**VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE**

**MEETING MINUTES**

**April 25, 2002**

## Members Present

CDR Sean Altekruse (FDA)

CAPT Randolph Daley (CDC)

LCDR Brett Morse (NIH)

**Members Absent**

LCDR Terri Clark (NIH) []{.mark}

LCDR Kathy Hollinger (FDA)

CAPT Bob Hoyt (USPHS, Retired) (NIH)

CDR Lowrey "Dusty" Rhodes (NIH)

**Guests Present**

CAPT Cynthia Pond (NIH)

CAPT John Babb (OS)

CDR Tom Bowman (OS)

LCDR Princess Campbell (FDA)

LCDR Sandra Chatfield (DCP)

LCDR Kamela Davis (FDA)

CDR Hugh Mainzer (CDC)

CDR Nancy Pate (EPA)

CDR Meta Timmons (DCP)

LCDR Don Wetter (OS)

LT Allison Williams (CDC)

The meeting was called to order at 1405 hrs. Minutes of the January 25,
2002 Vet PAC meeting were previously approved and posted on the
categories website:
<http://www.fda.gov/cvm/links/vcc/VETPAC_MINUTES_Jan_2002_final.doc>.

To enable discussion of the avian influenza outbreak in the mid-Atlantic
and southeastern United States, comments from the Chief Professional
Officer and Vet PAC Chair were submitted to the minutes without
discussion.

## CCRF Activation for Avian Influenza 

The first order of business was a briefing from CAPT John Babb (OS) on
the activation of the Commissioned Corps Readiness Force (CCRF) to
address the avian influenza outbreak in the mid-Atlantic and
Southeastern United States. It seems probable that PHS veterinarians
will be deployed for two week periods, possible as soon as May 11-24. To
be deployed officers must be CCRF certified. Because veterinarians will
be the principal category in this deployment, expedited CCRF
certification may be possible. For more information please visit the
CCRF website http://oep.osophs.dhhs.gov/ccrf/

The CCRF requirements include completing a training module, meeting
specific height and weight standards, and logging onto the secure area
of the DCP website

https://dcp.psc.gov/InsideDCP/DCPLoginForm.asp. Officers who are
deployed wear the working khaki uniform. Information on uniform
components can be found in CCPM Pamphlet No. 61 \"Information on
Uniforms\", Part 2, available at the DCP web site at
http://dcp.psc.gov/PDF_docs/ccpm61-pt2.pdf (page 56 for men, page 91 for
women). Please note that supervisory clearance is also required for
deployment. Dan Beck, in the Office of Emergency Preparedness can
provide additional information on how to sign-up for CCRF. His email
address is DBeck@OSOPHS.DHHS.GOV.

**Comments from the CPO (CAPT Pond)**

**Comments from the PAC Chair (CDR Altekruse)**

The Veterinary Session of the Commissioned Officers Association (COA)
Meeting was held on April 24. Speakers were CDR Mainzer, MAJ Winterton
(USAF), CAPT Ostrowski, LCDR Alicia Anderson, CDR Sean Altekruse, and
CAPT Daley. The topics illustrated the breadth of issues addressed by
PHS veterinarians. Participant in the session included CDR Meta Timmons,
LCRD Princess Campbell, and LT Allison Williams.

RADM Kenneth Moritsugu, Acting Surgeon General, visited during the COA
Veterinarian luncheon. He informed us of the activation of the CCRF for
the avian influenza outbreak and his expectation that veterinarians
would be the principal discipline that was deployed. He praised the
Veterinary Categories contributions to the PHS Mission and reminded
Commissioned Officers of his emphasis on healthy lifestyles. After RADM
Moritsugu departed, a discussion was held of the challenges and
opportunities presented to Commissioned Corps Veterinarians.

Recruitment and retention of qualified officers are top priorities for
the Commissioned Corps. Two veterinarians, LCDR Jennifer McQuiston (CDC)
and CDR Alfred Montgomery (FDA) have volunteered to serve as PHS
Associate Recruiters. Associate Recruiters are also sought for EPA and
NIH. For more information, please contact LT Nasser Mahmud (OS).

