The U.S. Senate yesterday approved Jerome Adams, M.D., to be the country’s next surgeon general.
Adams was confirmed, along with three other nominees for positions in the Department of Health and Human Services. The confirmations were not unexpected as all of the nominees won approval from a Senate committee earlier this week and were sent to the full Senate for confirmation.
Adams, nominated by President Donald Trump last month, said in a tweet it was an “indescribable honor” to be confirmed as Surgeon General for a four-year term.
1/4 To be confirmed as the 20th US Surgeon General is truly an indescribable honor.
— Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) August 3, 2017
In a series of tweets, Adams, who is Indiana’s state health commissioner, thanked those in his home state for their support. He went on to say “ultimately this appointment is about what we’ve all accomplished together.”
2/4 The wonderful people of Indiana trusted and supported me, and ultimately this appointment is about what we've all accomplished together
— Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) August 3, 2017
In addition to approving Adams, the Senate approved the confirmations of:
- Lance Allen Robertson as assistant secretary of aging.
- Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D., as assistant secretary for mental health and substance abuse, a new position.
- Robert Kadlec, M.D., as assistant secretary for preparedness and response.
Adams was appointed by now Vice President Mike Pence when he was Indiana governor to serve as state health commissioner. Adams practices as an anesthesiologist at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis and also teaches at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Adams replaces Vivek Murthy, M.D., who was dismissed by the Trump administration in April. At a hearing before the Senate Committee August 2, Adams said he would put science ahead of politics if he was named to the surgeon general post. His views on science seem critical in the wake of the Trump administration’s views on vaccines, which conflicted with Murthy’s opinion.