Dr. Ian Smith for Surgeon General?

6 Mar 2009 Author: rikyrah

Since Sanjay Gupta has dropped out, why not consider Dr. Ian Smith for the position of Surgeon General.

He’s a Medical Doctor. He’s been involved in the 50 million pound challenge – trying to get the Black community involved in weight loss and healthy choices. He’s telegenic, and is comfortable in front of the camera. If you want someone to sell your health reform plan, Dr. Smith could be your man.

Tags: 50 Million Pound Challenge, Dr. Ian Smith, U.S. Surgeon General

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jdickenslaw
I second!
RonnieB
Why not! Be nice to have a chief doctor who actually looks healthy.
allamr18
send it to the website, maybe they will see it and think about it
Mothsmoke
@ Rikyrah
The position would require Dr. Smith to oversee some 6,000 health care professionals. Do you know if he has any administrative experience? I couldn't tell from his fancy smanshy website :)
isonprize
Well… just because someone is a physician, doesn't mean that they have administration experience or a stated vision for the agency in question, in this case, the health and welfare of folks in the United States.
I've heard of Dr. Smith on the radio, but don't know much about him. The “About Me” link on his website is heavy on the academic history, light on work experience.
What kind of doctor is Ian Smith? Does he have experience with Public Health issues, a Masters in Public Health, administrative experience as commissioner of a Health Dept, Dean in Medical School or similar experiences?
I don't know the following gentleman either, but what about the past Exec Director of the National Medical Association, Mohammad Akhter M.D., M.P.H.? Here's some info I clipped from the Googles and Internets.
A renowned leader in international and public health, Dr. Akhter was Executive Director of the American Public Health Association from 1997-2002. He most recently served at Howard University's College of Medicine as Professor of Community Health and Chairman of the President's Advisory Council on Public Health.
He was also Health Commissioner for Washington D.C. and Director of the Missouri State Department of Health. Dr. Akhter is a physician with Board Certification in preventive medicine, a clinical professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, D.C., and an adjunct professor of international public health at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.
ChrisChambers
First, as long as his taxes are in order, go for it.
Second, MPH's or PhDs in Public health aside, I say any brother who's been the Commissioner of health for X city or state, etc. has the budren of proof of showing me that they didn't get that job because they couldn't hack it in the private sector. I have seen too many rank bureaucrats/salary takers in those positions. They play footsie with their budgets, sponsor an ocassional needle exchange or well baby day, and that's it. We need a national health cheerleader and asskicker…and someone who fit's Barack's archetype. A national Big Mama like Elders is too 90s. Ian Smith for SG. Get him fitted for the uniform.
And third, he's just the dude who'd start passing out Norplant in the hood with a cahs bonus, as this is an integral way to stop crime, child neglect, malnutrition, teen/out of wedlock pregnancy, cultural nihilism…yeah, I said it. How've the other solutions been workin' for ya so far? I thought so.
rikyrah
AFTERNOON THREAD IS UP
The_A
Co-Sign!
Good choice. Good spokesperson. Good leader. Good health. Good looking.
So how do we get his name into the hat?
Webb
“Norplant in the hood with a cash bonus.”
Why stop there? How about euthanasia with a cash bonus? How about experimental research (ala Syphillis and Ms. Evers) with a cash bonus?
I consider myself an ultra-liberal, but your suggestion is way out-of-bounds. Nothing would rally the Religious Right and Real Catholics more than what you're suggesting. Are you trying to resurrect the Republican Party? We buried them on November 4, 2008. Don't try to revive them.
BarackMarley
Ian Smith is a talking head doctor he pals around with Michael Strahan and does silly shows. Why not Dr. Ben Carson a legit black doctor who's qualified. I'd rather have a real doctor
http://www.justicelove.com Webb
What's wrong with “pal”-ling around with Michael Strahan? LoL, are you having a Riley/Gangstalicious moment?
ChrisChambers