LCDR Kamela Davis, our representative to the Junior Officer Advisory
Group (JOAG), volunteered to serve again next year. If you would like to
contribute to this PHS activity please contact LCDR Davis or LCDR
Michelle Jordan.

The Student Chapter of the AVMA (SCAVMA) meeting will be held in Athens,
GA during March 2003. This meeting is a good venue to inform future
veterinarians about opportunities in the PHS. Deadlines for submitting
abstracts for the 2003 SCAVMA meeting are approaching.

It has been suggested that a standard CV format be developed for PHS
veterinarians. If interested in helping with this proposal, please
contact CDR Sean Altekruse.

# **PHS Commissioned Corps Veterinarians Brochure**

# The PHS Veterinarian Brochure should be ready before the July 2002 AVMA Meeting. If you have photographs that could be used in the brochure, please send them to CAPT Pond as email attachments.

**PHS Veterinarians Booth at AVMA Meeting**

Officers are needed to staff the PHS Veterinarians Booth during the AVMA
Meeting in Nashville. Please inform LCDR Hollinger if you will be in
Nashville and can contribute to this activity. It was proposed that the
officers who staff the booth should receive a letter of appreciation for
this PHS activity.

## Category activities during AVMA Meeting

CAPT Pond will present an overview of career opportunities for
laboratory animal veterinarians in the Public Health Service on July 15.
A PHS veterinarian meeting will be held during the AVMA meeting, on July
14 at 10 am. The deadline for submitting abstracts for this meeting was
extended until May 30. Please send your abstract to CDR Altekruse as an
electronic email attachment. Reports on recent deployments and
investigations are of particular interest.

CDR David Ashford has organized an AVMA Session on veterinary careers in
the public sector, \"Outstanding Careers in Public Service: What You
Need to Know.\" The session will be held during the morning of July 17.
Speakers include Commissioned Corps officers from CDC, FDA, and NIH as
well as veterinarians from USDA and State Health Departments.

# **All-hands meeting**

The Veterinary All Hands Meeting will take place in the Small Dining
Room at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences on
Thursday, May 23 from 1130-1430. The invited speakers are Ben Woods
(from Ft. Detrick) who will give his brief perspective on bioterrorism.
CAPT John Babb will talk about the Commissioned Corps Readiness Force.
From our own category, CDR Meta Timmons will discuss Space-A travel. The
PHS Veterinarian of the Year Award will also be presented to this year's
recipient. If you would like to attend and have not replied to the
invitation please contact LCDR Brent Morse or CDR Lowery Rhodes as soon
as possible.

## Vet PAC Membership

Nominations for new PAC members are due by May 15, 2002.
Self-nominations are encouraged. Please send a brief resume and a
statement of interest to CDR Sean Altekruse. Nomination packages will be
sent to the category for a vote.

## Vet PAC Charter

The Vet PAC Charter needs to be revised before August 2002. The voting
members of the Vet PAC will meet to revise the Vet PAC Charter in May.

## New Business

LCDR Sandra Chatfield (DCP, Recruitment and Assignments Branch)
described the Applicant Locator System. She indicated that nurses use
this resource to identify applicants and provide mentoring. It was noted
that the database could include more information on applicants training,
experience and interests. We could also use help to find vacancies
matching the skills and interests of veterinarians who apply to the
Corps.

# **Old Business**

CAPT Daley provided an update on CCRF clinical practice requirements for
deployment. Veterinarians are often deployed in administrative or
scientific roles. The stringency of clinical requirements may be
clarified by the current deployment of PHS veterinarians to control
avian influenza in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States.

## Select date for next meeting

The next meeting will be scheduled by Vet PAC members to assure that a
quorum is present to vote on the Charter.

## Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 1520 hrs. Minutes were prepared by LCDR
Princess Campbell and approved electronically by Vet PAC members and the
Chief Professional Officer.