As a physician in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, you will serve as part of an always-ready clinical cadre that protects, promotes, and advances the health of the nation. You will help support public health and national health security during national and global emergencies, serving the people and communities who need it most. Medical officers are highly trained and equipped to protect and defend the Nation’s health in any environment and under any circumstances.
Many physicians begin their USPHS Commissioned Corps careers by providing direct clinical care to underserved populations in the Indian Health Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They also provide services to veterans and service members in the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Defense Health Agency. Other physicians serve as medical epidemiologists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), physician-scientists at the National Institutes of Health, or medical officers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
As you advance in your career, you will receive mentorship from senior physician officers and have opportunities to strengthen your expertise in public health, emergency preparedness, and leadership. Physician officers in the USPHS Commissioned Corps have access to a wide range of training opportunities, including CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, the Commissioned Officer Training Academy, and advanced leadership courses through partners such as the Army War College, Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute, and Office of National Drug Control Policy.
As America’s Health Responders, USPHS Commissioned Corps physicians deploy throughout their careers to public health emergencies, delivering essential medical and public health services to communities in need. During deployments, many physician officers begin by providing direct care and may later advance into leadership roles. Similarly, at their primary jobs, they may transition from clinical practice to leadership roles as their career progresses – expanding their impact from individual patients to entire populations.
From delivering frontline care to serving in senior leadership roles, USPHS Commissioned Corps physicians lead at every level of public health and clinical service. The Physician Category invites you to learn more about the USPHS Commissioned Corps and join us!