Have You Considered Serving as an Audiologist or SLP in Uniform?

Have you heard of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS)? It’s one of the United States’ seven uniformed services and has existed for more than 200 years. During those two centuries, an elite team of 6,500 men and women in health care professions served to protect our nation’s public health. Often called a “best kept secret,” the USPHS Commissioned Corps offers audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) a way to serve in uniform while protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of the nation. As a member of the USPHS, I’ve been an SLP in uniform for a little more than a year. My duties vary greatly depending on which federal agency I serve during each assignment. USPHS officers serve in a number of agencies, many falling under the Department of Health and Human Services. Some of these agencies include the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration, Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, as well as the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. As a USPHS officer, I also deploy nationally or internationally in support of disasters or humanitarian missions. Getting into uniform My interest in the USPHS Commissioned Corps grew from a desire to serve in uniform as an SLP. Before joining, I worked in a variety of settings, such as higher education, home health care, inp...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: Audiology Health Care Slider Speech-Language Pathology Professional Development Schools Source Type: blogs