Public Health Leadership Scholars: Day One - July 9th, 2018

To begin the 2018 HOSA Public Health Leadership Scholars program, the Scholars had the pleasure of listening to Commander (CDR) Skip Payne of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). He introduced the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ), which impact every person and action within the USPHS. The first ECQ is leading change. He explained how strategy plays an important role in change and how there must be a well thought out plan. The second ECQ is leading people. For this ECQ, CDR Payne described the difference between management and leadership. Management, he said, only benefits the manager in the short term because often they rely on the manipulation of their staff. Leadership, on the other hand, occurs when someone motivates other people and, as a result, both the leader and the staff receive benefits in the long term. The third ECQ is being results driven. There is a limited amount of time to make an impact due to presidential and other governmental term limits and without results, action is much less effective. ECQ four centers on business acumen, which means following the processes and systems in place to use people, financial resources, and relevant information to receive the best possible outcome. The final ECQ, building coalitions, strives to have individuals build partnerships around the “why” of an issue, because the “why” is what motivates people.

Within the Scholars’ introspective conversation with Lieutenant Commander Katie Hager from the U.S. Public Health Service, she discussed her prominent work with Alaskan Native tribes. The Scholars learned about the difference between cultural competence and cultural humility. Traditionally, the public defines “cultural competence” as a significant means to wholly understand one’s beliefs and practices associated with culture different from their own. However, the U.S. Public Health Service understands that, regardless of how much time and interaction an outsider may spend in another one’s culture, it is impossible to comprehend the civilization and customs at the same level as the natives. Thus, one must not “comprehend” different societies as that is falsified and almost ignorant way of thinking, but instead, practice cultural humility. As current and prospective health professionals, we must be absorbent and modest towards another culture to provide care that is consoling and reflective to those within that society. With this new understanding, the Scholars are now conscious and cognizant of this important term substitution.

In addition to the other speakers, the Scholars had the opportunity to learn about the history of the USPHS from Captain (CAPT) Patrick Denis. CAPT Denis has been in the USPHS for approximately 26 years, fourteen of which were in the Commissioned Corps. In 1798, the Merchant Marines were established to care for men injured at sea. In 1871, the Surgeon General position was created. The 20th Surgeon General, who was appointed in 2017, is Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, who oversees 6500 Commissioned Corps officers in 32 different entities.

Outside of the actual Public Health Leadership Scholar program, the Scholars enjoyed exploring the historical monuments and museums in the District of Columbia. The Scholars visited the National Portrait Gallery and saw various exhibits, like the U.S. Presidents. During the evening, the Scholars walked through the great National Mall and witnessed the sunset against the National Monuments.