Vivek Murthy, MD, is no longer Surgeon General, though the explanation of how he departed from the role depends on whom you ask.
As announced on the afternoon of April 21, the White House said in a statement that he “has been relieved of his duties as Surgeon General and will continue to serve as a member of the Commissioned Corps," with HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, adding a thank you for his “dedicated service to the nation.”
Murthy’s wife, Alice Chen, said the move wasn’t voluntary. She told the New York Times her husband had been asked to resign. He refused and was then fired by the Trump administration.
Murthy was a holdover in the post from the Obama administration, and had espoused views that wouldn’t fall in line with those of President Donald Trump, like being a strong proponent of the Affordable Care Act.
His successor, Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, is the first non-MD to hold the post described as being the nation’s “top doctor.”
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.