Former US Surgeon General presents 2023 Dean’s Lecture
McGovern Medical School and the Office of Research Affairs welcomed Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, 20th U.S. Surgeon General, Presidential Fellow, and Distinguished Professor of Practice at Purdue University for the 2023 Dean’s Lecture, Oct. 11 in MSB 3.001.
Adams joined his longtime friend George W. Williams, II, MD, FASA, FCCM, FCCP, professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, for a fireside chat to discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other stories from Adam’s career in medicine.
Adams is a licensed anesthesiologist and ran the Indiana State Department of Health prior to becoming surgeon general. In the State Health Commissioner role, he managed a $350 million budget and over 1,000 employees, and led Indiana’s response to Ebola, Zika, and HIV crises. Notably, Adams helped convince the Indiana governor and state legislature to legalize syringe service programs in the state and to prioritize $13 million in funding to combat infant mortality.
As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a member of the Coronavirus Task Force, Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. A regular communicator via TV, radio, and print, Adams is an expert not just in science, but also in communicating the science to the lay public, and making it relevant to various audiences. As surgeon general, he was the operation head of the 6,000-person Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and oversaw responses to three back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes, and to a once-in-a-century pandemic.
Throughout the fireside chat, Adams discussed some of his biggest accomplishments as U.S. Surgeon General and also some of his more challenging moments. He discussed the success of Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort that supported an accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates, which in turn helped save the lives of 15 million people worldwide according to The Lancet. Adams applauded the efforts of researchers and physicians for making that possible.
Adams said that one of the most difficult challenges with serving as U.S. Surgeon General is learning how to communicate with the media in today’s often politically charged world. He mentioned that while he had experienced this more than most people who become U.S. Surgeon General, thanks to his time spent running the Indiana State Department of Health, that physicians should seek out training both in how to speak to patients at the bedside, but also how to advocate and give the best medical advice to the general public.
Established in 1983, the Dean’s Lecture promotes and encourages professional development and sparks collaborative interest. Sponsored by the Research Committee, each year eminent scientists across various scientific disciplines are invited to present their work.
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