The Cincinnati Branch of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service (Cincinnati COA) is the professional membership organization dedicated to representing the interests of PHS Commissioned Corps officers. Cincinnati COA is not a government entity and does not speak for any department or agency of the federal government. We foster camaraderie and esprit de corps among our members through community service projects and social events. We advocate for the interests of retired and active duty commissioned officers. We provide support for our active duty members’ career development and readiness through informal mentoring and information sharing. We are one of two COA branches in the state of Ohio (there is also a Great Lakes Branch). Our members include active-duty U.S. Public Health Service officers stationed throughout the state of Ohio, including those assigned to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, Wright Patterson Medical Center, and the Bureau of Prisons; as well as in Kentucky at the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Our members also include retired officers who reside throughout the state and retired and active-duty officers with a connection to Cincinnati COA.
Click here to view a short video on the history of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Bylaws
Cincinnati-Branch-Bylaws-March 2022
Mission
The mission of the Cincinnati Branch of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service is to improve and protect the public health of the United States by advocating for the Commissioned Corps and its officers
Vision
The Cincinnati Branch of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service is the vibrant, proactive, member-based local Branch of the National Association that supports and advocates for the PHS Commissioned Corps and its active and retired officers.
Executive Board for 2022-2023 Operational Year
Past President: LCDR Bryan Beamer
President: LCDR Melissa Edmondson
President Elect: LCDR Teresa Kastner
Treasurer: CDR David Gwisdalla
Secretary: LT Grace Vixama
Retired Officer: CAPT (Ret.) William Murphy
Chapter Workgroups
In addition to the Executive Committee, the Cincinnati COA currently has the following active workgroups/committees. These workgroups/committees are listed below with their respective chair or co-chairs. New members are always welcome and if you are interested in serving on any of these committees, please contact the chair or co-chairs. If you need assistance obtaining email addresses of a committee chair, please contact chapter president, LCDR Bryan Beamer at beamerb@gmail.com.
Advocacy: Co-chaired by LCDRs Bryan Beamer and Karl Feldmann
Community Service: Co-chaired by CAPT Marie de Perio and CDR Deb Hirst
HOSA: Co-chaired by LCDR Laura Reynolds and LT Andrew Todd
Membership: Co-chaired by CAPT (ret.) Alan Echt and LCDR Teresa Kastner
MOAA Updates: Chaired by CAPT (ret.) Bill Heitbrink
PHS Athletics: Chaired by LCDR Chaolong Qi
Readiness: Co-chaired by CAPT Cindy Striley, CAPT Mark Methner, and CDR Ed Zechmann
Retirement: Co-chaired by CAPT (ret.) Geoff Calvert and LCDR Judi Eisenberg
Zoom Master and Facebook Page: Co-chaired by LCDRs Catherine Beaucham and Hannah Dupont
Contact us at: CincinnatiCOAUSPHS@gmail.com