Sanjay Gupta is a doctor on TV, but should he be surgeon general?(Scott Gries/Getty Images)The news that the television doctor and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta is being considered for the post of U.S. surgeon general has prompted a mixed reaction on health and science blogs and other sites. Here’s a sampling:
KevinMD.com: The doctor blogger calls it a “bold pick” but asks whether “this a case of style over substance.”
THDblog: The Technology, Health and Development blog says, “Public health needs a rock star.”
Terra Sigillata: Science blogger Abel notes that “literally millions of Americans already trust him for health care information,” adding that “Gupta has also been on-site for several of the most challenging medical emergencies the U.S. has faced in recent years, most significantly the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.” But fellow blogger Jake at Pure Pedantry says Dr. Gupta has waffled on issues like vaccines and autism under the guise of journalistic fairness — something he can’t do as surgeon general.
Center for Science in the Public Interest: Director Michael Jacobson says: “It has been a long time since we’ve had a surgeon general who had a major national impact, such as Dr. C. Everett Koop, who took on the tobacco industry. Certainly no one could accuse any surgeon general in the last eight years of tackling tough health problems.”
GetBetterHealth.com: Dr. Val says, “I don’t think he has the gravitas or appropriate experience for the role of Surgeon General of the United States.” She cites an unidentified source close to the nomination proceedings who says, “It will be difficult for Gupta to be taken seriously by peers at the Pentagon and State Department.”
Gawker.com: The gossip site points out that Dr. Gupta was voted one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive in 2003. “Obviously Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, is the big loser here,” says Gawker.
According to Dr. Gupta’s bio provided by CNN, he regularly performs surgery at Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital, where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery. Before joining CNN, Gupta was a fellow in neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee’s Semmes-Murphy clinic, and before that, the University of Michigan Medical Center. In 1997, he was chosen as a White House Fellow — one of only 15 fellows appointed.
What do you think of Dr. Gupta’s credentials to become surgeon general?
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As a journalist, he has to have a much broader view and understanding of health care issues than someone who spends full time practicing medicine or surgery. He knows how to do research and he knows how to explain complex issues to people in simple language. He seems very bright and thoughtful person and I think it would be a great appointment..
— RitaSue SiegelDepends on how good a doctor and administrator he is. Dr. Gupta’s TV exposure is irrelevant.
— JON WINDYLet me throw a race card in here just for fun—everyone else does it –why not Indians? Are we questioning Dr. Gupta’s appointment because he is an Indian—just kidding.
— Anil HingweI recommend House.
— DaveI think Ezra Klein’s right on the money about this appointment, and given that he’s a health care policy expert, I think he should’ve been referenced by Tara:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=01&year=2009&base_name=the_evolution_of_the_surgeon_g
and probably even better:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=01&year=2009&base_name=can_sanjay_gupta_fix_american
FROM TPP — I hadn’t seen these posts. thanks.
— DeanLet’s hope he will continue to be unbiased in the autism/vaccine conflict. For those here who are biased, there are two sides to this story and lots of science that shows evidence of a link.
— MaurineGupta is definitely a better choice than Dr. Tim or Dr. Nancy.
I have enjoyed reading Dr. Gupta’s articles and hearing him address issues. He seems an intelligent and thoughtful person. I see no impediment to his becoming surgeon general.
The fact that he is well known may be an advantage in getting people to make better decisions for themselves.
— Judith E AbateI may be wrong but wasn’t he a contestant in one of the first survivor shows. If I am not mistaking he was, he got good press and that is how he ended up at cnn. I think he was with CBS first.
FROM TPP — Is this a joke? Sanjay Gupta on Survivor? I’m voting you off the island for such a silly remark. But it would’ve been amusing, if true. He gained national prominence from his time in another reality show called the White House. In 1997-1998, Dr. Gupta was a White House Fellow who worked primarily as an advisor to the First Lady and the President.
Wait! I know who you must be thinking of. Elisabeth Hasselbeck from the View got her start in 2001 when she was cast in Survivor: The Australian Outback. She finished fourth, in case anybody cares. If there is another national media person who gained prominence on Survivor, I’m sure the readers will tell us. But I think I can say with confidence that the next Surgeon General will not have ever been a contestant on Survivor.
— carriePost number 27 writes: “One must be certain however that the Surgeon General articulates the science and the facts as they exist. Dr Koop, renowned as a conservative, will always be remembered for articulating the dangers of HIV and AIDS well before the politicians in the Reagan administration did.”
I have tremendous respect for Dr. Koop: he put scientific integrity first . I’ll always remember how he put aside his own conservatism and pro-life beliefs, and reported that there was no evidence for post abortion trauma.
I hope Dr. Gupta emulates Dr. Koop’s integrity.
— AmyDoes anyone remeber the argument between michael moore and sanjay about healthcare?? check it out on youtube…..sanjay isn’t smart enough to take seriously on any issues….let alone take up a high ranking government position!!!!!! Obama has been really dissapointing thus far.
— saraThere are far more qualified and experienced MDs
— jose p abrena mdin the USA than the the said suggested niminee.
