HHS Announces the First-Ever Official United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Service Mascot

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the following statement announcing the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps’ first official mascot – Lt. Cmdr. Abigail, a trained facility dog who will provide therapeutic care to patients and Public Health Service officers. Lt. Cmdr. Abigail was named after the former First Lady of the U.S., Abigail Adams, who has a historical connection to the service.

The concept of the service mascot originated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Public Health Service officers deployed to respond to the largest public health emergency in modern times. Learn more about Lt. Cmdr. Abigail from HHS here.