Ala. Doctor Confirmed as Surgeon General

(AP)  The Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr. Regina Benjamin to be the U.S. surgeon general, elevating a well-known Alabama family physician to be the nation's top doctor.

Benjamin, 53, was approved by voice vote.

Benjamin was the first black woman to head a state medical society, received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and just last fall received a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant."

But she made headlines in the wake of Hurricane Katrina with her determination to rebuild her rural health clinic in Bayou La Batre, Ala., which serves 4,400 patients who would be hard-pressed to find care elsewhere.

In nominating Benjamin, President Barack Obama cited her experience with patients at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum and her commitment to prevention and wellness programs as a way to head off diseases and complications that could be prevented.

"My hope ... is to be America's doctor, America's family physician," Benjamin said when Obama announced her nomination in July. 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."

[Ichabod09]

So after Sanjay Gupta turned the offer down, PHS finally found someone to take the job. Give ya a heads up ladies and gentleman-once she takes a look around the office, see how long it takes for her to head for the door.

There is a reason Sanjay turned the job down and it ain't family, physical health, or his devotion to medicine. There is an expression with a PHS assignment- OJT-which contrary to popular interpretation acturally means Only Jurk Taking it."

[hungry1968-17]

So the republicans have finally decided to STOP blocking the confirmation of the US surgeon general, while we're in the midst of two major flu outbreaks.

Isn't that "nice" of them.

I wonder why CBS left that part of story out of this article?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601202&sid=aVL8sznMGglw

[Ichabod09]

by hungry1968-17 October 30, 2009 8:43 AM EDT
So the republicans have finally decided to STOP blocking the confirmation of the US surgeon general, while we're in the midst of two major flu outbreaks.


If you want to see the political motivation for some of the Surgeon General appointees try and find a copy of the movie "Miss Evers Boys"

PHS tried to get Sanjay Gupta in order to retain credibility in a time of Federal Budget cuts.

[puzzler125]

I'd rather she slept at a Holiday Inn Express than that the goverment (in other words our taxes) paid for a many hundreds of dollars a night hotel, in Washington D.C. tonight.

[newyorkmom]

A rural family physician is the new surgeon general..i wonder if she slept at a holiday inn express last night?

[Solarrays247]

Be careful, dear....your pettiness is showing.

[AOCGUY]

Benjamin was the first black woman to head a state medical society, received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and just last fall received a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant."