Indian origin, Dr. Vivek Murthy has been nominated by US President Joe Biden to serve as America’s representative on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board.
The White House said in a statement that Dr Murthy, 45, will serve in the new position alongside his current duties as US Surgeon General.
In March 2021, he was confirmed by the US Senate to become the country’s 21st Surgeon General. He previously served as President Barack Obama’s 19th Surgeon General.
Foundation stone for healthier country
The Surgeon General’s mission as the nation’s doctor is to help lay the groundwork for a healthier country by relying on the best scientific information available to provide clear, consistent, and equitable guidance and resources to the public.
“While serving as the 21st Surgeon General, Dr Murthy is focused on drawing attention to and working across government to address a number of critical public health issues, including the growing proliferation of health misinformation, the ongoing youth mental health crisis, well-being and burnout in the health worker community, and social isolation and loneliness,” said the White House.
As Vice Admiral of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dr Murthy leads a uniformed service of over 6,000 dedicated public health officers who serve the most underserved and vulnerable populations.
Dr Murthy, the first Surgeon General of Indian descent, was raised in Miami and graduated from Harvard, Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Management, according to the White House.
He is a well-known physician, research scientist, entrepreneur, and author who lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Dr. Alice Chen, and their two children, according to the report.
