PHS Proud Blog — history

On July 1st, 1946, what is now known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially opened in Atlanta, GA. What many may not know is that the CDC was started by medical officers of one of our country's uniformed services: the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS). It was birthed from WWII and is considered by some to be the largest institutional legacy from the war.The CDC's original name in 1946 was the "Communicable Disease Center;" however, much before that the CDC was spawned from something called the Malaria Control in War Areas (MCWA) program administered...

Modern U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps culture and history wouldn't be complete without hearing from this officer! RADM (ret) Scott Giberson started his U.S. Public Health Service career as a pharmacist in the Indian Health Service (IHS). He was a staunch advocate for advanced pharmacy practice. After responding to the 9/11 anthrax attacks in 2001, he was tapped to serve as senior public health advisor for U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). He eventually went on to serve as the national IHS HIV/AIDs consultant, chief pharmacy officer for USPHS, director of Commissioned Corps HQ, assistant Surgeon General, and commander of the...

If you love Public Health Service history like I do, then you're in for a treat! I had the pleasure of discussing what is likely one of the last remaining PHS relics in the United States: the Columbia River Quarantine Station at Knappton Cove. Background  In 1889 the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was established. Back then, it was the Marine Hospital Service. In 1891 U.S. law mandated that all immigrants coming into the U.S. received a health inspection by a Service physician. This was the era of "Manifest Destiny" and Americans were spreading Westward and more immigrants were...

The U.S. Public Health Service quarantine tugboats or "boarding tugs" were well-known to travelers crossing into American waters during the 1930's through the 1970's. Incoming ships would report to the PHS tugboats any illness or sick passengers aboard. If there were any, a PHS physician officer would board the ship to assess the passenger and safely transport him or her to medical care. This was all in attempt to prevent unknown diseases abroad from entering the U.S. Here is a brief 13 min video on USPHS medical officers inspecting incoming ships and crew members: The Public Health Service tugboats are...