Following a national agency search, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps selected a team of communications agencies to help provide comprehensive strategic communications services to help increase awareness of the Corps and its public health mission.
The team includes research and consulting firm Fors Marsh Group; PR firm Van Eperen, specializing in digital content marketing, social media, media relations and crisis communications; and behavior change marketing firm Marketing for Change.
As one of America’s seven uniformed services, the Commissioned Corps fills essential public health leadership and service roles within the nation’s federal government agencies and programs. Officers serve their country in communities most in need by providing essential health care services to underserved, and vulnerable populations.
The Corps is a team of more than 6,200 full-time, well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals dedicated to delivering the nation’s public health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science.
Adm Brett P. Giroir, M.D., assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), oversees the Department’s key public health offices and programs — including the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and the Commissioned Corps — a number of Presidential and Secretarial advisory committees, 10 regional health offices across the nation. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams oversees the day-to-day operations of the Commissioned Corps.
The communications program, administered under a National Institute of Health (NIH) Public Information and Communication Service (PICS) contract, will include strategic messaging, public outreach, website enhancements, digital communications and public relations.
“We agree with Adm Giroir’s description of the Commissioned Corps as one of the treasures in the U.S.,” said CEO Laura Van Eperen. “The Corps serves as a safety net for those who need help the most and we are proud to play a part in telling their story so more Americans are aware of the important work they do.”
About Van Eperen
Based in Rockville and with an office in Baltimore, Van Eperen is an award-winning integrated communications agency serving regional, national, and international clients in the public and private sectors and membership associations in higher education, economic development/real estate, health/science, and transportation sectors. Founded in 2004, the Maryland PR firm is a certified minority business enterprise (MBE) / disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE). Led and staffed by former journalists, the agency blends PR, digital, social and creative strategies to drive meaningful results. For more information follow @VanEperenAgency on Twitter and visit www.vaneperen.com.
