Captain Terri R. Clark
Chief Veterinary Officer, U.S. Public Health Service

CAPT Terri R. Clark became the 10th Chief Veterinarian for the United States Public Health Service on October 1, 2011. As Chief Veterinary Officer, CAPT Clark is responsible for providing leadership and coordination of USPHS veterinary professional affairs for the Office of the US Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services. She also provides guidance and advice to the Surgeon General and the Veterinary Professional Advisory Committee on matters such as recruitment, retention, career development, and readiness of PHS veterinarians.

CAPT Clark also serves as the Director, Office of Animal Care and Use, Office of the Director, Office of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. As the Director, OACU, CAPT Clark serves as the principal advisor to the Deputy Director for Intramural Research on the NIH Intramural animal research program (IARP) and is responsible for leading and implementing the NIH Intramural authority for compliance with all applicable federal and local laws, regulations, policies, and standards regarding the humane care and use of laboratory animals. The NIH IARP is the world's largest biomedical research program whose mission is to conduct basic, applied, and clinical research to provide medical advances for the American and international public. By providing federal regulatory oversight, national accreditation standards, policy development, program liaison/consultation, and training for the NIH IARP, CAPT Clark and the Office of Animal Care and Use provide a critical and far reaching public health role and impact.

CAPT Clark received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Dairy Science in 1982 and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1988, from Auburn University, Alabama. During her years of Army service, CAPT Clark completed a four year residency program in laboratory animal medicine and was boarded as a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, in 1996.

CAPT Clark has served as the Chair of the Veterinary Professional Advisory Committee (VPAC), two terms as a VPAC voting member and on numerous commissioned corps subcommittees. She deployed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in support of hurricane recovery efforts in 2005, and again in 2006, to the FEMA Gulf Recovery Office to assist with the State of Louisiana’s pet evacuation planning. She currently serves as the Coordinator, Animal Resources Team, one of nine emergency response teams for NIH’s emergency and disaster response Continuity of Operations.

CAPT Clark has been awarded numerous commissioned officer awards to include the US Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal and Commendation Medal, and the US Army Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal and Parachutist (Airborne) Badge.

CAPT Clark is proudly married to Colonel Peter Schultheiss, US Army Veterinary Corps.