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Vivek Murthy
US Surgeon General
Born in England as the son of two Indian immigrants, Dr. Murthy is most recognized as the 19th Surgeon General of the United States under President Obama from 2014 until 2017, when he was asked to resign from the position. Dr. Murthy holds degrees from the Yale School of Management, M.B.A. Yale School of Medicine, M.D. and Harvard University, B.A. After completing his schooling he joined Harvard Medical School as faculty in internal medicine.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions held a hearing for Vivek Murthy as US Surgeon General on February 25, 2021. He was confirmed 57-43 by the Senate on March 23, 2021 and sworn in two days later.
On China
Although a prolific writer and speaker, Dr. Murthy does not appear to have any strong opinions on China or the U.S.-China relationship at this time.
He does have experience handling international crises during his time as surgeon general under Obama, when he helped lead the national response to the Ebola and Zika viruses and the opioid crisis. He was also the keynote speaker at the 21st Annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Award Gala in 2015.
Notable Speeches, Testimony & Commentary
- “Only way to address Covid-19 is global cooperation, mutual support: US surgeon general Vivek Murthy,” Times of India, April 26, 2021
- “Dr. Vivek Murthy on new US inoculation strategy and distributing vaccines abroad,” transcript, May 4, 2021
- “Transcript: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials,” The White House, April 9, 2021
- “Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews Vivek Murthy About His Covid-19 Plan,” The New York Times, January 26, 2021
TEDMED 2015 Ted Talk, Vivek Murphy, “The Surgeon General’s Prescription of Happiness”
“Speech during the U.S. Democratic National Convention, August 2020, discussing the coronavirus
Our nation has what it absolutely takes to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic… We have the talent, resources and the technology, what we are missing is leadership. We need a leader who works with states to ensure that everyone who needs a test gets one and gets results quickly… We need a leader who inspires us… that’s why I am here tonight not because of politics but because I know Joe Biden can be that leader
- “A Conversation with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy,” event transcript, CSIS, March 1, 2017
Media Commentary & Public Perceptions
- Dr. Murthy was mentioned in a July 23, 2021 Global Times piece on US misinformation.
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said at a White House’s press conference last week that the spread of misinformation throughout the pandemic has cost unnecessary loss of life and infections.
- “With Murthy, Nunez-Smith, and Kessler, Biden leans on experience to steer Covid-19 task force,” STAT News, November 8, 2020
Murthy delivered an impassioned prime-time address during the Democratic National Convention in August that assailed officials in the current administration, ranging from former health secretary Tom Price to the president himself.
- “Who is Dr Vivek Murthy? The Indian-American who will co-chair Biden’s Covid task force,” The Print, November 9, 2020
- “US President-elect Joe Biden announces coronavirus task force line-up,” South China Morning Post, November 10, 2020
- “Biden nominates Dr. Vivek Murthy to reprise role as US surgeon general,” CNN, December 7, 2020
Murthy faced opposition from some Republicans during his Senate confirmation process in 2014 because of his characterization of gun violence in the US as a public health crisis.
- “Who is Vivek Murthy? This former Miami student is a U.S. surgeon general nominee again,” Miami Herald, December 8, 2020
Page Last Updated: January 27, 2022
*None of the personnel in this tracker are associated with the Institute for China-America Studies. All images used on this page are sourced from the official Biden-Harris transition website buildbackbetter.gov or the public domain.*
