Along with the other qualities that have been discussed, Gupta also has military medicine experience. He was embedded as a medical correspondent in Iraq but he did not just report, he also practiced medicine while there. For a nation at war, it's an excellent idea to have a Surgeon General with such experience under his belt.

The only criticism one might have of Gupta right now is he was an advisor to Hillary Clinton when she came up with her failed health plan proposal. As BHO is expanding the duties of the Surgeon General to include a spot on the DHHS-heavy team to come up with a national health care plan, being part of a failed proposal may not be the best quality. However, it can also be regarded as experience in knowing what will not work. It goes either way.