Public health policy: The role of the Surgeon General

As a workplace health and safety expert, Martin Lloyd Sanders is also concerned about public health, especially in matters relating to policy. In this blog post, he explains the crucial role of the Surgeon General.

The job of a Surgeon General is indeed a very critical one, simply because of the constant challenges. There's a huge level of responsibility in a role also referred to as the "nation's doctor," which literally means that it is within the Surgeon General's interests to ensure that all American citizens are provided with key knowledge related to their health.

It is also part of the Surgeon General's responsibility to be on top of the biggest health situations that a country faces. A clear example of this is the level of involvement that this role has with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many don't see that the Surgeon General needs to make a conscious effort to be ahead of everything that may be a threat to health, even before this actually affects people.

The Surgeon General is charged with communicating the most recent scientific information to the public regarding health. This includes issuing warnings on certain consumer products that can threaten health, such as e-cigarettes and cannabidiol. The Surgeon General also has the liberty to express disapproval of any practices which are deemed unhealthy.

Moreover, the Surgeon General also creates initiatives and delivers programs that promote public health and disease prevention.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, is an expert on matters of public health and safety. He shares his thoughts to his readers through his blogs. For more similar articles, visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.