Day V Pilot Internship at the Office of the Surgeon General: August 9-13

In the final day of piloting the OSG internship, Nicole and Nzuekoh began to truly realize how much their minds had been opened during the week, considering all of the established people they had met and the high influential work they had witnessed. This last day was a final culmination of the experiences they had enjoyed throughout the week.

In a meeting with the Shadow Acting Chief of Staff, CDR Gregory Davis, Nzuekoh and Nicole were introduced to a new initiative the OSG is taking to provide health care to underserved regions. An issue of significant concern with the health care system in the United States is the surplus of specialized physicians and consequent shortage of general physician program. The OSG is now in the process of forming a program that will produce more general physicians who will greatly serve both specific underserved regions, like Native American reservations, and the U.S. population as a whole.  It is an exciting initiative that Nicole and Nzuekoh look forward to seeing being implemented in the future.

The day came to a close with Nicole, Nzuekoh, and Ms. Sheila’s presentation of the work they had completed during the week, the findings and deliverables for the HOSA internship through the OSG and partnership with MRC.  They prepared steps to take in the future in order to continue collaboration with the OSG during the rest of the year.

The greatest final moment of the amazing experience was the presentation of certificates by the Office of Public Health to Nicole, Nzuekoh, and Ms. Sheila. All three felt wholeheartedly honored and even more appreciative of the opportunity that they had been given. By this moment they had not only made a difference in the future of HOSA, but also in themselves. 

Piloting the OSG internship was one of the most pivotal moments in the lives of the two national officers; one that they will always remember. The passion, love, and excitement for HOSA and health care that Nicole and Nzuekoh both had only grew throughout the weekend. It makes them happiest to know that other HOSA members will also be able to grow through this opportunity for years to come. 

Day IV Pilot Internship at the Office of the Surgeon General: August 9-13

Day IV

Nicole, Nzuekoh, and LT La Keisha Jones

   “There has been an emergency, please exit the building.”

    The morning began with an experience ironically relevant to the emergency preparedness missions within the OSG. As Ms. Sheila, Nzuekoh, and Nicole were evacuated from the hotel around 6:45am, they were reminded of the gained insight from OSG internship, the efforts of the Medical Reserve Corps, and the widespread need for emergency preparedness. Although this particular evacuation was minor and the result of thunderstorm related technical issues, plans and awareness are crucial for effective responses. The three laughed throughout the day about their highly relevant experience, and Lieutenant Commander Schaffzin even jokingly replied, “Didn’t you know that the MRC arranged this to test you over the past week?”

 
    The rest of the day was just as exciting! Following the events of the morning was a meeting with the Chief of Staff for the Surgeon General, Captain Davis. It consisted of an enlightening discussion about the plethora of opportunities within the Commission Corps and the Public Health Service and how HOSA students are the perfect pipeline of professionals to take advantage of such opportunities.

    With only one day remaining, Ms. Sheila, Nzuekoh, and Nicole designated some intense project time to fine-tune logistics on internship deliverables for the amazing HOSA-OSG Internship that is soon to be viral. The productive day ended with a venture into the Smithsonian Museums. They went to see the infamous Hope Diamond, the patriotic Star Spangled Banner exhibit, and some of the most inspirational women in history at the First Lady exhibit. All of the wonderful history was a reminder of the importance of taking initiative and having passion, two vital elements for quality healthcare that HOSA members across the nation reflect on each day.

Laura Bush's Gown at the President Bush's Inaugural Address

Depiction of George Washington

The Hope Diamond

Day III Pilot Internship at the Office of the Surgeon General: August 9-13

DAY III

Nicole and Nzuekoh beside a bust of Hubert Humphrey in the Health and Human Services Headquarters

The experience became even more exciting as Nzuekoh and Nicole ventured into Washington D.C. Upon entering the venue, they were struck with the impressive display of portraits of distinguished leaders from the past Secretaries of Health and Human Services. The Department of Health and Human Services is dedicated to helping Americans lead healthy lives. The Office of Public Health and Science, which includes the Office of the Surgeon General, is in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Ms. Sheila admires the wall of portraits and biographies of previous Secretaries of Health and Human Services

Nzuekoh and Nicole first had the pleasure of meeting with Marko Mijic, a HOSA alumnus working in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) within HHS. Marko is a former National HOSA Region Vice President and was able to give Nzuekoh and Nicole valuable insight into discovering one's destined career path, the workings of ASPE, and the potential of the HOSA alumni network.

