The Trump administration has replaced Obama-era Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, who was appointed by former President Obama, has been replaced by Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, a nurse.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the personnel change, saying in a statement Friday, “Today, Dr. Murthy, the leader of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, was asked to resign from his duties as Surgeon General after assisting in a smooth transition into the new Trump Administration.”
The department added, “Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, who is the current deputy surgeon general, will serve as the acting surgeon general and assume leadership of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.”
The New York Times reports that “It was not immediately clear why Dr. Murthy was relieved from duty.”
However, he shared his gratitude about the experience on Twitter, writing Friday night, “Thank you America for the privilege of a lifetime. I have been humbled and honored to serve as your #SurgeonGeneral.”
He was also supportive of his successor, saying on Facebook, “As my colleague Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams takes over as acting Surgeon General, know that our nation is in capable and compassionate hands.”
According to the Times, “Admiral Trent-Adams may be the first surgeon general who is not a doctor. She is not the first nurse, though. Dr. Richard Carmona, who served under President George W. Bush, was a nurse and a physician, and he sometimes referred to himself as the first nurse to serve as surgeon general."
