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![handle is hein.crs/goveptf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service
Infrnrning the legislitive debate since 1914
Updated July 11, 2024
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
In 1972, Congress established two programs to support the
recruitment and retention of uniformed medical
professionals: (1) a health professions scholarship program
to train and prepare civilian students for a variety of careers
as military medical professionals and (2) the Uniformed
Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) for
members of the uniformed services and certain civilians.
USUHS is the only federally administered medical and
health sciences school in the United States.
ackground
Between the late 1960s and early 1970s, Congress and the
executive branch initiated a series of reviews to consider
reforms to the military draft and the Selective Service
System as part of the transition to an all-volunteer force.
Coinciding with these efforts were some congressional
concerns about how the Department of Defense (DOD)
would address critical shortages in military medical
personnel, including the recruitment and retention of health
professionals.
Congress identified several factors influencing DOD's
critical shortage of military physicians, such as
* Nationwide Physician Shortage. In 1970, the Carnegie
Commission on Higher Education estimated that the
United States had a shortage of approximately 50,000
physicians.
* Low Medical Officer Retention. A 1972 Senate Armed
Services Committee report stated DOD's military
physician retention rate-for those with at least two
years of service-was approximately 1%.
* Doctor Draft Law Expiration. Section 5(a) of the
Military Selective Service Act (P.L. 92-129, as
amended), which authorized the President to draft a
certain number of physicians into the military, expired
on July 1, 1973.
Given these concerns, DOD advocated to Congress the
urgent need for establishing a health professions
university (see S.Rept. 92-827). In response, Congress
passed the Uniformed Services Health Professionals
Revitalization Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-426), which established
USUHS and the Armed Forces Health Professions
Scholarship Program (AFHPSP).
USUHS's mission is to educate and develop uniformed
health professionals, scientists, and leaders; by conducting
cutting-edge, military-relevant research; by leading the
[Military Health System (MHS)] in key functional and
intellectual areas; and by providing operational support to
units around the world. The university is co-located with
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Naval
Support Activity Bethesda, MD. USUHS also partners with
several military treatment facilities and military units across
the United States that serve as student clinical sites and host
certain research projects.
Since its inaugural class in 1980, USUHS has awarded over
10,000 degrees. The university continues to supply DOD,
the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), and the U.S.
Coast Guard (USCG) with physicians, advanced practice
nurses, health scientists, specialized medical technicians,
and medical researchers.
As the supply and demand of military medical personnel
fluctuates over time, Congress periodically conducts
oversight activities in an effort to ensure the military has a
sufficient medical force to support U.S. military operations
during peacetime and wartime.
Governance
Statute (10 U.S.C. §2113) requires the Secretary of Defense
(SECDEF) to appoint a President of the University. DOD
Instruction 5105.45 designates the USUHS President as the
university's chief executive officer, responsible for offering
academic health programs, administering medical research
initiatives, and maintaining other requirements that support
certain military operations or national security objectives.
The president works under the authority, direction, and
control of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs. The law (10 U.S.C. §2113a) establishes a Board of
Regents to assist and provide independent advice to the
USUHS President and the SECDEF. The Board consists of
nine voting members appointed by the SECDEF. Non-
voting members also serve on the Board, including the
surgeons general of the uniformed services.
Funding
The Defense Health Program account, under Operation &
Maintenance in the annual defense appropriation, funds
USUHS. Between FY2009 to FY2024, the annual
appropriation for USUHS increased by 120% (see Figure
1). For FY2025, DOD requested $204 million. USUHS also
receives external funding from other academic institutions,
research organizations, federal agencies, and private entities
to conduct certain medical research or programs. In
academic year 2021-2022, USUHS received $363.6 million
in total research funding awards, of which $46.9 million
(13%) was from non-DOD sources.
Academkc Programs
In addition to physician training, Congress has directed the
establishment of other health professions training programs
at USUHS. The university offers a range of accredited
degree or certificate-granting academic programs, such as
Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Philosophy (numerous
fields), Doctor of Nursing Practice, and several master's
and bachelor's level degrees organized under four school or
colleges:
* F. Edward H6bert School of Medicine
* Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing
* Postgraduate Dental College](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/goveptf0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)