LCDR Monahan, Nzuekoh, Nicole, and Ms. Sheila in the SOC

 One of the highlights of the day was a tour of the Secretary's Operation Center (SOC). The SOC is the source of command and control through specialized technology, information collection and assessment, and communications that is crucial to HHS. Staffed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, the SOC is absolutely essential for emergency response. The SOC has been toured by the most distinguished personnel, from the president to top news anchors. Nzuekoh and Nicole were ecstatic to have such a rare opportunity.

Nicole, RADM Rutstein, Nzuekoh, and Ms. Sheila
in the Surgeon General's HHS office

Ms. Sheila, Nzuekoh, and Nicole met with many other dignitaries including the Acting Director of the Office of Science and Communications, Dr. Mary Beth Bigley, and the Acting Deputy Surgeon General,  Rear Admiral David Rutstein. They also had the pleasure of meeting with LTJG Michael Bowens and LT La Keisha Jones, Special Assistants to the Office of the Surgeon General, and realized the incredible workload that the office takes on daily.

Nzuekoh and Nicole then moved on to Capitol Hill, where they met with the legislative assistants of U.S senators and representatives. Along with Senor Legislative Fellow Meredith Scaggs, they visited the offices of Congressman Paul Ryan, Congressman Rúben Hinojosa, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, Congressman Pete Sessions, and Senator John Coryn. They spoke about HOSA, the internship at the Office of the Surgeon General, and support for the health education bill, HR2946. The two national officers were pleasantly surprised by the widespread awareness of HOSA and the need for healthcare professionals. Nzuekoh and Nicole left feeling empowered by the spirit of D.C and the knowledge that they have the ability to make a significant difference. 

Nzuekoh outside of Representative Ryan's Office

Nicole outside of Representative Kirkpatrick's Office

Day II Pilot Internship at the Office of the Surgeon General: August 9-13

 DAY II

LCDR Schaffzin, LT Payne, LTJG Hager, Nicole, Nzuekoh, Ms. Sheila

The day began with focus on sharing the missions of HOSA, MRC, and OSG through elevator speeches. Nzuekoh and Nicole were able to further refine their knowledge of HOSA into effective messages that highlighted the importance and impact of HOSA. These elevator speeches proved to be valuable throughout the day as many inquired about HOSA.


By being present at the MRC conference calls, Nzuekoh and Nicole witnessed more efforts by the Office of the Surgeon General. They learned about a new initiative to expand effective emergency preparedness and understood further the relations between national and state units.

The Office of the Surgeon General is filled with rich history. The Surgeon General dates back to 1871 and was originally called the Supervising Surgeon. Today, the Surgeon General manages the Commission Corps and reports directly to the Assistant Secretary for Health, promoting a healthy nation. Some of the initiatives addressed by Surgeon General Regina Benjamin include:

• Childhood Obesity 
• Healthy Homes
• Tobacco Use
• Underage drinking

These initiatives are selected based upon extensive research and allow for widespread awareness to improve the health of the nation. Local efforts, such as those of HOSA members, are essential for achieving these goals.

By the end of the day, Nzuekoh and Nicole had compelling new outlooks on the public health and health policy as a whole.

Day I Pilot Internship at the Office of the Surgeon General: August 9-13

National HOSA has begun an exciting opportunity to strengthen the pipeline of passionate students to tomorrow's health care professions. Beginning this fall, all HOSA members will be able to apply for a week-long internship at the **Office of the Surgeon General**. Nzuekoh Nchinda and Nicole Scott are honored to represent HOSA in piloting this program. Together with HOSA Inc. Chair Ms. Sheila Carlton, Nzuekoh and Nicole will be continuing this initiative that began last year with the work of Michael Brode and Claire Lucas.

Both Nzuekoh and Nicole are deeply passionate about public health and love participating in community service projects. Therefore, they were very excited to see how this internship would broaden their perspectives of health and serving others.

DAY I

Nzuekoh, Nicole, and Ms. Sheila Carlton

Nzuekoh, Nicole, and Ms. Sheila arrived at the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) excited and ready for the week. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Lieutenant Commander Sam Schaffzin, who was kind enough to dedicate his week to work closely with them. Lieutenant Commander Schaffzin is a highly active member of the hosting office of the **Medical Reserve Corps**, a network of civilian volunteer units nationwide that are dedicated to building "strong, healthy and prepared communities."

The two national officers and chair spent the day meeting and conversing with distinguished officials from different offices within the Office of Public Health Services. Fully integrated into the workings of the office, they became very involved. They learned about how public health is conducted in a variety of settings from rural towns to Native American reservations to international missions. From sitting on conference calls, the three developed an understanding of the relationship between federal, state and local levels. 

The work day ended with collaboration on developing a sustainable OSG internship and strengthening the partnership between HOSA and MRC. Nzuekoh and Nicole believe strongly that this opportunity will be a life-changing experience. 

**Be sure to check out the links**