Quick Hit: Sanjay Gupta Withdraws as Possible Surgeon General Pick

By Christine Cupaiuolo — March 5, 2009

CNN just announced that Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, has decided he’d rather stay on the media side than join the Obama administration as surgeon general.

Gupta was considered a front-runner for the position, and his interest prompted discussion about his qualifications and views, as well as talk about whether a doctor best known for his TV work would make an effective surgeon general. Rachel weighed in here with some concerns.

FoxNews quotes the director of the group representing Gupta’s would-be health team saying that Gupta is “no longer in contention.” The pay cut may have been a contributing factor. The position pays about $153,000 — a lot less than what Gupta is making at CNN.

“No one has yet been nominated or confirmed for the surgeon general position, and we’ve heard nothing,” said Jennifer Buschick, a spokeswoman with the Office of the Surgeon General.

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