September 22, 2017

Helena O. Mishoe, PhD, MPH, MA
Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), Unites States Public Health Service

RADM (Ret) Helena O. Mishoe has served as a scientific executive, health disparities and global health expert, and mentor helping others navigate their scientific and health-related careers. In December 2017, she retired from the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) as an Assistant Surgeon General, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). RADM Mishoe received her PhD in microbiology and Immunology from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1981. She then joined the NIH intramural research program and moved up the scientific research ranks contributing to stem cell biology, and gene expression in HIV, tumor biology, blood diseases, and diabetes research areas.

In 1988, RADM Mishoe joined the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH as a Health Scientist Administrator, where she has had a number of notable accomplishments, culminating her distinguished career as the Associate Director for Research Training and Diversity. She provided scientific oversight for cutting-edge biomedical research to help improve health outcomes of marginalized and underserved populations.  In 2002, she was awarded the Master of Public Health from the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine.

Having developed a passion for population science, in December 2011, she earned the graduate Certificate in Global Health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.  RADM Mishoe served as senior advisor to the NHLBI Director on domestic and global health disparities research and research training priorities. Also, she played a crucial role across the Department helping to ensure greater participation of those underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research. 

During her 36 years in Federal and Active-Duty service, RADM has received numerous PHS Awards including the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal. She has consistently demonstrated exemplary service to the next generation through mentoring with equal tenacity to her advancement of state-of-the-art scientific research agendas. In May 2015, she was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa from the University of Toledo. She has also received numerous notable civilian recognitions including the prestigious NIH Director’s Ruth Krischstein Mentoring Award and the NHLBI, NIH Postbaccalaureate Research Fellowship titled, the ‘RADM Helena O. Mishoe Fellowship for Underrepresented Scientists’ named in her honor.

In May 2020, the Commissioned Officers Foundation awarded the first RADM Mishoe Diversity "Believe" Scholarship for High School Seniors. She treasures a favorite photograph given to her by a former mentee as a reminder that each day she has another opportunity to change the life of a young person. The ‘Believe’ scholarship is based on the photograph’s caption that reads “Hope emerges, and the future begins for one person only when there is another who believes in the beauty of their dreams.” Both namesake honors are an acknowledgement of RADM Mishoe’s passion and commitment to the next generation. 

RADM Mishoe’s current professional goal is to serve in a Global Health Diplomacy position. To this end, in May 2021, she was awarded a Master of International Service from the American University School of International Service. Her goal is to integrate the recently acquired didactic negotiation and diplomacy skills with her strong leadership in public and global health competencies to achieve greater coherence and alignment between foreign policy and diplomacy to improve health outcomes around the world.