U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams has resigned from his position at the request of President Joe Biden.
Adams, 46, was
nominated by former President Donald Trump and sworn into the job in September
2017.
In a lengthy
post on Facebook, Adams wrote:
Thank you for
the opportunity to serve this great Nation, as this has been the honour of my
life. Three years and five months ago, I was confirmed as just the 20th United
States Surgeon General - and only the second ever African American male to
serve in that role.
My tenure
started with three category 5 hurricanes barrelling down on our citizens. I
immediately deployed to witness the devastation first hand, and to lead our
Public Health Service Officers as we helped with the response. I saw the best
of our Nation coming together in the worse of times, to help those who’d lost
everything.
I then turned
my attention to the opioid epidemic, encouraging more people to carry Naloxone
by issuing the first Surgeon General’s advisory in over a decade. Working
across government and with amazing advocacy organizations on the ground- many
led by parents who had lost their own children to opioid overdose- we were able
to increase Naloxone availability nationwide by over 400%, and save countless
lives. This is perhaps my proudest achievement, as my family has been
personally impacted my substance misuse, and I firmly believe stigma remains
one of our biggest killers and barriers to health.
Being a
parent of school-age children myself, I saw the need to issue subsequent
advisories warning of the dangers of youth e-cigarette and youth marijuana use-
a combination which merged into the deadly EVALI outbreak our Nation faced.
Despite any opinions about adult use of these products, I hope Americans can
agree that we must all work together to prevent youth initiation and use.
In 2019, I issued
the first Surgeon General report in over 30 years on smoking cessation,
highlighting the groups still most impacted by smoking, and the science behind
what we know works to help them quit. We have made tremendous progress, but far
too many- including those with mental health issues, our tribal citizens, and
the LGBTQ community, haven’t shared equally in cessation successes.
And of
course, there was COVID19. In the face of a once in a century pandemic, I
sought to communicate the rapidly evolving science on this deadly adversary,
and arm people with the knowledge and tools they needed to stay safe. I wasn’t
always right- because no one was, and this virus continues to humble all of us-
but I was always sincere in my efforts to speak to everyday Americans, and
address the terrible health inequities this virus exposed.
My team also
put out historic Surgeon General’s Calls to Action on Hypertension Control,
Maternal Health, and Suicide Prevention. We did this because even in midst of a
deadly pandemic, hundreds of thousands of people are killed by these other
health risks every year. For example, more people died from uncontrolled high
blood pressure in 2020 than from Covid-19. We mustn’t forget about all the
other harms Americans face every day, or the many opportunities we have to
improve health, and build more resilient communities. And we mustn’t forget
that diseases and health risks rarely impact all communities equally. That's
why these Calls to Action specifically mention the groups disparately impacted,
and talk about the need to study and address aggravating factors like bias.
Finally, I
released a completely novel type of Surgeon General report- a report on
Community Health and Economic Prosperity. It emphasizes the links between the
health of our communities and the health of our economies. It is unique in that
it makes the business case for why we all should care about and invest in the
vital conditions that create opportunities and healthier communities.
During my
tenure, I have visited with people from all across America. And despite all
that you may read on social media or see on tv, I can assure you that from
Alaska to Alabama, from Maine to Montana, and from California to the Carolinas,
Americans mostly want the same thing. They want a fair shot at being their best
and healthiest self, and to be able to support the health and well-being of
their families.
And speaking
of families, I want to thank those of you who supported me and my family- my
wife who is undergoing cancer treatment, my brother who is struggling to
overcome addiction, my mother who suffered a stroke earlier this year, and my
kids who sacrificed time with their dad so that he could serve this Nation. And
thanks to those of you who have become part of my family- the United States
Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, my dedicated support staff in the
Office of the Surgeon General, the amazing colleagues and friends I’ve met
across government, and the many people across this great Nation who constantly
pray for my wife and kids, and ask about my dog Bella.
I hope in
2021 and beyond, we can focus more on what unites us, and rise above what
divides us. Because Americans working together can overcome any obstacle or
adversary. I stand at the ready to help in our mutual quest for recovery,
resilience, and health, and thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the
opportunity to serve.
Adams’
resignation came shortly after Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took
office. Back in December, the Biden administration announced its nominee, Vivek
Murthy for the role of the surgeon general. He previously served in the
position under former President Barack Obama and he’s a close adviser to Biden.
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