Gupta Won't Be Surgeon General

CNN's medicine man will help push preventive health care message, Park notes

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's choice of CNN's health correspondent as his surgeon general is raising eyebrows, but the pick underlines Obama's plans to focus on preventive care, Alice Park writes in Time. The telegenic Sanjay Gupta, while lacking the government experience most surgeon generals have brought to the job, has anchored specials urging Americans to live healthier lives and seems like a natural choice to bring that message to the nation, Park notes. More»

(NEWSER) - CNN correspondent and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta is Barack Obama’s choice for surgeon general, and the doctor is expected to accept, the Washington Post reports. The two had a meeting in Chicago in November, where the president-elect noted that Gupta would be a very high-profile appointment and would have significant say on health policy. The final vetting process is in progress. More»

CNN doc, and onetime Surgeon General candidate, falls ill in Afghanistan

(NEWSER) - Now just imagine how embarrassing this would’ve been if he had been Surgeon General: Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s medical talking head, got swine flu on a recent reporting trip to Afghanistan, he writes in a blog post today. “I am not someone who gets sick, really ever,” he writes. “And this was the sickest I have ever been.” More»

Gupta 'lacks the requisite experience,' congressman charges

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's apparent choice for surgeon general, Sanjay Gupta, is drawing fire from within his own party, ABC News reports. John Conyers of Michigan, the House Judiciary Committee chair, sent a letter to his fellow legislators today encouraging them to join him in protesting the nomination of the CNN fixture as "not in the best interests of the nation"—and spelling the celebrity neurosurgeon's first name "Sunjay." More»

Star-studded finale ends emotionally

(NEWSER) - Larry King signed off for the last time last night, getting emotional as he reflected on his show's 25-year run. “It’s not very often in my life I’ve been without words,” he said. Two presidents, Barbara Walters, Donald Trump, Dr. Phil, and Ryan Seacrest all appeared on the program, Mediaite reports. King said he’d be back —”you’re not going to see me go away.” So “instead of goodbye, how about so long.” More»