Obama picks Indian-American for surgeon general post

Updated on: 07 January,2009 08:40 AM IST |
Agencies |

US President-elect Barack Obama has approached CNN's chief medical correspondent, Indian-American Sanjay Gupta, to be the country's next surgeon general.

Top doc: Sanjay Gupta. pic/apu00a0

CNN said it has kept Gupta from reporting on health care policy and other matters involving the incoming Obama administration since learning he was under consideration for the post.

Two Democrats with knowledge of the discussions over the surgeon general spot said Gupta was under consideration, but cautioned there was not yet a final decision on who would fill the post. Obama's transition office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gupta hosts Houseu00a0 Call on CNN, contributes reports to CBS News, and writes a column for Time magazine. He is a neurosurgeon and is on the faculty at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. During the Clinton administration, he was a White House fellow and special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The surgeon general typically isn't heavily involved in shaping an administration's policy, but it can be a very effective bully pulpit. Past surgeons general have proved instrumental in battling tobacco and AIDS.

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