Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association

September 2012

The Signal Newsletter The Quarterly Newsletter of the

Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association

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Table of Contents President’s Corner ........................................................................................................................................ 3

September President’s Corner: LCDR Jamie Mutter, USPHS, ACOA President ........................................ 3

Featured Articles ........................................................................................................................................... 4

US Surgeon General Presides Over 2012 Atlanta-area USPHS Commissioned Corps Promotion

Ceremony .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Working with Senior Leaders: Learning to “Lead Up” .............................................................................. 6

Preparedness Tip of the Quarter .................................................................................................................. 9

September is National Preparedness Month - Is Your Smartphone “Basic Ready?” ............................... 9

ACOA Senior Officers of the Quarter: CDR Jennifer Verani and CDR Lauren Zapata ................................. 11

President Obama Honors Two Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association Scientists from CDC ......... 11

CDR Lauren Bailey Zapata: Improving the Health of Women, Children and Families ....................... 12

CDR Jennifer Rabke Verani: Helping to Prevent Disease in the World’s Poorest Countries .............. 13

ACOA Junior Officer of the Quarter: LT Sharon Rhynes, BOP ..................................................................... 16

Meet LT Sharon C. Rhynes, DNP, NP-C, APN-BC ..................................................................................... 16

In the Field .................................................................................................................................................. 17

ACOA Officers Prepare to Serve Globally with CDC’s International Experience and Technical Assistance

(IETA) Program ........................................................................................................................................ 17

You’re in the Loop: Information ACOA Members Need to Know ............................................................... 21

What to Expect When You’re Expecting to Wear a USPHS Maternity Uniform ..................................... 21

ACOA Community and Service Events ........................................................................................................ 24

ACOA hosts first Be the Match® bone marrow registration drive .......................................................... 24

Volunteering at Project Open Hand is a Family Event for ACOA Officers ............................................... 25

Breman Home BINGO Project ................................................................................................................. 27

ACOA Helps Build Dreams and a House with Habitat for Humanity! ..................................................... 28

ACOA Volunteers at Medshare ............................................................................................................... 29

ACOA Store Advertisement: Get Your PHS Pride Items!............................................................................. 30

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President’s Corner

September President’s Corner: LCDR Jamie Mutter, USPHS, ACOA President I can’t believe the year is more than half over! Where has all the time gone? It feels like I just started the year as President and look where we are now. ACOA has already accomplished so much this year. Our most recent accomplishment, the Atlanta-area Promotion Ceremony, was held in early August and was an absolute success. RADM Clara Cobb, a long-term supporter of ACOA, honored us with the keynote address, which was very insightful and humorous. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank her for always being there for ACOA. Her support of ACOA is truly appreciated. Thank you RADM Cobb! We were also honored to have the US Surgeon General, VADM Regina Benjamin, give the opening remarks and assist with changing the boards of the promoted officers. All of the officers were excited to meet her and welcome her to Atlanta. It was another well-done promotion ceremony and I would like to thank our promotion ceremony coordinator, CDR Stacey Bosch. She did an excellent job and her committee deserves a BIG THANK YOU for going above and

beyond as well. A heartfelt thank you also goes to the multitude of volunteers that gave their time to make this day a success for ACOA. Thank you to everyone involved in the promotion ceremony. Now it is time to begin planning the 2013 Anchor and Caduceus Dinner, which will take place on Saturday, February 2, 2013. It is going to be another exciting, beautiful evening at the Druid Hills Golf Club, so please make sure to save the date. More details about ordering tickets and the speaker are forthcoming. Stay tuned. If you are not currently an ACOA member or know an officer who is not yet a member, all of these exciting activities that ACOA sponsors should inspire you to join ACOA right away or to encourage officers who are not members to join. Please check our Calendar of Events page on ACOA’s Web site at http://www.atlantacoa.com/events.htm for a list of upcoming events, including volunteer activities and lunch and learn opportunities. It is very important to join the national Commissioned Officers Association (COA) and ACOA, as both organizations continually work for the best interests of PHS officers. To join COA/ACOA, please contact LCDR Shane Davis (ACOA Membership Chair) at gdo4@cdc.gov for more information. On a closing note, if you have recently been promoted or just have old uniforms/insignia that you no longer wear, please consider donating them to ACOA’s Used Uniform Shop. The profits we make from this shop are used to support wonderful volunteer activities as well as other ACOA-sponsored events for our membership. Our current inventory is low and we would like to start to replenish it. Please refer to our Web site, http://www.atlantacoa.com/ACOA_Store.htm, for the points of contact for the ACOA Used Uniform Shop. All donations are appreciated! I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer and will continue to have a happy, healthy fall. Until next time… Respectfully, LCDR Jamie Mutter

LCDR Jamie Mutter, ACOA President

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Featured Articles

US Surgeon General Presides Over 2012 Atlanta-area USPHS Commissioned

Corps Promotion Ceremony Submitted by CDR Stacey Bosch Uniformed services traditionally have held promotion ceremonies to formally acknowledge and publicly recognize the significant milestone of an officer’s promotion to a higher rank. A senior officer serves as the presiding officer during the ceremony and assists in changing out the officer’s shoulder boards to the new rank. The ceremony also includes the traditional Presentation of the Colors, and singing of both the National Anthem and the Public Health Service (PHS) March. Fellow officers, family members, and colleagues attend the ceremony to foster esprit de corps. Continuing this tradition, an esteemed group of newly promoted officers accompanied by their family, friends and colleagues descended upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Roybal campus on August 6 to participate in the 2012 Atlanta-area USPHS promotion ceremony. This ceremony was hosted by the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) and CDC’s Commissioned Corps Activity (CCA). Thirty-six officers representing four Atlanta-area agencies participated in this year’s event. Officers from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense joined CDC and ATSDR officers in this year’s ceremony. VADM Regina Benjamin, US Surgeon General, served as the presiding officer and gave opening remarks. RADM Clara Cobb, Regional Health Administrator for Region IV delivered an inspiring keynote address to over 200 people who attended the event. CAPT Ross Spears of CDC provided the invocation. The master of ceremonies was LCDR Jamie Mutter, ACOA President, and CAPT Doris Ravenell-Brown, Director, CDC CCA, served as the ceremony adjutant. Special guests this year included former US Surgeon General and CDC Director, VADM David Satcher (USPHS, ret.), John McElligott, Deputy Executive Director of the Commissioned Officers Association. A number of senior officers in the Atlanta area also attended to show their support. In addition to the board exchange ceremony, the Surgeon General presented Certificates of Appreciation to the teams who worked on the development of the 2011 National Prevention Strategy/2012 National Prevention Council Action Plan and the Surgeon General’s Youth Tobacco Report. Officers and their guests were then treated to a wonderful reception and a meet and greet with the Surgeon General following the ceremony. This event would not have been possible without the 43 fellow officers who volunteered their time to make this event a resounding success. Thank you! And, a very special “thank you” goes to the planning committee for their dedication to making the 2012 promotion ceremony a memorable one: CDR Stacey Bosch, LCDR Amy Freeland, LCDR Deborah Dee, and CDR Amanda Dunnick.

