Inside HRSA, March 2008 - Health Resources and Services Administration
 
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Parham Hopson, Other Top Corps Officers Share Keys to Success
First Time Four African American Women Have Served Together as Assistant Surgeons General

A historic moment occurred Feb. 14 when four African American women – all Assistant Surgeons General in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps – shared the podium at a Parklawn event sponsored by the Black Commissioned Officers Advisory Group.

Never before have four African American women served concurrently as Assistant Surgeon Generals (equivalent to the rank of Rear Admiral) in the corps.

HRSA’s RADM Deborah Parham Hopson, a nurse and associate administrator for HIV/AIDS, was one of the four. She was joined by RADM Clara Cobb, a nurse and former HRSA employee who is regional health administrator in HHS’ Office of Public Health and Safety; RADM Denise Canton, a nurse/attorney in the HHS Office of Commissioned Corps Operations; and RADM Helena Mishoe, a scientist in the Office of Minority Health Affairs at NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

  

Black History Month Celebration Speakers: RADM Denise Canton, RADM Helena Mishoe, RADM Deborah Parham Hopson, RADM Clara Cobb.
Black History Month Celebration Speakers (l-r): RADM Denise Canton, RADM Helena Mishoe, RADM Deborah Parham Hopson, RADM Clara Cobb.

  

Parham Hopson spoke about her life’s journey and offered advice on achieving personal and career goals. She called academic preparation and continuing education essential elements of success.

“Aptitude and attitude determine altitude,” she said. “Learning is a lifelong process.”

Parham Hopson said she developed a five-year plan to guide her career and held fast to a set of “core values”: personal values, valuing employees, and valuing diversity. Faith topped her list of “keys to success,” which also included establishing a vision, “finding a mentor, being a mentor,” taking risks, mutual respect, balancing personal and professional life, and learning to laugh at oneself.

Cobb, who began her career with the National Health Service Corps before it was part of HRSA and later worked at HRSA for seven years, also considered faith the foundation of her success. She told the audience “not to discount servitude” — early in her career, Cobb noted, she worked in a pediatric research lab washing test tubes and beakers.

Some viewed this work as “menial,” but Cobb said she gained valuable information from serving others. Like Parham Hopson, she encouraged listeners to take risks. “Sometimes you will find that others believe in you more than you believe in yourself – so seize the opportunity!”

The Black Commissioned Officers Advisory Group sponsors Black History Month celebrations and provides assistance and advice to the Office of the Surgeon General on issues related to the representation and participation of African Americans as officers and civilians in the U.S. Public Health Service.

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