Force Surgeon, Commander, Naval Surface Forces

San Diego, CA 

Scott D. Flinn, MD is Force Surgeon, Commander Naval Surface Forces in San Diego, California.  He is also on the Voluntary Clinical Faculty, Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; and on the Voluntary Clinical Faculty, Sports Medicine Fellowship, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA.

Dr Flinn’s degrees include BS in Psychology (Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, 1984) and Doctor of Medicine (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 1988). He completed his Internship in Surgery (1989) at the Naval Hospital Oakland in Oakland, CA and his Residency in Family Practice (1994) at the Naval Hospital Pensacola in Pensacola, FL. He completed a Fellowship in Sports Medicine (1998) at San Diego Sports Medicine and Family Health Center, in affiliation with Stanford University, at San Diego, CA.  He has obtained specialty training in Cold Weather Medicine (Bridgeport, CA 1998), Medicine in the Tropics (San Juan, Puerto Rico 1993); Airborne Operations (U.S. Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, GA 1990); and Undersea Medicine (Naval Undersea Medical Institute, Groton, CT 1989).

He is a Board Certified in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (2002) by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine (1999), and is a Diplomate of American Academy of Family Physicians (1994, recertified 2000, 2007).

After obtaining his medical training with the US Navy, Doctor Flinn became an Undersea Medical Officer at the Naval Special Warfare Center/ Underwater Demolition Seal School, Coronado, CA (1990-1992). He served as Staff Family Practice Physician at Branch Medical Clinic Gaeta, Italy (1994-1997). He also served as Medical Director, Sports Medicine Clinic at Parris Island, SC (1998-2001) and Undersea Medical Officer at the Naval Special Warfare Group ONE, Coronado, CA (2001-2003). He then became Medical Director, Directorate for Primary Care at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego (2003-2006) and Specialty Leader to the Surgeon General for Sports Medicine (2002-2006).  Since 2006 he has served as Force Surgeon and Commander of Naval Service Forces in San Diego, California.

Publications in the medical and scientific literature include over 20 articles and numerous invited lectures, including Medicine of Diving seminars.

Dr Flinn’s professional awards and honors include:

• Military Medals and Decorations: [Meritorious Service Medal (3); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy Commendation Medal (3); Army Achievement Medal; Presidential Unit Commendation; Submarine Medical Officer Qualification; Navy Jump Wings; Resident Research Award, Naval Hospital Pensacola 1994]

• Frank McElree Sr. Memorial Prize for Health Professions Students, Allegheny College 1984

• Graduated Cum Laude, Allegheny College 1984