Photos (see next page)

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As VADM Benjamin, RADM Cobb, and CAPT Ravenell-Brown look on, the PHS Honor Guard, led by LCDR Paula Washington (not shown), helped make the ceremony a success. Members include (from L to R): CDR Tom Shimabukuro, CDR Brian Cook, LCDR Sylvera Demas, and LT Cory Kokko.

Surgeon General VADM Regina Benjamin with promoted Atlanta-area officers.

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Working with Senior Leaders: Learning to “Lead Up” By CAPT John Iskander Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) places a high value on the importance of mentorship and career development. Here, one of our esteemed ACOA senior officers, CAPT John Iskander, Senior Medical Advisor in the Office of the Associate Director for Science within the Office of the Director at CDC, shares advice for junior officers regarding how to work with senior leaders, not only to provide assistance to those leaders, but also to foster junior officers’ personal and career growth and development. For Commissioned Corps officers, working with senior leaders can be an opportunity for both personal growth and career skills building. This can be especially true for junior officers. This article seeks to describe the rationale for engaging with senior leadership, and to provide a personal perspective on how to constructively work with and learn from those in leadership positions. A senior leader can be an officer’s supervisor, a deployment team leader, a flag officer, a civil servant in a leadership position, or even an appointed or elected official. Senior leaders typically have management responsibilities and decision-making authority. They typically require clear, concise, and accurate information, and generally need to respond to rapidly shifting priorities. Often senior leaders have limited time for face-to-face meetings. Watching different leaders in action is one important way to learn how to lead, as exposure to different leadership strategies allows officers to develop a personal leadership style. The benefits of working with senior leaders include increasing the officer’s exposure to high-profile organizational or agency issues and decision-making, as well as building leadership and communication skills in a real world setting. Providing guidance and service to senior leaders can allow the officer to develop knowledge and skills that go beyond their core area of expertise. If the request for assistance from leadership is outside of your area of expertise, seek help from colleagues who can either provide the information or refer you to experts. Conversely, a PHS officer’s existing fund of knowledge in a specific area may be of great benefit to leadership when urgent issues arise. Before providing more detailed guidance, it’s worth taking a look at the big picture of being a senior leader. Being in a leadership position can be difficult and potentially risky. Leaders are accountable to their supervisors, and they are subject to consequences, including in some cases removal from their position. In a typical chain of command in either a routine or deployment situation, leaders are “right because they are last.” In other words, decisions can be questioned up to a point, but decision-making authority must be respected. The professional relationship between an officer and a senior leader may be advisory, collegial, mentoring, or subordinate. It is important for the officer to clearly understand what type of information or guidance the senior leader is seeking to receive or provide. Before you begin interacting with your leader, ask them or others they work with about their leadership and management styles and communication preferences. Some leaders prefer short, frequent email

CAPT John Iskander, CDC, Atlanta

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updates, others prefer regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings, and yet others prefer a combination of both or some other system of communication entirely. If possible, develop an emergency communication plan so that, if needed, a senior leader can reach you outside of normal working hours. If you are asked to provide urgent updates, clarify in advance how, when, and under what circumstances those are to be made. Although it may be hard for junior officers to appreciate, leaders often need your specific experience and guidance more than you need theirs. If there is a golden rule of being a good colleague to a senior leader, it might be to always ask there is something specific they need help with. This can provide opportunities for service, for contributing to projects that provide new knowledge or experience, and might involve interacting with others in leadership circles. While repeated frequently in jest, “never volunteer” is not good career advice for a PHS officer. No matter how you communicate with your leader, do what you can to simplify. Limit the length of email and verbal communication unless your leader always prefers greater detail. Consider that senior leaders are often on the go and might not be able to access attached documents; thus, paste them into an email instead. Do not present a complex situation to a senior leader without at least some preliminary analysis of your own; decisional options may be appropriate to present on occasion. These ways of framing issues for a leader convey that the officer has taken some initiative and given the potential actions and their possible consequences careful consideration. Every officer should recognize that others view them as a leader and should view themselves in the same way. One of the important duties of leadership is to provide guidance and support to others in leadership positions. The ability to influence or guide a senior leader has been called “leading up” by the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, (NPLI) a CDC co-founded leadership training program now jointly operated by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Commissioned officers are eligible to participate in NPLI; however, agency-level candidate selection and admission to the program is competitive. Working with senior leadership may involve giving briefings on the spot or on short notice. When there is time to prepare, seek to understand the purpose of the briefing, the desired outcome, and the officer’s role. Many of us have been taught as clinicians or interviewers to ask open-ended questions; however, this strategy may be less effective when briefing a senior leader. Instead, formulate a clear “ask,” such as a request for personnel or resources (e.g. to support a deployment or other public health response), for the leader’s visible support for a program or initiative, or for the making of a policy or operational decision by the leader. If further updates or briefings are needed, clarify with the leader or their support staff when and how these will occur. One of the uniquely rewarding aspects of the PHS is that opportunities to work with the Corps senior leadership are readily available. The annual PHS meeting (sponsored by the Commissioned Officers Foundation) and visits by flag officers or other VIPs provide opportunities to serve as an aide-de-camp (personal aide). Other PHS and non-PHS settings that promote interactions between junior officers and senior leaders include deployments, agency-wide or interagency workgroups, locally sponsored COA events, and professional associations. Senior officers also may be available to formally or informally mentor junior officers on an occasional or ongoing basis. Upcoming leadership training opportunities for PHS officers include a planned pre-meeting seminar in conjunction with the May 2013 annual COA meeting; consult the COA Web site for details.

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For those seeking more information about leadership, relevant resources include the books Followership by Barbara Kellerman, Leadership on the Line by Martin Linsky and Robert Heifetz, Servant Leadership by Robert Greenleaf, and the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Web site at www.hsph.harvard.edu/npli/about-npli/ . Special acknowledgment of the contributions of CAPT Holly Williams to this article.

