What's New
NEXT TUESDAY: In-person BPHC All-Hands
Join Jim at 5600 Fishers Lane for a featured talk on invisible disabilities, insights on FY 2023 and FY 2024 funding, and more! Wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
There are two options to participate: virtually via Zoom or in person.
Tuesday, October 10
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
5th floor Pavilion rooms
Join the day of the session
Call-in: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 161 130 1406
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TODAY: Newsletter deadline change
Newsletter announcements must be approved in SharePoint by COB TODAY because of the Columbus Day holiday. We’ll hold submissions received after today for the following issue.
Questions or concerns? Email the Digest or Insider mailbox.
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Calling all BPHC veterans
The BPHC Insider is planning a special recognition in the November 9 issue ahead of the Veterans Day holiday. We have contacted the veterans working in BPHC to ask for their participation. If we missed you and you would like to be included, please send the following to BPHCInsider@hrsa.gov no later than Friday, October 13:
- Branch of service
- Dates of service
- Photo of you in your uniform or in the field if available
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HRSA Health Center COVID-19 Response Team receives HHS’s second-highest honor
Congratulations to the 15 current and former BPHC employees who represented the HRSA Health Center COVID-19 Response Team at last week’s Departmental Awards ceremony: Sophia Adamantiades, Aimee Bellman, Larry Byrd, Kristen Hansen, Theodore Hufstader, Xuan Le, Sue Lin, Suma Nair, Hilary Price, Hannah Reisner, Felicia Sanchez, Alison Schaeffer, Shafali Srivastava, Michelle Wojcicki, and Christine Wong. The team won the Secretary's Award for Meritorious Service for their work to get COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, testing supplies, and masks directly to health centers. This is the second-highest honor award granted by HHS.
Read about all the Departmental Award winners and their accomplishments.
 Members of HRSA’s Health Center COVID-19 Response Team pose with HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson.
U.S. Public Health Service honors promoted Commissioned Corps officers
Congratulations to the following BPHC Commissioned Corps officers who were promoted at a ceremony last week:
Promoted to Captain:
- Keisha Johnson, Health Services Officer, OHCIO
- Sarah Trinidad, Nurse Officer, OHCIO
- Shayna Wilborn, Nurse Officer, OQI
Promoted to Commander:
- Jayne Berube, Dietitian, OQI
- Elizabeth Goodger, Health Services Officer, OHCIO
Promoted to Lieutenant Commander:
- Ava Taylor, Nurse Officer, OHCIO
 Top and bottom rows: BPHC officers pose with bureau leadership and the full cohort of promoted officers from HRSA. Middle row from left: CAPT Sarah Trinidad, CAPT Keisha Johnson, CAPT Shayna Wilborn, LCDR Ava Taylor
See more photos in the Promotion Ceremony photo album on SharePoint.
Recording and cleared slides available: 2022 UDS Trends webinar
OQI thanks everyone who joined its 2022 UDS Trends webinar last month. The webinar recording and slides are now available on the UDS Trends page of the UDS Data Resources SharePoint site.
Also available is the 2022 UDS Trends Data Brief (PDF), a companion product to the webinar that summarizes key 2022 data trends.
The slides and brief are cleared by OAA and available for staff to use in their public presentations. Submit inquiries via the BPHC Contact Form (Uniform Data System (UDS) > UDS Data Request).
 BPHC BOOK Q & A session recording
If you missed it or want to listen again, the recording of last week's BPHC BOOK Q & A Session is now available. You'll learn valuable information about the newly launched BPHC BOOK, including how to find the right contact for your business needs and how to reroute Salesforce tickets to the correct owner. Watch the recording or view the slides.
If you didn't get a chance yet…
Share your feedback in this two-question survey. If you see something that is wrong, or think something is missing, contact your office's BOOK Club member (listed on the Help page).
Getting to know Kanika Watson
Editor’s note: Interested in participating in a “Getting to know” column for the first or second time? Take a look at the revised questions to see what’s involved and check out our Getting to Know BPHC Staff page.
Meet Kanika Watson, Deputy Director, Communications Division, OSBO:
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When did you join the Bureau of Primary Health Care? How does your current role contribute to the Health Center Program mission?
June 2023.
