Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General???

[jsteele]

My first reaction was that this has to be some kind of a joke. But, then I realized I don't know much about the guy. Still, this has to be Obama's most unconventional pick yet.

Also, Gupta apparently has two young kids. Could we have another school controversy on our hands?

[Anonymous]

I was kinda thinking the same thing, but I realized I didn't really know what the SGs job was. This is the position description for Surgeon General:

"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 Surgeon General is appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate for a 4-year term of office. In carrying out all responsibilities, the Surgeon General reports to the Assistant Secretary for Health, who is the principal advisor to the Secretary on public health and scientific issues."

from The Office of Surgeon General (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/about/index.html)

Since the job is health education, I think the Gupta pick actually makes a lot of sense. Oh and according to Wiki, Gupta worked as a White House Fellow in the Clinton admin. So it's just another Clinton holdover

[Anonymous]

Way sexier than C. Everett Coop!

[Anonymous]

Best pick yet IMHO. Given health issues in this country, someone with the communications savvy and name (face) recognition of Gupta is seriously needed. Who better to push public health initiatives than someone who's already known to the public?

Top 3 roles of SG.
1.Protect and advance the health of the Nation through educating the public, advocating for effective disease prevention and health promotion programs and activities, and, providing a highly recognized symbol of national commitment to protecting and improving the public's health,

2. Articulate scientifically based health policy analysis and advice to the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the full range of critical public health, medical, and health system issues facing the Nation,

3. Provide leadership in promoting special Departmental health initiatives, e.g., tobacco and HIV prevention efforts, with other governmental and non-governmental entities, both domestically and internationally,

--

As to schools, I hear he's looking at GDS....

[Anonymous]

It's actually not a very hot or interesting job. He hasn't accepted it yet. The role of the SG is mainly to serve as a bully pulpit and churn out reports. I'd rather practice neurology and appear on TV. I don't see how this position will advance his career. But he's more than qualified.

[Anonymous]

If Gupta decides not to go for it, I am betting for Dr. Oz of Oprah fame.

[Anonymous]

I'd go for Atul Gawande.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:My first reaction was that this has to be some kind of a joke. But, then I realized I don't know much about the guy. Still, this has to be Obama's most unconventional pick yet.

Also, Gupta apparently has two young kids. Could we have another school controversy on our hands?

Not sure why you are surprised..are you racist?

[Anonymous]

Dr. Phil?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why you are surprised..are you racist?

Of course. What other reason could there be for my surprise than my obvious racism?

[Anonymous]

I've a feeling that JSteele was probably more suprised because of Gupta's young age (39) and his career as both a neurologist and journalist. He's never worked in government before, and it isn't clear why he would want to now. Personally, I think the two jobs he has are much more exciting. The title of Surgeon General sounds like a much bigger deal than it is. It's speaking engagements, reports, position papers, public information announcements. If that's your thing, great. It wouldn't even interest me, and I'm not important at all.

I LOVE Atul Gwande. But I'd much rather read his books and articles in the NY'er than what he would push out at the direction of a political party. And he has an exciting career as a surgeon, too. I think Gwande is much too good for the job.

[Anonymous]

At first I was a little surprised, but I think the selection makes sense. Much of mainstream America is already familiar with him, so it is not a huge leap for him to be an educator.

As for selections that make no sense, let us talk about Leon Panetta as director of the CIA. Obama wants someone in the job who will report actual intelligence and not what the president wants to hear. So he selects a politician with no intelligence experience???

[Anonymous]

I think Obama believes strongly in prevention medicine, healthy eating habits, exercise, and other areas discussed in Cass Sunstein's nudge book. (I'm a proponent of all these things, too.) Obama has had the guts to stand up in front of thousands of people and tell them to stop feeding their kids Popeye's chicken for breakfast. I think he wanted a recognizable face with some celebrity appeal to help him get these messages across, so he chose someone who meets those criteria. From that point of view, it's probably a smart pick. He wants Americans to be healthier, and he thinks someone like Gupta will communicate that more effectively than a career public health doctor. In this age of celebrity, he's probably right.

[Anonymous]

Yet Obama still smokes.

Life -- it's just so fun sometimes.

[Anonymous]

I'm a doc and have a degree in public health as well. I was certainly surprised at first at this nomination but given the job descriptor and importance of having excellent communication skills, I have to agree that he's probably a good choice.

So many Americans know who he is and he does effectively communicate health news. Additionally, he has the background of being a White House Fellow in the 90s (Not an easy position to get I must say).

As for the school choice comment above, his kids are toddlers so that isn't really an issue