PHS Proud Audio Time Sean Navin

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).

USPHS has a uniformed service called the USPHS Commissioned Corps whose servicemembers are considered active duty and veterans of this country. It's been around since 1889.

America doesn't recognize USPHS as an entity anymore though this wasn't always the case. Admittedly, the organization and structure of USPHS has become way too complicated to the detriment of the Commissioned Corps and America's public health.

In this episode I discuss the 8 agencies that comprise USPHS today.


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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.


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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.


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Learn about the whiskey that used to supply the U.S. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service.

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USPHS quarantine boats were in operation for nearly 100 years from the late 1800s to mid 1900s. I discuss 4 PHS tugs in this episode.

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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


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