The Center for Polar Medical Operations (CPMO) serves a unique role and function among UTMB departments, but like many clinical areas, it benefits from the support and expertise of an Advanced Practice Provider.
Suzette Roberts, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, has served as the Medical Processing Manager for the CPMO at UTMB for four years.
The CPMO provides medical support to participants in the National Science Foundation's United States Antarctic Program (USAP), an organization responsible for U.S. scientific research and logistics in Antarctica. Support includes logistical management, provisioning of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, healthcare staffing and support personnel at UTMB, real-time medical support in all three primary USAP stations and large summer field camps, and medical direction for EMT and paramedics on research vessels at sea.
Additionally, UTMB conducts physical qualification (PQ) screening and waiver management for the majority of USAP applicants. A handful of others go directly through the NSF, bypassing CPMO’s process.
In addition to Roberts, the UTMB CPMO consists of a medical director, two LVNs, a logistician, a business manager, and four support coordinators. Together the team manages the distribution of PQ packets to prospective participants, as well as the collection of all relevant medical history for completion and submission of packets.
As the Medical Processing Manager, Roberts is charged with composing notices to individuals who do not medically qualify, including a statement explaining the reason for the decision. She also assists these individuals through the waiver process, which can be a time-consuming process, if they choose to pursue one.
Roberts oversees their relevant medical information, including lab results and diagnostic findings, and recommends appropriate follow-up care for any chronic conditions. She is responsible for ensuring that all applicants seeking a waiver submit the necessary paperwork to assess their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, as well as overall health to determine their eligibility to deploy to Antarctica, which is a challenging environment with limited medical resources.
She leverages her clinical background to offer personalized guidance, using various forms of communication such as phone, email, mail, fax, and the electronic platform (BOX) to offer support remotely.
Additionally, Roberts serves as a liaison between her team, the medical director, and the National Science Foundation. She says maintaining open communication with these leaders allows her to effectively guide her team in complying with PQ policies and procedures in the most efficient and thorough manner.
“Through these collaborative efforts, we have been successful in enhancing the wellbeing and safety of our on-ice USAP participants,” she says.
Roberts has learned a tremendous amount about the Antarctic region through her work with this program – from the behaviors of penguins and polar bears to the value of clinical knowledge that residents gain from this experience. She has also developed an appreciation of the impressive collaborative undertaking required to support scientific research in the region.
Thanks to Suzette Roberts, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, for taking the time to discuss her division and the valuable contributions she makes in her role.
APP Corner is a monthly feature showcasing UTMB's Advanced Practice Providers.