Future Direction of the Commissioned Corps and the Surgeon General

The USPHS Commissioned Corps:
​A Study on Value and Contributions to DHHS Mission and
National and Global Health Priorities and Initiatives

In February 2016, the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation (COF) launched an online survey of all active duty and retired members of the U.S. Public Health Service . The Board of Trustees sought feedback regarding the current status of forces, how future forces should be structured, trained, and equipped, and the future of the service's leader, the Surgeon General.

Response Rate
A total of 1,939 people responded to the survey. Of those, 1,615 respondents were active duty. That is 24.5% of the 6,595 officers on active duty, as of the survey closure on February 24, 2016.

Findings
​Coming soon.

A 2010 Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) "Management Review" of the Commissioned Corps concluded service members of the PHS Commissioned Corps are 15 percent more expensive as a new hire than an "equivalent" civil service employee. In response, COF commissioned an independent study about the role and value of the PHS Commissioned Corps to DHHS. In May of 2013, Muhiuddin Haider, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland, published this report. COF remains concerned that DHHS undervalues America's Health Responders.

​Recommendations from the Report

1. Build relationships with the private sector and organizations such as the American Public Health Association to increase innovative training opportunities
2. Increase the officers’ role in achieving Healthy People 2020 goals
3. Increase public health roles of officers to meet the health workforce needs of America and serve at-risk populations
4. Increase recognition of leadership and services provided by officers stationed in different agencies and departments
5. Increase advocacy for the USPHS CC
6. Increase officers' role in global health efforts
7. Establish strategic objectives for the USPHS CC to improve functioning and collaboration between managing agencies
8. Fund the Public Health Science Track

​Click here for a short version of the University of Maryland report.
​Click here for the full report.

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Additional Reports

Recruitment and Retention of Health Professionals in the Commissioned Corps

Add details from Executive Summary
​Click here for the report.

Recruitment and Selection of USPHS Commissioned Officers in the Clinical Disciplines

Add details from Executive Summary.
​Click here for the report.