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Preparedness Tip of the Quarter

September is National Preparedness Month - Is Your Smartphone “Basic

Ready?” By LCDR Johanna Gilstrap

Many of us use applications (apps) on our mobile devices for everyday things such as banking, email, or even playing Angry Birds. But did you know there are many valuable mobile apps for preparedness and response? In recognition of the ninth annual National Preparedness Month in September 2012, and as part of our efforts to ensure all officers, their families, and the Nation are prepared and ready, the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) compiled a list of some important mobile apps. Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), Craig Fugate, has been an avid proponent of social media and the use of mobile technology during disasters and emergencies. FEMA has developed an app that provides disaster safety tips, interactive lists for emergency kits, emergency meeting location information, and a map that displays open shelters and FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). The user can sign up to receive monthly preparedness tips and to search for open shelters and open disaster recovery centers via text messaging. The app is free for iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android users. For more information, go to http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app. The CDC’s Field Triage iPhone app provides links to the Field Triage Web site that provides a decision scheme for the field triage of injured patients. The app includes educational materials, continuing education, and current information on the CDC Injury Center’s field triage initiative and research. The app is free for iPhone users. You can learn more about the app here: http://www.cdc.gov/fieldtriage/mobile.html. The American Red Cross has several apps available. In addition to providing push alerts for hurricane, tropical storm, and flood watches and warnings on locations you select, the Hurricane App has downloadable content that provides useful information even when cell towers are not functioning and power is out. In the toolkit tab, you can turn your smartphone into a flashlight, strobe light, or audible alarm, and share an “I’m Safe” message via several methods (Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, or email) so friends and family know you are okay. A list of open shelters is also available. These apps are free for iPhone and Android users. The link is available at: http://www.redcross.org//prepare/mobile-apps. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has Facebook apps called bReddi and Project: Lifeline. These apps serve to identify and establish communications networks prior to an emergency through connections called Lifelines. Lifelines are Facebook friends that may be able to provide support to the user during a disaster and recovery. bReddi provides a mechanism to manage preparedness needs and determine meeting places and roles with Lifelines. The app features a summary page that gives updates on the latest threats to the user of their Lifelines. bReddi has the ability to send alerts via text message, Facebook, or Twitter when the threat level changes for you or your Lifelines. Project: Lifeline pulls from existing social networks to help keep you connected with your Lifelines during a disaster. Prior to disaster, Project: Lifeline will help establish communications networks and who can be of help when you need it. The app allows Lifelines to update your status in an emergency status list to let your friends know how you are doing. The app also provides additional resources about disaster risks and how to be prepared. These apps can be found here: http://www.phe.gov/lifeline/Pages/default.aspx

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The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) app provides a listing and interactive map of current manmade or natural events and incidents occurring around the world. The user can select an event to obtain more information or view the location of the event. It is available for iPhone and Android users. To learn more, go to: http://www.pdc.org/iweb/disasteralert.jsp?subg=1. Check with your state and local emergency management agencies; many have developed their own apps. Monitor preparedness resources for new apps. As more people rely on smartphones during emergencies, we can expect to see an increase in the number of apps and their level of sophistication. Spread the word to your families, friends, colleagues, and communities to ensure that our Nation is prepared. With sincere appreciation to CAPT James Spahr for contributing to this article.

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ACOA Senior Officers of the Quarter: CDR Jennifer Verani and CDR Lauren Zapata

President Obama Honors Two Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association

Scientists from CDC Drawn from an article by Juliana K. Cyril, with additional material added by LCDR Deborah Dee

President Barack Obama addresses recipients of the 2011 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the East Room of the White House, July 31, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Two scientists who are members of the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) and who are scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have received the 2011 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. The two CDC honorees are CDR Lauren Bailey Zapata (USPHS) PhD, MSPH, a senior research scientist in the Women’s Health and Fertility Branch of the Division of Reproductive Health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and CDR Jennifer Rabke Verani (USPHS) MD, MPH, a medical epidemiologist in the Respiratory Diseases Branch of the Division of Bacterial Diseases at the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

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CDR Zapata (center) receiving the PECASE

award. On hand are CDC Associate Director for

Science Harold Jaffe, MD (left), and John

Holdren, PhD (right), assistant to the President

for science and technology and director of the

White House Office of Science and Technology

Policy.

CDR Lauren Bailey Zapata, PhD, MSPH, is a senior research scientist in the Women’s Health and Fertility Branch of the Division of Reproductive Health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

0BCDR Lauren Bailey Zapata: Improving the Health of Women, Children and Families

CDR Zapata received the PECASE award for her dedicated application of the science of public health to change clinical and public health systems and to improve the health of women, children, and families. Her contributions to adapt two World Health Organization guidelines for the US led to the first national evidence-based guidance for contraceptive use among women with certain medical conditions or characteristics, and will lead to the first evidence-based guidance to address a select group of common yet controversial or complex management issues

around the initiation and use of specific contraceptive methods. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, CDR Zapata also participated on CDC’s Maternal Health Team and led the review and summary of evidence on preventing newborn infection in hospitals. In addition, she helped to develop national guidance on preventing newborn infection in obstetrical settings. CDR Zapata first became interested in public health while an undergraduate student at Emory University. “Although I began my undergraduate education as a pre-medical student, I soon realized that I was more interested in preventing illness than treating illness. Courses in women’s health and maternal and child health began me on my career trajectory; I was fully committed to the content area. But it was not until I took my first courses in research methods and data analysis that I fully realized my inclination towards numbers, programming, and identifying risk factors for behavioral and clinical outcomes. Melding the two together and pursuing a career in reproductive health epidemiology made great sense.”

CDR Zapata received her MSPH in maternal and child health, and her PhD in behavioral sciences from the College of Public Health, University of South Florida. After graduation, she joined the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer where she worked in the Division of Reproductive Health at CDC in Atlanta. CDR Zapata is committed to promoting the reproductive lives of women and children. She has published papers related to risky sexual behaviors among substance-using youth, preconception and interconception health behaviors of mothers with recent live births, HIV infection and unintended pregnancy rates among street and high-risk youth in Eastern European settings, prevention of novel

influenza infection in newborns in hospital settings, and safety of certain contraceptive methods for women with specific health conditions.

