PCMS' Dr. Richard Carmona Selected As Surgeon General
 Dr. Richard Carmona is the President's nominee to serve as the next Surgeon General. Dr. Carmona is currently Clinical Professor of Surgery, Public Health, and Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona, as well as Chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System. Carmona has an extensive record of public service, including serving as an Army Green Beret in Vietnam, a police officer, a SWAT team member and as a nurse. His dedication has been widely recognized: he was named Physician of the Year in 1993 for Pima County, Arizona, and he is a past recipient of the "Top Cops" award from the National Association of Police Organizations.
Dr. Carmona will bring to the position:
- Significant experience in managing major public health organizations;
- A strong background in preparedness and dealing with emergencies; and
- A commitment to prevention as an effective means to improve public health.
President Bush announced that the next Surgeon General will address three urgent health issues:
- Ensuring that America is prepared to respond to major public health emergencies, such as bioterrorism;
- Leading a new initiative that focuses on prevention, fitness and healthy living as keys to reducing disease and improving medical care; and
- Speaking out regularly to the nation about the health dangers of alcohol and drug abuse
Surgeon General Duties
The Surgeon General serves as spokesperson to the nation on matters of public health and medicine. The Surgeon General serves as special advisor to the President and Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Congress and the general public on hazards to health, disease prevention and health promotion, based on the best available scientific evidence. To date, the Surgeon General has produced over 60 reports to the Nation on various critical health topics.
The Surgeon General administers the Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps. The 5,600 health care professionals in the Corps serve in HHS health agencies and other federal Departments, as well as in medically underserved areas of the Nation. All Corps members are on call for emergency duty as needed, and a special Readiness Force within the Corps is prepared at all times for immediate deployment. Recently, members of the Readiness Force were deployed in New York and Washington, D.C., following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and the anthrax attacks.
President Bush's Comments About Dr. Carmona At March 26, 2002 Nomination Ceremony
When I first learned that Dr. Richard Carmona once dangled out of a moving helicopter, I worried that maybe he wasn't the best guy -- (laughter) -- to educate our Americans about reducing health risks. (Laughter.) But that panned out to be just one of several times that Dr. Carmona risked his own life to save others.
As an Army Green Beret in Vietnam, a decorated police officer in Pima County, Arizona, a SWAT team member, a nurse and a physician, Dr. Carmona has redefined the term, hands-on medicine. Dr. Carmona currently serves as the Clinical Professor of Surgery and Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona. He is also the chairman of the state of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System. He will bring to the Surgeon General's Office a proven commitment to service, and a strong management background.
The next Surgeon General will address three particularly urgent issues. First, the Surgeon General administers the 5,600-member Public Health Service Commission Corps, health care professionals who are on call for emergency duty. Members of this force were deployed in New York and Washington, D.C. after the terrorist attacks of September the 11th, and during the anthrax attacks that followed.
Dr. Carmona has worked for many years in law enforcement and community preparedness, important preparation for any emergency that may come. Dr. Carmona is an experienced voice to help educate Americans about the best precautions and response to the threat of bioterrorism.
Second, I have asked Dr. Carmona to lead an important initiative focusing on prevention and life-long healthy living as a key component to medical care. The research is overwhelming that simple improvements in diet and exercise would result in dramatic improvements in America's health. Studies show that overweight Americans who are at risk of developing type II diabetes or coronary heart disease can delay and possibly prevent these diseases with just moderate exercise and a healthy diet. Walking 30 minutes a day will dramatically improve your life. Playing a game with your children in your backyard will help. Walking in a park can make a difference to your health.
These relatively small actions can dramatically reduce costs and strain on our health care system. Fitness and a healthy lifestyle are a priority for me. I really like to run. It makes me feel better. The doc and I are going to encourage all our country to either run or walk or swim or bicycle for the good of their families, for the good of their own health, and for the good of the health of the nation.
And thirdly, Dr. Carmona is going to speak regularly to the nation about alcohol and drug abuse, and the tremendous toll they take on our society. Substance abuse by students undermines academic achievement and dims the great hope of the American Dream. Alcohol is a prime cause for many of our society's ills, not the least of which is domestic violence. And the long-term health effects of alcohol and drug abuse are devastating. If we want to live healthier and longer, we're going to have to tackle the problems of alcohol and drug abuse. And Dr. Carmona's going to make that one of his priorities.
Doctor, I thank you so very much for your willingness to serve our country. (Applause.)
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