Training Opportunities for USPHS Commissioned Officers
June 2006

INTRODUCTION

The following is intended as a resource for US Public Health Service Commissioned Officers seeking basic information about education, training, or continuing education programs and about financial aid and scholarship opportunities. The programs and websites listed here were gathered by the Training Opportunities Workgroup of a Joint Committee of Career Development Representatives during an evaluation of currently available information. Please bear in mind:

1. This list is not intended to be exhaustive but focuses on programs that are offered at no cost or at a reduced cost to USPHS officers.



2. The information and links may change over time.



3. Inclusion on this resource list does not represent an endorsement by the Joint Committee of Career Development Representatives, the Training Opportunities Workgroup, or any other government agency.



4. Officers are advised to carefully investigate any programs or opportunities listed to confirm that the information is current, that the programs are properly accredited, and that the curriculum meets the needs for your intended purpose. The Council of Education for Public Health provides a list of accredited schools and programs for Master of Public Health degrees (http://www.ceph.org).



5. Contact CDR James Schaeffer at james.schaeffer@hhs.gov for questions, edits, or to offer new information for inclusion in this resource.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL CATEGORIES

Degree Opportunities (Long term Training):   [view detail]
Degree Opportunities (Long term Training):   [close]

On-Site:

• Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

Offers health related Master and Doctoral degree programs at no cost. Full Time attendance is preferred. Part-time is possible in some cases, but no evening or weekend classes are available. Support from the officer’s agency is needed.

http://www.usuhs.mil/

• Naval War College of Naval Command and Staff

Offers Master Degrees at no cost to the uniformed service officer. Part time attendance is possible. Evening courses are available.

http://www.nwc.navy.mil/Academics/

Distance/Online:

• University of South Florida

Masters in Public Health Practice program. Offers reduced rates for all USPHS officers.

http://publichealth.usf.edu/php/onlinemph/

• Independence University – California College of Health Science

Master degrees in General Business, Nursing, Health Care Administration, Health Services, Public Health, etc. Offers reduced rates for students on active duty at $250 per credit with free course materials and text and free shipping and handling.

http://www.cchs.edu/index.php

• Touro University International

Touro’s College of Health Sciences offers online masters degree and certificate programs in Emergency and Disaster Management, Health Care Management and Informatics, Health Education, International Health, and Public Health. Courses are offered at reduced rates to government employees (37% less than full tuition or $187.50 per credit hour).

http://www.tourou.edu/



Continuing Education Opportunities:   [view detail]
Continuing Education Opportunities:   [close]

On-Site:

• Commissioned Officers Training Academy

Basic officer training and officer leadership and management development.

http://dcp.psc.gov/COTA/default.asp

• Office of Force Readiness and Deployment

Advanced Response Readiness Training Opportunities.

http://ccrf.hhs.gov/ccrf/training.htm or CCPM Manual Circular No. 375, Exhibit 8

• The Graduate School of the USDA

The USDA Graduate School offers career-related and continuing education courses to federal, state, and local employees throughout the country. Courses are available in a variety of subjects and convenient formats including: (1) Daytime, evening, and weekend classes, (2) Correspondence, self-study and online courses, and (3) Leadership Development and Certificate Programs.

http://www.grad.usda.gov/

• HHS University

HHS University offers classroom training, career planning and coaching, and employee development programs as well as online learning options to support the HHS mission. The HHS-U also hosts the Emerging Leaders program and the HHS Mentoring Program.

http://learning.hhs.gov/

• HHS Training Opportunities

http://www.hhs.gov/TrainingOpportunities.shtml

• FDA Training and Career Development

http://inside.fda.gov:9003/portal/page?_pageid=197,423273&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

• NIH Training Center

http://learningsource.od.nih.gov/

• Public Health Training at CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/phtrain/

• St Petersburg College National Terrorism Preparedness Institute

On-site training at no cost.

http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/NEW/Index.aspx?login=clear

Distance/Online:

• HHS University e-Learning Portal

USPHS Commissioned Officers may use the HHS-U Learning Portal using their PHS number +000 as their user name. Over 2,000 courses are available under Skillsoft and Books 24x7 at no cost.

http://lms.learning.hhs.gov/MaestroC/?CFID=219699&CFTOKEN=72463767

• Public Health Training Network

Offers web-based training at no cost. Offers CME, CNE, CEU, CHES, and CPE units.

http://www2a.cdc.gov/PHTNOnline/index.asp

• CDC Clinician Registry for Terrorism and Emergency Response Updates and Training Opportunities

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/clinregistry/

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp

• Economic Evaluation of Public Health Preparedness and Response Efforts (CDC)

Economic Evaluation Techniques for Health Assessment Activities and Other Public Health Preparedness and Response Strategies Training - No cost.

http://www.cdc.gov/owcd/EET/Preface/Preface.html

• MMWR/CDC Continuing Education

Offers a variety of self-paced training modules geared primarily for clinicians and health educators. CEU credits are available. No cost.

