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

Unlocking Long COVID Mysteries: Dementia-Like Symptoms & Pre-Existing Conditions

Originally broadcast May 15, 2025 Millions are still living with the effects of Long COVID…

5 days ago

Youth Mental Health Crisis: Can a New Corps Create a Solution?

It’s a troubling situation: Nearly one in three high school students report persistent feelings of…

2 weeks ago

400 Million+ People Globally With Long COVID: A Top Researcher Seeks Solutions

Description: Dr. Igor Koralnik, the co-director of Northwestern Medicine’s Comprehensive COVID-19 Center, is one of…

3 weeks ago

Dr. Leana Wen Grades RFK Jr. on Health Care: What Does She Say?

Dr. Leana Wen, a health news commentator for The Washington Post and CNN, is known…

4 weeks ago

Breaking News: House Budget Hawks Victorious Over Medicaid Defenders  

Very early this morning the U.S. House passed a bill that would result in more…

1 month ago

Unlocking Long COVID Mysteries: Dementia-Like Symptoms & Pre-Existing Conditions

Originally broadcast May 15, 2025 Millions are still living with the effects of Long COVID…

1 month ago