Sam S. Shekar, M.D., M.P.H., HRSA's associate administrator for health professions, was formally promoted today to the rank of rear admiral in the U. S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps during a Rockville, Md., ceremony.

Acting HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke, Ph.D., provided opening remarks and Deputy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Kenneth Moritsugu administered the oath of office and conducted the promotion ceremony.

Shekar was named associate administrator for HRSA’s Bureau of Health Professions on May 21, 2000.  In this role, he is charged with strengthening the nation’s capability to provide health care access for medically underserved Americans by improving the education and training of America’s physicians, nurses, dentists, public health professionals and other providers.

In just one year under Shekar's direction, BHPr:

• established the new $235 million Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program;
• reorganized the Division of Medicine and Dentistry to create two new, dedicated branches on dental education and GME;
• established a new Center for Public Health to coordinate all of HRSA’s public health activities;
• launched the new $15 million Public Health Training Center Program;
• developed the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Program, which received the 2001 Public Service Excellence Award; and
• organized HRSA’s first-ever National Health Workforce Conference.

Shekar is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine and earned his professional degrees from the University of Michigan.

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