Vivek Murthy Named Surgeon General
Dr. Vivek Murthy, President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next U.S. Surgeon General, greets Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
More than a year after President Obama nominated Vivek Murthy for the role of Surgeon General, the Brigham and Women’s physician and Harvard grad has finally been confirmed in the position. The Brookline resident and avid yogi, 37, is the youngest ever Surgeon General.
The position has been vacant for more than a year because Republicans were blocking Murthy’s nomination due to his age and the NRA’s disapproval of the doc, who is an avid supporter of gun control policies. He has said that guns are a public health issue.
Tired of politicians playing politics w/ guns, putting lives at risk b/c they’re scared of NRA. Guns are a health care issue. #debatehealth
— Vivek Murthy (@vivek_murthy) October 17, 2012
“He’ll bring his lifetime of experience promoting public health to bear on priorities ranging from stopping new diseases to helping our kids grow up healthy and strong,” President Barack Obama said in a statement Monday evening. “Vivek will also help us build on the progress we’ve made combatting Ebola, both in our country and at its source.”
Dr. Betsy Nabel, President of Brigham and Women’s Hospital released a statement regarding the appointment. “The Brigham and Women’s Hospital community is incredibly proud of Dr. Murthy. I can think of no one better suited for this important role and truly believe that we will be a stronger and healthier nation under his leadership,” she says. “He is a passionate advocate for improving access to quality health care and is driven by innate desire to help people all over the world achieve and maintain good health. I’m confident that he will have an extraordinary impact as our nation’s surgeon general.” Murthy is the cofounder and president of Doctors for America, a group of 16,000 physicians and medical students based in Washington D.C. that advocates for access to affordable, high quality health care.
@Drsforamerica Patients Over Politics tour kicked off this week at RNC convention in Tampa. Check out our RV! #Dr4A pic.twitter.com/Xr2k3EpP — Vivek Murthy (@vivek_murthy) August 29, 2012
