Dr. Jerome M. Adams was officially sworn in as the new U.S. Surgeon General by Vice President Mike Pence on Sept. 5, 2017. Dr. Adams previously served as health commissioner for the state of Indiana under then Governor Pence. Adams will serve as the country’s 20^th Surgeon General. Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, RN, had filled the role as acting Surgeon General after Dr. Vivek Murthy was relieved of the position by President Donald Trump.

Dr. Adams received bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and biopsychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in 1997. He then earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of California at Berkeley, and a medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine.

The surgeon general, often called “the nation’s doctor,” works to improve public health and oversees 6,700 public health officers, many of which work in underserved areas. The position traditionally serves as a bully pulpit, with past surgeons general using it to campaign against issues such as tobacco, obesity and gun violence. Dr. Adams said during his confirmation proceedings that he planned to focus on the nation’s opioid crisis and untreated mental health concerns.

Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD looks forward to working with Dr. Adams on shared health concerns including curtailing the opioid epidemic and combatting oral diseases caused by smoking and other tobacco products.