Word that President-elect Obama would nominate CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta to the post of Surgeon General was greeted with a mixture of snickers and contempt from Conservatives circles across the blogosphere and social networking sites Tuesday.

One of the more cynical responses commonly bandied about was, “What’s the problem? Was Dr. Phil unavailable?”

While on the face of it, the choice of Gupta may appear comical, on closer inspection, it may be yet another case of Obama and his team being uncannily spot on.

Associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, an assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, chief medical correspondent for CNN and a former White House Fellow and adviser to Hillary Clinton, Gupta is at ease from the operating room to the classroom and committee room.

In addition to writing a column for Time and hosting “House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta”, the Indo-American graduate of the University of Michigan Medical Center is also a best-selling author.

Embedded with a Navy medical unit during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the accomplished neurosurgeon operated on both Iraqi civilians and American service personnel. One would think at the very least this would give Gupta's Conservative detractors pause, if not reason enough for their grudging respect.

Gupta’s selection by Obama signals that despite the dire economic and fiscal challenges facing the incoming administration, public health policy still remains a priority – even more so because of the impact on insurance coverage and public health services that are a byproduct of the current crisis.

While some may scoff and bandy about stereotypical humor at the thought of an Indo-American serving as the nation’s most prominent voice on health issues and policy, it acknowledges a reality found in hospitals and clinics from Manhattan and Los Angeles to Logan, West Virginia – minority and expatriate physicians and surgeons are now commonplace in America’s operating rooms and doctor’s office.

From a political perspective, Gupta selection makes sense for a number of reasons. Among them are:

- He share an appreciation for the possibilities offered by new media outlets and communications technologies with the President-elect and his team of advisors. Look for Gupta to spearhead a drive to incorporate them into the dialogue between the administration and the public on health policy and programs.

- Gupta’s already prominent personal recognition and public familiarity along with his media savvy and journalistic experience will garner greater coverage of his work than an equally qualified but lesser known physician would receive. Given the appropriate latitude and independence, he could truly elevate the role of the Surgeon General beyond merely towing the administration line into being a driving force and moral authority for public health policy.

- In addition to reaching out to minorities in general with Gupta's appointment, it also opens up a direct line to the Indo-American community. This has the potential to reap both domestic and international benefits for Obama.

From a domestic perspective, Gupta's appointment is recognition of the growing influence and power of the Indo-American community in an increasingly culturally diverse America. Along with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Gupta is leading the Indo-American community out of the Squishy-Marts of "The Simpsons" into the mainstream of American society and politics. Accordingly, Obama can expect to receive significant financial support and political goodwill from the Indo-American community in the future.

In the international sphere, Gupta's appointment will reinforce a burgeoning alliance between the world's oldest democracy, America, and it's largest one, India.

From a geopolitical perspective, India is potentially one of America's most critical allies in the 21st Century. Despite longstanding tensions with erstwhile American ally Pakistan, India serves as a natural counterbalance to a rising China, both regionally and on the world stage.

Should America's influence wane and she find herself unable to lead the ranks of free nations in the future, cultivating an alliance with India now may provide her with a trusted ally to pass the torch to somewhere down the road much like Great Britain found in the United States when it experienced a similar fate.

While some may have initially laughed at word of Gupta’s impending nomination, in the end it is in fact another example of the Obama team’s ability to find diamonds and success in the heretofore unexplored rough.

The Doctor is in, indeed, friends.

Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and health policy moves from being a filler to a leader on the evening news.

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http://Bareknuckledpundit.blogspot.com/

Scientia Est Vox

its customary to include the link to the article you lift.

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

I didn't lift it; I wrote it.

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http://Bareknuckledpundit.blogspot.com/

Scientia Est Vox

Here's a link,
Dr. Gupta, I Presume! - Defending the Truth

You need anymore? He posted on a dozen sites.

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Month 3 of the New Iraq Occupation. Troop draw down zero.

http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/

Yet another Clinton link. He once was an advisor to Hillary Clinton. I wonder if she reccomended him for the job. Some interesting crticism as well

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/...urgeon_general



And of course its telling that Obama chose another celebrity to join him.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

I think Gupta is a most excellent choice for Surgeon General.

Think we can get him to grow a C Everrett beard ?

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

I would like someone to explain how Gupta lacks experience. Sounds more like Conyers is just getting his panties in a bunch because a Washington brown noser didn't get the job.

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Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004

Bleech, bad visual.

Well, heres the duties:

I do have to wonder again why in a country of 300million people, is Gupta the best we could come up with? Then again, do we even need a Surgeon General in the first place? Could save some millions right there.

__________________
"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

Gupta is an excellent choice, IMO because he is a very accomplished neurosurgeon. Lately the Surgeon Generals have had their expertise in pediatrics or public health, so this is a good change. Not only is he very qualified academically and with experience, he is an excellent communicator, which is not an easy combination of qualities to find.

Who would you prefer?

And, yes, we need a Surgeon General.

Gupta seems qualified to do all those things. Keep in mind Gupta is a practicing neurosergeon and a reporter on CNN. The job requires that the individual be a mouthpiece who knows what he's talking about. There are better doctors but don't have Gupta's reporting experience. There are better reporters but don't have Gupta's medical background. And of course there are probably people who are better at both but weren't interested in the job. Seems like the criticism has all of a sudden gone from "how is Gupta qualified" to "there are better people out there". Ironically enough these same people aren't throwing out names of these so called individuals.

Perhaps jviehe and Conyers would prefer Dr. Gregory House?

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Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004

Maybe but it signifies to me a guy who has nothing better to do than keep up with medicine as opposed to heading to makeup and wardrobe between surgeries.

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

Gupta's neurosurgery skills are at least on par with Koop's pediatric surgery skills. Both are excellent physicians. One simply has better communication skills.

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.