The Role of the Surgeon General in Public Health

The Nation's Doctor

The Surgeon General is the overall head of the commissioned corps, a 6,500-member cadre of uniformed health professionals who are on call 24 hours a day.

The Surgeon General is the Nation's Doctor, providing Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of disease.

Priorities

The Surgeon General's priorities include:

• Improving the health and safety of the nation
• Addressing the opioid and e-cigarette epidemics
• Promoting mental health and well-being
• Reducing health disparities

History

The Surgeon General has been the nation's leading spokesperson on matters of public health since 1871.

The current Surgeon General is Dr. Vivek Murthy.

Additional Information

For more information on the Surgeon General, please visit the following websites:

• Office of the Surgeon General
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services