CNN on Tuesday confirmed that its chief medical correspondent and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the next U.S. Surgeon General, pending Senate approval, the New York Times reports (Harris, New York Times, 1/7). The surgeon general serves as the nation's "chief health educator" by providing the public with medical information on how to improve health and reduce risk of injury and illness, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Schneider, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/6). The position also is responsible for commanding the 6,000-member U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a group of scientists and emergency responders who address a broad range of health emergencies (Hall/Sternberg, USA Today, 1/7).

In addition to responsibilities with CNN, which include hosting a weekend program called "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta," Gupta is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine, as well as a neurosurgeon at Emory University Hospital and associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Health System (Neergaard, AP/Tucson Citizen, 1/7).

Gupta also has been offered the lead role in the new White House Office of Health Reform, which would give him "twin duties that could make him the most influential surgeon general in history," the Washington Post reports. The Obama transition team refused to comment on the matter, noting its policy of not discussing appointments publicly before they are finalized. Gupta also declined to comment but did not deny plans to accept the position, according to the Post (Connolly/Kurt, Washington Post, 1/7). According to people at CNN and members of the Obama transition team, Gupta likely will make a decision on whether to accept the position in the next few days (New York Times, 1/7). Gupta, if nominated, will be subject to confirmation hearings before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (Armstrong, CQ Today, 1/6).

Comments
Joseph Heyman, chair of the American Medical Association's board, said, "If chosen, Dr. Gupta's communication skills and medical knowledge could be a boon to the new administration's health system reform efforts" (AP/Tucson Citizen, 1/7). Former assistant Surgeon General Susan Blumenthal said the selection of Gupta represents a "returning to a communicator model" for the post (Washington Post, 1/7).

Gerard Farrell, head of the public health service's Commissioner Officers Association, said members were "disappointed" in the selection of Gupta, adding, "Dr. Gupta is certainly a well-respected neurosurgeon and accomplished media journalist, but I'm not aware of any particular in-depth public health experience." Farrell said the group would prefer that the surgeon general be chosen from its membership (USA Today, 1/7).

Broadcast Coverage
NPR's "All Things Considered" on Tuesday reported on Obama's choice of Gupta as surgeon general (Rovner/Block, "All Things Considered," NPR, 1/6).