2000: Pharmacists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention begin working in the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile which is renamed the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) in 2003. Reference 1 / Reference 2

2000: LCDR Paul E. Huntzinger reflects upon his duties with the U.S Coast Guard: “Pharmacy Officer Supports of U.S. Coast Guard Cutters." Reference

2001: Commissioned officers, including pharmacists, are deployed to support President Bush inauguration, the Washington DC and NY Anthrax incidents, Tropical Storm Allison, National Boy Scout Jamboree, and the Special Olympic Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska. Washington DC Anthrax Incident or National Boy Scout Jamboree or Reference 1 / Reference 2 / Reference 3

2001: Many pharmacists are deployed to assist in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. Pharmacists also staffed the Emergency Operations Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during this time, on behalf of the CDC’s National Pharmaceutical Stockpile. 911 image / Reference: Babb, J and Downs, K. Fighting Back: Pharmacists' Roles in the Federal Response to the September 11 Attacks. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2001; 41(6):834-837 (Response to 911) / WTC Deployment

2002: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formalizes regulatory support by opening an Office of Regulatory Affairs staffed by a single pharmacist. The department later expands to include several regulatory pharmacists. Reference.

2002: To increase a presence in the Pacific, Office of Global Health details CAPT Kathleen Downs to the Department of Defense at their Center for Excellence in Hawaii as Senior Public Health Advisor. Responsibilities included international disaster response, humanitarian assistance training and health assessments as Team Lead. Reference.

2002: Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between six of the largest pharmacy organizations (including APhA and ASHP) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establishes policy that guides the development of medical response teams for joint disaster relief operations of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). This MOA, facilitates through RADM John Babb (pharmacist), initiates the development of ten National Pharmacist Response Teams (NPRTs). These teams include hundreds of civilian pharmacists and are led by 20 PHS Pharmacists as Team Leaders and Administrative Officers. They will be activated to assist the nation during a national disaster, such as a bioterrorist attack or mass vaccination campaign. Reference

2002: Commissioned officers, including pharmacists, are deployed to support the Arizona wild fires and Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. Reference 1 / Reference 2

2002: In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 is designed to improve the country's ability to prevent and respond to public health emergencies. Its provisions include a requirement that the Food and Drug Administration issues regulations to enhance controls over the imported and domestically produced commodities it regulates. Reference

2002: The first Pharmacist Special Pay Workgroup is convened by RADM Robert Pittman and resulted in the PHS commencing a one-time $30,000 accession bonus and annual variable special pay ($3,000 - $12,000) for PHS pharmacists based upon number of years served. Reference

2003: Commissioned officers, including pharmacists, are deployed to support the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, the Nation Orange Alert, and the call for smallpox vaccination which is held at the Department of Human and Health Service in Washington, D.C. Reference: Setlak, P. Bioterrorism preparedness and response: emerging role for health-system pharmacists. Am J Health Syst Pharm.2004; 61: 1167-1175 (Afghanistan deployment) or Iraqi deployment or Nation Orange Alert or smallpox vaccination

2003: Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA) details CAPT Scott Giberson as Senior Medical Program Manager to Department of Defense in the Pacific through 2006. Program expands to multinational HIV/AIDS program in over 23 countries. Extensive travel and medical / public health work in the Asia Pacific with senior DOD, State Department and Foreign Military leadership. Reference / CAPT Scott Giberson.

2003: More than two-dozen of federal pharmacists join the Department of Homeland Security, which is created on November 2002. Majority of the pharmacists are Commissioned Officers of the United States Public Health Service. Reference.

2003: The Medicare Modernization Act is signed into law. Pharmacists are hired in each of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) Regional Offices to assist in the development and implementation of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit that begins in January 2006. Many of these pharmacists are the “front lines” in overseeing the successful implementation of the Part D program. Reference

2003: The National Pharmaceutical Stockpile is renamed as the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and is managed by both Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services (HHS). Later management is reverted back to HHS. The SNS “works with governmental and non-governmental partners to upgrade the nation’s public health capacity to respond to a national emergency.” Reference

2004: The Commissioned Corps Readiness Force is subsumed under the new Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD) in 2004. RADM John Babb is the first Director as well as the first pharmacist to be Director of OFRD. RADM John Babb

2004: Commissioned officers, including pharmacists, are deployed to support President Reagan Funeral Service, shortage of the pharmacists at Bethel and Kotzebue, Alaska, Democrat and Republican National Conventions, the G8 Summit in Brunswick, Georgia, and the aftermath of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. Hurricane Charley Deployment / Reference 1 / Reference 2 or Hurricane Jeanne Deployment

2004: The Federal Bureau of Prisons Regional HIV Pharmacist Clinical Consultant program is initiated. Reference.

