Obama nominates new surgeon general

President Obama has nominated Vivek Hallegere Murthy to be the next surgeon general, the White House announced Thursday.

Murthy is the co-founder and president of Doctors for America since 2009, the White House said in a statement.

He also teaches at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School, where he works as an attending physician. 

Murthy was appointed in 2011 to the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health, the White House said.

Among other accomplishments, he founded other health groups addressing issues such as the availability of medicine in rural areas and HIV/AIDS. 

{mosads}In 1997, he graduated with a degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard, and later attended Yale University to receive degrees in medicine and business.

If confirmed, Murthy would succeed Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak, who has served as acting surgeon general since July.

That month, Regina Benjamin stepped down from the surgeon general post after having serving a four-year term under Obama.  

The surgeon general, known as “America’s doctor,” represents the Health and Human Services Secretary and assistant secretary in addressing public health practice.