There is no higher honor that can be bestowed upon an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service than the PHS Distinguished Service Medal. The award is given in recognition of an extraordinarily high level of achievement that also represents an exceptional contribution to the Corps. While all Corps members are driven by the firm conviction of the value of public service, DSM recipients use it as motivation to seek new ways to treat, inform, and aid the general public. Examples of achievements that are worthy of the DSM include the efficient management of a major health program or the launching of an initiative that has a dramatic impact on the health of the nation.
A perfect example of the spirit and achievement the Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal was established to recognize was Dr. C. Everett Koop, the thirteenth Surgeon General of the United States. During his seven-plus-years in office, Koop was a tireless advocate for the rights of children born with birth defects. He also waged an intensive educational campaign informing the public of the dangers of tobacco use, including the harm of smokeless tobacco use as well as the dangers of second-hand smoke. In all, his office published eight papers on the health effects of tobacco use during his tenure. During that time, the rate of smoking declined by nearly 25 percent.