Captain Scott Gaustad, U.S. Public Health Service
Chief Therapist Officer
Background
As chief therapist officer, CAPT Scott Gaustad leads the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service therapy professional affairs, advising the Office of the Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services on the recruitment, assignment, deployment, retention, and career development of Public Health Service audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and speech-language pathologists.
CAPT Gaustad also serves as the Chief Clinical Consultant for Rehabilitation Services for the Indian Health Service and Chief of Physical Therapy at the USPHS Hospital in Whiteriver, Arizona. His IHS responsibilities include advising the Director of the Indian Health Service Director on clinical, administrative, recruitment, and retention of rehabilitation clinicians assigned to the Indian Health Service. He also coordinates the IHS Loan Repayment and academic scholarship programs for Rehab Services.
Education/Training
CAPT Gaustad received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Northern Arizona University in 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy in 1991. He is board certified in orthopedics, geriatrics and sports physical therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association. CAPT Gaustad is also board certified in advanced wound care through the American Academy of Wound Management and has been designated a Fellow by the American College of Certified Wound Specialists (FACCWS). He is a board certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Professional History
Commissioned in the United States Navy in 1991, CAPT Gaustad served four years in the Navy as a clinical physical therapist. He transferred his commission to the United States Public Health Service in 1995. His first assignment was as a senior therapist with the Bureau of Prisons. CAPT Gaustad was detailed to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, a 1200 bed Bureau of Prisons administrative and medical complex in Springfield, Missouri. During his 11 years at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, CAPT Gaustad served as a clinical physical therapist, Chief of Physical Therapy and held many collateral positions. Some of his collateral duties included Chair of the Therapist Professional Advisory Committee, Chair of Bio-Ethics Committee, Coordinator of the Medical Center’s Wound Care Team and a four term president for the Ozark Commissioned Officers Association.
In 2006 he transferred to the Indian Health Service and joined the physical therapy staff as a clinical specialist at the USPHS Hospital in Whiteriver, Arizona. CAPT Gaustad currently serves as the Chief of Physical Therapy and Chief Clinical Consultant for Indian Health Service Rehabilitation Services.
In 2005, CAPT Gaustad served as Chief of Logistics as part of the Secretary’s Emergency Response Team‘s response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster in Mississippi. He again served in logistics as part of the Incident Response Coordination Team’s response to the 2008 Hurricane Ike disaster in Texas and for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.
CAPT Gaustad firmly believes there is no greater professional and personal challenge and opportunity to serve the Nation’s underserved or the Nation in a time of man-made or natural disasters than serving as an officer in the United States Public Health Service.
If you are a therapy student or a therapist interested in the Commissioned Corps, take the next step! E-mail us your questions, call us at 800-279-1605, or apply online now.