Who Is Vivek Murthy? Facts About First Indian-American Surgeon General Dismissed By Trump Administration

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who was a holdover from Barack Obama administration, was told to resign by President Donald Trump’s administration Friday. Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, a former chief nurse officer U.S. Public Health Service Home, took over from Murthy.

The White House said Trent-Adams’ appointment was the part of the administration’s process of transitioning.

“Today, Dr. Murthy, the leader of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, was asked to resign from his duties as Surgeon General after assisting in a smooth transition into the new Trump Administration," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said, in a statement.

"Dr. Murthy has been relieved of his duties as Surgeon General and will continue to serve as a member of the Commissioned Corps," the statement added. "[Health and Human Services] Secretary [Tom] Price thanks him for his dedicated service to the nation. Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, who is the current Deputy Surgeon General, will serve as the acting Surgeon General and assume leadership of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.”

The Surgeon General serves as the government’s chief spokesman on matters relayed to the country’s public health. Their job requires them to raise awareness about healthcare issues, support healthy lifestyle options and issue health warnings.

Murthy was the 19th surgeon general of the country and was confirmed by the Obama administration in December 2014. He replaced Boris D. Lushniak, who was acting surgeon general since July that year.

Check out some of the facts about Murthy.

• Murthy was born in July 10, 1977, in Huddersfield, England, to immigrants from South Indian state of Karnataka. The family moved to Miami when Murthy was 3-years-old.
• He is the first Indian-American to become the U.S. surgeon general.
• Murthy was appointed as the surgeon general at the age of 37 — making him the youngest surgeon general of the U.S.
• Murthy is a Harvard College graduate and also studied at the Yale University schools of medicine and business. He is known his support for emotional well-being.
• The 39-year-old was opposed by the National Rifle Association over his anti-gun views. The association urged the Senate to not confirm Murthy in 2014 after he said gun violence was a public health threat.
• In 1995, when he was a Harvard freshman, Murthy co-founded Visions, an HIV/AIDS awareness program in the U.S. and India. He also co-founded Swasthya, a community health partnership in Karnataka.
• He is married to Alice Chen, a Chinese American physician.