Zimble Named Health Leader of the Year

Retired President of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and former Navy Surgeon General retired Vice Admiral James Zimble has been named as the Health Leader of the Year by the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service.

(PRWEB) April 4, 2005 -- Retired Navy Vice Admiral James A. Zimble has been named as the 2005 Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Officers Association (COA) Health Leader of the Year by the COA Board of Directors. Admiral Zimble is being recognized for his long and distinguished service directed toward the goal of advancing the nations health status.

During his 46 years of civilian and uniformed service to his nation, Dr Zimble, a committed supporter of the PHS Commissioned Corps, served as the Navys 30th Surgeon General and President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), the services medical school. Admiral Zimble was the USUHS President in its critical developmental years from 1991 to 2004.

Admiral Zimble's service as Navy Surgeon General was marked by a progression of difficult national crises which were well met through his dedicated and skillful leadership. That style was honed though his service in a variety of clinical and managerial posts prior to his elevation to the head of the Navys health and medical system. He carried that experience and personal touch to his post retirement post as President of USUHS.

Admiral Zimbles commitment to performance-based leadership, force protection, technologic innovation, rapid reaction to global threats and humanitarian crises, made USUHS an academic hallmark of innovative health training and response. His leadership has contributed to making USUHS graduate programs rank among the most respected in the country. Today, PHS Commissioned Corps officers are enrolled in medicine, nursing, and public health graduate programs at USUHS alongside other uniformed service personnel.

Dr. Zimbles personal vision has benefited both civilian and military health systems. An example of his forward looking innovations is The National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center, a world-class medical education center, which served as a template for more than 35 other non-military educational institutions. USUHS will continue to benefit from his legacy in playing a vital role in the protection of the health of the Nation.

Previous recipients of the COA Health Leader of the Year Award include, Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu, U.S. Deputy Surgeon General; former DHHS Secretary Tommy Thompson; and Senators Bill Frist, Tim Hutchinson, and John Warner.

The award will be presented on June 9th, 2005 at the closing dinner of the annual US PHS Professional Conference sponsored by COA. The event will be in Philadelphia, PA at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel. COA is the professional association representing the interests of the officers of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S Public Health Service.

Contact COA at 301-731-9080 for additional information.

###