CHC Radio

Meet America’s Hidden Health Heroes

Originally broadcast May 29, 2024

You know about the Army and Navy, but have you heard about the USPHS Commissioned Corps?

It is one of the nation’s uniformed services — a branch committed to the service of health. Its over 6,000 officers advance the nation’s public health, serving in agencies across the government, as physicians, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, scientists, engineers and other professionals.

President of the Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation Gene Migliaccio spoke to “Conversations on Health Care” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter about the role the Corps played in combatting the pandemic.

The fight against COVID-19 was the largest deployment in the 223-year history of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. At the beginning of the pandemic, “I think what we did right was the mobilization,” Migliaccio said.

“When Covid hit, we didn’t have testing centers. It started slowly, and then all of the sudden there were hundreds of them. It took a tremendous amount of effort and some of the best and brightest minds within the Department of Health and Human Services” to accomplish that, he said.

The Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation is part of a new documentary titled “Invisible Corps,” narrated by the actress Ali McGraw. The piece is trying to raise awareness about the Corps and also how public health has become politicized.

Conversations on Health Care

Share
Published by
Conversations on Health Care

Recent Posts

Breaking News: Food Dye Ban: Support But More Needed, Says Dr. Marion Nestle

Originally broadcast April 22, 2025 Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced…

4 days ago

“ChatGPT, MD”: Author Says AI-Empowered Patients, Doctors Take Control

Originally broadcast April 17, 2025 The U.S. healthcare system could save up to 500,000 lives…

1 week ago

Mystery No More: Howard Hughes’ Legacy Advances Science

Originally broadcast April 10, 2025 Eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes founded his eponymous Medical Institute over…

2 weeks ago

‘If Ryan Reynolds doesn’t get you to do it…’: Colorectal Cancer Alliance CEO talks screening

Originally broadcast April 3, 2025 Roughly 85% of respondents to a survey cited by Michael…

3 weeks ago

Food is Medicine: How Young Changemakers are Transforming Healthcare

Originally broadcast March 27, 2025 Two young innovators are leading a movement that proves food…

1 month ago

Hon. Mary Bono, Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse

Originally broadcast March 20, 2025 Mary Bono has left the halls of Congress, but she’s…

1 month ago