Get outta my face with this slippery slope bull. One doesn't lead to the other. When you say here's a supplemental plan to stem an issue from which so many others grow, from education to crime, people always get all crazy and cry what you;ve cried or dredge up the Syphillis thing (Harriet Washington talks about the “reverse Tuskagee” mindset irony in her book “Medical Apartheid”). . Maybe b/c deep down you know it would work. people said the same thing about these funded studies where girls were offered cash NOT to get pregnant and both girls and boys were offered moolah and housing if they stayed in school. It worked. And here is some Darwinism for you–it will self select for people who do have the discipline, common sense and drive to put off or refrain from the knuckleheadism. Norplant's not permanent. And it's voluntarily.
Oh I cannot convince you I'm sure. But how dare you compare me to the GOP or perhaps insinuate something Third Reich-ish. The genocide is allowing conditions and a nihilistic culture (regardless of income, I suppose–I'll give you odds Rihanna's likely knocked up) in the hood, in the country, to continue and our people die a slow, stink death…
Trumystique
Can we stop looking for the celebrity doctor for Surgeon General? When I was hating on the Gupta for SG pick I flippantly suggested Dr Mehmet Oz or Dr Ian Smith. That is only if you are looking for the telegenic and great communicator for Surgeon General.
I think you need a cheerleader for prevention in the job, someone who has the academic credentials (MD, MPH or PhD) and the leadership/administrative experience ( run a health department or in a senior health policy role) to be the Surgeon General. You need someone with vision who understands medicine and public health. Dont just grab any doctor because they look good on paper. You need a person who understands prevention and who understands general medicine. I think that means that you need to stay away from highly specialised doctors (surgeons etc) because they have a very narrow focus on their field.
BIGGIE_4_OBAMA
if he is qualified why not?
mon_dieu_ishmael
1) has he paid his taxes? 2) will he take the pay cut required to be Surgeon General?, 3) is he more than a talking head? 4) does he know anything about public health?
5) will he promote oral sex as a way to avoid teen pregnancy like Dr. Joycelyn Elders?
robrown
Th cabinet is lacking chocolate pigmentation.
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com CPL
Shyt, Obama should ask Joycelyn Elders if she wants the job again. I still didn't like the way she and Lani Guinier were thrown under Clinton's bus without an opportunity to defend themselves.
Plus, it would be a big “FU” to Bill and Hillary.
Some days, I PMS, and I'm MEAN LIKE THAT. BWAHAHAHA
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com CPL
That's a good idea to give the job to Ben Carson if Dr. Elders don't want it again.
Trumystique
People were hating on Elders but she was right. Its called harm reduction and now everyone is talking about it in the field. Back then she got thrown under the bus for telling it like it is. So I wouldnt mind if she got the nod again. But Pres Obama's MO seems to be bringing in a younger new guard so I dont think it will happen.
PS When you are PMSing you bring it and usually its with a beat down as well!
________________________________
http://www.justicelove.com Webb
Touché Chris Touché,
Maybe b/c deep down you know it would work.
Sure, it might work, but it would take a generation to prove effective and you would lose so much political capital in the process that it could result in Republicans returning to power. NO DEAL.
I haven't studied the birth/death rates lately. But from a layman's perspective, we know that latinos have the highest birthrate. Yet latino crime rates are not nearly as high as our crime rates? Why is that? Is birth control a significant factor in “knuckleheadism?”
I would argue that the quality of our education system and a market for drugs are more significant factors. You must know that prior to integration and RoeV.Wade, our black-on-black crime rates were dayum near infinitesimal.
President Obama wants to revamp NoChildLB and is already loosening puritanical regulations on marijuana. I'm for legalizing most drugs (period).
But how dare you compare me to the GOP or perhaps insinuate something Third Reich-ish…our people die a slow, stink death…
I disagree that we're dying a slow death. I don't know about you, but even in the midst of this dire economy, many of us are still quite buoyed by the optimism of our New President. I digress…
I didn't appreciate you focusing the program on AAs. Norplant in the hood is abominable. I respect a woman's right to choose. I do NOT respect targeting the “hood” moreso than “rural-poor-white” communities. And maybe that was not your intent. Semantics?
Any such policy would have to be applied evenly to all races. BUT HERE's THE RUB, the likelihood of seeing such a program implemented in strongly evangelical regions is a virtual impossibility. Some states can not give out condoms or cervical cancer vaccines to teenage women because they fear a promiscuity trigger.
