Medical Service Corps Director Visits Naval Hospital Bremerton

By Douglas H Stutz, NHB PAO

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Eleanor Valentin, Commander, Navy Medicine Support Command and Director, Navy Medical Service Corps visited Naval Hospital Bremerton and met with command leadership and staff during a whirlwind meet-and-greet tour on May 27.

"Everyone I have met is very positive. That's a direct reflection of the leadership," said Valentin, a Seattle, Wash. native, who is the first female director of Navy's Medical Service Corps (MSC) and 2010 recipient of the National Women of Color Technologist of the Year Award.

"NHB is very famous to us and is often held up as a model to emulate in Navy Medicine and if the surgeon general was here he would say the same," said Valentin, addressing the command after Morning Colors.

"This comes from my heart; you have all answered the call, and that call is greater than yourself. I am so proud of all of you. You serve with honor, courage, commitment, transparency and integrity. Thank you for your service."

The visit gave Rear Adm. Valentin the opportunity to hold an Admiral's Call to address NHB's approximately 50 Medical Service Corps officers. Topics touched upon included promotions, records, career advancement and service to the Navy, Navy Medicine, and the country.

"MSC officers ask what they need to do to be competitive for promotion," said Valentin. "Do I need to deploy? Do I need to be certified in my specialty field? Do I need joint military education? Those three are not requirements for promotion, but I can tell you that those who do get promoted do have them. Those qualifications indicate concern and care for our profession and show competitiveness in improving."

Valentin also pointed out that the MSC is truly a diverse corps by using an operational officer as an example. An MSC officer needs to be able to handle a number of roles if assigned to an expeditionary medical platform. "They need to know how to set up the operational center," she said. "They need to know how to track our people, how to track our patients, how to arrange supplies and logistics and how to establish communications. Whether it's just-in-time training or timely instruction, our MSC officers will have the qualifications needed for the job."

The Medical Service Corps is comprised of three basic specialties covering 31 sub-specialties. The Clinical Care specialties include Audiology, Clinical Psychology, Dietetics/Food Management, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Podiatry, and Social Work. The Health Care Science specialty field encompasses Aerospace Experimental Psychology, Aerospace Physiology, Biochemistry, Entomology, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Medical Technology, Microbiology, Physiology, Radiation Health, and Research Psychology. Health Care Administration specialties consists of Education and Training Management, Financial Management, Fleet Marine Force, General Health Care Administration, Health Care Facilities Planning, Information Management, Manpower Systems Analysis, Medical Logistics Management, Operations Research, Patient Administration, and Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence.