BOARD DATE:	  28 January 2010

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090009829


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests his constructive service credit (CSC) be increased by 3.5 years to account for his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and his residency training in pharmacy.

2.  The applicant states he received CSC for his Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree, but not for his PharmD degree or his residency training in that discipline.

3.  The applicant provides:

	a.  a copy of U.S. Army Recruiting Command Form 1131 (Department of the Army Service Agreement - F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program);

	b.  a copy of Orders A-04-806243, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, St. Louis (AHRC-STL), MO, dated 3 April 2008, as amended, awarding 4 years, 0 months, and 0 days of CSC;

	c.  a copy of AHRC-STL memorandum, dated 5 April 2008, subject:  Appointment as a Reserve Commissioned Officer of the Army Under Title 10, U.S. Code, Sections 12201 and 12203;

	d.  a copy of a 15-page job description/performance review as a clinical pharmacist, dated 26 October 2003;

	e.  a copy of an offer of employment, dated 28 March 2002;

	f.  copies of Internal Revenue Service W-2 statements for tax years 2002-2007;

	g.  a copy of a certificate of completion of the resident in pharmacy program for the period 1 July 2001 through 30 June 2002; and

	h.  a copy of his PharmD degree awarded 21 May 2001.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant is a captain, Medical Corps (MC).  He is currently serving as a categorical medical intern at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX.

2.  The applicant received a PharmD degree in pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 2001.  He completed a residency in pharmacy practice at the Christiana Care Residency Programs, Wilmington, DE, during the period 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002.

3.  The applicant graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in June 2008.  He was a Health Professions Scholarship Program participant and was ordered to active duty for 4 years on 6 June 2008 to serve as an MC officer.  He was given 4 years of CSC for his DO degree.

4.  DOD Instruction (DODI) 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel) implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs.  CSC provides an officer who begins commissioned service after obtaining the additional education, training, or experience required for appointment, designation, or assignment as an officer in a health profession, with a grade and date of rank comparable to that attained by officers who begin commissioned service after getting a baccalaureate degree and serve for the period of time it would take to obtain the additional education.  The DODI provides the following:

6.1.2.2.  CSC shall be awarded as follows:

	6.1.2.2.1.  Four years of CSC shall be granted for completion of first professional degrees that include medical (MD), osteopathy (DO), dental (DDS or DMD), optometry (OD), podiatry (PodD or DP), veterinary (DVM), and pharmacy (PhD).

	6.1.2.2.2.  Credit for master's and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than medicine and dentistry, whether it is the primary degree or an additional advanced degree, shall be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education of up to 2 years for a master's degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate.  Credit may not include time spent in attainment of baccalaureate or other lower degrees.  No additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single field, or closely related field.  The total credit allowed for having both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate.

	6.1.2.2.3.  The additional degree must add adjunctive skills to the primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in the anticipated position in the Military Service concerned.

5.  Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) prescribes policy, procedures, and eligibility criteria for appointment in the Reserve Components of the Army, with or without concurrent active duty, in the six branches of the Army Medical Department.  It states:

	a.  An MD (or DO) degree is awarded 4 years of CSC.

	b.  A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in pharmacy may be awarded 4 years of CSC, but a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree may only be awarded 2 years of CSC, provided it was not earned concurrently with an MD degree and the degree adds adjunctive skills to the primary medical specialty to which assigned.

	c.  CSC for advanced degrees in pharmacy may not be awarded to Medical Corps officers unless specifically approved by the Secretary of the Army.

6.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Program Manager of Graduate Medical Education Division, Office of the Surgeon General which states that DOD Directive [sic] 6000.13, in paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 provides "…credit for master's and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than medicine and dentistry, whether it is the primary degree or an additional advanced degree, shall be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education of up to 2 years for a master's degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate…."  The opinion further states, "[Applicant] completed a 2-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree….recommend 2 years of constructive credit…."  The opinion continues by stating, "[Applicant's] pharmacy residency was not required for him [to] become an MC officer; therefore, recommend that no credit be given for the pharmacy residency."

7.  The applicant was provided an opportunity to respond to the advisory opinion, but he did not do so.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant requests CSC for his PharmD in Pharmacy and his 1-year residency in pharmacy.  He earned the degree before he attended medical school.

2.  An advisory opinion from the Office of the Surgeon General quotes DODI 6000.13.  The opinion recommends awarding the applicant an additional 2 years of CSC for his PharmD degree, presumably because that degree adds adjunctive skills to his primary medical specialty.  The advisory opinion does not recommend CSC for his residency in pharmacy because there is no requirement to become an MC officer.

3.  The applicant's study of drugs and medicinal substances and the application of their therapeutic uses in the practice of medicine adds adjunctive skills to his position as an MC officer.  Therefore, the Board concurs with the Office of the Surgeon General that he should be awarded an additional 2 years of CSC for his PharmD degree.  The Board also concurs with the recommendation that he not be granted CSC for his residency in pharmacy.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

__x_____  __x_____  _____x__  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by recomputing his CSC to add an additional 2 years for his PharmD degree and, if such recomputation results in promotion eligibility, that he be considered for promotion.

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to awarding him CSC for his residency in pharmacy.



      ___________x______________
       	     CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090009829



3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090009829



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1