President Donald Trump has nominated Indiana Health Commissioner Jerome Adams for the U.S. Surgeon General position.
Truly honored at nomination by @realDonaldTrump for US Surgeon General. Looking forward to working to improve health in US. #greathealth
— Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) June 29, 2017
Then-Governor Mike Pence first appointed Adams to the position in 2014 and Gov. Eric Holcomb re-appointed him in 2017.
During his tenure overseeing public health in Indiana, Adams supervised the roll-out of the needle exchange programs legalized in 2015.
Adams is an advocate of the programs, aimed at reducing the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C among intravenous drug users. He testified in favor of a bill making it easier for county and municipal governments to establish the programs, which Holcomb ultimately signed.
“Dr. Jerome Adams is a dedicated champion for overall health and wellness and genuinely cares about citizens in every corner of our state,” Holcomb said in a statement. “I’m delighted President Trump seeks to bring another Hoosier to Washington, D.C.”
Like many cabinet members, Adams will be required to be confirmed by the Senate. If confirmed, he would be the next of a number of Hoosiers who have made the move to Washington under Trump, including Vice President Pence, CMS Secretary Seema Verma and National Intelligence Director Dan Coats.
