Thomas Blumenberg

I graduated from Port Washington High School in 1969.  Studied pre-pharmacy at UW Milwaukee.  Transferred to UW Madison and graduated with a BS in Pharmacy in 1974.  I interned for 1 year at Medical Arts Pharmacy in Ashland, WI and passed my board exam in 1975.  I still maintain my pharmacy license.

The Medical Arts Pharmacy was a contract pharmacy for the Indian Health Service.  It was there that I took an interest in becoming a Commissioned Officer in the US Public Health Service (USPHS).  However, because of reductions in force in the military post-Vietnam War, some officers were transferring from armed services to USPHS.  Others chose to serve in USPHS rather than being drafted into military duty.

I waited and worked at a variety of positions until I was able to contract directly with the Menominee Indian Tribe in Keshena, WI.  I managed their clinic pharmacy and after a few years I took my oath to become a Commissioned Officer in the USPHS.  At the time, a Senate hearing was required before I was sworn in.

I continued my work at the Menominee Tribal Clinic until 1984.  I developed an interest in population health and I was matriculated into the Master of Public Health (MPH) class at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).  I was placed on inactive duty during my schooling.  It was intense training and an interesting place to learn as USUHS is considered the medical school for military physicians.  Living on the east coast was never on my radar, but we have fond memories of our time in Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC.

After successful completion of my MPH degree I was accepted back on active duty in the USPHS. Over time I was assigned several duty stations, 2 in Wisconsin, 3 in Arizona and 1 in Montana.  Although I always relied on my pharmacy background, I had many “other duties as assigned”.   I served as instructor for the Indian Health Service Pharmacy Practitioner Program, clinic director, hospital board member, community advocate, coordinator of public works and emergency preparedness, safety officer, and quality assurance manager.  I received specialized training in Strategic National Stockpile management, and Disaster Medical Assistance Team. I developed a special interest in bioterrorism, and emergency preparation and response.

My wife and I had aging parents and we wanted to get back to Wisconsin.   In 1999 a suitable billet was developed which allowed me to be transferred to the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribal Clinic.  I resigned my Commission in 2004, with rank of CAPT 0-6 and started Blumenberg Consulting Inc.  I contracted with a local hospital, the State of Wisconsin and the Northern Lights Public Health Consortium.  I liquidated my company in 2009 and retired to volunteer work.

My father and grandfather were in the US Navy.  They, and others, instilled in me a sense of duty to country.  After I resigned my Commission, I ran into a man who developed my interest in conducting Veterans History Project (VHP) interviews for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.   I started by interviewing colleagues and family members.   I continue conducting interviews for the VHP and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.