The Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) is the principle office responsible for the administration of health and medical policy and oversight of related activities at NASA. OCHMO provides guidance through effective and efficient policies, procedural requirements, standards, and programs to ensure the safety, health, and productivity of humans and animals in the global spaceflight and NASA community.

OCHMO’s routine activities include formulating and implementing policies related to the care and well-being of NASA employees, animals and spaceflight and aviation crews; executing regulatory oversight of the use of animal and human research subjects in NASA-sponsored research; translating research findings into NASA-wide medical practice; conducting evaluations and analysis of ethical issues associated with space exploration, guiding the development of future policy initiatives and serving as the Agency’s Health and Medical Technical Authority.

The Office of the Chief Health and Medical Office is comprised of the following work areas:

Health & Medical Systems

• Occupational Health (Includes Occupational Medicine, Health Promotions and Wellness, Fitness, and EAP)
• Environmental Health (Includes Industrial Hygiene, Radiation, Lasers, and Food Safety)
• Aerospace Medicine

Headquarters Safety and Occupational Health Program

• Safety
• HQ Occupational Health Programs
• Fitness
• EAP

Medical Policy & Ethics

• Policy
• Human Subject Research and Protection
• Veterinarian Science

Technical Authority and Aeronautics

• Health Spaceflight Standards
• Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA)
• Aeronautics