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News Release

HHS Supports Medical Evacuations in Preparation for Hurricane Gustav - Sunday, August 31, 2008

photo of Commissioned Corps medical officer in the Gulf Region during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.In 2005, more than 2,400 officers in the U.S. Public Health Service were deployed to the Gulf Region before, during, and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They set up and staffed field hospitals and emergency medical clinics, treated sick and injured evacuees, conducted disease surveillance, and worked closely with local and State health authorities to plan for long-term public health needs.
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The Commissioned Corps interacts with the media through the Office of Communications at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Public Health and Science. To reach this office, contact:

Commissioned Corps Media Contacts

Jacqueline Halbig
Office of Public Health and Science
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
202-205-0143
Jacqueline.Halbig@hhs.gov

Photo Gallery

Here are links to photos of Commissioned Corps officers in action.

Aboard the USNS Mercy (2008)
A multidisciplinary team of officers in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is serving on the USNS Mercy, a U.S. Navy hospital ship, for a humanitarian-assistance mission in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. The ship departed on May 22, 2008, from its homeport of San Diego, CA.

Aboard the USS Boxer (2008)
Two teams of 15 U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps officers served on the USS Boxer, an amphibious U.S. Navy ship that departed from its homeport of San Diego, CA, on April 28, 2008, and completed a medical, public health, and oral health mission in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Peru.

Aboard the USNS Comfort (2007)
A team of 17 U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers is serving on the USNS Comfort, a U.S. Navy hospital ship that departed Norfolk, VA, on June 15, to begin a medical, public health, and oral health mission in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Aboard the USS Peleliu (2007)
A multidisciplinary team of officers in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is serving on the USS Peleliu, a multipurpose amphibious ship on a medical, dental, public health, and humanitarian-assistance mission in Southeast Asia and the Western and Outer Pacific Islands. The ship departed San Diego on May 23, 2007. In addition to providing humanitarian assistance, the team will help build the public health infrastructure in communities near where the ship docks.

Additional News and Information

Here are links to further news and information about the Commissioned Corps and its members.

Press Releases

Commissioned Corps in the News
News articles about Commissioned Corps officers and their accomplishments throughout the country

Officer Video Profiles
Short video interviews with officers about their Commissioned Corps experience

Officer Bios

Written profiles of Commissioned Corps officers and their exciting work

Physician Pharmacist
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Last updated on 9/2/2008