As expected, President Donald Trump's choice for a new surgeon general cleared the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee today.
The nomination of Jerome Adams, MD, currently Indiana State Health Commissioner, now goes to the full Senate for a decisive vote.
Trump nominated Dr Adams in June after he dismissed former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, a holdover from the Obama administration.
Dr Adams, who appeared to impress both Democratic and Republican members of the HELP committee at his confirmation hearing yesterday, promises to make the nation's opioid abuse epidemic a top priority if he is confirmed. "I also hope to make wellness and community and employer engagement centerpieces of my agenda," Dr Adams told lawmakers at his hearing.
Besides voting in favor of Dr Adams as surgeon general, the Senate committee approved the nomination of several other physicians for positions in the Department of Health and Human Services:
Elinore McCance-Katz, MD, for assistant secretary for mental health and substance use;
Brett Giroir, MD, for assistant secretary for health; and
Robert Kadlec, MD, for assistant secretary for preparedness and response.
Follow Robert Lowes on Twitter @LowesRobert
Medscape Medical News © 2017
Cite this: Trump's Pick for Surgeon General Wins Committee Vote - Medscape - Aug 02, 2017.
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