To put its own leadership in place, the US President, Donald Trump’s administration has removed Indian-American Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, from his position.

Murthy was appointed by the former President Barack Obama during his regime. The US Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement, yesterday said, “The leader of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Murthy was asked to resign from his duties as Surgeon General, after serving in a smooth transition into the new Trump administration.

The statement continued, “Murthy has been relieved of his duties as Surgeon General and will continue to serve as a member of the Commissioned Corps.” Murthy (39) said in a Facebook post that it was an honor and privilege to work for this prestigious position. He was the 19th Surgeon General and the first Indian American to hold this position. He said “Being the grandson of a poor farmer from India, and to be asked by the President to look out for the health of an entire nation, was a humbling and uniquely American story. I will always be grateful to our country for welcoming my immigrant family nearly 40 years ago and giving me this opportunity to serve.”

Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent- Adams, who is the current Deputy Surgeon General, will replace Murthy. Health and Human Services Secretary (Tom) Prince thanked Murthy for his dedicated service to the nation. Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, apart from being the acting Surgeon General will assume leadership of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Interestingly, Murthy is the second Indian-American to be removed by the Trump administration from a senior position. US Attorney from New York Preet Bharara, was the first one, to be fired after he refused to resign.

Murthy on his Facebook post wrote, “As my colleague Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams takes over as Acting Surgeon General, know that our nation is in capable and compassionate hands. Thank you, America, for the privilege of a lifetime. I have been truly humbled and honored to serve as your Surgeon General. I look forward to working alongside you in new ways in the years to come.” “While I had hoped to do more to help our nation tackle its biggest health challenges, I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have served,” Murthy said.

Murthy said, “The role of the Surgeon General is traditionally to share wisdom with others, but it was I who learned so much by listening to your stories in town halls and living rooms. In a remote fishing village in Alaska, a church in Alabama, an American Indian reservation in Oklahoma, a school in Virginia, and in so many other places, I watched the grit and grace with which our fellow Americans live their lives.”

Despite stiff resistance by the pro-gun lobby led by the National Rifle Association, Murthy in December 2014, was confirmed by the Senate  by 51 to 43 votes. The surgeon general was appointed for a four year term. At 37, he was the youngest ever Surgeon General.

The Surgeon General’s parents hail originally from Karnataka, India. His birth place was Huddersfield, England and the family relocated to Miami, Florida when he was three years old. Murthy from the Yale School of Medicine received a Master’s degree and pursued MBA in Health Care Management from the Yale School of Management. Murthy is presently a practicing physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, as well as the Hospitalist Attending Physician and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

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