For ASA's inaugural episode of Central Line, Dr. Striker interviews Dr. Jerome Adams, the first physician anesthesiologist to serve as United States Surgeon General. Dr. Adams addresses the opioid epidemic, the growth of marijuana use, pathways to leadership, and more in this wide ranging interview. Recorded October 2019.
Adam Striker, MD, FASA, is currently Chair of the ASA Committee on Communications, and is the series editor for ASA’s Central Line podcast series. He is an Associate Professor and serves as staff anesthesiologist in the Division of Cardiac Anesthesia at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia at Kentucky Children’s Hospital as part of the Joint Congenital Heart Care Program. He received his undergraduate degree in engineering from Purdue University and his medical degree from Indiana University. He completed his pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Northwestern University.
VADM Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, is the 20th Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. Adams holds bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a master of public health degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine, and is a board-certified anesthesiologist. Prior to being selected for his current position, he served as the Indiana State Health Commissioner from 2014 to 2017, where he presided over Indiana's efforts to deal with the state's unprecedented HIV outbreak, caused by the sharing of needles among people who inject drugs.
Dr. Adams' motto as Surgeon General is "better health through better partnerships." As Surgeon General, he is committed to maintaining strong relationships with the public health community and forging new partnerships with nontraditional partners. As Surgeon General, VADM Adams oversees the operations of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which has approximately 6,500 uniformed health officers who serve to promote, protect and advance the health and safety of our nation.
Dr. Adams has been a leader in numerous professional organizations and is a Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (FASA).