safeguarding our supply of blood, tissue and other biological products.” As one of two investigators in Sioux Falls, SD, LCDR Kelm has represented the FDA and USPHS in numerous settings. She was the only FDA representative and investigator accompanying Department of Homeland Security( DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) on multiple cases concerning drug residue to pharmaceutical fraud cases.

In addition to her daily work, LCDR Kelm has had several extraordinary and rewarding deployment experiences. Her first mission was medical support for the National Park Service for the Independence Day Celebration in 2011. 

In 2012, she was deployed to supported Federal Medical Station (FMS) in Brookdale after Hurricane Sandy. “Our patients were from nursing/assisted living facilities. It astounded me that these people had not been evacuated and they were so grateful and extremely appreciative.” In 2015, LCDR Kelm supported the Papal visit to Washington, D.C., where over 11,000 people gathered from all over to hear the pope speak. “There was a buzz in the air throughout the entire Papal visit; it was almost as if the world stopped for a day.” In 2017, LCDR Kelm also deployed for Hurricanes Harvey/Irma. She worked alongside the Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) who triaged patients and transferred those requiring a higher level medical care to the USPHS team. “I had never been through a hurricane before. We did anything we could to help, which turned out to be a little bit of everything.” LCDR Kelm’s most recent deployment was the Border Mission in El Paso Texas at the El Paso Station 1 Detention Center. She worked alongside one other PHS officer, the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection where they managed all types of situations and issues. “My biggest fear was the language barrier; I know little Spanish, but everyone, including immigrants helped to facilitate communication.”

LCDR Kelm believes her best experiences in the USPHS are being part of a team and focusing on the tasks at hand regardless of knowing the person beside you. “I have had the opportunity to meet and make friends with some of the most amazing people. PHS Officers are selfless and compassionate-not only for the patients but to each other. Working for the USPHS offers the best opportunities. It is important to know your path be flexible and get rid of the blinders. One day you are a bedside nurse and the next day you might be the Surgeon General.”