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20-545: The equivalent senior health official at the national level is often referred to as the chief medical officer (CMO), although the title varies across countries, for example known as the surgeon general in the United States and the chief public health officer in Canada. The national senior adviser on health matters is known as the chief medical officer , while those at state and territory level are mostly known as

40-423: A four-star admiral in the commissioned corps, and serves as the principal advisor to the secretary of health and human services on public health and scientific issues. The surgeon general is the overall head of the commissioned corps, a 6,500-member cadre of uniformed health professionals who are on call 24 hours a day and can be dispatched by the secretary of HHS or by the assistant secretary for health in

60-410: A four-year term of office and, depending on whether the current assistant secretary for health is a commissioned corps officer, is either the senior or next-most senior uniformed officer of the commissioned corps, holding the rank of vice admiral . The current surgeon general is Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy . The surgeon general reports to the assistant secretary for health (ASH). The ASH may be

80-487: A medical officer. In 1856, 48 officers took up appointments in the city, and these specialists formed Metropolitan Association of Medical Officers of Health . They were important and influential in the establishment of municipal hospitals under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1929 . In the 1974 NHS reorganisation they were replaced by Community Physicians who were attached to the different levels of

100-662: Is registered in National Medical Council and in a state medical council. They are posted mainly at primary health centre and community health centres. In the United Kingdom , the municipal position was an elected head of the local board of health , however the term MOH has also been used to refer to the chief medical officer . Under the Metropolis Local Management Act 1855 , London municipalities were each required to appoint

120-424: Is the title used in many countries for the senior government official designated head of medical services, sometimes at the national level. The post is held by a physician who serves to advise and lead a team of medical experts on matters of public health importance. The post of chief medical officer dates back to Victorian times . The equivalent title may go under different names across countries, for example,

140-765: The Surgeon General in the United States and the Chief Public Health Officer in Canada. By extension, chief medical officer is also used as a job title , for the physician who is the professional lead of all physicians at a hospital. Surgeon General of the United States The surgeon general of the United States is the operational head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus

160-489: The chief health officer (CHO), with one CMO and one chief public health officer . The chief public health officer of Canada is the senior health official for the federal government . In Ontario , one individual is named chief medical officer of health for the province and has powers to issue guidance, to issue provincial orders, and to coordinate public health responses with medical officers of health, who oversee various public health units . In British Columbia ,

180-434: The provincial health officer is the senior health official for the provincial government. The roles of the medical officer of health varies across jurisdictions, but always include responsibilities related to public health and safety, and may include the following functions: In India , a medical officer generally has a minimum of MBBS degree or MD degree from a recognised medical college and university and his/her name

200-559: The regular corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and have specialized training or significant experience in public health programs. However, there is no time requirement for membership in the Public Health Service before holding the office of the Surgeon General, and nominees traditionally were appointed as members of the Public Health Service and as surgeon general at the same time. The surgeon general serves

220-469: The American public about health issues and advocating healthy lifestyle choices. The office also periodically issues health warnings. Perhaps the best known example of this is the surgeon general's warning label that has been present on all packages of American tobacco cigarettes since 1966. A similar health warning has appeared on alcoholic beverages labels since 1988. In 1798, Congress established

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240-681: The Marine Hospital Fund, a network of hospitals that cared for sick and disabled seamen. The Marine Hospital Fund was reorganized along military lines in 1870 and became the Marine Hospital Service —the predecessor to today's United States Public Health Service . The service became a separate bureau of the Treasury Department with its own staff, administration, headquarters in Washington, D.C., and

260-823: The NHS. The surgeon general of the United States is the senior health officer in the United States. Health officer is a common term used in the United States for public health officials, such as medical health officers and environmental health officers . They may serve at the global, federal, state, county, or municipal level. The end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st saw major issues for health officials and health officers include tobacco control , injury prevention , public health surveillance , disease control, access to health care, health equity , health disparities , cultural competence , access to preventive services such as immunizations and health promotion . Chief Medical Officer Chief medical officer ( CMO )

280-627: The United States , and by law holds the rank of vice admiral . Officers of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are classified as non-combatants, but can be subjected to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the Geneva Conventions when designated by the commander-in-chief as a military force or if they are detailed or assigned to work with the armed forces . Officers of

300-602: The commissioned corps, including the surgeon general, wear uniforms that are modeled after uniforms of the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard , except that the commissioning devices, buttons, and insignia are unique. Officers in the U.S. Public Health Service wear unique devices that are similar to U.S. Navy staff corps officers (e.g., Navy Medical Service Corps , Supply Corps , etc.). The only surgeon general to actually hold

320-519: The event of a public health emergency. The surgeon general is also the ultimate award authority for several public health awards and decorations, the highest of which that can be directly awarded is the Surgeon General's Medallion (the highest award bestowed by board action is the Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal ). The surgeon general also has many informal duties, such as educating

340-639: The leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States . The surgeon general's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General ( OSG ), which is housed within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health . The U.S. surgeon general is nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate . The surgeon general must be appointed from individuals who are members of

360-686: The position of supervising surgeon, later surgeon general. After 141 years under the Treasury Department, the Service came under the Federal Security Agency in 1939, then the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) in 1953, and finally the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) . Prior to 1970, the surgeon general was traditionally selected from career uniformed officers. Today,

380-495: The surgeon general is usually selected from the civilian community, who aligns more closely with the president's political party. The office is not a particularly powerful one, and has little direct statutory impact on policy-making, but surgeons general are often vocal advocates of precedent-setting, far-sighted, unconventional, or even unpopular health policies. The U.S. Army , Navy , and Air Force also have officers overseeing medical matters in their respective services who hold

400-503: The title Surgeon General, of their respective services, while the surgeon general of the United States is surgeon general of the entire nation. The insignia of the surgeon general, and the USPHS, use the caduceus as opposed to the Rod of Asclepius . The surgeon general is a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , one of the eight uniformed services of

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