Obama Appoints Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General
Today, President Obama nominated Dr. Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General of the United States of America. The family physician from Mobile Alabama, will be only the third African American to head this position. President Obama’s first choice for Surgeon General was Dr. Sanjay Gupta, but he declined due to unspecified reasons. Benjamin is no stranger to difficult conditions (i.e. threat of the Swine Flu). She rebuilt a medical clinic on the gulf coast of Alabama directly after Hurricane Katrina.
In his speech during the announcement of Dr. Benjamin, Obama said “…So I understand people are a little nervous and a little scared about making change….if there’s anyone who understands the urgency of meeting this challenge in a personal and powerful way, it is the woman who will become our nation’s next surgeon general, Dr. Regina Benjamin.”
Benjamin has a long list of awards and accolades that support her qualification for her future post. After becoming the first African American woman on the AMA (American Medical Association) board of trustees, she went on to win the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights. Benjamin vows to be “Amercia’s Family Doctor” and insists on emphasizing the importance of preventive care.
