Richard Carmona

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In 2006, Carmona released a landmark Surgeon General's report on the health effects of secondhand smoke. [15] Carmona's report underlined the risks of secondhand smoke exposure, stating: "The debate is over. The science is clear: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard." [16] The report encouraged the adoption of indoor smoking bans and noted that such bans did not appear to have a harmful economic effect on bars and restaurants. After leaving office, Carmona testified before Congress that the Bush administration had tried for years to "water down" his findings on the dangers of secondhand smoke, and had pressured him not to testify in the tobacco industry's racketeering trial. [17]

In earlier testimony before the U.S. Congress, Carmona stated that he would not object to a ban on all tobacco products "if Congress chose to go that way." The Bush administration distanced itself from this statement. [18]

Post-Surgeon General career

Carmona is currently vice chairman of the Canyon Ranch resort and spa company, president of the non-profit Canyon Ranch Institute, and a professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. He is currently in-charge of COVID-19 response at the University of Arizona. [19] On June 16, 2010, Ross University School of Medicine named Carmona to its board of trustees. [20]

In 2006, Republicans attempted to recruit Carmona to run for Congress in Arizona's 8th congressional district, but he declined. [21]

On October 25, 2013, Carmona joined the Herbalife Board of Directors. Dr. Carmona commented, "As a scientist and medical professional, I was first attracted by the depth and breadth of Herbalife's commitment to excellence in nutrition science. As a business person, my due diligence showed me a company of integrity with a good business plan. As the son of poor emigrant parents, I am elated to see the opportunities Herbalife offers to families in health-disparate and economically underserved communities." [22]

On September 6, 2021, Carmona joined the McKesson Corporation's board of directors as a new independent director and the Board of Directors Compensation and Compliance Committees. [23]

Criticism of Bush administration

On July 10, 2007, Carmona, along with former Surgeons General C. Everett Koop and David Satcher, testified before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about political and ideological interference with the Surgeon General's mission. Carmona accused the Bush administration of preventing him from speaking out on certain public health issues such as embryonic stem cell research, global climate change, [24] emergency contraception, and abstinence-only sex education, where the administration's political stance conflicted with scientific and medical opinion. [25]

Carmona also testified that the Bush administration had attempted for years to "water down" his report on the dangers of secondhand smoke and pressured him not to testify in the tobacco industry's racketeering trial: "Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried." [26] [27] According to Carmona, he was even ordered not to attend the Special Olympics because the event was sponsored by the Kennedy family, and was told to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. [17] The Washington Post subsequently identified William R. Steiger as the Bush administration official who had blocked release of Carmona's report on global health because it conflicted with the administration's political priorities. [28]

Carmona said that his predecessors as Surgeon General had told him, "We have never seen it as partisan, as malicious, as vindictive, as mean-spirited as it is today, and you clearly have worse than anyone's had." [26] Koop's testimony indicated that he had been subject to less political pressure than his successors: [29] [30] President Reagan was pressed by his officials to fire him, but Reagan refused. [30] Moreover, Koop indicated that each of his successors had had less access to the Secretary of Health and Human Services than he had: Satcher had been granted less access than him, and "Dr. Carmona was treated with even less respect than Dr. Satcher." [30]

2012 U.S. Senate election

Carmona campaigning with former President Bill Clinton Dr. Richard Carmona and Bill Clinton (8076295141).jpg
Carmona campaigning with former President Bill Clinton

Carmona was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Arizona in the race to replace retiring Republican Senator Jon Kyl. [31] [32] Carmona said that he would bring his experience in science and medicine to the Senate, which will inform his analytical approach to the issues. He has been critical of politicians like Todd Akin and said that health issues should not be politicized. [33]

On November 6, 2012, he lost to Republican challenger Jeff Flake. [4]

Electoral history

Richard Carmona
Richard carmona.jpg
17th Surgeon General of the United States
In office
August 5, 2002 –July 31, 2006
United States Senate election in Arizona, 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jeff Flake 1,104,457 49.2% -4.1%
Democratic Richard Carmona1,036,54246.2%+2.7%
Libertarian Marc J. Victor102,1094.6%+1.4%
N/A write-in2,5010.1%nil
Majority67,9153.0%-6.8%
Turnout 2,245,609100.0%

Personal life

Carmona is married to Diana Sanchez. They have two daughters, two sons, two granddaughters, and two grandsons. Carmona resides in Tucson, Arizona. [1]

Awards and decorations

Awards and decorations as depicted on Vice Admiral Carmona's United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps' uniform during his tenure as Surgeon General of the United States.

