Biden is set to a tap a nurse, SUSAN ORSEGA, as acting surgeon general

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
Dan Diamond
@ddiamond
SCOOP: Biden is set to a tap a nurse, SUSAN ORSEGA, as acting surgeon general — a role traditionally filled by a doctor.

Biden to tap nurse as acting surgeon general
Susan Orsega would be among the first nurses to serve in the role of ‘the nation’s doctor.'
washingtonpost.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/25/biden-appoints-nurse-acting-surgeon-general/


The Biden administration has selected nurse Susan Orsega to serve as the nation’s acting surgeon general, said two people with knowledge of her selection who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the announcement.

Orsega, a career-commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service corps and a longtime infectious-disease specialist, would be among the first nurses to serve in the role of surgeon general, which is often referred to as “the nation’s doctor.” The announcement of Orsega’s selection could come as soon as Tuesday, one of the people said.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams, a Trump appointee, resigned last week at Biden’s request, and Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz, a career official, chose to retire after being passed over as acting surgeon general.

Frequently viewed as the nation’s spokesperson on public health matters, the surgeon general oversees the U.S. Public Health Service, more than 6,000 uniformed public health personnel who work in various parts of the federal government, but has limited ability to make policy. In her current role, Orsega oversees the corps’s personnel, operations and readiness.

Orsega did not immediately respond to request for comment. A spokesperson for the Health and Human Services Department declined to confirm that Orsega had been selected as acting surgeon general but said the department is expecting an announcement as soon as Tuesday.

*snip*

[abqtommy]

1. "Nurse" might not be an accurate descripton. In my medical care history many of my primary care

Last edited Tue Jan 26, 2021, 01:17 AM - Edit history (1)

providers have been what is called "Nurse Practitioners" who have the full capability to diagnose, treat and prescribe. I would certainly think that Susan Ortega falls under this description.

[ShazzieB]

2. I know what you mean.

I just did some googling and found this on Ortega's LinkedIn page:

"RADM Susan Orsega received her Bachelors of Science Nursing degree from Towson University where she was a student athlete, participating Cross-Country and Track teams. In 2001, she obtained her Master’s degree of Science from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Nurse Practitioner program. In 2013, she was inducted as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She was inducted as a fellow in the Academy of Nursing in 2016."

So yes, she is a nurse practitioner!

I'm fan of nurse practitioners myself. My current pcp is a nurse practitioner, and she's awesome.

[abqtommy]

11. Thank you!

[Hoyt]

6. Good point. Apparently she is a Nurse Practitioner. She's qualified as permanent.

[SheltieLover]

3. Wonder why a nurse?

[cwydro]

8. Read up on Nurse Practitioners.

Or read some of the other posts on this thread.

[Klaralven]

4. Rear Admiral Susan Orsega, MSN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

https://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/CCHQ/orsega.aspx

As Director of Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ), Rear Admiral (RADM) Susan Orsega is responsible for directing all functions regarding personnel, administration, operations, readiness, deployment, and policy for the approximate 6,500 members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She is the principal advisor to the Surgeon General (SG) on activities and policies related to Commissioned Corps training, preparedness, activation, deployment, and total force fitness.

RADM Orsega served as the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS from May 2016 to March 2019. In this role, she advised the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the recruitment, assignment, deployment, retention, and career development of nurse professionals, and was responsible for provide leadership to 4,500 Commissioned Corps and civilian nurses.

Prior to joining the Office of the Surgeon General to lead CCHQ, RADM Susan Orsega was assigned to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She was responsible for the operational management of international research that are US Government to Government partnerships with South African and currently with Malian Government involving 150 international nurses and researchers, and 500 research participants. Since 2015, RADM Orsega played a fundamental role in the United States Government (USG) NIH Ebola and Emerging Infectious Disease response. In 2015, at the height of the Ebola, she was one of the US NIH team members on the ground for first human vaccine trial in Liberia and Ebola Z-Mapp trial in Sierra Leone. As part of the U.S. NIH collaboration with the Mali Government, she was responsible for the NIAID operations of the University Clinical Research Center. Her emphasis was focused on building the infrastructure and leading the operations of the US NIH Ebola Vaccine Trial in Mali and Emerging Infectious Disease Trial focused on early detection of suspicious febrile cases in that country.

In addition, RADM Orsega has a distinguished public health emergency and disaster care experience ranging from an elite medical team after 9/11 as well as 14 other national and international disaster/humanitarian USG missions serving in roles with progressive nursing and leadership responsibilities. She was selected as the only USPHS officer on the Advance Planning team, USS Pacific Peleliu Navy ship health diplomacy mission.

RADM Susan Orsega began her career in the USPHS Commissioned Corps in 1989 at NIH. At that time, when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was unfolding, RADM Orsega continued to advance her nursing and scientific knowledge with an emphasis on practice as a Nurse Practitioner. She recognized as a subject matter expert in realm of HIV/AIDS global research, advanced nursing practice, health diplomacy and disaster response. She has authored 19 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at 40 major scientific and nursing conferences around the world. RADM Orsega is the recipient of the US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service in 2016, the distinguished Uniformed Services University Graduate of School of Nursing Alumni of the Year award in 2015 and NIH Director’s award in 2002.

RADM Orsega earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Towson University and a Master’s degree of Science from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Nurse Practitioner program. In 2013, she was inducted as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. In 2016, RADM Orsega was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing.

[Olafjoy]

5. Never heard of a nurse surgeon. Guess they will have to change the name.

[cwydro]

9. Huh?

[3catwoman3]

10. The Air Force has what they call flight surgeons.

They do not perform surgery during flights. They supervise the health of flight crews. One of the flight surgeons at the base hospital when I was stationed in Japan was an OB-GYN.

[sheshe2]

7. K&R