LT Kathryn Pink (MSEH ’14) is an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) assigned to the Fort Yuma Service Unit (FYSU), one of three Service Units in the Western Arizona District. As the principal EHO for the FYSU, LT Pink is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive environmental health program serving the Quechan and Cocopah Indian Nations (combined pop. 3,500). Specifically, LT Pink is responsible for routine assessments of food establishments and complex institutions; instruction of basic and advanced food and workplace safety-related courses; implementing community-based injury prevention activities; routine vector-borne/ zoonotic surveillance, testing, outreach and control; assisting with tribal capacity-building initiatives; and assisting with emergency preparedness and response activities. She also provides services to the Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, CA and when called upon, provides cross-training or coverage to two other field offices in the Western AZ District. She joined the Indian Health Service (IHS) in 2016, reporting to Fort Yuma as a civilian and converting to the Commissioned Corps in late 2017. In just her first IHS assignment, LT Pink’s efforts and contributions toward the advancement of environmental and public health initiatives has resulted in positive outcomes for the tribal communities she serves proudly.

In 2017, LT Pink received the honor of being recognized as the Environmental Health Specialist of the Year for the Phoenix Area region (over 40 tribal communities in 4 states) and ultimately, nationally as IHS Environmental Health Specialist of the Year (encompassing 12 IHS Area Offices nationwide). Prior to joining IHS, she served over a year as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Durham County Health Department in North Carolina. She maintains the following professional credentials: Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (North Carolina), Child Passenger Safety Technician (Safe Kids USA), ServSafe Certified Instructor and Proctor, Certified Pool Operator (NSPF), and Red Cross Lifeguard/First Aid/CPRO Instructor. She has used her extensive training and experience in food safety and aquatics facilities management to cross-train and mentor tribal pool operators and her peers in two Phoenix Area district offices. She serves as the secretary of the local Commissioned Officer Association (COA) branch. She was commissioned to the US Public Health Service in December 2017.

Photos courtesy of LT Kathryn Pink