-Frontline champion in the current war against COVID 19

Born September 22, 1974, Jerome Michael Adams is an African- American anesthesiologist and a vice admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps who currently serves as the 20th Surgeon General of the United States. Prior to becoming Surgeon General, he served as the Indiana State Health Commissioner, from 2014 to 2017. On June 29, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Adams to become Surgeon General of the United States. Adams was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 3, 2017. He assumed office on September 5, 2017.

His mission as America’s no. 1 Doctor has been to advance the health of the American people. Dr. Adams’ motto as Surgeon General is “better health through better partnerships.” He is committed to strengthening relationships with all members of the health community, and forging new partnerships with members from the business, faith, education and public safety and national security communities.

As the Surgeon General, Dr. Adams holds the rank of Vice Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.  In this capacity, he oversees the operations of approximately 6,500 uniformed health officers who serve in nearly 800 locations around the world, promoting, protecting, and advancing the health and safety of our nation.

During his tenure as Surgeon General, Dr. Adams has created several initiatives to tackle America’s most pressing health issues, including: the opioid epidemic, oral health, and the links between community health and both economic prosperity and national security. 

In response to the opioid epidemic, Dr. Adams issued the first Surgeon General’s Advisory in thirteen years, urging more Americas to carry naloxone, an FDA-approved medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Dr. Adams also released Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids, and a digital postcard calling for a cultural shift in the way Americans think about, talk about, and respond to the opioid crisis. His Surgeon General’s postcard recommends actions that can prevent and treat opioid misuse, and promote recovery. Additionally, Dr. Adams is focused on building a culture of health and prevention in all sectors. As part of those efforts, Dr. Adams has commissioned a Surgeon General’s Report to explore the connection between private sector investments and public policies leading to healthier communities and advancing business and community prosperity.

Dr. Adams received bachelor’s degrees in both biochemistry and psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a master of public health degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and a medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine.

He has been a leader in numerous professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Indiana State Medical Association and the Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists.  Dr. Adams is also the former Health Commissioner of Indiana, where he led the State’s responses to Ebola, Zika, and to the largest ever HIV outbreak in the United States related to injection drug use.

Early 2020 America found itself at war. In COVID-19, it found a new deadly enemy against which the country must effectively marshal its vast resources.  In February 2020, Adams was appointed to the task force for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.   

When Vice Admiral Jerome Adams on “Fox News Sunday.” said “This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it’s not going to be localized, it’s going to be happening all over the country and I want America to understand that,” it was obvious he knew the war on COVID-19 is actually a war of attrition. With almost a million confirmed victims and about 52,000 deaths in just 3 months, this is clearly the mother of all battles America and indeed the world is facing.

Adam has remained a frontline champion in America’s current war on COVID-19 that is being fought on multiple fronts. 

Dr. Adams has pledged to lead with science, and facilitate locally led solutions to the nation’s most difficult health problems like the current war against COVID 19.  He also feels his toughest, but most important job, is being a father to two teenage boys, Caden and Eli, daughter, Millie.