2004: On Dec 26, 2004, a disastrous tsunami strikes the East Indian Ocean. The United States Government deploys a hospital ship, the US Navy Ship (USNS) Mercy, to provide humanitarian relief. It is the first time a USNS hospital ship is utilized for a humanitarian effort. A request is made to the USPHS for officers to augment the crew. Under the Direction of pharmacist RADM John Babb, Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD) deploys 13 USPHS medical/evironmental health officers to the USNS Mercy and one UPHS pharmacist as a Liaison Officer (CDR Scott Giberson) to augment the Pacific Fleet’s mission. Another USNS Mercy mission quickly follows in response to the massive earthquake in Indonesia, where OFRD deploys 15 more officers. These mark the beginning of many future USPHS humanitarian missions with the US Navy. Reference / USNS Mercy - Tsunami Deployment

2004: The Project BioShield Act of 2004 authorizes FDA to expedite its review procedures to enable rapid distribution of treatments as countermeasures to chemical, biological, and nuclear agents that may be used in a terrorist attack against the United States and among other provisions. Reference

2005: Approximately 400 commissioned pharmacists deploy to support in the recovery from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Ophelia, and Dennis. They lead medical teams, immunization teams, assessment teams, and special needs shelter operations, as well as perform as liaisons to federal partners and state and local governments. Pharmacists are highly valued during these responses because so many victims have medication issues. Katrina Response Teams or Katrina response 1 or Reference: Young, D. Public Health Service evolves to meet nation's needs: Pharmacists play pivotal roles in PHS history. Am J Health Syst Pharm.2006; 63(3):194,196-197 (Katrina response 2).

2005: The Pharmacy Category of the United States Public Health Service celebrates its 75th Anniversary with a banquet reception in Gaithersburg, Maryland on November 18th. Eight of the eleven former and current Chief Pharmacists and pharmacy flag officers attend and are presented with a coin display containing a specially-numbered 2005 commemorative pharmacy category coin. All 900 pharmacists on active duty receive the commemorative pharmacy category coin. USPHS Pharmacy 75th Anniversary or 75th Anniversay Commenorating Coin

2005: Commissioned officers, including pharmacists, are deployed to support the recovery of massive shooting at Red Lake, Minnesota (an Indian Reservation) the shortage of pharmacists at Belcourt, North Dekota, and the recovery from the Earthquake in Summatra and Pakistan Earthquake, which kill more than 70,000 people. Reference

2005: United States Public Health Service Pharmacists have made a tremendous impact on the "caring and curing" in the native communities. This year marks the Celebration of the "First 50 years of the Indian Health Service: Caring & Curing." Reference 1 / Reference 2 / Reference 3 / Reference 4 / Reference 5

2005: There are 600 pharmacists (400 commissioned officers, 65 civil service, and 130 tribal) working in 237 hospitals and clinics within the Indian Health Service. Reference 1 or Reference 2

2006: DHHS Secretary Michael Leavitt announces an initiative to transform the USPHS Commissioned Corps, which will enable this critical emergency response resource to address public health challenges more quickly and efficiently. The Commissioned Corps will increase its ranks, streamline its assignment and deployment process, and increase its ability to recruit the best and brightest to defend the nation's public health. The Pharmacy Category is one of the four categories targeted for priority recruitment. Transformation is ongoing in 2008. Reference / Reference 2

2006: The initiation of Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit for the special populations and seniors begins. Reference

2006: More than a dozen of USPHS Pharmacists have volunteered their services to serve their communities by providing free immunizations and "counseling students and answering questions on important public health issues such as disease prevention and awareness, obesity and exercise, immunizations, and bioterrorism preparedness." Reference 1 / Reference 2

2006: RADM Robert Pittman becomes the 12th Chief Pharmacy Officer of the United States Public Health Services. Taking an Oath or RADM Robert Pittman

2006: Commissioned officers, including pharmacists, are deployed to support the Lebanon Repatriation Mission, President's State of the Union address, and aid in the recovery from Hurricane Ernesto, the St Louis Floods, Tropical Storm Chris, and Humanitarin Mission to Haiti. Pharmacy Team

2006: The Federal Bureau of Prison’s Electronic Medical Record Pharmacy Module (BEMR Rx) deploys at the Federal Medical Center Butner in North Carolina. Reference.

2006: The Pharmacist Professional Advisory Committee (PharmPAC) starts a pharmacist immunization training and practice initiative. Under the Immunization Initiative, the PharmPAC begins to offer the American Pharmacists Association’s program, Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery, A National Certificate Training Program for Pharmacists. Additionally, Smallpox vaccination training is added to the course specifically for USPHS pharmacists. Reference or Immunization 1 / Immunization 2

2006: Twenty Commissioned Corps pharmacists are activated by the Acting Surgeon General through OFRD to provide Influenza Immunizations at the Federal Occupational Health (FOH) Clinics. These pharmacists provide 1184 immunizations, comprising approximately 45% of the Influenza Immunizations that FOH offers to Federal employees for the 2006-2007 Influenza Season. Reference.