Combat Medical Badge, 1st award.svg
US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Purple Heart ribbon.svg
Surgeon General's Medallion ribbon.png U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Public Health Service Unit Commendation ribbon.png
Public Health Service Unit Commendation ribbon.png Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon.png
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg VNCivilActionsRibbon-2.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg
Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Association ribbon.png Association of Military Surgeons of the United States ribbon.png Reserve Officers Association ribbon.png
Badge Combat Medical Badge
Badge U.S. Army Parachutist Badge
1st row Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
2nd row Surgeon General's Medallion Presidential Unit Citation Public Health Service Unit Commendation
3rd row Public Health Service Unit Commendation Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Army Good Conduct Medal
4th row National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon
5th row Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
6th row Commissioned Officers Association ribbon Association of Military Surgeons of the United States ribbon Reserve Officers Association ribbon
SpecialForces Badge.svg
ViPaBa.jpg
United States Army Special Forces SSI (1958-2015).png
Badge U.S. Army 1st Special Forces (Airborne) Distinctive Unit Insignia
Badge Army of the Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge
Badge 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Shoulder sleeve insignia
Special Forces Tab Cloth.jpg | USPHSCC Surgeon General Badge.png | Office of HHS ID Badge.png
Badges Special Forces Tab Surgeon General (SG) Badge U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Identification Badge

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress, Richard Carmona". AZ Central. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  2. ↑ Allen, Paul L. (3 August 2006). "Tucson proud Richard Carmona one of its own". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Former surgeon general in Bush administration will run as a Democratic in Senate race". The Washington Post. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.[ dead link ]
  4. 1 2 Phillip, Abby (6 November 2012). "Jeff Flake Wins Arizona Senate Race". OTUS. ABC News. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Burger, Timothy J. "Prez Taps Maverick for Surgeon General" [ permanent dead link ], Daily News , March 27, 2002. Accessed September 14, 2009. "Carmona, 52, who dropped out of Dewitt Clinton High School in Harlem at 16 and later joined the Army, got a GED and was a Green Beret in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice."
  6. 1 2 Pear, Robert (March 27, 2002). "Man in the News; A Man of Many Professions -- Richard Henry Carmona". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Richard Carmona". publichealth.arizona.edu. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Frank, Mitch (March 31, 2002). "The Doctor Is Armed". Time. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Who is Dr. Richard Carmona?". Time. 17 July 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013.
  10. ↑ Frank, Mitch (31 March 2002). "The Doctor Is Armed". Time. 159 (14): 57. PMID   11951317 . Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Nominee for surgeon general criticized". The Vindicator. July 9, 2002.
  12. ↑ Kranish, Michael (July 10, 2002). "Bush Nominee Defends Past Carmona Expected To Get Health Post". Boston Globe.
  13. ↑ Meckler, Laura (July 9, 2002). "Surgeon general nominee defends record". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  14. ↑ "Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Richard H. Carmona, to be Surgeon General". U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records. July 23, 2002. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  15. ↑ The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. Issued June 27, 2006; accessed March 21, 2008.
  16. ↑ Neergaard, Lauran (2006-06-28). "Surgeon General: Beware Secondhand Smoke". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2008-03-03.
  17. 1 2 Doyle, Leonard (2007-07-13). "White House 'gagged' Surgeon General". Politics. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  18. ↑ Kaufman, Marc (2003-06-04). "Surgeon General Favors Tobacco Ban". Nation. Washington Post. Surgeon General Richard Carmona said yesterday that he supports the banning of tobacco products – the first time that the government's top doctor and public health advocate has made such a strong statement about the historically contentious subject.
  19. ↑ "Professor, former surgeon general to run incident command center for UA return". News.azpm.org. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Ross University Names 17th Surgeon General to its Board of Trustees". Ross University. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  21. ↑ Gonzales, Nathan L. (February 7, 2006). "Candidates Battle for Cash in House Open Seats". CQ Roll Call. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  22. ↑ BusinessWire (October 28, 2013). "Herbalife Announces Appointment of Dr. Richard H. Carmona – 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002–2006) – to Board of Directors". Herbalife. Retrieved 2015-02-28.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ↑ McKesson (November 1, 2021). "McKesson Q2 FY22 Earnings Press Release" (PDF). McKesson. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  24. ↑ Rovner, Julie (2007-07-10). "Ex-Surgeon General Says Administration Interfered". Politics. NPR. Retrieved 2007-07-12. He recalled a meeting where senior White House officials talked about global warming as a liberal cause with no merit.
  25. ↑ Harris, Gardiner (July 10, 2007). "White House Is Accused of Putting Politics Over Science". The New York Times.
  26. 1 2 Dunham, Will (2007-07-10). "Former Bush surgeon general says he was muzzled". Reuters. 'Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried'
  27. ↑ Beckerman, Gal (2007-07-11). "Surgeon General's Warning: Politics always trumps science in the Bush White House". The Kicker. Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2007-07-11. 'The problem with this approach is that in public health, as in a democracy, there is nothing worse than ignoring science or marginalizing the voice of science for reasons driven by changing political winds.'
  28. ↑ Bush Aide Blocked Report, Christopher Lee and Marc Kaufman, The Washington Post, July 29, 2007.
  29. ↑ "Former Surgeon Generals Speak Out About Political Interference". National Coalition Against Censorship. July 11, 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 Freking, Kevin (July 11, 2007). "Carmona Says Bush Officials Muzzled Him". The Washington Post. The Associated Press. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  31. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (November 10, 2011). "Carmona Will Run in Arizona". National Journal . Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  32. ↑ Nowicki, Dan (March 28, 2012). "Rival out, path clear for Carmona in Democrat race". The Arizona Republic.
  33. ↑ "Meet Our Candidates: Dr. Richard Carmona for U.S. Senator". October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
Military offices
Preceded by Surgeon General of the United States
2002–2006		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Arizona
(Class 1)
2012 		Succeeded by
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