Dr. Polk is an accomplished senior executive in aerospace, defense, and emergency medicine. Since November 2016, he has been serving as the agency Chief Health and Medical Officer for NASA.
Previously, Dr. Polk was Dean of Medicine for Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Secretary (Acting) for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Deputy Chief Medical Officer; and the Chief of Space Medicine for NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Prior to that, Dr. Polk was State Emergency Medical Services Medical Director for Ohio; and Chief of Metro Life Flight in Cleveland. He has served on the Board of Directors for: American Red Cross of Greater Iowa; ChildServe; and the American Association for Physician Leadership.
Dr. Polk has also served as a member of the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. He is a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association, and a Fellow of Extreme and Wilderness Medicine.
Dr. Polk holds a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. He also holds an Education Doctorate in Aviation and Space from Oklahoma State University; a Master of Science in Space Studies from the American Military University; a Master of Medical Management from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business; and Graduate Certificates in Public Health and Forensics from the University of New England and Oklahoma State University, respectively.
Dr. Polk is triple board certified in emergency medicine, aerospace medicine, and preventive/aerospace medicine.