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Articles by David Satcher
Keynote address at the opening ceremony for the centennial of the Pan American Health Organization
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Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.
Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr. (washingtonpost.com) Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr. By Jerome Adams; Richard Carmona; Joycelyn Elders; Vivek Murthy; Antonia Novello; David Satcher 2025100710001500 As former U.S. surgeons general appointed by every Republican and Democratic president since George H.W. Bush, we have collectively spent decades in service as the Nation's Doctor.
We Ran the CDC: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health
We have each had the honor and privilege of serving as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, either in a permanent or acting capacity, dating back to 1977. Collectively, we spent more than 100 years working at the C.D.C., the world’s pre-eminent public health agency.
Nurturing the next generation: A collective pursuit of nutrition equity
by Content sponsored by In the journey to address poor eating habits, nutrition inequity, and food insecurity, school meals emerge as a powerful catalyst for positive change. By implementing relatively simple adjustments, we can enhance the impact of school meals not only for children in need but for every student. Despite progress in raising awareness about healthy eating over the past two decades, challenges persist, particularly in youth nutrition.
Look Back ... to Dr. David Satcher sworn in as Surgeon General, 1998
Dr. David Satcher wore the uniform of the U.S. Surgeon General for the first time on Feb. 13, 1998, as reported in the next morning's newspapers. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.Sign Up Log In Purchase a Subscription × Thank you for reading!Thank you for reading!Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. Promotional Rates were found for your code.We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Coordinating our nation's health data will save lives
As the SARS-CoV-2 surge recedes, we need to apply the lessons we've learned during this pandemic to improve our response to the next health emergency. One major obstacle has been the lack of health data needed to track the pandemic and assess its impact across the complex U.S. healthcare and public health ecosystem. This lack of timely, standardized data hampered our ability to respond rapidly and effectively to the pandemic.
Former CDC directors: Coordinating our nation’s health data will save lives
As the SARS-CoV-2 surge recedes, we need to apply the lessons we’ve learned during this pandemic to improve our response to the next health emergency. One major obstacle has been the lack of health data needed to track the pandemic and assess its impact across the complex U.S. healthcare and public health ecosystem. This lack of timely, standardized data hampered our ability to respond rapidly and effectively to the pandemic.
Race and the Patient-Physician Relationship in 2021
Although nearly 50 years have passed since the article entitled “Does Race Interfere With the Doctor-Patient Relationship?” was published in JAMA in 1973, the question is as relevant today as it was then.1,2 In some ways, many aspects of health care and society have changed, yet in other important ways they have not.
Don’t delay! Ban menthol cigarettes
By Dr. David Satcher Race has long been a key determinant of public health in this country, and as U.S. Surgeon General under President... By Dr. David Satcher Race has long been a key determinant of public health in this country, and as U.S. Surgeon General under President Bill Clinton, I saw those disparities – and worse outcomes for Black Americans – every day.
Opinion: Violence is a treatable public health ill
We want to avoid something even worse, the fatalism and hopelessness that affects all of us -- including mayors, legislators and journalists — when we can’t understand the problem and can’t even imagine how we can solve it. For many years, people thought that violence was just the result of evil forces in this world. It had always been present and it would always go on.
A Black Man in Science Part II: The Pursuit of Truth / David Satcher / Kafui Dzirasa / Harold Varmus
“Science is harmed when scientists don’t take into account the bias that comes along with inherently being a human.” -Kafui Dzirasa As a result of centuries of discrimination, and lack of access to education and opportunity, African Americans comprise only 5% of active physicians in the United States today.
From Science to Policy to Practice
Science, at its best, leads to changes in policy that make everyone’s life better. But science alone cannot shape policy; policy is also influenced by politics, opinions, deeply held beliefs, and advocacy. As surgeon general, I based all of my reports on the best available public health science, but they did not always lead to a change in policy. Sometimes that takes years.
