PHS Proud Audio Time

I think a vast majority of Americans do not know that within the Health and Human Services (HHS), there are 8 agencies that are part of something called the U.S. Public Health Service (UPSHS).

On July 1st, 1946, what is now known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially opened in Atlanta, GA. What many may not know is that the CDC was started by medical officers of one of our country's uniformed services: the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS). It was birthed from WWII and is considered by some to be the largest institutional legacy from the war.

Memorial Day is meant to honor those who lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces.

We must always remember that the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps has been militarized during many of the great wars, and USPHS officers have lost their lives.

In this episode I speak with a living legend of the U.S. Public Health Service, RADM (ret) Scott Giberson. RADM (ret) Scott Giberson started his USPHS career as a pharmacist in the Indian Health Service (IHS). He  was a stanch advocate for advanced pharmacy practice. After responding to the 9/11 anthrax attacks in 2001, he was tapped to serve as senior public health advisor for U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). He eventually went on to serve as the national IHS HIV/AIDs consultant, chief pharmacy officer for USPHS, director of Commissioned Corps HQ, assistant Surgeon General, and commander of the Ebola response in Liberia.

Interview Timestamps 

0:00-15:59 Introduction to Scott's career  

16:00-37:34 Pharmacy school, getting into PHS, pharmacy culture in the 90's, getting into the Corps, uniform wear in the 90's, importance of OBC, history of khaki uniform, corps reputation in past 2 decades, importance of IHS  

37:35-58:59 Starting National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (NCPS), advanced practice in pharmacy, start of pharmacist clinician (PhC), future of pharmacy practice, history of pharmacy as providers, personality of pharmacists  

59:00-1:17:59 Deploying for Anthrax, going to Pacific Command, being PHS officer with military, importance of respecting rank and uniform, influence of SG Carmona  

1:18:00-1:24:59 Challenges of working in IHS, cultural fluency in IHS  

1:25:00-1:35:59 Becoming CCHQ director, fighting to survive, structural challenges at HQ  

1:36:00-1:53:59 How USPHS got involved with Ebola, meeting President Obama  

1:54:00-1:58:29 COVID-19 and USPHS's role   

1:58:30-2:07:37 The role of the uniform in USPHS, should the Surgeon General come from the ranks, closing remarks

CAPT (ret.) spent 30 years with the CDC as a research scientist. He has over 100 publications and spent his career on environmental toxins that affect American workers.

29:15-42:29- history of latex during AIDS epidemic, why it's a problem, NIOSH health hazard alert, allergy response versus immune response

42:30-54:59- opiate research, antibodies in burn victim serum vs heroin addict serum, anthrax research, developing testing for military in Middle East, multiplexing

55:00-1:00:59- emergency and disaster response research on black mold

1:01:00-1:16:22- Ray's passion for research, what he's most proud of, why the Corps changed over time, political problems in the Corps

RADM Michael Toedt is a former assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service and chief medical officer of the Indian Health Service. He attended the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and led the COVID-19 response for the Indian Health Service. There is a lot more in between!

In our conversation we discuss:

0:00-10:59- introduction, summer whites story, and summary of RADM Toedt's career

11:00-13:38- intro to Toedt Health Solutions

13:39-25:29- describing USUHS and USPHS, how Michael joined the Corps, training to be an officer in USUHS vs present day

25:30-30:49- USPHS uniform culture 

30:50-35:59- Michael's hospital residency, experience at Cherokee indian hospital, and National Health Service Corps and HRSA

36:00-47:59- IHS COVID-19 response, what people may not understand about IHS, vaccination campaign

47:50-55:14- what Michael is most proud of in his career, navigating a career as a PHS officer, future of the Corps and Ready Reserve

55:15-1:00:52- Toedt Health Solutions current focus

1:00:53-1:02:44- closing remarks

Michael Toedt's website: https://toedthealth.com/

Michael Toedt's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-toedt/