The alarm clock rings and we rise each morning and go about our daily routines, with a natural focus on the immediate periphery. Surprisingly enough, however, there are individuals all around us–– perhaps a kid in the neighborhood–– who may one day do us all proud.
    Meet Rear Admiral General Scott Giberson, 41, a West Wyoming native who took his life’s work in pharmacy about as far as it can go— to earn his newly appointed title of Assistant Surgeon General of the United States.
    Giberson, a 1987 Wyoming Area graduate, recalls growing up in the greater Wyoming Valley as an “all around good period in my life, from friendships to academics to athletics.” He attended the University of Scranton and Temple School of Pharmacy and earned his master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) and additional certifications and credentials with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
    “After a pharmacy student internship experience with the Indian Health Service, I knew I wanted to become a commissioned officer within the US Public Health Service,” he explained during an exclusive interview with IndependentNEPA.
    Giberson earned his MPH while working with the Department of Defense in Pacific Command, Hawaii, with a focus on international public health that took him to Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, and other Asian-Pacific countries.
    “I remember a few very unique experiences, such as presenting to Parliament in Papua New Guinea on a potential HIV/AIDS epidemic in their country and even less ‘official’ experiences such as singing karaoke to ‘Hotel California’ with Vietnamese military medical leadership, while being hosted as guests on a northern Vietnam military base,” he recalled.
    “Our Corps has a unique mission: to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of our nation,” Giberson added. “We are smaller in number than most other uniformed services but serve the many missions of the agencies we are assigned to, such as the Indian Health Service, CDC, FDA, etc.”
    Giberson noted that the ranking system in the Corps is as other naval officers, from ensigns to admirals.
    “The 0-7 rank of rear admiral comes with the title of assistant surgeon general. Of our 11 chief professional officers (CPOs), roughly seven are rear admirals. An easy analogy is to think of our CPOs like the President’s Cabinet. We each represent one of our major professional disciplines (physicians, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, engineers, etc.) and collectively serve the U.S. Surgeon General, Vice-Admiral Regina Benjamin. We are like the Surgeon General’s ‘Cabinet.’”
    After 16 years, Giberson admits that each day is met with varying degrees of involvement that may find him delivering a commencement speech at a university, acting as a surrogate for the U.S. Surgeon General, or serving as an advocate for his Corps officers.
    “I assist with career development, mentoring, and even development of a vision and strategy for our profession nationally,” he said. “We attend plenty of meetings, travel a great deal, and partner with external organizations, agency heads, and government programs to serve as public health leadership. We also maintain a ‘day job’, which for me is director of a national HIV/AIDS program and acting director of Clinical and Community Services for the Indian Health Service.”
    “Historically, the U.S. Public Health Service was responsible for eradicating smallpox, helping to create the World Health Organization, raising awareness of the nation’s addiction to tobacco, responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, caring for American Indian/Alaska Natives, and assisting our sailors and soldiers during every war since our inception more than 200 years ago,” he added.
    Stationed in Rockville, Maryland, Giberson takes pride in his family- both back home in NEPA as well as his wife of 10 years, Lynette, and 8-year-old son, Payton.
    “Neither my day-to-day schedule nor the experiences I’ve had across my career would be possible without unconditional loving support from home,” he said. “They give me balance and illuminate my priorities in life.”
    Impressive career aside, and with a seemingly endless list of credentials after his name, Giberson appears as humble as he is honorable–– and family members here at home will attest to it.
    “I am proud of what I’ve done and have to thank many others (mentors, colleagues, and family) for helping me get here. That said, accomplishments and credentials don’t inspire people, actions do. One of the most rewarding things I can do in this role is to inspire others,” he concluded.