Gupta Not the Next Surgeon General
A.P. has reported that Dr. Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn himself from consideration to be the nation’s next Surgeon General. Dr. Gupta was said to have been President Obama’s top pick for the job. Aol.com reports that “The Obama administration confirmed that Gupta, a neurosurgeon, had taken himself out of the running because he wants to focus on his medical career and spend more time with his family.”
Gupta’s withdrawal comes as somewhat of a surprise considering earlier reports (see post on this blog, Jan. 6, 2009) from CNN which stated “that its sources say that Dr Gupta ‘is inclined to accept the position very soon’ and [that he] has “approached both CNN and CBS management about getting out of his journalistic contracts.” CNN also noted at that time, however, that accepting the Surgeon General position would require Dr. Gupta to accept a substantial cut in pay.
A.P reports that regarding Gupta’s appointment, “Political opposition had started to form,” and that “House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., called Gupta inexperienced and circulated a letter urging Obama not to appoint him.”
Presumably, in addition to his other responsibilities, Dr. Gupta will continue blogging at www.pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/.
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