Dr. Vivek H. Murthy resigned from his position as U.S. Surgeon General late Friday, reports ABC News. Murthy had served under Obama since 2014 and continued into the new Trump administration.
He has been replaced by Deputy Surgeon General Sylvia Trent-Adams, a nurse, who is now serving as Surgeon General in an acting role. Her photo has replaced Murthy’s on the U.S. Surgeon General Twitter account, and her name has replaced his on the official government website.
Murthy’s resignation was confirmed by Alleigh Marré, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, who stated that Murthy was asked to step down “after assisting in a smooth transition into the new Trump administration,” according to The Boston Globe.
Thank you America for the privilege of a lifetime. I have been humbled and honored to serve as your #SurgeonGeneral. https://t.co/i15l9efWUb
— Vivek Murthy (@vivek_murthy) April 22, 2017
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“For the grandson of a poor farmer from India to be asked by the President to look out for the health of an entire nation was a humbling and uniquely American story,” Murthy wrote on Facebook as a farewell post. “I will always be grateful to our country for welcoming my immigrant family nearly 40 years ago and giving me this opportunity to serve.”
Murthy is the first Indian American to have held this position, reports NDTV. He is the second Indian American removed from a senior position by the new presidential administration- the first Indian American removed being Preet Bharara, who was fired in March from his position as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Bharara was fired after refusing to resign when Attorney General Jeff Sessions requested the resignation of all remaining U.S. Attorneys appointed during Obama’s administration.
Murthy was a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School prior to serving as surgeon general.
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