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Jennifer Rabke Verani (CDR,

USPHS) MD, MPH, is a

medical epidemiologist in the

Respiratory Diseases Branch

of the Division of Bacterial

Diseases at CDC’s National

Center for Immunization and

Respiratory Diseases.

She is married to Mauricio Zapata, a pathologist at Northside Hospital, and is the proud mother to three young sons – Paolo (10), Noah (8), and Michael (4). She enjoys spending time with her family, visiting the beach, watching movies, and salsa dancing, and is an active member of ACOA.

1BCDR Jennifer Rabke Verani: Helping to Prevent Disease in the World’s Poorest Countries

ACOA member CDR Jennifer Rabke Verani received the PECASE award for innovative public health research to improve child survival worldwide through enhanced perinatal disease prevention and advances in the prevention of parasitic diseases and pneumonia in the world’s poorest countries. CDR Verani’s work to assess the effectiveness and impact of vaccines against Streptococcus pnuemoniae and Haemophilus influenza type B is helping to accelerate the introduction of these vaccines in low-income countries where disease burden is highest. Her contributions to the perinatal group B streptococcal (GBS) prevention guidelines set the clinical standard of care in the US.

CDR Verani is a pediatrician and medical epidemiologist and an officer in the United States Public Health Service. She obtained her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, her MPH in international health from the Harvard School of Public Health, and her undergraduate degree in international development from Brown University. “I had my first real taste of epidemiologic research as a medical student assisting with a study on gastrointestinal parasites in HIV-infected patients in Lima, Peru. I was participating in a CDC epidemiology elective, and one of my tasks was to follow up on patients to gather additional data. I was sadly struck by how many had died. Was it due to their HIV infection? Or were the parasites playing a role in their mortality? When I discussed this with my supervisor, she asked how I would design a study to answer that question. I developed a protocol that was implemented, and ultimately we identified advanced HIV, lack of HIV treatment, and a parasitic infection as risk factors for mortality. I was enchanted by the ability to transform a public health problem into a research question, then into a study design, next into data, and ultimately into evidence that can guide policy decisions. Epidemiology is an extremely powerful tool for improving peoples’ lives.”

CDR Zapata, shown here (L to R) with sons Michael (4), Paolo (10), and Noah (8).

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Shown here outside the White House, CDR Verani with her husband, André Verani, a policy analyst in CDC’s Center for Global Health.

Prior to her career in medicine, CDR Verani worked for several years on public health programs in Latin America. In 2006, she came to CDC as an EIS officer in the Parasitic Diseases Branch, where she conducted research on schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths, guinea worm, Chagas disease, and Acanthamoeba. Following EIS, she joined the Respiratory Diseases Branch at CDC in Atlanta to work on the prevention of pneumonia and neonatal sepsis. In her current position, CDR Verani has collaborated on studies of the effectiveness and impact of vaccines against Streptococcus pnuemoniae and Haemophilus influenza type B in several countries in Latin America and Africa, and provides technical assistance for respiratory disease surveillance in low-resource settings. She spearheaded the 2010 revision of the CDC guidelines for the prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease, and is leading a multi-state investigation of early-onset GBS cases to better understand the remaining burden of disease in the United States.

In addition to her CDC work, CDR Verani is an adjunct assistance professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, where she helps train interns who serve patients at an urban primary care clinic. She is married to André Verani, JD, MPH, a policy analyst in CDC’s Division of Global AIDS/HIV, Center for Global Health. In addition to being a member of ACOA, she is also the mother of Miguel (9), Lucas (7), and Luzia (4). More on the Award Initiated in 1996 by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the PECASE program honors and supports the achievements of young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers in the fields of science and technology. The awards foster innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, increase awareness of careers in science and engineering, give recognition to the scientific missions of participating agencies,

CDR Verani (center) receiving the award. Also shown are Dr. Howard Jaffe (left) and Dr. John Holdren (right).

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CDR Verani at the White House. See the White House press release and ceremony information for more.

enhance connections between research and national goals, and highlight the importance of science and technology for the nation's future. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy recognized the ACOA/CDC awardees along with 94 other highly accomplished scientists and engineers funded or employed by 11 federal departments and agencies in a ceremony hosted at the National Museum of Natural History on July 31, 2012, in Washington, DC. The Honorable John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for science and technology, made remarks. Following the ceremony, President Obama congratulated the PECASE awardees in the White House and they posed for photographs. The following day awardees and their guests toured the East Wing of the White House. See the White House press release and ceremony information for more.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy coordinates the call for PECASE nominees annually. CDC celebrated and recognized the achievements of CDRs Verani and Zapata at the CDC Honor Awards ceremony on September 5, 2012, in Atlanta.

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ACOA Junior Officer of the Quarter: LT Sharon Rhynes, BOP

Meet LT Sharon C. Rhynes, DNP, NP-C, APN-BC By LCDR Johanna Gilstrap LT Rhynes was called to active duty January 6, 2012. She is a nurse practitioner stationed at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Atlanta. She is responsible for providing medical care and follow-up to inmates, including providing diagnostic and therapeutic care and services as well as responding to medical emergencies. LT Sharon Rhynes has always had the desire to serve. Of her decision to apply to the Corps, LT Rhynes says she “decided to join the Corps after learning about the overall mission of the Corps, the numerous opportunities the Corps offers, and the opportunity to serve underserved population while on active duty.” Her commitment to officership was evident during the January 2012 Officer Basic Course (OBC) held in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She participated in the Color Guard during OBC and was awarded the “Distinguished Graduate Award for OBC 49” by RADM Boris Lushniak, Deputy Surgeon General of the United States. Prior to applying to the Corps, LT Rhynes served as a registered nurse in the US Army Reserves [1991-2006] while working at various hospitals in the metropolitan Atlanta area. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing from Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in 2009, then went on to obtain a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing in 2011– completing both programs with a perfect 4.0 grade point average! She is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. In her free time, LT Rhynes enjoys volunteering at community health fairs, traveling, working out, playing golf, and spending quality time with family and friends.

