Trump govt asks Mandya native, Dr Vivek Murthy to step down
- Dr Vivek H Murthy’s parents hail from Mandya near Maddur
- He was the youngest surgeon general of the United States
- Now, he is replaced by his deputy Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams
FollowIn the latest development on Friday, the announcement was made in the process of transitioning of new leadership and Dr Murthy is replaced by his deputy Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, one of the first nurses to rise to that position.
Dr Murthy (39), although born in United Kingdom has his roots in Karnataka. His grandparents hail from hallegere – his middle name – a village that is 20 kms from Mandya. Mandya had erupted in joy when he was chosen to be the US surgeon general. He was the youngest surgeon general to be recruited to that position.
Recalling his family’s journey from his ancestral village, Dr Murthy had said "My family was never supposed to have left our ancestral village. My father is the son of a farmer in rural India. He was supposed to have been a farmer, as was I. But for my grandfather’s insistence that his son get an education – even if that meant going into debt – we might have never left that village to go out in the world and – as my grandfather also insisted – start fixing what needed fixing," after he assumed office.
Dr Murthy's parents too are doctors and they visit the village once in two yars. Through their foundation – SCOPE foundation – Vivek’s family has been holding several initiatives including free medical check-up camps. Besides, the foundation has also provided more than 100 computers to local government schools. Dr Murthy has also co-founded the Swasthya project, a community health partnership in Sringeri to train women to be health providers and educators.
An alumnus of Harvard Medical School, Murthy can speak fluent Kannada.
Dr Murthy had made headlines when he called gun violence a threat to public heath. He is known for his concerns on emotional wellbeing.
