Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show Dr. David A. Tarantino, Jr., M.D., MPH - Chief Medical Officer - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Dr. David A. Tarantino, Jr., MD, MPH; CAPT MC (FS/FMF) Ret., is the Chief Medical Officer, at the United States Customs and Border Protection ( CBP - https://www.cbp.gov/ ), the largest federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security ( DHS - https://www.dhs.gov/ ), and the country's primary border control organization. It is charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs, and immigration. Dr. Tarantino has previously served as Adjunct Assistant Professor, Global Health Division, Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), as Director for Civil-Military Medical Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs in the U.S. Department of Defense, and as a family practice physician/flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy. Dr. Tarantino served as Medical Advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority/Ministry of Health and then Senior Consultant for the U.S. Mission Baghdad to the Interim Iraqi Government Ministry of Health. He had a significant leadership role in reestablishing the Iraqi Ministry of Health and health care for all Iraqis and served as the principal US Government advisor to the new Iraqi Minister of Health. Dr. Tarantino's military career has been distinguished by multiple challenging overseas and operational assignments, including medical and humanitarian missions in Iraq, Alaska, Haiti, Guyana, Tanzania, Cambodia, Estonia and several Pacific Rim nations. He served as medical director and team physician for a challenging deployment to Turkey in the aftermath of their massive 1999 earthquake, providing emergent medical/surgical care in an austere and chaotic setting. Dr. Tarantino has a B. A. in Human Biology from Stanford University, an M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine, a Residency in Family Medicine at Bremerton Naval Hospital, an M.P.H. and Preventive Medicine Residency at the USUHS, and an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance, from the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA).