First HHS U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Pharmacist Serves Aboard USNS Comfort

August 28, 2007 - CMDR Nita Sood, an officer in the HHS U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, is the first USPHS pharmacist to serve on the USNS Comfort's humanitarian mission to Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteering for the deployment, she came aboard when the ship was in Peru in mid-August and has also provided medical assistance to patients in Ecuador and Colombia.

"This is the best job that I have ever had," Sood said. "It’s exciting because you can make an impact in a lot of people’s lives. This is the cream of the crop as far as helping patients."

The USNS Comfort is on a four-month mission as part of President Bush’s initiative "Advancing the Cause of Social Justice in the Western Hemisphere."

For more information:

• First USPHS Pharmacist Aboard Comfort Welcomes Opportunity (U.S. Navy)
• View Video: USPHS involvement on the USNS Comfort featuring CDR Nita Sood (U.S. Navy)

Last revised: December 14, 2007