Answers from the Experts

Career Path of Surgeon General

"I was hoping you could help me find out about the position of surgeon general. Do you know what most of them usually majored in, and what other doctor/public servant positions are out there?"

Responses were sent from:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and The University of Vermont.

Member Institution and Association Answers:

From Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:

If I said there were a million doctor/public service positions out there, someone would probably tell me that I underestimated. If one has identified that they have a passion for service and the sciences, I would say that the world is your oyster. If you think of it in terms of someone having the aptitude and training to be able to improve/save lives, there will always be a need for you. However, there is only one surgeon general. So, you can shoot for the moon, but remember that every community has needs for skilled medical professionals along the way to your post as surgeon general. While I have not done much research on individual paths to the position of surgeon general, I would venture a guess that for each individual who has held the position there was a different path. For example, Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona was a highs school dropout who received his Army GED after enlisting in 1967. I would start here to get more info on the U.S. Surgeon General office: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/. There is also a link that you can follow which will allow you to request that the Surgeon General to come to your school (50 Schools in 50 States Initiative.)

Michael E. Moore
Associate Dean & Director of Minority Recruitment
Office of Enrollment Management
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY 12180-3590
moorem5@rpi.edu
518-276-8046 Phone
518-276-4072 Fax
http://admissions.rpi.edu/
http://admissions.rpi.edu/counselor_web/michaelm

From The University of Vermont:

Having done a little research on my own, I would refer students to the biography of the current Surgeon General at
http://www.hhs.gov/about/bios/sg.html.

It provides a wonderful window on his journey into that position.

Jilly Warner
Assistant Director
Office of Admissions
The University of Vermont
194 S. Prospect St.
Burlington, VT 05401-3596
www.uvm.edu
Ph: (802) 656-3370