Surgeon General of the United States

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox official post The surgeon general of the United States is the operational head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The surgeon general's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), which is housed within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.[1]

The U.S. surgeon general is nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The surgeon general must be appointed from individuals who are members of the regular corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and have specialized training or significant experience in public health programs.[2] However, there is no time requirement for membership in the Public Health Service before holding the office of the Surgeon General, and nominees traditionally were appointed as members of the Public Health Service and as surgeon general at the same time. The surgeon general serves a four-year term of office and, depending on whether the current assistant secretary for health is a commissioned corps officer, is either the senior or next-most senior uniformed officer of the commissioned corps, holding the rank of vice admiral.[3][4]

Responsibilities

The surgeon general reports to the assistant secretary for health (ASH). The ASH may be a four-star admiral in the commissioned corps, and serves as the principal advisor to the secretary of health and human services on public health and scientific issues. The surgeon general is the overall head of the commissioned corps, a 6,500-member cadre of uniformed health professionals who are on call 24 hours a day and can be dispatched by the secretary of HHS or by the assistant secretary for health in the event of a public health emergency.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The surgeon general is also the ultimate award authority for several public health awards and decorations, the highest of which that can be directly awarded is the Surgeon General's Medallion (the highest award bestowed by board action is the Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal). The surgeon general also has many informal duties, such as educating the American public about health issues and advocating healthy lifestyle choices.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The office also periodically issues health warnings. Perhaps the best known example of this is the surgeon general's warning label that has been present on all packages of American tobacco cigarettes since 1966.[5] A similar health warning has appeared on alcoholic beverages labels since 1988.[6]

History

File:Smoking and Health 1964 report cover.jpg
The landmark 1964 Surgeon General's report on Smoking and Health.

In 1798, Congress established the Marine Hospital Fund, a network of hospitals that cared for sick and disabled seamen. The Marine Hospital Fund was reorganized along military lines in 1870 and became the Marine Hospital Service—the predecessor to today's United States Public Health Service. The service became a separate bureau of the Treasury Department with its own staff, administration, headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the position of supervising surgeon, later surgeon general.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

After 141 years under the Treasury Department, the Service came under the Federal Security Agency in 1939, then the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) in 1953, and finally the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Prior to 1970, the surgeon general was traditionally selected from career uniformed officers.[7] Today, the surgeon general is usually selected from the civilian community, who aligns more closely with the president's political party.[7] The office is not a particularly powerful one, and has little direct statutory impact on policy-making, but surgeons general are often vocal advocates of precedent-setting, far-sighted, unconventional, or even unpopular health policies.

  • On January 11, 1964, Luther Terry published a landmark report saying that smoking may be hazardous to health,[8] sparking nationwide anti-smoking efforts. Terry and his committee defined cigarette smoking of nicotine as not an addiction. The committee itself consisted largely of physicians who themselves smoked. This report went uncorrected for 24 years.[9]
  • In 1986, C. Everett Koop's report on AIDS called for some form of AIDS education in the early grades of elementary school, and gave full support for using condoms for disease prevention.[10] He also resisted pressure from the Reagan administration to report that abortion was psychologically harmful to women, stating he believed it was a moral issue rather than one concerning the public health.
  • In 1994, Joycelyn Elders spoke at a United Nations conference on AIDS. She was asked whether it would be appropriate to promote masturbation as a means of preventing young people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity. She replied, "I think that it is part of human sexuality, and perhaps it should be taught."[11] Elders also spoke in favor of studying drug legalization. In a reference to the national abortion issue, she said, "We really need to get over this love affair with the fetus and start worrying about children."[12] She was fired by President Bill Clinton in December 1994.

The U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force also have officers overseeing medical matters in their respective services who hold the title Surgeon General, of their respective services, while the surgeon general of the United States is surgeon general of the entire nation.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The insignia of the surgeon general, and the USPHS, use the caduceus as opposed to the Rod of Asclepius.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Service rank

The surgeon general is a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, and by law holds the rank of vice admiral.[3] Officers of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are classified as non-combatants, but can be subjected to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the Geneva Conventions when designated by the commander-in-chief as a military force or if they are detailed or assigned to work with the armed forces. Officers of the commissioned corps, including the surgeon general, wear uniforms that are modeled after uniforms of the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard, except that the commissioning devices, buttons, and insignia are unique. Officers in the U.S. Public Health Service wear unique devices that are similar to U.S. Navy staff corps officers (e.g., Navy Medical Service Corps, Supply Corps, etc.).