LT Sharon Rhynes Bureau of Prisons, Atlanta

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In the Field

ACOA Officers Prepare to Serve Globally with CDC’s International Experience and Technical Assistance (IETA) Program By LCDR Sherene Cora, LT Erin Grasso, LT Sharanya Krishnan, and Christine Jolley

The idea of doing public health work abroad would be thrilling to many in HHS. Based on the number of commissioned officers who have deployed abroad or accepted long-term overseas assignments, it’s certainly a calling for a number of us. Like many other work-related ambitions, applicants seeking new challenges must often demonstrate to potential employers that they already have the experience they are looking to gain. If you find yourself in the frustrating conundrum in which you’d like to work abroad long term but have never done so, then IETA may be the ideal program to facilitate the process. The IETA application process is competitive, yet achievable. If you really want to pursue this opportunity, then you will need to start preparing well in advance so you can be ready and present yourself in the best light possible. This opportunity is available to both officers and civilians from all across HHS. Remember, many ACOA Officers have participated in the IETA program and/or long-term overseas assignments and can answer questions and provide guidance. Program Background: The International Experience and Technical Assistance (IETA) program is a developmental training program for federal public health employees offered by the Center for Global Health (CGH) at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. Specifically, IETA is a professional development/technical assistance program that takes place over a 12-month period. It consists of attendance at three workshops in Atlanta, Georgia (4-5 days each), and a supervised short-term (12-week minimum) overseas assignment with an international public health program. All cohort participants serve overseas between May and November in one of the more than 50 countries where CDC has an overseas presence. The program is not limited to officers assigned to CDC; since 2008, 12 commissioned officers of the US Public Health Service from three HHS operating divisions have participated in this program. How it works: During training, participants continue to work in their current positions using supervisor-approved release time to attend workshops and developmental activities. The officer's home office must cover any travel costs associated with training in Atlanta and must continue to pay the employee’s salary. The overseas hosting office will cover all travel costs associated with the international assignment. Eligibility: At the time of application, Commissioned Corps applicants must have been at a pay grade of O-3 or above for at least six months and have served at least one year in their current position. Both the first-level and second-level supervisor must give written permission for the applicant to apply. In addition, the applicant must be eligible for and have secured a government credit card before the first training workshop. Officers from a variety of job series and levels in CDC, as well as officers from other Public Health Service agencies and operating divisions, are welcome to apply. Additional eligibility criteria can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/IETA/eligibility.htm. Applying to the Program: For the 2013 Cohort 15, IETA applications are due by close of business, October 12, 2012. It is never too early to begin speaking with supervisors and team members about the possibility of submitting an application this fall and participating in the program. Applicants are advised to follow the application instructions carefully and show the IETA program their best work. Also, submission of a résumé that provides details about the applicant’s job activities is suggested instead of a curriculum vitae (CV) focused on publications and presentations. Last, a careful review of CDC’s global

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health activities is recommended in order to provide context about the program for which the applicant is applying. Much can be learned by reading the CGH IETA Web site, attending events in which CGH is involved, and connecting with Commissioned Corps IETA alumni.

LCDR Sherene Cora: From IETA to a Long-Term Assignment If you are thinking about applying for IETA, start by gathering as much information as possible. Speak with former IETA fellows to get their personal perspectives on their IETA experience and attend one of the information sessions. Also, speak with your supervisor about your interest in IETA well in advance because your supervisor’s approval to participate in IETA may depend on programmatic needs and timing, and you must have your supervisor’s approval to apply for IETA. It is important to discuss with your supervisor the most optimal time that you could participate in a three-month international assignment through IETA. Go into the discussion well-prepared by providing your supervisor with the status of all your current assignments and who will cover for you while you are gone. Of course, this means having a separate discussion with your most trusted and reliable colleagues about whether they could take on your responsibilities while you are

on assignment. Once you receive approval to apply, give yourself enough time to obtain the required signatures in case people are out of

the office. When completing your application, have people you trust review it and give you feedback; it helps if one of these people is a former IETA fellow. Be prepared for the phone interview. Review your résumé and IETA application prior to the interview. It may help to have a mock interview with a friend or former IETA fellow. On the day of the interview, try to remain calm and confident. A panel of people will ask a series of questions. Be yourself and try to communicate your enthusiasm (it’s okay to be excited), friendliness, and flexible attitude. I felt honored to be selected out of a pool of applicants, and I mentioned this during my own interview. Once you are selected for the program (I like to think positively), the excitement and nervousness really begins. You are excited about all the possibilities and also feel nervous about the potential of not being selected by a country for an assignment. One thing to keep in mind is that part of the process is not a competition in the usual sense. Your skill set and experience is not identical to that of your fellow IETA candidate. Countries select you for an interview based upon the match between your skill set and their needs. During the interview, clearly communicate your interest in doing international work, your experience, and enthusiasm. I interviewed with two countries but did not get an offer. I would be lying if I said that I was not disappointed, but I remained optimistic. Having a flexible and easy-going attitude throughout the process goes a long way. Later, I was contacted by a third country. The country officer sent me an email to arrange an interview and asked for references. My initial thought was, “Wow, they are really on it.” On the day of the interview, a panel of people asked me a series of questions. Throughout the interview, I kept thinking that this was a very formal process as compared to the prior interviews but I just shrugged it off and told myself that every country does it differently. At the end of the interview, one of the panel members asked me if I had any questions. I asked one question relating to IETA and received no response. I started to expound on my question until one of the panelists informed me that

LCDR Sherene Cora, USPHS CDC, Atlanta

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the interview was not for an IETA three-month assignment, but rather for a two-year assignment. To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I was totally amazed and humbled. I had applied to the CDC open continuous job announcement for international positions almost a year beforehand and forgot all about it when I was not contacted. Because I lacked international experience, I was not surprised when I was not contacted. My plan of action was to apply for IETA and use my IETA experience as a springboard for longer-term assignments. On the same day of the interview, my current supervisor stopped by my office and shared that he was contacted by the country to provide a reference. He told me that the country shared with him my surprise when I learned that the interview was for a two-year assignment. We both had a good laugh at my expense. I thought the phone interview went well and did not stress out about it. I told myself that if it was meant for me, it would be offered to me, and besides, I still had a great opportunity awaiting me with IETA. Less than a week later, I received a job offer for the two-year assignment. I believe what worked in my favor were prayers, experience, and an enthusiastic personality; a great reference from my supervisor certainly did not hurt.

My family and I now live in Botswana. We are very excited to be here. It takes a couple of months from the time of the offer until you leave for your assignment, so be patient and do all that you can to help facilitate the process. Be prompt about applying for your medical and security clearances. You must obtain medical clearance for everyone going to the country to which you are assigned, and this clearance can be obtained through the CDC Occupational Health Clinic. The security clearance applies only to you and can be completed at the CDC security office. You also must complete the pre-deployment training courses. The hours of required training will vary depending upon your position. The last piece of the puzzle is applying for diplomatic passports for your family, which can be accomplished at the CDC passport office. Yes, CDC certainly makes the process easy for us.

