New U.S. surgeon general sworn in Tuesday

September 5, 2017 North State Journal Staff Article
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence swears in Dr. Jerome Adams (C) to serve as the U.S. Surgeon General while Adams's wife Lacey and daughter Amelia stand at his side at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 5, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON D.C. – Dr. Jerome Adams was sworn in as the nation’s 20th Surgeon General on Tuesday morning. An anesthesiologist from Vice-President Mike Pence’s home state of Indiana, Adams takes over from  Dr. Vivek Murthy, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, but dismissed by President Donald Trump.

Adams, 42, was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate in April. The U.S. surgeon general oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps., which includes 6,700 public health officers.

After being sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence (R) to serve as the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams (C) fist bumps his son at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 5, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Adams served as a staff anesthesiologist and assistant professor at Indiana State University School of Medicine.  He also served as the health commissioner of Indiana since 2014 when he was appointed by then-governor Mike Pence.

Adams said during his confirmation hearings that his top priorities were addressing the opioid addiction epidemic and untreated mental illness.

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