Tara Parker-Hope should be ashamed to describe someone as distinguished as Dr. Gupta as a “TV Doctor..” He has outstanding medical credentials. His experience as a journalist means he has delved into the areas where medicine and public policy intersect, the prime responsibility of a Surgeon-General. And his television experience means that he can communicate and educate to a wide audience. This is an excellent appointment. The Times should know better than to ridicule it.
— StuartAccording to the Office of the Surgeon General’s website: “The Surgeon General serves as America’s chief health educator by providing Americans the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury.”
To have a doctor who’s a good communicator and researcher like Sanjay Gupta looks like a great choice to me. On CNN he’s already proven his ability to educate the public on health issues and is probably a credible and recognizable brand to the public.
— IJ WoodsGood for Dr. Gupta. I wish I could say I will have accomplished so much when I’m his age. Most likely not in this lifetime. So kudos to Dr. Gupta for all his hard work, intelligence and charm that has gotten him into people’s brains, in their homes on TV and obviously in their hearts (for those whose brains he saved). He’s done very well and will serve us well as a medical overseer. Most of all, his appointment would motivate a whole lot of young people in this nation and around the world to try their best!
Good choice President Obama: You promised Change and we’re are ready for change. Gupta is a great example, seeing a young person in an important position that has traditionally landed in the hands of OLD white men. Salute.
— TanjemWhats the big deal. We will have totally inexperienced CIA head—-Pannetta
— dusan TichyA failed former Chicago head of education as the new Dept. of Ed
Now we have aq TV doctor as the country’s surgen general.
You wanted change? Well here is your change!
As a physician, I agree with the above posters that Dr. Gupta might have public name recognition and popularity but will have to earn the trust and respect of physicians, other healthcare workers, public health workers, and researchers. Although the position might be mostly one of communication, he will have to work with both the public and many of us to be effective.
I don’t know if he is well-known in the neurosurgical world but he is not known medically in the overall world of medicine. I also wonder how much actual patient care experience he has given the duties of his show, his stint as a White House Fellow, his admin duties as a chair, etc.
I also wished that a primary care physician had been chosen (pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine). Many of the medical problems faced by the U.S. today (obesity, chronic illness, stroke, heart attacks, diabetes, asthma, etc.) are handled by primary care physicians yet we get very little recognition by anyone. And the projections are that there will be fewer primary care docs in the future due to insurance pressures, poor reimbursement, and a host of other factors. We’re headed for a perfect storm of health problems medical and policy-wise.
Most TV physicians are specialists (Oz is another surgeon, Ornish is a cardiologist; not ‘ER’; at least ‘The Doctors’ has a pediatrician). Nothing wrong with specialists but it is the rare specialist that I encounter who is well-versed and interested in the problems of primary care on both a medical and policy level.
I hope that Dr. Gupta will prove me wrong.
— LCVice Admiral Gupta sounds fine to me.
— ZachHe is bright and articulate.
— caryl cooperHe has traveled the world and reported on health issues.
He is know and trusted by a good number of people from his CNN work.
I think that he would be an excellent choice.
Putrefied papal babbling.
The pope has spoken - and makes as much sense as His Holiness does on priest celibacy, stem cells and a host of issues.
NYT is scraping the bottom of the barrel allowing self anointed journalists like Tara to bleat.
Nary a word of Sanjay’s skills as a surgeon, his work in Iraq in rescuing a soldier or his medical background. Outraged comments forced a link to his memo.
TV doctor ??
My son’s kindergarten newsletter would not allow you to report on anything!
— NaradarHe is Indian makes me proud to be an Indian- Indians have contributed a lot US both in science and software because USA is a very innovative country and Sanjay is the right choice and has telegenic personality
Good luck to him
— Anil#106 there is no link between vaccines and autism. Many aggrieved parents think there is, since autism comes to attention right around the time kids get vaccinated, and they want something to believe in.
Truth is that the autism rate is the same among vaccinated and unvaccinated kids, in a number of large studies.
If Gupta doesn’t know this, he is incompetent. If he knows it and does not acknowledge it, he is a fraud and is no better than George Bush and his cronies who bent science for their own political agendas.
— jackI don’t think the surgeon general’s job is so hard its brain surgery. But if I’m wrong, Dr. Gupta fits the bill.
— Grier HornerHe is an excellent choice, and Pres Obama is doing a wonderful job already choosing his posts, and as this evidences, it also shows he does not need someone who is politically affiliated to serve with him.
He is a brain surgeon, what other credentials does he need? Obviously he is smart as he is charismatic and that would be a killer combo…now if Obama would only stop smoking!!
— VijaySince I don’t know very much about Dr. Gupta, I looked at your link to his CNN bio. I’m not sure about the accuracy of the rest of it but there are three errors in the sentence describing him as serving as a diplomat of the American Board of Neurosurgery: (1) the board is the American Board of Neurological Surgery (2) one is a diplomate not a diplomat and (3) it doesn’t mean someone represents the board; it only means someone is certified by the board. To suggest that it means someone is serving the organization in some role is false. I know Dr. Gupta probably didn’t write it but it concerns me that he didn’t correct it.
— Steven A. King, M.D.What a ridiculous choice. Based on his CV - give him his own reality tv show. Americans deserve a REAL Surgeon General to address the myriad concerns/issues of the current state of our health care systems. This is an important position to fill - We need an innovator not a reporter who happens to be a doctor.
— mara