Obama Selects Alabama Family Doctor as Next Surgeon General
President Barack Obama has chosen a rural Alabama physician as the next surgeon general, The Associated Press reports.
Regina Benjamin, MD, last made headlines with her dedication to rebuild her nonprofit clinic after Hurricane Katrina. She is also known to make house calls and treat patients who cannot otherwise afford health care.
“For all the tremendous obstacles that she has overcome, Regina Benjamin also represents what’s best about health care in America, doctors and nurses who give and care and sacrifice for the sake of their patients,” Obama said Monday in introducing Benjamin as his choice.
According to the article, her brother was HIV positive and died from AIDS-related illness. Her father died with diabetes and high blood pressure, while her mother died of lung cancer “because as a young girl, she wanted to smoke just like her twin brother could.” Her uncle is now on oxygen.
“I cannot change my family’s past. I can be a voice in the movement to improve our nation’s health care and our nation’s health,” Benjamin said. “I want to be sure that no one falls through the cracks as we improve our health care system.”
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