I’m still in awe about this amazing opportunity. The lesson I have learned is that a lack of international experience is not a deterrent to securing a long-term international position. All too often we hear that if you do not have international experience, you will not be hired. In my case, that was not true, and it could be the same for you. I encourage you to apply for IETA and for other international assignments that interest you, and let your skills, experience, and personality speak for you. Additional Advice about Applying for IETA from LT Sharanya Krishnan After you’ve prepared the best that you can, written a great application, and made it through the panel-style phone interview, then the fun starts: IETA workshops and phone interviews with potential host countries. Remember that if you are accepted into the program, you will receive an invitation from a country. Let the system work and don’t get competitive with your cohort – you’ll just stress people out. Be willing to go anywhere – don’t hold out, because you are only guaranteed to be given one offer for an international assignment.

L to R, clockwise: Emonae Brown (niece, 11 yrs), LCDR Sherene Cora, husband Derrell Cora, son Dylan Cora (4 yrs)

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Another important thing to keep in mind when applying for IETA is that if a country makes an offer to you, it is strongly advised that you accept it. For some people, this lack of control or not knowing can be stressful. I chose to just have fun and see how things would play out. If you are able to just stay focused on your current work and be open to new possibilities, then finding the right assignment will be a much more pleasant process. When you apply to IETA, it is a time to be completely open to numerous exciting possibilities, and this is what makes this program so special. One day you are on a conference call, and the next day you are going to Cambodia (see photo). It is truly thrilling and an adventure of a lifetime! A more detailed description of the program and eligibility requirements can be found on the IETA Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/IETA/. You are also welcome to e-mail your questions to IETA@cdc.gov or call CGH’s IETA Program Coordinator at (404) 718-8874. CDC’s Center for Global Health hopes to see your application this fall! Obtaining an international public health position whether through the IETA program or a long-term assignment is achievable. The process can be stressful and full of unknowns but keep in mind that there are many resources available to you. Reach out to those who’ve participated in IETA and they will gladly answer your questions. Good luck.

LT Sharanya Krishnan at Ta Prohm Temple in Angkor Wat National Park, Siem Reap province, Cambodia. This temple was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider.

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You’re in the Loop: Information ACOA Members Need to Know

What to Expect When You’re Expecting to Wear a USPHS Maternity Uniform By LT Candis M. Hunter and LCDR Zewditu Demissie

Maternity uniforms within the US Public Health Service (USPHS) and Armed Services have a complex history. As early as World War II, women served as nurses and in supporting roles in the Armed Services and in the USPHS. The Public Health Service Act of 1944 permitted females of all scientific professions to join the USPHS. Although women were allowed to serve in many professions within USPHS, their reproductive rights were limited. For example, in 1951, President Harry S. Truman signed an Executive Order (EO 10240) that permitted the uniformed services to discharge a woman if she “became pregnant, gave birth to a child, or became a parent by adoption or a stepparent.” However, the 1976 Crawford v. Cushman 2nd District Court ruling concluded that the discharge of pregnant women in the uniformed services violated the Fifth Amendment due process clause. After this ruling, pregnant women were permitted to remain in the military and official maternity uniforms were developed by each service. The style and type of USPHS maternity uniforms have not changed significantly since they were first officially adopted in the late 1970s. According to the Commissioned Corps Personnel Manual 26.3.7 (effective date March 11, 2010), pregnant officers are authorized to wear the following uniforms: Service Dress Blue (also, in lieu of Dinner Dress Blue and Full Dress Blue), Summer White (also, in lieu of Summer Dress White, Dinner Dress White, and Full Dress White), and Service Khaki (See Figure A). A maternity cardigan sweater is also authorized for optional wear. Officers may wear maternity uniforms when regular uniforms no longer fit and up to six months post-delivery based on medical recommendation, if necessary. Maternity uniforms can be purchased from the official USPHS uniform supplier, Navy NEX. However, many officers borrow maternity uniforms from other USPHS officers, purchase previously worn maternity uniforms through the ACOA Uniform Store, or send inquiries about obtaining maternity uniforms via the CDC parent listserv and Facebook. Some of the best advice on maternity uniforms comes from those who have worn the uniforms themselves. In May 2012, the ACOA Women’s Uniform Store coordinators surveyed 11 officers who were mothers or soon-to-be mothers. The majority of officers surveyed indicated that the uniform they wore most frequently during their pregnancy was the Service Khaki uniform, which was also determined to be the most comfortable maternity uniform (just edging out the modified Service Dress Blue). Most of the officers surveyed sought information about the maternity uniform from other officers and found other sources of information, especially online sources, to be insufficient. Here are several key tips provided by the surveyed officers on how pregnant officers can wear the maternity uniforms with pride and distinction:

Remember the maternity uniform is temporary. Although some officers may not care for the style of the maternity uniform, they find comfort in knowing that it won’t need to be worn forever. Please consider donating maternity uniform components to the ACOA Uniform Store when you no longer need them so that other officers can purchase these temporary items at discounted rates.

USPHS maternity uniform sizes are larger than retail maternity clothes. Those surveyed recommend buying a maternity uniform one smaller size than the size they would typically need

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when purchasing retail maternity clothes. Officers can try on used maternity uniforms from the ACOA Uniform Store or from other officers to help determine correct sizing.

Obtain multiple sets of maternity uniforms depending upon pregnancy stage. One maternity uniform set may be more appropriate for the beginning months of pregnancy, while a larger set may be more appropriate for the third trimester. This may also be true for shoes since some women experience foot swelling during pregnancy.

Borrow maternity uniforms from other officers. Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officers and others have created a network specifically to facilitate loaning and borrowing maternity uniform pieces. Don’t be afraid to ask other officers about their experiences wearing the maternity uniform and whether they still have their maternity uniform available to borrow.

During the last stages of pregnancy, wear a belly bra support belt underneath the uniform to provide additional support to the stomach and for comfort.

Be mindful of your environment and overheating. During pregnancy, some women may be more prone to overheat. Therefore, be careful when wearing the maternity sweater and other uniforms during warm weather.

