Office of the Surgeon General

About the Office of the Surgeon General As the Nation’s Doctor, the Surgeon General provides Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury. The Surgeon General brings the best available scientific information to the public by issuing Surgeon General’s Advisories, Calls to Action, and Reports on critical issues and communicating directly with the public via a number of communication channels. As Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the Surgeon General oversees the operations of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), an elite group of over 6,000 uniformed officers working throughout the federal government whose mission is to protect, promote, and advance the health of our nation. The Surgeon General is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and serves a four-year term of office. The Office of the Surgeon General is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General is Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA. Mission As the Nation’s Doctor, the Surgeon General is charged with protecting and improving the health and safety of the American people. History The Surgeon General has been the nation’s leading spokesperson on matters of public health since 1871. Learn more about the current and past surgeon generals.