2007: CAPT (ret.) Robert DeChristoforo reflects upon his duties at the NIH Clinical Center Pharmacy Department. Reference: “Not just a job.” Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2007; 64:1651-3.

2007: The Division of Immigration Health Services becomes a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Currently, there are 22 facilities with 17 pharmacists and 16 pharmacy technician positions across the country. They serve a total of 18,000 detainees and fill approximately 17,000 prescriptions per month. These patients (detainees) are from approximately 185 nations. Reference 1 or Reference 2

2007: A second Pharmacist Special Pay Workgroup is convened by RADM Robert Pittman and resulted in USPHS adjusting the variable special pay to $15,000 special pay annually to all PHS pharmacists that is independent of number of years served. Reference

2007: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports health centers and clinics to deliver preventive and primary health care to approximately 14 million low-income and uninsured individuals. As of 2007, there are 28 pharmacists working for HRSA across the country. Reference 1 or Reference 2

2007: RADM Robert Pittman, Chief Pharmacy Officer of the USPHS, states that pharmacists both in the public and private sectors have made a great impact on the lives of many people through their dedicated services and pharmaceutical care expertise. It is the reason we have a pharmacist month each year since the 1950s. Reference

2007: The first Federal Bureau of Prisons Chief of Clinical Pharmacy Programs position is announced. CDR Mike Shiber is selected for this position. Reference.

2007: There are 17 Commissioned Corps, civil service, and contract pharmacists working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in various capacities. Reference.

2007: A new and undated Pharmacy Category challenge coin is designed. On one side, the coin features the USPHS Anchor and Caduceus superimposed on the United States flag surrounded by the USPHS Mission Statement. The other side of the coin features a mortar and pestle flanked by the Bowl of Hygeia and the Green Pharmacy Cross surrounded by the USPHS Core Values. Challenge Coin

2007: There are 160 pharmacists serving in the Bureau of Prison (135 Commissioned officers and 25 Civilian services). Reference.

2007: Pharmacists from the United States Public Health Services deploy to assist the Department of Defense’s medical, dental, public health, and humanitarian-assistance missions in Southeast Asia, the Western and Outer Pacific Islands, and Latin America and the Caribbean on the USS Peleliu and USNS Comfort. CAPT Kathleen Downs is the first USPHS pharmacist to be Officer-in-Charge of the USS Peleliu while CDR Nita Sood and LCDR Andrei Nabakowski, are on the USNS Comfort.USS Peleliu Team or CAPT Kathleen Down's Log or USNS Comfort Team or Reference 1 / Reference 2

2007: Pharmacists are deployed to support President Gerald R. Ford Funeral, the Presidential State of the Union Address, and the Peace Officer’s Memorial. President Ford's Funeral / Reference

2008: The Indian Health Service completes 10-years of national credentialing through the National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (NCPS). Nearly 200 pharmacists are credentialled (over 100 currently active) in 8 different disease state areas. Such training allows Pharmacists to provide more effective services such as Medication Therapy Management to patients. Reference 1 or Reference 2 or Reference 3

2008: Pharmacists are deployed to support the Secretary Leavitt’s Health Diplomacy Initiative, in collaboration with the Navy, “to deliver humanitarian assistance, perform public health assessments, conduct public health infrastructure repair and provide health care training of indigenous health care workers.” There are two missions for this collaboration: The Continuing Promise 2008 and the Mercy Pacific Partnership. These missions begin in late spring and will run through fall of 2008. Reference

a. The USS Boxer sail from San Diego, CA on (April 28 to June 27) to ports in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Peru in 58-day period. USS Boxer Team.

b. The USS Kearsage sail from Norfolk, VA on (August 6 to December 1) to ports in Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Trinidad, Tobago, and Guyana over a 115-day period. During the deployment, the ship provides disaster relief in to many Haitians during Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, and Ike in late August to early September, beside its other duties in the Caribbean. USS Kearsarge Team.

c. The USNS Mercy sail on (May 22 till September 1) in Guam to the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Federated States of Micronesia, Timor Leste, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.USNS Mercy Team 1 / USNS Mercy Team 2.

2008: There is a call for pharmacy officers to work with the Department of Defense (DoD) Pharmacoeconomic Center, under a "Memorandum of Understanting (MOU) between HHS and DoD. Reference.

2008: Commissioned officers, including 18 pharmacists, are deployed to support the recovery from Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, & Ike , which kill more than 700 people in the Caribbeans, including the United States. PHS-2 RDF Team / Reference

2008: As of September 9, 2008: 1000 Commissioned Corps pharmacists are assigned to the following Agencies: Reference. Here are some of the duties and responsibilities that they have. Reference 1 / Reference 2

2009: Approximately 150 commissioned officers, including pharmacists, are deployed to support President Obama inauguration on January 20 at the Capitol, where over a million of people around the world come for the historical inauguration of the first African-American President in the United States. Reference 1 / Reference 2