2009-07-13
President Barack Obama has nominated Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, to become Surgeon General of the United States.
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. The
Office of the Surgeon General also oversees the operations of the
6,000-member Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. The
Office is part of the Office of Public Health and Science within the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Benjamin is the Immediate Past-Chair of the Federation of State
Medical Boards of the United States, and previously served as Associate
Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of
Medicine. She has also served as President of the Medical Association
of the State of Alabama. Dr. Benjamin attended Morehouse School of
Medicine and received an MD from the University of Alabama at
Birmingham; she also holds an MBA from Tulane University.
Dr. Benjamin, whose nomination will require approval by the Senate,
will replace Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH, who has served as
Acting Surgeon General since October 2007.
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