Surgeon General Pick "Humbled" By Honor

(CBS/AP)  President Obama formally nominated Regina Benjamin of Alabama to become the next United States surgeon general Monday morning, stating that she "represents what's best about health care in America."

"If there's anyone who understands the urgency of meeting this [health care] challenge in a personal and powerful way, it is the woman who will become our nation's next surgeon general, Dr. Regina Benjamin," said Mr. Obama.

Benjamin said she felt "honored" and "humbled" after being chosen for the post.

"This is a physician's dream," she said.

Having lost most of her family members to preventable diseases, such as HIV, diabetes, and lung cancer, Benjamin said she feels a personal connection to public health issues.

"While I can't -- or I cannot change my family's past, I can be a voice in the movement to improve our nation's health care and our nation's health for the future," she said.

The family physician is most famous for the role she played in the wake of Hurrican Katrina, when she was determined to rebuild her rural health clinic in Bayou La Batre, Ala., despite hurricane and fire destruction.

The clinic serves 4,400 patients who would be hard-pressed to find care elsewhere. Byron Pitts of CBS News profiled the doctor back in 2006.

Last September, Benjamin received a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" for her efforts to rebuild the clinic.

"When people couldn't pay, she didn't charge them. When the clinic wasn't making money, she didn't take a salary for herself," Mr. Obama said Monday. "She's seen an increasing number of patients who have had health insurance their entire lives suddenly lose it because they lost their jobs or because it's simply become too expensive.

Citing the difficulties she faced in rebuilding her clinic and finding ways to provide care to the uninsured, Benjamin said, "It should not be this hard for doctors and other health care providers to care for their patients. It shouldn't be this expensive for Americans to get health care in this country."

In addition to expressing her concern about America's health care system, Benjamin touched upon some goals if confirmed as surgeon general.

"My hope, if confirmed as surgeon general, is to be America's doctor, America's family physician," said Benjamin. "As we work toward a solution to this health care crisis, I promise to communicate directly with the American people to help guide them through whatever changes may come with health care reform."

Benjamin became President of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama in 2002, becoming the first black woman to head a state medical society and received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights.

She is the Immediate Past-Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, and previously served as Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

For more information on Benjamin, you can view her profile on the McArthur Foundation Web Site.

[fctex]

shouldn't have anyting to do with race. point is what makes her qualified? running her own clinic in Alabama doesn't make me feel real confidant in the "head doctor" of the government. the past ones at least had sterling AND substantial academic AND public health experience. there had to be better choices. some sort of payback going on here.

[whatithink-2009]

"Shouldn't have anyting to do with race. point is what makes her qualified. by fctex July 13, 2009 5:09 PM EDT"

- And how often when someone who is nominated is a white male do you ask the question, "What makes him qualified?"

[hungry1968-16]

by impeachbhb July 13, 2009 12:45 PM PDT

HAS SOMEONE GIVEN MY IDENTITY AWAY??? HOW DID YOU KNOW I AM AT LEAST A DOCTOR?






Judging from previous posts, it's surprising that you can even SPELL doctor.

[impeachbhb]

by bigmo47 July 13, 2009 11:51 AM PDT
by impeachbhb July 13, 2009 11:18 AM PDT
Obama is rewarding her. He is going to allow her to finish medical school during her off hours
----------------------------------------------------

Very Insightful. Maybe you can help her finish. I'm sure you are at least a doctor who would be qualified to talk sh-t about the past chairwoman of the Federation of State medical Boards and the current Surgeon General of the United States.

HAS SOMEONE GIVEN MY IDENTITY AWAY??? HOW DID YOU KNOW I AM AT LEAST A DOCTOR?

[bigmo47]

by impeachbhb July 13, 2009 12:45 PM PDT

HAS SOMEONE GIVEN MY IDENTITY AWAY??? HOW DID YOU KNOW I AM AT LEAST A DOCTOR?

-------------------------------------------------

Well continue to work hard and maybe one day you will get to serve your country as the Surgeon General.

[darthcheney345]

Hey, all this jive talk about Benjamin's bodacious booty is just whack, man!