The only surgeon general to actually hold the rank of a four-star admiral was David Satcher (born 1941, served 1998–2002). This was because he served simultaneously in the positions of surgeon general (three-star) and assistant secretary for health (which is a four-star office).[13] John Maynard Woodworth (1837–1879, served 1871–1879), was the first holder of the office as "supervising surgeon."

List of surgeons general of the United States

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  Denotes acting capacity.
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Term of office Appointed by
(term)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Ref.
scope=col Took office Left office Time in office
1 File:John M. Woodworth.jpg John M. Woodworth
(1837–1879)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		March 29, 1871 March 14, 1879 Template:Ayd Ulysses S. Grant
(1869–1877)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[14]
2 File:Surgeon General John B. Hamilton.jpg Commodore
John B. Hamilton
(1847–1898)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		April 3, 1879 June 1, 1891 Template:Ayd Rutherford B. Hayes
(1877–1881)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[15][16]
3 File:Walter Wyman, ca. 1898 (B026910).jpg Commodore
Walter Wyman
(1848–1911)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		June 1, 1891 November 21, 1911 Template:Ayd Benjamin Harrison
(1889–1893)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[16][17]
4 File:Rupert Blue 3.jpg Commodore
Rupert Blue
(1868–1948)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		January 13, 1912 March 3, 1920 Template:Ayd William Howard Taft
(1909–1913)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[18]
5 File:Hugh S. Cumming.jpg Rear Admiral
Hugh S. Cumming
(1869–1948)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		March 3, 1920 January 31, 1936 Template:Ayd Woodrow Wilson
(1913–1921)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
6 File:Thomas Parran, Jr., photo portrait as surgeon general.jpg Rear Admiral
Thomas Parran Jr.
(1892–1968)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		April 6, 1936 April 6, 1948 Template:Ayd Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933–1945)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
7 File:Rear Admiral Leonard Scheele.jpg Rear Admiral
Leonard A. Scheele
(1907–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		April 6, 1948 August 8, 1956 Template:Ayd Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
8 File:Leroy Edgar Burney, photo portrait as surgeon general.jpg Rear Admiral
Leroy E. Burney
(1906–1998) 		August 8, 1956 January 29, 1961 Template:Ayd Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 File:Luther Terry photo portrait as surgeon general.jpg Luther Terry
(1911–1985)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		March 2, 1961 October 1, 1965 Template:Ayd John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10 File:William H. Stewart, photo portrait as surgeon general.jpg William H. Stewart
(1921–2008)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		October 1, 1965 August 1, 1969 Template:Ayd Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
– Rear Admiral
Richard A. Prindle
(Template:Circa 1926–2001)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		August 1, 1969 December 18, 1969 Template:Ayd Richard Nixon
(1969–1974)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[19][20]
11 File:Jesse Leonard Steinfeld, photo portrait as surgeon general.jpg Jesse L. Steinfeld
(1927–2014)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		December 18, 1969 January 30, 1973 Template:Ayd [21][22]
– File:Rear Admiral S. Paul Ehrlich, Jr.jpg Rear Admiral
S. Paul Ehrlich Jr.
(1932–2005)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		January 31, 1973 July 13, 1977 Template:Ayd [23]
12 File:Julius Richmond, Surgeon General official photo.jpg Vice Admiral
Julius B. Richmond
(1916–2008)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		July 13, 1977 January 20, 1981 Template:Ayd Jimmy Carter
(1977–1981)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[24]
– File:1980 John C Greene in Official United States Rear Admiral Uniform.jpg Rear Admiral
John C. Greene
(1936–2016)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		January 21, 1981 May 14, 1981 Template:Ayd Ronald Reagan
(1981–1989)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
– Edward Brandt Jr.
(1933–2007)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		May 14, 1981 January 21, 1982 Template:Ayd
13 File:C. Everett Koop, 1980s.jpg Vice Admiral
C. Everett Koop
(1916–2013)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		January 21, 1982 October 1, 1989 Template:Ayd [25][26]
– File:James O. Mason USPHS.jpg Admiral
James O. Mason
(1930–2019)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		October 1, 1989 March 9, 1990 Template:Ayd George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 File:VADM Antonia Novello.jpg Vice Admiral
Antonia Novello