My current role allows me to build on my 10 years of serving HHS and providing equitable communications and education to diverse stakeholders in the nation's highest-need communities.
What is one thing your co-workers would be surprised to learn about you, for example, a hidden talent?
I am a food enthusiast and recipe creator, DIY maven, and interior decorator who can master almost any dish and any floral, décor, or home project.
Before working at BPHC, what was the most unusual or interesting job you ever had?
The most interesting job I've had was working as a media advocacy manager for the American Heart Association. I enjoyed serving such a meaningful cause and engaging 50,000+ heart and stroke survivors and sharing their stories. I also worked directly with members of Congress, NFL athletes and coaches, and spent the day with interesting celebrity advocates, including Richard Simmons, Rachel Ray, and Star Jones. It was an exciting and meaningful experience.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Beyoncé. I had the opportunity to attend her Renaissance Tour this summer with my two best friends, and it was an amazing experience.
Learn more about Kanika. Email BPHC Insider to submit your name for a future Getting to Know.
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NEXT TUESDAY: HRSA’s CFC kickoff
The HRSA CFC team is thrilled to invite you to an exciting year of giving back and choosing to GIVE HAPPY. Please join us next Tuesday to kick off this year’s campaign in HRSA style. Administrator Johnson will share how coming together can have a greater impact on the world around us, CAPT Indira Harris will discuss the science of happiness (yes, it’s all about giving) and will lead a guided meditation, and Tony Bryan will share a “get happy” dance. We’ll have a cause board to inspire others, a cornhole competition, snacks, and some CFC swag.
Tuesday, October 10
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Pavilion 5A02 or online at CFC Zoom
Learn more and make your 2023 pledge at GiveCFC.org!
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CFC cause of the week: Education
The CFC cause of the week is Education. Ensuring educators and students have the necessary resources is an investment in our future. Promoting education sets the stage for higher lifetime earning potential for individuals; stronger, more empathetic communities; and a safer, more peaceful world. Unfortunately, many children (and adults) around the world still struggle to reach their full potential due to barriers in education, including tuition, the cost of books and supplies, extracurricular fees, and lack of access to technological resources.
Learn more:
Questions? Contact BPHC CFC Coordinators Jasmine Hawkins and Zaneta Clarke or your CFC keyworker listed in last week’s Insider.
Health & Wellness
Sign up for Stretch Series and Meditation Series in FY 2024
FedStrive's popular Stretch Series and Meditation Series will continue for FY 2024. To participate in the new fiscal year, you must register with new links. Sign up once to be registered for all sessions in FY 2024, beginning this week.
Virtual Office Stretch Sessions
Join us every Tuesday for 20 minutes of relaxing desk stretches.
2:00-2:20 p.m. ET
FY 2024 registration page
Virtual Meditation Sessions
Join us every Friday for an online guided meditation.
Noon-12:30 p.m. ET
FY 2024 registration page
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Upcoming wellness webinars
FedStrive and WorkLife4You sponsor the webinars below. WorkLife4You is a 24/7 personalized assistance program that provides guidance on health and wellness. To access resources and register for other WorkLIfe4You webinars, log in with username hrsa and password hrsa. You may also call 800-222-0364; TTY: 888-262-7848.
For additional resources, see HRSA’s WorkLife Programs page.
TODAY: Emotional Wellness — Managing Strong Emotions
Learn to manage and control your emotions when all your buttons have been pushed.
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Parenting Children with Disabilities: Parenting a Child with ADD/ADHD
Attend this webinar to get a general overview of ADD/ADHD, including testing, diagnosis. treatment options, and strategies for success.
Tuesday, October 10
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Financial Wellness — Retirement & Estate Planning
Find out how to create a successful retirement and estate plan. The webinar will help you to assess your current financial situation, set retirement goals and provide helpful resources for investment.
Wednesday, October 11
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
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Staffing Updates
BPHC job announcements
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Nurse Consultant, GS-610-13, Rockville only, closes on Friday, October 13.
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OHCPM Public Health Analyst, GS-9, 11, 12, 13 (or Commissioned Corps in analogous positions); lateral reassignment opportunities; BPHC employees only; duty stations will not be changed; closes at 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 25.
For other jobs at HRSA, visit USAJOBS.
For other detail opportunities, go to the Detail and Deployment Opportunities SharePoint page.
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