The emergency preparedness book – “Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: Principles and Practice” was published a few months ago by the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation. Over 80 PHS officer-authors and contributors—your fellow officers—volunteered their personal time, expertise and talent to produce this book—the best handbook on the subject of public health emergency response for PHS commissioned officers. Clearly this document positions the USPHS as THE leader in global public health emergency response. Indeed, the emergency response mission is an essential part of what it means to be a PHS officer. Book endorsements include this from Dr. S. Ward Casscells, former Asst. Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs: “Admiral Carmona and colleagues have written the essential disaster manual. Every officer of the Public Health Service, and every civilian responder, will not just study it, but pack it in their duffle bag. … A real service to the nation, indeed to all nations.”
My belief is that everyone in COA Branch leadership positions should have this book. I therefore encourage you to take the lead and purchase the book, if you have not already done so. Be advised there is currently a special price for the book until December 20, 2010: $22 per copy with free shipping and handling, for a savings of about $7. Check out the link below:
http://www.coausphs.org/docs/news/2010.11.22%20ERMPaymentForm-Exp12.20.10.doc
Please get the message out about this very important and relevant book to your members. You may want to reference the information on COA Home Page; it is under “Latest Stories”: http://www.coausphs.org/.
Thank you for your support and assistance, which will benefit all PHS officers and the USPHS!
from CAPT Daniel Hickey, COA Chair