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- About ASB Main Page
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- Managing TSP after separation or retirement
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- SGLI Information
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- Uniformed Service Member Pay
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- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) Overview
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- About Policy
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- Promotion Ceremony Protocol (PDF, 126kb)
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- About the Training Branch
- Training Dates
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- Officer Basic Course (OBC)
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- Capstone Leadership, Education, Analysis, Development, Sustainment (LEADS)/Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute (JMESI) Course
- Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSOC)
- Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA)
- Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute (JMESI) Intermediate Executive Skills (IES)
- Office of National Drug Control (ONDCP)
The USPHS Commissioned Corps is committed to our mission to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation. Public Health Service officers are trained and equipped to provide crucial public health leadership, assist with policy development, advance innovation and science, provide essential care services and respond to national and global public health emergencies. Through our Active Duty Regular Corps, our Public Health Response Strike Team (PHERST) and our Ready Reserve Corps, we remain responsive and available to rapidly deploy in the service of health.
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Officer Spotlight
LT Rachel Burriss
LT Rachel Burriss joined the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps in 2020, the same year that she began medical school at the Uniformed Services University (USU) of Health Sciences. Having recently graduated, she is now in medical residency training as a physician in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Prior to commissioning and beginning her medical career, she was in Atlanta, Georgia, working in global health - specifically in operational research focused on neglected tropical diseases. At the same time, she was completing a Master of Public Health degree at Emory University. Before beginning her medical career, she attended DePauw University and majored in Political Science and Spanish Language. While working and studying in Atlanta, she was fortunate to connect with many Public Health Service officers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of her closest mentors helped her to identify the USU-USPHS Commissioned Corps pathway.
There are many reasons that LT Burriss wanted to join the USPHS Commissioned Corps. “I wanted to pursue a service driven career, specifically a medical career that would allow me to practice in underserved areas with vulnerable populations.” She adds “joining the USPHS Commissioned Corps and working for the Indian Health Service provided an avenue for me to serve vulnerable populations in underserved areas immediately following residency.”
“I was excited by the work Public Health Service officers were doing in the areas of public health, infectious disease, and emergency response. I envisioned how I might have an opportunity to respond to urgent public health crises if I was a Public Health Service officer. This was why I joined the USPHS Commissioned Corps.” LT Burriss remains eager for the opportunity to deploy toward those types of missions in the future.
“Another reason I joined the USPHS Commissioned Corps was because I have always enjoyed working on a team and working toward goals that are bigger than myself. Wearing the uniform calls Public Health Service officers to a higher purpose: to serve communities both at home and abroad. I knew I would be proud to work for an entity that embodies this type of service at its core and that made me confident in my decision to join.”
Being a Public Health Service officer means not only wearing the uniform but also exemplifying the USPHS Commissioned Corps core values of leadership, service, integrity, and excellence. LT Burriss further explains: “Putting aside personal interests to act in a way that represents something greater: a commitment to serve the health needs of our Nation.” Being a Public Health Service officer means that she is never alone; she is buoyed by a team of officers who have made the same commitments and who hold the same values.
While LT Burriss has yet to deploy, the pinnacle of her military medical training at USU occurred at Operation Bushmaster, a five-day simulated “deployment” environment. Both first-year and fourth-year medical students participate in Operation Bushmaster. LT Burriss and her classmates role-played as casualties, learned about the components of the military medical system, synthesized all that they had learned and applied their skills in the capstone exercise. This included organizing field medical stations, enacting field sanitation structures, responding to mass casualty events, practicing diplomacy, and coordinating evacuation platforms.
“During my time in the USPHS Commissioned Corps, I hope to do good work for the people I serve and build a community with my medical colleagues and patients.” LT Burriss aspires to acquire many new skills, take on responsibilities that allow her to expand her scope of practice. Additionally, she wishes to deploy and take on tasks that will push her beyond her comfort zone and provide an additional sense of purpose and adventure.
She looks forward to creating strong relationships with fellow Public Health Service officers. She wants to remain connected to her roots at USU and serve as a mentor to new officers. “Having a senior officer as a mentor will ease the transition from civilian life to uniformed services and allow you to identify future opportunities to pursue.” LT Burriss’ advice? “Enjoy the adventure because it’s a privilege to do this work!”
USER ASSISTANCE
Please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) . FAQs are located at the top of the page next to the search function.
Having Access Issues or Need IT Help? Please contact the Commissioned Corps Helpdesk at: CCHelpDesk@hhs.gov
COMMISSIONED CORPS NEWS
Officer Spotlight November 2024
Officer Spotlight
Practice Hours Opportunities
Practice Hours Opportunities
2023 Temporary Grade Promotions
CC News Announcement 2023 Temporary Grade Promotions
Changes in Tattoo Policy in CCI 412.01, Uniforms and Appearance
Changes in Tattoo Policy in CCI 412.01, Uniforms and Appearance
Surgeon General Priorities
Surgeon General Priorities
January 2021: United States Public Health Commissioned Corps Doctrine
The link above will take you to the Noncompetitive Promotion Roster for Promotion Year 2020.
FAQs Practice Hours and Special Pay Changes
This is first in a series of FAQs, more FAQs will be forthcoming on Practice Hours and Special Pays.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Mission - Deployments Readiness Updates
As we position ourselves to assist with controlling the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), please note that we’re in an “all-hands on deck” status. Messaging has gone out from the Assistant Secretary for Health reminding Commissioned Corps officers of their deployment responsibilities...
Protecting, Promoting and Advancing the Health and Safety of Our Nation. Commissioned Corps Headquarters
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