So, if it can't be applied EVENLY, then it shouldn't be applied AT ALL. It could be left up to the states, it can be left up to DC, but no FEDERAL money should be granted to such a program.
rikyrah
No offense, but Dr. Carson does lifesaving work on pretty much a daily basis. His gifts are too much to take away from sick patients to go work for the government. I like Dr. Ian, but I don't delude myself – his talent level doesn't remotely approach Dr. Carson's.
isonprize
Damn. I'm cosigning comments all over this thread! Re: Dr. Carson — he would probably be bored out of his mind with the SG gig. I have actually had the honor of meeting him and his lovely wife.
He really does have 'gifted hands' It would be a serious misuse of his talents for him to serve as SG. Plus, I think he wouldn't take the job.
jadia
From my understanding Dr. Ian has never completed his residency so he is not a licensed physician. I'm a fan of Dr. Adewale Troutman's work to reduce health disparities. He is currently director the Louisville, KY Dept of Public Health and has a great resume. Maybe with him in the position effective policies that actually move the US toward the Healthy People goals can be established.
theuppitynegro
Well, seeing as how Obama didn't pick Jamal Simmons from CNN to be his the White House Secretary (yes, he was my first pick) I DOUBT Ian Smith even has a shot at it.
And @jadia according to his website, he graduated and finished his residency at the University of Chicago, so he's licensed.
http://clipsandchips.blogspot.com/ j_clarence
It's s safe bet that the administration is looking for someone with more of a celebrity status, whether a politician like Howard Dean or a someone else with stature across the board (Gupta was at the very least popular); mainly because the administration wants to hit the ground running with someone known around the country.
And it looks like Dean is in the lead for this, and there isn't any reason why he wouldn't get it after he was turned down for the HHS post.
rikyrah
Dr. Ian's undergrad is from Harvard, so that should put him in line.
http://www.latinopoliticsblog.com adriana01
I agree w/ you that they are looking for someone with more stature. In a way, I think that Obama's people owe Dr. Dean for his work at the DNC. He really wants to contribute to this administration.
Dr. Ian Smith certainly is nice looking and seems more then qualified… I'm thinking of the bigger political picture. Was Dr. Smith a big Obama backer?
http://www.hustleandfloe.com hustleandfloe
It would seem that Dr.Carson would prefer to stay on the front lines, contributing to advancing science through practice. In that spirit, though, I kind of like Atul Gawande. Also a set of “gifted hands” but with a leaning to public sensibility. Check his book here: http://www.amazon.com/Better-Surgeons-Performan… It's something else.
jadia
It really only says he finished medical school at Univ of Chicago. I can not find any information on where he completed his residency. Once he graduated from Univ of Chicago he earned his MD not his license. None of his bios are clear about where he practiced medicine or his specialty. Whether or not he completed his residency and is licensed, I think Dr. Smith is a wonderful spokesperson and a great diet “expert”, but in my opinion the surgeon general should be someone with practical medical experience beyond medical school and administrative experience in a public health setting.
jadia
It really only says he finished medical school at Univ of Chicago. I can not find any information on where he completed his residency. Once he graduated from Univ of Chicago he earned his MD not his license. None of his bios are clear about where he practiced medicine or his specialty. Whether or not he completed his residency and is licensed, I think Dr. Smith is a wonderful spokesperson and a great diet “expert”, but in my opinion the surgeon general should be someone with practical medical experience beyond medical school and administrative experience in a public health setting.
jadia
It really only says he finished medical school at Univ of Chicago. I can not find any information on where he completed his residency. Once he graduated from Univ of Chicago he earned his MD not his license. None of his bios are clear about where he practiced medicine or his specialty. Whether or not he completed his residency and is licensed, I think Dr. Smith is a wonderful spokesperson and a great diet “expert”, but in my opinion the surgeon general should be someone with practical medical experience beyond medical school and administrative experience in a public health setting.
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