PAPAG PA of the Year 2011

2011 LT Darin W. Smith

LT Darin W. Smith entered the USPHS in June 2007 as a Physician Assistant with the Department of Immigration Health Services in Tacoma, Washington. He recently completed his Master of Physician Assistant Studies in May 2011. He currently works at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington which is a high-risk-for-violence detention facility with rapid turn-over rates. Its 1,500 bed capacity houses both male and female detainees while their immigration status is being determined. LT Smith’s primary duty is as a Physician Assistant, but his additional duties and responsibilities are numerous.

LT Darin Smith continues to provide outstanding service to ICE Health Services Corps (IHSC) at local, regional and head-quarters levels as well as dedication and work in his community, and larger services to USPHS as a commissioned corps officer. Among his many accomplishments, LT Smith developed a comprehensive HIV program at the NWDC. The HIV program that he developed focused on ensuring that the entire preventative services required for this population was made available. He also discontinued the practice of separating combination drugs and implemented into single drug treatment. He was successful at championing the need to have continuity of care for HIV patients. He provided education to health care providers to help improve patients’ compliance. LT Smith also developed a process for providing the detainees with information on where they could receive care for their HIV, once deported, and ensured that detainees had all the necessary documentation to continue their treatment once they arrived in their country. The design and implementation of this program had wide-spread implications. This is exemplified by increase in medication compliance and continuity of care drastically reduced the drug resistance mutation in the HIV genome.

LT Darin Smith capitalized on the opportunity to become a CPR instructor at Madigan Army Medical Center. Utilizing this training, he has maintained the CPR certification of the entire medical staff at the NWDC including thirty commissioned officers. LT Smith was also able to help form relationships between Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS) at a time when DIHS was being transferred from HRSA to ICE. He helped bridge the needs of both entities by working with the ICE training coordinator and developing a CPR program that covered the entire Pacific Northwest. While training over 100 ICE officers and saving thousands of dollars on training, he formed bonds with the officers and placed a face to the USPHS uniform easing the transition into ICE and instilling confidence and respect for the USPHS Corps.

LT Darin Smith attitudes reflect his strong commitment in what the USPHS stands for. "My outlook on life and my career is to try to perceive every problem as a challenge that provides an opportunity to improve the world around me. This view helps me maintain a positive attitude and remain proactive in everything I do."

LT Darin Smith is no doubt a well deserved recipient of the 2011 Physician Assistant of the Year Award for his outstanding contribution to the mission of the United States Public Health Service and Physician Assistant Profession.