[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 11557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4572]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps; 
Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of 
Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is 
requesting nominations to fill five vacancies on the National Advisory 
Council (NAC) on the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). The NAC on 
the NHSC was established in 1978.

DATES: The agency must receive nominations on or before March 28, 2012.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be sent electronically to Njeri Jones 
at [email protected] or mailed to 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13-64, 
Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Huffman, Executive Secretary, 
National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps, at 
(301) 443-3863 or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Advisory Council on the 
National Health Service Corps (hereafter referred to as NAC) was 
established under 42 U.S.C. 254j (Section 337 of the Public Health 
Service Act), as amended by Section 10501 of the Affordable Care Act. 
The NAC is governed by provisions of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 
2), also known as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which sets forth 
standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.
    The NAC on the NHSC is a group of health care providers and health 
care site administrators who are experts in the issues that communities 
with a shortage of primary care professionals face in meeting their 
health care needs. The NAC is a frontline source of information to the 
NHSC senior management. The NAC is committed to effectively 
implementing its mandate to advise the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) and, by designation, the Administrator 
of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
    The NAC consists of 15 members who are Special Government 
Employees. Responsibilities of the Council include: (1) Serving as a 
forum to identify the priorities for the NHSC and bring forward and 
anticipate future program issues and concerns through ongoing 
communication with program staff, professional organizations, 
communities and program participants; (2) functioning as a sounding 
board for proposed policy changes by utilizing the varying levels of 
expertise represented on the Council to advise on specific program 
areas; (3) developing and distributing white papers and briefs that 
clearly state issues and/or concerns relating to the NHSC with specific 
recommendations for necessary policy revisions.
    Specifically, HRSA is requesting nominations for individuals with a 
background in primary care, dental health, and mental health, 
representing the following areas of expertise: Working with underserved 
populations, health care policy, recruitment and retention, site 
administration, customer service, marketing, organizational 
partnerships, research, and clinical practice. We are looking for 
nominees that either currently or have previously filled a role as site 
administrators, physicians, dentists, mid-level professionals (i.e., 
nurses, physician assistants), mental or behavioral health 
professionals, and NHSC scholars or loan repayors. Nominees will be 
invited to serve a 3-year term beginning after July 2012.
    HHS will consider nominations of all qualified individuals with a 
view to ensuring that the NAC includes the areas of subject matter 
expertise noted above and reflects the diverse primary care health care 
workforce and health delivery sites. Individuals may nominate 
themselves or other individuals, and professional associations and 
organizations may nominate one or more qualified persons for membership 
on the Council. Nominations shall state that the nominee is willing to 
serve as a member of the NAC and appears to have no conflict of 
interest that would preclude the membership. Potential candidates will 
be asked to provide detailed information concerning financial 
interests, consultancies, research grants, and/or contracts that might 
be affected by recommendations of the Committee to permit evaluation of 
possible sources of conflicts of interest.
    A nomination package should include the following information for 
each nominee: (1) A Letter of nomination stating the name, affiliation, 
and contact information for the nominee, the basis for the nomination 
(i.e., what specific attributes, perspectives, and/or skills does the 
individual possess that would benefit the workings of NAC), and the 
nominee's field(s) of expertise; (2) a biographical sketch of the 
nominee and a copy of his/her curriculum vitae; and (3) the name, 
address, daytime telephone number, and email address at which the 
nominator can be contacted.
    HHS has special interest in assuring that women, minority groups, 
and the physically disabled are adequately represented on advisory 
committees; and therefore, extends particular encouragement to 
nominations for appropriately qualified female, minority, or disabled 
candidates.

    Dated: February 21, 2012.
Reva Harris,
Acting Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 2012-4572 Filed 2-24-12; 8:45 am]
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