Jeffrey D O'Dell

MD, MPH

Captain, Navy

Department of Primary Appointment:
School of Medicine
Pediatrics
Title
Health Affairs Attache - Hanoi Vietnam
Location: Other Location
Research Interests:
Global Health
Disaster Response and Preparedness

Education

BS Mech Engr - Texas Tech University - 1985
MD - USUHS -1999
MPH - USUHS - 2015

Biography

Captain O’Dell enlisted in the Navy in July of 1983 under the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program, and graduated from Texas Tech University two years later with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. After completing OCS and nuclear power training, he served as a junior officer on board the USS JAMES MONROE (SSBN622), an instructor at Naval Nuclear Power School, and as the Navigator/Ops Officer on USS PITTSBURGH (SSN720). In 1995 he transferred to the Medical Corps and graduated with an M.D. from USUHS in 1999.
After completing a residency in pediatrics at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA to include serving as Chief Resident his final year, he has reported as staff to Naval Hospital Pensacola. He was selected as the Pediatric Department Head and led the department through several significant events, including 3 hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. He also served in the Incident Command Center for the hospital’s support of the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
He served his second tour of duty as a pediatrician at USNH Naples, Italy, where he was heavily involved in the work with special needs children both in the hospital and the DoDDS school on base. During his assignment there, he was elected the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff and also served as the Director of Medical Services. The following tour, he served as the Medical Specialties Assignments Officer (PERS-4415N) at NPC, Millington, TN. During this duty, he has also deployed with the USNS MERCY (TAH-19) in support of Pacific Partnership 2010 from April-August 2010. After his tour as detailer, he reported as a staff pediatrician and member of the residency teaching faculty at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA.
CAPT O’Dell was selected as the Navy Medical Corps’ first Fellow in the newly formed Global Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response training program while stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia. He completed a clinical year there and his Masters of Public Health program at the Uniformed Services University to complete the fellowship requirements. He is currently serving as the Health Affairs Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (with gold star), Navy Commendation Medal (with two gold stars) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with two gold stars).