The Debate Over Wearing Masks - The Gate
Passengers have engaged vociferously in numerous debates over the years — including those of who gets to control the window shade, who gets the space in overhead storage bins, armrests, emotional support animals, people with allergies, crying babies, obese passengers, swapping seats, and reclining seats in the economy class cabin aboard an airplane… The Debate Over Wearing Masks …and the latest debate pertaining to masks — or cloth coverings for the face — has quickly permeated throughout the...
Perspective | We ran the CDC. No president ever politicized its science the way Trump has.
As America begins the formidable task of getting our kids back to school and all of us back to work safely amid a pandemic that is only getting worse, public health experts face two opponents: covid-19, but also political leaders and others attempting to undermine the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Eliminating Health Disparities Is Essential to Achieving Racial Justice-Alzheimer’s Disease, COVID-19, and Related Comorbidities Disproportionately Impact Minority Communities in the Fight for Health Equity
At no time in recent history have the importance and necessity of fighting for health equity and access and against racial health disparities been more apparent than in the past several months. The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a disproportionate impact on racial minorities [1], most notably in nursing homes and other long-term care communities [2].
Failure to address coronavirus mental health issues will prolong impact
Increased levels of fear and anxiety are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the possible mental health implications of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s often the underlying factors we don’t see right away that can have the most severe long-term consequences, if not adequately addressed.
U.S. surgeons general: Dementia is our top public health crisis | Commentary
Over the span of more than 20 years and three presidents, as surgeons general we’ve confronted more than our fair share of devastating public health crises, from emerging infections like bird flu, SARS, the H1N1 pandemic, and Ebola, to the opioid crisis and national-preparedness issues like hurricanes and terrorist attacks. All of them are tragic.
Book Michael Roizen for Speaking, Events and Appearances
Biography Dr. Roizen initiated and developed the RealAge concept to motivate behavior change. He has served as Cleveland Clinic’s first Chief Wellness Officer from 2007 to 2019 and founding Chair of its Wellness Institute. The Clinic’s Wellness Programs helped the clinic not spend over 665 million dollars for its 101,000 employees and dependents over 10 years compared with national averages and help over 43.6% of participants achieve 6+2 normals® for health.
Opinion | Why Two Ex-Surgeons General Support the ‘Juliana 21’ Climate Lawsuit
Young people like the plaintiffs are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of global warming. By Richard Carmona and David Satcher Drs. Carmona and Satcher are former surgeons general of the United States. June 3, 2019 Kelsey Juliana, the named plaintiff in a climate change lawsuit brought by 21 young people against the federal government, greeted supporters in Eugene, Ore., last fall.
Polio, Eliminated: Former CDC Directors optimistic complete eradication of the disease is close
As former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we often view matters of public health through the lenses of our separate experiences and histories leading the world’s premier health agency. And because these matters are almost always complicated, both clinically and politically, our histories can lead us to different conclusions about what the future might hold and the best way to address health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic.
Sexual Health in America: Improving Patient Care and Public Health
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Renew the U.S. commitment to sex education
It is difficult to fathom today the political firestorm that erupted more than 20 years ago when one of us called for sex education for the nation's youth, or the firestorm 14 years ago, when another of us released "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior." Since then, the United States has made significant strides.
Renew the U.S. commitment to sex education
It is difficult to fathom today the political firestorm that erupted more than 20 years ago when one of us called for sex education for the nation’s youth, or the firestorm 14 years ago, when another of us released “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior.” Since then, the United States has made significant strides.
Satcher-Kennedy: How to fix mental health system
Since JFK's speech, progress has been made. Four steps today would help solve crisis. What if we told you there was an issue that virtually everyone — Democrat, Republican and Independents — agreed on? Would it further surprise you that it's a subject on which we've been silent for generations?
Alzheimer's is greater public health crisis than Ebola
The Ebola virus is a clear danger to U.S. public health, and our nation’s response – both here and abroad, as unsteady as it has been at times – demonstrates how quickly we can act once we recognize the stakes are high. The administration has now requested $6 billion in funding to address Ebola. From my vantage point as a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Surgeon General, I appreciate the importance of quick action when American lives are at stake.
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