Medical officers in the Commissioned Corps have the flexibility and freedom to pursue a diverse and fulfilling career. The medical corps consists of more than 900 medical officers who work to:

• Promote the public health of the United States
• Control and prevent disease in the United States and globally
• Provide medical care to Native Americans/ Alaska Natives, Federal inmates and detainees, members of the Coast Guard and other vulnerable populations throughout America and abroad
• Assure safe and effective use of drugs and medical devices
• Expand national health resources to underserved areas of the U.S. and U.S. protectorates
• Improve the health care system, including development of innovations in health care

In addition, medical officers may have the opportunity to assist in public health responses to man-made and natural disasters and participate in rural health missions helping some of the neediest populations in the Nation.

Medical officers serve in an incredible variety of clinical and scientific practice settings throughout the Federal government, including clinical medicine, epidemiology, program management, applied public health, emergency preparedness and response, and research positions.

Opportunities for clinical medicine exist almost anywhere and everywhere in the U.S. and U.S. protectorates. Applied public health, epidemiological, and program management positions also exist overseas as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in other agencies. Below is a list of the Federal agencies and programs where physicians have the greatest likelihood of finding an assignment – the order is based on the number of physician officers presently assigned. See duty station map for more details.

• Indian Health Service (IHS)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)