Check the most recent regulations. Information on proper wear of the maternity uniforms is available at CC26.3.7 “Special Uniform Situations”: http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_7.pdf

Some pregnant officers have expressed concerns that they have found it challenging to wear their maternity uniforms with pride and distinction because of issues related to fit and uniform materials, and have indicated they wish they could look more professional while serving during their pregnancy. We encourage mothers to voice their concerns. The Surgeon General has recently established the Commissioned Corps Women’s Issues Advisory Board. The purposes of the board are to identify and address key issues that affect female officers in the Corps and to develop an action plan to address these issues. Twelve voting members from across agencies and disciplines were selected to be a part of this advisory board (see http://dcp.psc.gov/ccbulletin/articles/CCWIAB_02_2012.aspx for details). The ACOA Uniform Store is here to serve you. If you have used maternity uniforms that you’d like to donate, please email the ACOA Women’s Uniform Coordinator, LCDR Zewditu Demissie (ZDemissie@cdc.gov), or the Assistant Coordinator, LT Candis M. Hunter (chunter@cdc.gov). Also, if you are interested in providing or receiving more tips regarding maternity uniforms, feel free to email us and we will keep a running tab to share with officers. Sources: 1. Devilbiss, M.C. Women and Military Service: A History, Analysis, and Overview of Key Issues. Alabama: Air University Press

Maxwell Air Force Base, 1990. 2. Spindel S, Mahadevan C. “History of Women in the USPHS.” US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. February, 27,

2012. Date accessed: May 10, 2012. 3. Web. URL: http://usphsdev.info/newsroom/features/usphs-women.aspx

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Figure A: Maternity Uniforms

SDB without Cardigan LCDR Darrlyn Cornelius-Averhart

SDB with Cardigan CDR Amanda Dunnick

Service Dress Blue (SDB) CDR Amanda Dunnick

Summer Whites LCDR Darrlyn Cornelius-Averhart

Service Khaki CAPT Kathleen McDuffie

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Caitlin Martin of Be the Match® and

CAPT Nancy Williams (CDC, Atlanta)

ACOA Community and Service Events

ACOA hosts first Be the Match® bone marrow registration drive By CDR Lorraine Alexander In December 2011, the Commissioned Officers Association (COA) announced its support for Operation Give-a-Life. In response, the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) encouraged officers, family members, and friends to make the commitment to be an organ donor. The ACOA Community Service Committee proposed expanding support of this cause by facilitating a bone marrow registry drive. ACOA contacted Ms. Caitlin Martin of Be the Match® to explore possibilities for partnership on this worthwhile cause. Be The Match Registry® is the donor registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which has worked to connect patients with donors for more than 25 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta was chosen as the site for this drive because it is a central location and has thousands of employees who could be matches. While Red Cross holds blood drives often at CDC, no bone marrow registry drive had ever been held there. The bone marrow drives were held on June 5, 18, 25, and July 5, 2012. Out of 162 persons screened, 140 were enrolled during the drives. The most common exclusion was age (maximum age allowed was 61 years). The email announcements to CDC employees generated attention about the registry, as evidenced through numerous email queries to CDR Lorraine Alexander and Ms. Martin of Be the Match, who served as coordinators of the events. Because CDC’s many campuses are large and spread out across metro Atlanta, however, logistical challenges related to distance and parking may have limited the turnout.

Most of the public, including USPHS officers, are not aware of what it means to join a bone marrow registry, and assume that it requires them to donate marrow at screening, but this is not the case. To be placed on the registry, one need only meet the liberal eligibility criteria and then swab the inside of each cheek. Most candidate marrow donors are never called to donate because they do not match with a person in need. It would be beneficial for USPHS officers to acquaint themselves with the organ donation and bone marrow registry process so that they can, in turn, better inform the public. To find out more information, visit Be the Match®(http://marrow.org/home.aspx)

Join the Registry! It’s Easier than You Think Bone marrow contains immature cells that can develop into red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infections, and platelets that help with blood clotting. Marrow can be harvested from a healthy living person most commonly through the vein (similar to blood donation) or, occasionally, from a bone, such as the hip. This marrow can then be transplanted to a person with serious life-threatening diseases such as leukemia. As with all tissues and organs, there is a greater need than supply. Matches are most likely to occur with close relatives, and next, with others from similar ethnic and racial backgrounds. Thus, it is essential that persons of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds participate by becoming part of the registry. Roughly 1 in 540 persons screened will “be a match.”

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Volunteering at Project Open Hand is a Family Event for ACOA Officers By LCDRs Tegan Boehmer and Suzanne Beavers

On June 3, 2012, 14 USPHS officers from the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) and 13 of their family members volunteered at Project Open Hand to package meals and perform meal delivery. Each week, approximately 700 volunteers and 125 staff members prepare and deliver meals to over 5,000 Atlanta-area clients. By delivering 1.7 million meals each year to persons with nutrition-sensitive chronic diseases, Project Open Hand provides an integral service to their clients in the metro Atlanta region. Project Open Hand staff is proud to report that they have served over 20 million meals since opening in 1988, and that there is no waiting period for new Open Hand clients. To address the diversity of health needs of the clients they serve, Project Open Hand provides a regular meal option and eight different therapeutic meal options. Meals are reviewed by dietitians to ensure they are meeting the needs of their clients. During the volunteer training, Project Open Hand shared stories with ACOA members about the benefits these meals have had on the lives of their clients. For example, improved health brought about by better nutritional choices enabled one client to lose over 100 pounds, feel better, and ultimately complete her education! Armed with the knowledge that Project Open Hand meals make a difference in the lives of fellow Atlantans, ACOA volunteers divided into two teams, and worked tirelessly throughout the morning to package and label 2,000 meals. One assembly line was so busy that the team didn’t even get time for a break! In addition, two PHS officers volunteered with their families to deliver a two-day supply of lunch and dinner to approximately 20 Project Open Hand clients each. The efforts of these drivers were greatly appreciated, as all weekend meal delivery is performed by volunteers, and there is a particularly high need for drivers on Sundays. The ACOA Project Open Hand volunteer event is always popular with families, and this year was no different. Officers’ family members, including 5 adults and 8 children, comprised nearly half of the volunteers. CAPT Larry Cseh said, “One of the reasons we participate in ACOA’s assistance to Project Open Hand is that it allows our daughter and granddaughter to experience doing community service at an early age.” CDR Lisa Delaney, who delivered meals with her mother and two sons, commented, “We had three generations of my family participating, and we all agreed it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning!” ACOA members enjoyed the opportunity to serve their community and spend time with fellow officers. As CDR Graydon Yatabe stated, “My wife and I chose to involve our family with the Project Open Hand volunteer opportunity because we want to help our children develop an understanding and appreciation of service and civic duty. We enjoyed working together to help prepare the meals and meeting fellow officers and their family members.” To learn more about Project Open Hand or to volunteer on your own, please visit www.projectopenhand.org.

