AAFP Urges Rapid Senate Approval of FP Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., as Next Surgeon General

The AAFP has called on the Senate to quickly approve the nomination of family physician Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., as the next U.S. surgeon general. "Quick action will ensure that American patients have an advocate who will work to ensure better understanding of maintaining good health," said AAFP President Ted Epperly, M.D., of Boise, Idaho, in a prepared statement.

"As a family physician who has brought her medical expertise to providing high-quality health care, educating patients about health lifestyles and advocating for the health of all Americans, Dr. Benjamin is eminently qualified to serve America as the nation's doctor," said Epperly.

The Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Benjamin on Oct. 7, sending it to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. During the committee hearing, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, chair of the HELP committee, described Benjamin as a "trailblazer in the medical field for over two decades."

"She has devoted her career to ensuring that Americans receive the best possible health care, regardless of their financial situation," said Harkin. "Dr. Benjamin also understands the importance of prevention and the importance of preventing chronic diseases and conditions that more than half of Americans suffer from and the public health challenges that this nation faces."

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., ranking Republican on the HELP committee, told AAFP News Now, "I like what (Benjamin) is talking about doing. I think she has the capability of doing it, and she has demonstrated great work in Alabama."

Enzi also said he doubts any Republicans will oppose Benjamin's nomination in the Senate. But her nomination could be delayed by an unrelated dispute between Democrats and Republicans regarding HHS.

Several Republicans have accused HHS of attempting to silence contractors in the Medicare Advantage program from explaining the potential effect of health care legislation on Medicare recipients. The dispute has raised a larger issue of a "blanket gag order," and Senate Republicans have vowed to stall the approval of Obama's top health care nominations until the dispute is resolved.

"This nomination is about the substance of a surgeon general who is good for this country, and it should not be about the politics of either party trying to stop or alter or slow down health care reform for this country," said Epperly in an interview with AAFP News Now.

Benjamin, an AAFP member since 1987, is the founder of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic along Alabama's Gulf Coast. She has spent the past 20 years caring for some 2,5000 of the state's working poor. President Obama's choice of Benjamin as the next surgeon general demonstrates that the president understands "the importance of family medicine and the importance of primary care as the backbone of health care in this country," said Epperly.

As a family physician, Benjamin will bring a comprehensive view of the totality of patient care to the position of surgeon general, Epperly said. This includes a focus on wellness, acute care management, chronic disease management and prevention.

"To be able to meld these together into one physician who understands all of the problems that people suffer from …. is a unique and wonderful skill set to have in a surgeon general," he said.