Surgeon General of the U.S.
By virtue of holding the post of Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams automatically ranks among the most dominant voices for public health in the country. However, what has distinguished Adams’ tenure in the role is the thoughtful way he has wielded this influence.
Throughout 2020, Adams stressed the importance of safety measures, such as masking and social distancing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
He was said to be one of the leading voices of the White House’s coronavirus task force, according to The New York Times.
“If you aren’t willing to accept small inconveniences like wearing a mask and keeping your distance from others, then you’re going to force more places to have to close and we’re going to lose freedoms because people aren’t willing to cooperate,” he said in a September interview with Iowa’s KWWL TV station. “A functioning democracy relies on everyone doing their part.”
Adams also continued to oversee the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, a uniformed federal branch of physicians and scientists. More than 4,000 USPHS officers have deployed to COVID-19 hotspots during the pandemic.
He has served as Surgeon General since August 2017. Before that, he was the Indiana State Health Commissioner.
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