I mean, what's more important, being all healthy and all that, or having a big, lumpy booty like men want to see.

Gimme a break!

Y'all just a bunch of racist white trash NASCAR bigots!

[AOCGUY]

Just an observation here but over the last few minths I have noted that anyone considered for a post in this administration is immedaitely tagged a socialist bigot by the right while at the same time the left continues to paint conservatives as a blight that must be destryed. Neither is the case.

[darthcheney345]

What, you're just noticing this NOW????

[MPHgrad]

While on paper her credentials are impressive, it is quite disconcerting, in the grand scheme of things, to have someone nominated from a state trailing only Mississippi for the highest obesity rate. Further, this doctor, herself, is obese. Obesity is the greatest cause of preventable illness and the greatest contributor to our soaring health care costs. This is concerning, truly concerning for someone in public health.

[darthcheney345]

I told you, obesiety is bad only in WHITE people.

Black people consider obesity to be physically attractive.

[darthcheney345]

Looks like after Geithner, Obama just can't find any qualified white males to appoint.

You just can't trust them white guys. They're always cheatin on their taxes. Look at Madoff, he's white. What more proof do you need?

Or, was Geithner just the token white guy in Obama's all-minority administration.

[reasoned1955]

A confessed Republican here:

She seems like a fine choice. Her background matches BO's agenda and I can't fault him for that. All indications are that she's selfless and involved.

I'm getting weary of all the racial connotations assigned to anything BO does...give it a rest.

[darthcheney345]

Yah, and that 90% of blacks who voted for Obama, no racism there huh.

Obama nation!

yah, she matches Obama's agenda - to appoint only minorities and women.

[bigmo47]

by darthcheney345 July 13, 2009 12:04 PM PDT
Yah, and that 90% of blacks who voted for Obama, no racism there huh.......
------------------------------------------------
Once again you don't listen to anyone but Rush and the Fox News gang. I see that you're typing so I'll make the assumption that you can read as well. At least give it a try. It is well documented that Black voters generally vote for Democratic presidential candidates and have done so for at least the past 35-40 years. The numbers are generally between 80-90% of black voters. President Obama picked up a lot of voters from demographics that typically vote republican (why do you think there's all of the talk about the decline of the GOP). Besides Black Americans make up less than 15% of the population so he could have had every black vote and he still would have need a heck of a lot of white votes to win.

Such a shame that people refuse to look at facts and aknowledge that many Americans of all races chose him over Senator McCain.

[credibility2]

Remember the debacle during the Clinton years when a woman black Surgeon General, Dr. Jocelyn Elders, caused a furor over some of her ideas for the nation's health? Presumably she was "fired" by Clinton. She was a real idiot. Visit http://www.actupny.org/reports/elders.html, or do a search on this. I do agree with some of the posts condemning this nominee because of her obesity. What type of role model is she for the nation and especially the growing numbers of obese kids? Obviously, Obama was colorblind in considering this fact.

[darthcheney345]

In black culture, obesity is considered physically attractive by many men.

Especially obesity in the posterior region, if you know what I mean.

[bigmo47]

by credibility2 July 13, 2009 11:39 AM PDT
Remember the debacle during the Clinton years when a woman black Surgeon General, Dr. Jocelyn Elders,
------------------------------------------------
Yeah, She was real idiot, Getting everyone's attention about the AIDS epidemic that was sweeping the World to include the United States. God forbid we talk about safe sex with children even if it may save their lives. What vile creatures actually think that masturbation is a part of human sexuality. I'm sure none the good people on this blog have ever engaged in this devilish behavior. Oh and on top of that as a black female, you know she could not possibly have a clue about medical issues. I don't care if she did join the Army after college and serve her country, become the first board certified pediatric endocrinologist in the State of Arkasas, and was the head of the Arkasas' Health System. We know that was all affirmative action!!!

You sir, are an idiot!!

[edgy44]

I thought we got rid of that position after the crazy people from Arkansas left office? The job has nothing to do with health. It is a political appointment that gives her (and her staff) free money to buy a big house in Maryland. If she's smart, she'll get a membership at a gym and prevent diabetes from consuming her organs.