Vivek Murthy Confirmed By Senate As Next Surgeon General

The New York Times: Senate Confirms Vivek Murthy As Surgeon General
Dr. Vivek Murthy, who helped found several health-related advocacy groups and later tackled the opioid epidemic and e-cigarettes as surgeon general during the Obama administration, was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday to reprise that role for President Biden. The vote, 57 to 43, was a much smoother ride for Dr. Murthy than the first time he was confirmed, in 2014, when Republicans cast Dr. Murthy as a politically connected supporter of President Barack Obama’s who would use his position to push for stricter gun control. The fight dragged on for months, leaving the country without a top doctor for more than a year. (Gay Stolberg, 3/23)

AP: Newly Confirmed Surgeon General To Focus On COVID, Opioids
The Senate confirmed a soft-spoken physician as President Joe Biden’s surgeon general Tuesday. While Dr. Vivek Murthy says ending the coronavirus pandemic is his top priority, he’s also raised concerns over a relapsing opioid overdose crisis. The vote on Murthy was 57-43, giving him bipartisan support. Biden’s coronavirus response can already count on plenty of star players, but Murthy has a particular niche. As a successful author he’s addressed issues of loneliness and isolation that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. For Murthy, this will be his second tour as America’s doctor, having previously served under former President Barack Obama. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 3/23)

In case you missed it —

Miami Herald: Who is Vivek Murthy? 
Before Vivek Murthy lived in Washington, the self-proclaimed “mango aficionado” was the 16-year-old valedictorian at Miami Palmetto Senior High. He was inducted into the school’s alumni association Hall of Fame in October 2018. Murthy graduated from the Pinecrest school with a 6.09 GPA in 1994. His accomplishments won him a prestigious Silver Knight award in general scholarship, and admission to Harvard University. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Harvard, he went on to get his M.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Yale University. Before his time as surgeon general, Murthy co-founded Doctors for America, a nonprofit mobilizing physicians and medical students to improve access to affordable care. He also co-founded with his sister VISIONS, a peer-to-peer HIV/AIDS education program in India and the U.S., according to his website. (Marchante, 12/7)

In other news from the Biden administration —

The Hill: Kamala Harris, Bill Clinton To Hold Talk On Pandemic's Impact On Women
Vice President Harris and former President Clinton will sit for a one-on-one conversation Friday, as part of the 13th annual Clinton Global Initiative University meeting, where they will discuss the pandemic’s effect on women. The meeting, which is being held in partnership with Howard University, Harris’s alma mater, will showcase “A one-on-one conversation with President Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, and empowering women and girls in the U.S. and around the world,” according to a statement from the Clinton Foundation. (Schnell, 3/23)

Stat: Abernethy, Who Aimed To Amp Up FDA's Tech Knowhow, To Leave Post
Amy Abernethy, the number two official at the Food and Drug Administration, plans to depart the agency in mid-to-late April. The announcement was made in a memo from Janet Woodcock, the acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who called Abernethy “a talented and inspiring leader” and said she takes heart in Abernethy’s “enduring accomplishments.” (Herper, 3/23)

Also —

KHN: Birx Joins Air-Cleaning Industry Amid Land Grab For Billions In Federal Covid Relief 
The former top White House coronavirus adviser under President Donald Trump, Dr. Deborah Birx, has joined an air-cleaning company that built its business, in part, on technology that is now banned in California due to health hazards. The company is one of many in a footrace to capture some of the $193 billion in federal funding to schools. (Jewett and Weber, 3/24)