Our Employees
The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides quality health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives through a variety of direct patient care, public health service, and administrative positions. We are staffed by approximately 15,000 dedicated and hardworking employees made up of a mixture of Civil Service, federal employees, and United States Public Health Services (USPHS) Commissioned Officers.
Civil Service
The term "civil servant" encompasses a vast range of professionals who work for the government and whose salaries are paid by taxpayers. These employees can be administrative and/or non-management positions. All IHS positions are civil service but some have the option to be hired as U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officers.
U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Overseen by the Surgeon General, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is an elite team of more than 6,500 highly qualified public health professionals. Driven by a passion for public service, these men and women fill essential public health leadership and clinical service roles within the Nation's Federal Government agencies and in many professional capacities, including:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Dentists
- Behavioral Health
- Clinical and Rehabilitation Therapists
- Dieticians
- Environmental Health and Engineering
- Health Services
- Pharmacists
- Science and Research Health Professionals
- Veterinary Medicine
Learn more about the U. S. Public Health Service
