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FSIS Workforce: Expansion Of Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Program
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Issue
In April 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) entered
into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which allows for the detailing of expanded numbers of PHS
Commissioned Corps Officers to FSIS. These officers will help to enhance the agency's capacity to protect the public health by ensuring the safety of meat, poultry and egg products. They will assist in responding to foodborne disease outbreaks and in investigating food security threats. Emphasis will also be placed on prevention measures to reduce the incidence of preventable foodborne illness.
Background
The mission of the PHS Commissioned Corps is to provide highly-trained and mobile health
professionals who carry out programs to promote the health of the Nation. This is achieved by
understanding and preventing disease and injury, assuring safe and effective drugs and medical
devices and delivering health services to Federal beneficiaries, such as veterans, American
Indians and Alaska Natives. Additionally, PHS furnishes health expertise in times of war or
other national or international emergencies.
The FSIS mission is to ensure that meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome and correctly labeled.
In order to improve its public health focus, FSIS is implementing a prevention-oriented inspection system
based on science and is re-deploying its resources to better protect the public from foodborne disease and
potential terrorism threats. As part of this system, FSIS is seeking to improve the qualifications of its
workforce by hiring individuals with more extensive scientific backgrounds. The MOA is one way FSIS is
improving the quality if its workforce.
A small number of PHS Commissioned Corps Officers have been detailed to FSIS since January 1998. However,
they have been confined to the Agency's Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), which is responsible for
applying the latest epidemiological and clinical approaches to identifying, understanding and preventing human
foodborne illnesses and hazards. The office also conducts foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak
investigations. It also coordinates preparation for emergency response to food-related chemical and biological
terrorism. OPHS also serves as the FSIS liaison with State and local health agencies and other Federal offices.
Role of the Commissioned Corps Officers
The new agreement allows for approximately 30 more officers to be assigned agency-wide into specialized areas
where there is a greater demand for scientific knowledge and judgment.
PHS Officers, a core of highly-trained health experts with diverse backgrounds and experience, will support
FSIS mission areas. Flexible deployment rules allow the Officers to instantly respond to emergencies and shifting
priorities within the agency. The Officers will serve in various capacities across the agency in specific areas
where there is a demand for scientific knowledge and judgment. The Officers include veterinarians, scientists,
dietitians, environmental health officers, physicians and nurses. They will work in offices such as: The Office
of Food Security and Emergency Preparedness, which coordinates the agency's Homeland Security activities; the
Office of Field Operations, which provides in-plant veterinarians and other inspectors; and the Office of
Public Health and Science, which provides medical, epidemiological and scientific support to the Agency.
April 2003
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