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Sylvia Trent-Adams Becomes First Black Nurse Appointed To Surgeon General
Sylvia Trent-Adams Becomes First Black Nurse Appointed To Surgeon General
Photo via the Times Virginian

Sylvia Trent-Adams Becomes First Black Nurse Appointed To Surgeon General

Sylvia Trent-Adams Becomes First Black Nurse Appointed To Surgeon General Photo via the Times-Virginian

Sylvia Trent-Adams has become the first black nurse to serve as Surgeon General.

Following the resignation of former Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy (who served during Barack Obama's time in office), Sylvia now serves as his replacement a part of Donald Trump's administration.

Aside from being the first black nurse to take on the role of Surgeon General, Sylvia is now also the fourth black person — and third black woman — to serve in the position following Joycelyn Elders, David Satcher and Regina Benjamin.

In a Facebook post released last Friday night, Murthy addressed his leave from the position, writing: "While I had hoped to do more to help out nation tackle its biggest health challenges, I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have served."

Murthy was reportedly removed from the Surgeon General role because of his stance on gun control, having labeled gun violence a health threat to the American public.

In an interview with health-focused publication STAT in June of last year, Murthy called gun violence a "problem in our country."

"Far too many people die from gun violence," Murthy said. He also discussed how he would handle talking about gun violence with both Trump and Hillary Clinton depending on who was elected (although that now is obviously no longer the case).