(born 1944)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		March 9, 1990 June 30, 1993 Template:Ayd [27]
– File:RADM Robert A Whitney Jr.jpg Rear Admiral
Robert A. Whitney
(born 1935)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		July 1, 1993 September 8, 1993 Template:Ayd Bill Clinton
(1993–2001)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
15 File:Joycelyn Elders official photo portrait.jpg Vice Admiral
Joycelyn Elders
(born 1933)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		September 8, 1993 December 31, 1994 Template:Ayd [28][29]
– File:Audrey Manley, DHHS official bw photo.jpg Rear Admiral
Audrey F. Manley
(born 1934)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		January 1, 1995 July 1, 1997 Template:Ayd
– File:J. Jarrett Clinton Portrait.jpg Rear Admiral
J. Jarrett Clinton
(1938–2023)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		July 2, 1997 February 12, 1998 Template:Ayd
16 File:David Satcher official photo portrait.jpg AdmiralTemplate:Efn
David Satcher
(born 1941)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		February 13, 1998 February 12, 2002 Template:Ayd [13][30][31]
– File:RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu, USPHSCC.jpg Rear Admiral
Kenneth P. Moritsugu
(born 1945)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		February 13, 2002 August 4, 2002 Template:Ayd George W. Bush
(2001–2009)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[32]
17 File:Richard carmona.jpg Vice Admiral
Richard Carmona
(born 1949)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		August 5, 2002 July 31, 2006 Template:Ayd [33][34]
– File:RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu, USPHSCC.jpg Rear Admiral
Kenneth P. Moritsugu
(born 1945)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		August 1, 2006 September 30, 2007 Template:Ayd [32]
– File:Steven K Galson.jpg Rear Admiral
Steven K. Galson
(born 1956)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		October 1, 2007 October 1, 2009 Template:Ayd [35]
– File:Donald L. Weaver official portrait.jpg Rear Admiral
Donald L. Weaver
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		October 1, 2009 November 3, 2009 Template:Ayd Barack Obama
(2009–2017)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[36]
18 File:Regina Benjamin official portrait.jpg Vice Admiral
Regina Benjamin
(born 1956)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		November 3, 2009 July 16, 2013 Template:Ayd [37][36][38][39]
– File:RADM Boris Lushniak acting Surgeon General.jpg Rear Admiral
Boris Lushniak
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		July 17, 2013 December 18, 2014 Template:Ayd [40]
19 File:Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, USPHS.jpg Vice Admiral
Vivek Murthy
(born 1977)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		April 22, 2015 April 21, 2017 Template:Ayd [41][42]
– File:Sylvia Trent-Adams Official Portrait.jpg Rear Admiral
Sylvia Trent-Adams
(born 1965)
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		April 21, 2017 September 5, 2017 Template:Ayd Donald Trump
(2017–2021)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[43]
20 File:Jerome Adams 2019.jpg Vice Admiral
Jerome Adams
(born 1974)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		September 5, 2017 January 20, 2021 Template:Ayd [44][45]
– File:RADM Susan Orsega (two-star).jpg Rear Admiral
Susan Orsega
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		January 20, 2021 March 24, 2021 62 days Joe Biden
(2021–2025)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		[46]
21 File:Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General (profile).jpg Vice Admiral
Vivek Murthy
(born 1977)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		March 25, 2021 January 20, 2025 Template:Ayd [47][48]
– File:Rear Admiral Denise Hinton (two-star).jpg Rear Admiral
Denise Hinton
ActingScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		January 20, 2025 Incumbent Template:Ayd Donald Trump
(2025–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

See also

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Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:US military navbox Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ 42 U.S.C. Template:Trim/Template:Trim § Template:Trim - Appointment and tenure of office of Surgeon General; reversion in rank.
  3. ↑ a b 42 U.S.C. Template:Trim/Template:Trim § Template:Trim - Grades, ranks, and titles of commissioned corps.
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Julie M. Fenster Template:Webarchive "Hazardous to Your Health" American Heritage, Oct. 2006.
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Leon Dash, "Joycelyn Elders: From Sharecropper's Daughter to Surgeon General of the United States of America", Washington Monthly, January–February 1997
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Template:Cite report
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Dead link
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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