Sanjay Gupta Offered Surgeon General Position: What Does the Surgeon General Do?

CNN's Sanjay Gupta Reportedly Offered Position

Shannon Cotton
Various news outlets are reporting that President-Elect Barack Obama has asked Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, to be surgeon general. Dr. Gupta is a neurosurgeon, an assistant professor of neurosurgery, and anchor of CNN's weekend show, House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Dr. Gupta has a long list of credentials and awards which can be viewed on CNN's website (here). Dr. Gupta's awards aren't limited to the field of medicine. In 2003, People Magazine featured Gupta in it's "Sexiest Men Alive" issue, and USA Today named Dr. Gupta a pop culture icon, according to CNN.

Dr. Gupta is also the author of the book, Chasing Life, and a contributor to 60 Minutes and The CBS Evening News. During the Clinton Administration, Gupta was a special advisor to First Lady Hillary Clinton.

While the surgeon general is probably best known for the "surgeon general's warning" that appears on cigarette packages, Dr. Gupta's job will entail more than warning the public about the dangers of smoking. According to the office's website, the surgeon general "serves as America's chief health educator by providing Americans the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury."

If Gupta accepts the job, he will be responsible for the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, which has 6,000 members who work to "protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of our Nation," according to the surgeon general's website.

The surgeon general will also act as an advisor to the president and the secretary of Health and Human Services.

Now that it is clear that Dr. Gupta is a candidate for the position, CNN has announced that he will not be reporting on health care policy or "any matters involving the new administration" for CNN.

Sources:

Sanjay Gupta. CNN

Sources: CNN's Gupta approached for surgeon general. CNN

Office of the Surgeon General. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

Published by Shannon Cotton

Shannon Cotton is a freelance writer living in Texas. After nine years of writing for a print publication, she has taken her love of writing to the web. She writes about parenting, lifestyle and a variety of...   View profile

  • Pres.-Elect Obama has reportedly offered Dr. Sanjay Gupta the position of surgeon general.
  • Dr. Sanjay Gupta isCNN's chief medical correspondent, and has been with the network since 2001.
  • If he takes the position, Sanjay Gupta will be America's "chief health educator".
Dr. Sanjay Gupta was named one of People Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive" in 2003.

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