Science Subcommittee

Chair: LCDR Teresa Wang

Co-Chair: LCDR Rebecca Levine

Co-Chair: LCDR Hilda Razzaghi*

 * indicates non-voting member

Standard Operating Procedure (pending updates) [PDF]

Purpose

To support the USPHS Scientist Category on issues related to science.

Activities

• Annually administer, analyze, and disseminate results from the State of the Scientists survey.
• Compile and maintain an active list of Scientist officers’ scholarly works to help highlight the work of Scientist officers and demonstrate added value to PHS via duty station and response work.
• Provide opportunities for Scientist Officers to discuss research, practical science skills, as well as cutting-edge issues in science and public health.
• Maintain a database of Scientist Officers’ areas of scientific and public health expertise.
• Demonstrate how Scientist officers directly contribute to priorities of the Office of Surgeon General (OSG).

Science Subcommittee Teams

The roles and responsibilities of the Science Subcommittee are currently divided across the following roles:

State of the Scientists Survey
Bibliography
Research and Practice
Surgeon General's Priority Engagement for Evaluation and Research Support (SG-PEERS)
Website Liaison

State of the Scientists Survey

From survey implementation to data dissemination, this team conducts a vital pulse check for our category and provides critical primary data for describing and supporting Scientist officers.  The survey is conducted annually, and results are reviewed by the SciPAC CPO and other senior leadership.

Bibliography and Publications

This team primarily compiles a list of scientist officers’ scholarly works, providing a glimpse of how Scientist officers have advanced the scientific evidence base through dedication and determination at their respective agencies and on the frontlines of deployments.

Research and Practice

Coordinates and facilitates multiple webinars and is a key means of educating scientist officers on a range of research and clinical practice topics. Guest speakers are often experts within the scientist category, previously ranged from applied epidemiologic studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection, to the US drug overdose epidemic, and racial justice in mental health care. Officers typically present on a topic for 30-45 minutes, followed by a brief question-and-answer session.

Surgeon General's Priority Engagement for Evaluation and Research Support (SG-PEERS)

This team’s efforts demonstrate the relevant expertise of scientist officers and how their work may directly contribute to the priorities of the OSG, as well as other scientific topics, as a force multiplier. This team currently maintains a database of Scientist Officers’ areas of scientific and public health expertise.

Website Liaison

The Website Liaison(s) within the Science Subcommittee work with the SciPAC Website Subcommittee to ensure the Science Subcommittee webpages are accurate and reflect current activities.