USF College of Public Health (COPH) alumnus Commander Lane Vause grew up in the suburbs of Boise, Idaho. His father was a first-generation college graduate and emphasized to Vause and his siblings that they had to either learn a trade, go to college or join the U.S. Service.

“I did both. I went to college at Idaho State University and earned my BS in laboratory science and my MS in vet science from the University of Wyoming. I then joined the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS) after learning about it while interning in laboratory science at Fort Hall Reservation in Southeastern Idaho,” he said. “I have not regretted my career choice serving those both on the reservation and beneficiaries.”

Vause was first introduced to public health through the USPHS.

“I was part of the USPHS for many years and really didn’t understand what public health was, even as a commission officer,” he said. “So, after taking a COPH course for an infection control certificate, I wanted to further my knowledge base and decided to go for the MPH degree at the COPH to broaden my knowledge.”

As an online MPH student, Vause said that he loved the flexibility the course gave him while working full-time. He also enjoyed his field experience course that allowed him to meet fellow students and faculty in person.

“One of the most memorable experiences was when I took part in a field experience in Ecuador and was able to meet a lot of my fellow students in person. I would tell all public health students that this field experience was one of the best things I had done in a long time,” he said. “I was able to see another culture, look at another country’s health system and see how public health was applied to help with tropical diseases in a South American country.”

As a commander in the USPHS, Vause is currently stationed in Dallas as a laboratory consultant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He’s charged with ensuring 23,850 laboratories in Region 6 are in compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.

Vause provides expert advice and consultation based upon knowledge of quality practices in clinical laboratory services as defined by federal regulation. He also provides professional guidance to staff reviewing the case files of state certification agency surveys, helping them identify deficiencies and recommend appropriate solutions.

In addition, he performs and leads direct surveys of certified health facilities and laboratories to validate state survey agency activities and evaluate the effectiveness of federal regulations, policies and procedures. Vause is also on the Regional Incident Response Team, where he facilitates and assists the regional emergency coordinator in generating ESF-8 missions.

“In my career, I love that I get to meet new people on a weekly basis when I do laboratory inspections,” he said. “I see different leadership strategies, different equipment, different ways of making the laboratory operational, both good and bad.”

COPH Alumni Fast Five

• What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
  • A doctor. Even though I didn’t make it, I still am in the allied health field.
• Where would we find you on the weekend?
  • I am a gamer. I love playing video games and hanging out with my wife and daughter.
• What is the last book you read?
  • “Gung Ho!” by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles. It tells how to boost morale in the workplace and how to provide real leadership to organizations.
• What superpower would you like to have?
  • Teleportation. I would love to see friends and family members whom I have not seen for decades. I always love to catch up with those friends to see what they have done in their lives.
• What’s your all-time favorite movie?
  • “The Empire Strikes Back.” I love how Yoda gives life lessons: patience, don’t be overconfident in your own abilities and that people matter.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health