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Two officers volunteered with their families and younger children to deliver meals. From L to R: (back row) LCDR Stanley Wei, Cheri Sturgeon (mother of CDR Delaney), CDR Lisa Delaney, Abigail Hankin-Wei (wife of LCDR Wei) holding daughter Eliana Wei (19 months); (front row) Declan (age 5) and Jackson (age 7) Collins (sons of CDR Delaney).

Team A volunteers are ready to start scooping. Pass the chicken, potatoes, and carrots, please! From L to R: CAPT Walter Holt, Margie Scott-Cseh (CAPT Larry Cseh’s wife), Cheyenne Thompson (CAPT Cseh’s granddaughter), CDR Graydon Yatabe, Sanjula Yatabe (CDR Yatabe’s daughter), Latha Yatabe (CDR Yatabe’s wife). Hidden from view are Ashleigh Cseh (CAPT Cseh’s daughter) and Nishok Yatabe (CDR Yatabe’s son).

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Breman Home BINGO Project By LCDRs Letia A. Boseman and Monica Leonard

On Sunday June 24, 2012, the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) volunteered at the William Breman Jewish Home, a 96-bed nursing home and assisted living facility. Nine PHS officers and their family members received an excellent orientation about the facility and assisted over 20 residents with competitive and spirited games of Bingo. With the room full of excited and experienced Bingo gamers, Captain Daniel Budnitz and his son, Noah, confidently called out the Bingo numbers. Other PHS officers and their families bonded with the residents, some of whom had mild to intermediate cognitive decline, and assisted them with their Bingo cards. Generous prizes of $1 were given to all of the winners for vertical, horizontal, and four-corner wins. During the final BINGO games, the residents received $2 for filling their entire card. Following the games, ACOA volunteers, dressed proudly in their PHS t-shirts, served refreshments and snacks to the residents, and helped them return to their rooms. The event was memorable, lively, and fun-filled, as it has been in previous years. CAPT Budnitz thanked the co-leads of the event, LCDR Letia Boseman and LCDR Monica Leonard, for planning the event, which he felt was an excellent volunteer experience for his young son. After the event, the Breman Home expressed their appreciation and hope that the Atlanta COA will volunteer with them again in the near future. For more information about The William Breman Jewish Home, visit their Web site at http://www.wbjh.org/.

Volunteers pose for a photo at the Breman Home, including, from L to R: (front row) LCDRs Shwana Coleman and Monica Leonard; (back row) CAPTs Hugh Mainzer and Daniel Budnitz (holding son Noah), LCDR Letia Boseman, Ms. Kayra Hopkins (friend of LT Hunter), LT Candis Hunter, and LCDRs Sarah Kidd, Elissa Meites, and Danielle Mills.

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Front row L to R: LCDR Mark Freedman, CAPT Michele Pearson, LCDR Sylvera Demas. Back row L to R: CAPT Theresa Harrington, LCDR Emily Jentes, CDR Renee Funk, CAPT Walter Holt, CAPT Charles (Chad) Helmick, LCDR Rashid Njai, and LCDR Matt Wise.

ACOA Helps Build Dreams and a House with Habitat for Humanity! By LCDRs Emily Jentes and Sylvera Demas

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, ten Atlanta-based PHS officers participated in a “build” for Habitat for Humanity. This is the seventh year that ACOA officers have worked with this amazing organization, and the first of two planned ACOA/Habitat for Humanity events this year. ACOA officers attended on Day 7 of the project; each house is built over seven consecutive Saturdays, with as many as 35 volunteers providing assistance on each of those days. Participating on Day 7 was truly exciting because it is the day that the house is typically dedicated to the designated family. The officers assisted in completing remaining tasks, including touching up interior and exterior paint, raking and shoveling, installing shelves in pantries and closets, laying sod, planting trees, and completing other landscaping around the house. Everyone involved agreed that it was a rewarding experience. LCDR Wise stated, “It was a great opportunity to give back to the Atlanta community and also to meet other ACOA members.” The day began early at 7:30 a.m., and a continental breakfast, snacks, and lunch were provided by ACOA. By the afternoon, many of the volunteers commented on the noticeable changes to the house that took place in just a few hours. Officers proudly stood by with the other community volunteers when the house was dedicated by Habitat for Humanity personnel, the Presbyterian Church members (the house sponsor), and the new homeowner. The new homeowner’s 10-year-old son made his way through each of the volunteers, thanking them for his new house. The new owner was thrilled with the results and was quite happy when the house was dedicated. In turn, ACOA volunteers expressed their desire for ACOA to continue to sponsor community service activities with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity because it is such a rewarding experience. For more information about Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, visit their Web site at http://www.atlantahabitat.org/.

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ACOA Volunteers at Medshare By LCDRs Monica Leonard and Paula Washington Approximately 7,000 tons of medical supplies are discarded in the United States each day. Supplies, often still unused, are sent to landfills and incinerators because of production surplus, procedural excess, and regulatory requirements. At the same time, people all over the world are dying because of a lack of medical supplies. Since its inception in 1998, MedShare International, in collaboration with American hospitals, has collected and shipped over 600 forty-foot containers of surplus medical supplies and equipment to areas of need. As a result, MedShare’s aid has saved lives in 105 countries in the developing world. On August 25, 2012, the Atlanta COA Community Service Committee sponsored a volunteer opportunity with MedShare International in Decatur, Georgia. Working with Alvaro McRae, MedShare’s Volunteer Program Manager, 11 PHS officers helped sort, box, and prepare over 4,000 pounds of surplus medical supplies for transport. This event was truly collaborative in nature, as ACOA members worked side by side with students from Georgia Tech and other organizations who were on hand to offer their assistance. Supplies are destined for shipment to countries around the world; in August alone, MedShare sent shipments to Nigeria, Ecuador, Columbia, Guatemala, and Haiti. For more information on MedShare International,please see http://www.medshare.org/.

Front row (left to right) LCDR Monica Leonard, CDR Maria Cano. Back row (left to right) LCDR Agam Rao, LCDR Paula Washington, LCDR Jemekia Thornton, CAPT Walter Holt, LCDR Latoria Jordan, CDR Lori Hall, LT Tara Houda, LCDR Sherry Burrer, and CAPT (Ret.) Chad Helmick.

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