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 Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn himself from consideration to be the nation’s next Surgeon General.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/.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Surgeon General?

CNN reports that Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Neuro-surgeon, Medical Correspondent and Blogger, has been “approached” by the Obama transition team and “asked to take the very high profile job of Surgeon General of the United States.” CNN reports that its sources say that Dr Gupta “is inclined to accept the position very soon” and has “approached both CNN and CBS management about getting out of his journalistic contracts.”

Dr. Gupta is chief medical correspondent for CNN and a medical reporter for CBS. He also heads CNN’s medical blog, at www.pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/. He has won an Emmy award, authored a New York Times Bestseller–Chasing Life– and writes a column for TIME magazine.

In addition to his copious media credits, “Dr. Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He regularly performs surgery at Emory University Hospital and at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery.”

CNN reports that a transition source said that “The transition team is impressed with the combination of Gupta’s past government experience, as a White House fellow in 1997 and a special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton, along with his medical career as a neurosurgeon and his communication skills.”

It is said to be expected that with health reform as “a top priority” for the Obama administration, that Dr. Gupta would help to “explain the arcane nature of health care policy” to the American public, as well as play a role in its formation. Accepting the position is said to entail “a huge pay-cut” for Dr. Gupta.

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