http://www2a.cdc.gov/CE/availableactivities.asp

• MMWR/ATSDR Case Studies in Environmental Medicine

Offers a variety of self-paced case studies dealing with evaluation of environmental exposures to common contaminants. CEU credits are available. No cost.

http://www2a.cdc.gov/ATSDRCE/availableactivities.asp

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Sponsors Continuing Education in Environmental Public Health. Topics are related to evaluation of potential exposure to environmental contaminants and the potential health effects. Some courses offer CEU credits. Most offer a personalized completion certificate signed by the director of the group providing the training and the number of contact hours. This certificate is accepted by NEHA proof of continuing education. No cost.

http://developer.erg.com/registration/course_listing.cgi

• TRAINEX

The Training Exchange Website, sponsored by EPA and its partners, provides short classes and conferences around the country primarily related to environmental contamination and potential exposure issues. (Fees vary).

http://www.trainex.org/about.cfm

http://www.trainex.org/

• National Incident Management System (NIMS)

http://www.fema.gov/nims/nims_training.shtm

• FEMA Independent Study Program

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp



Fellowship Programs:   [view detail]
Fellowship Programs:   [close]





• International Experience and Technical Assistance (IETA) Program

CDC administers this one-year developmental training program to build a cadre of Federal public health professionals trained and experienced in the provision of technical assistance to international public health program in less developed countries. Applicant must have the written permission of first- and second-level supervisors to be released for 4 training workshops in Atlanta and a 3-month supervised international assignment. Participant’s employing office sponsor all costs for training workshops and the international hosting program cover all travel costs for the international assignment.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/faso/ieta/default.htm

• Mansfield Fellowship

This exchange program allows a select group of U.S. federal employees to develop an in-depth understanding of Japan, learn how its government works, and establish relationships with their counterparts in the government of Japan as well as in the business, professional and academic communities.

http://www.mansfieldfdn.org/

• Steven M. Teutsch Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Prevention Effectiveness Methods

The Fellowships are for post-doctoral candidates with expertise in quantitative policy analysis who wish to gain experience and training in assessing the effectiveness of prevention strategies.

http://www.cdc.gov/epo/fellow.htm

Criteria for Ranking CIO for FTE

Feedback

Sample Assignment Request

Timetable Preventive Effectiveness (PE) Fellowship Selection Process

PE Fellowship

Cost of Hosting a PE Fellow



Financial Aids/Scholarship Opportunities:   [view detail]
Financial Aids/Scholarship Opportunities:   [close]





• Montgomery GI Bills Education benefit

The officer must opt for this benefit upon commissioning and must enroll. Most accredited universities are certified by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Confirm the program you are considering by consulting the institution’s VA Certifying official.

http://www.gibill.va.gov

• Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS)

AMSUS member or eligible dependant may apply for an annual $1,000 scholarship as financial assistance to pursue a healthcare related career.

http://www.amsus.org

• Commissioned Officers Association (COA) of the USPHS

The PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF), an affiliate of COA, provides college scholarships for children and spouses of COA members. COF has also been supporting qualified active duty junior USPHS officers mainly for the registration fee of the COA annual professional conference.

http://www.coausphs.org/education.cfm

• Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF)

HJF administers funds which can be used by USA, USAF, and USN officers for medicine related meeting expenses, honoraria, equipment and supplies, dues, publications and subscriptions, travel, and printing. They also sponsor students at the Uniformed Services University at Bethesda, MD for research at NIH. (Note: PHS Officers may benefit from the funding of research at NIH if they are enrolled as USUHS students. It is unclear at this time, if PHS Officers are eligible for the other sponsorship listed above)

http://hjf.org/services/education.html

• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

MOAA has student loans, scholarships and grants for dependents only, not for active duty officers.

http://www.moaa.org/serv/serv_education/index.htm

• Reserve Officers Association

Henry J. Reilly Scholarship to assist members (graduate program only), their children, or grandchildren attending accredited U.S. colleges and universities. They also finance education related expenses for up to $25,000 a year, including student loans, education loan consolidation and personal computer loans.

https://www.roa.org/pdf/members/reilly_app_grad.pdf



Misc. Officer Organizations/Information:   [view detail]
Misc. Officer Organizations/Information:   [close]



• American Indian/Alaska Native Commissioned Officers Advisory Committee (AI/ANCOAC)
  http://www.aiancoac.com/



• Asian Pacific American Officers Committee (APAOC)
  http://www.usphs-apaoc.org/



• Black Commissioned Officers Advisory Group (BCOAG)
  http://www.bcoag.org/



• Hispanic Officers Advisory Committee (HOAC)
  http://www.oshoac.org



• Junior Officer Advisory Group (JOAG)
  http://www.joag.org/index.html



• Minority Officers Liaison Council (MOLC)
  http://www.molcusphs.org



• Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS)
  http://dcp.psc.gov/



• Officer Handbook
  http://dcp.psc.gov/PDF_docs/CCPM_P62.pdf

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIFIC CATEGORY

Officers are advised to consult the Career Development committee of their Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) for information about discipline specific training opportunities. Internet hyperlinks are provided here to each of the eleven USPHS professional categories to link you to your PAC’s website and direct you toward discipline specific training information.