Office of the Surgeon General

Speeches and Testimony by Former Surgeons General

Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H, FACS

2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

2006

June 27, 2006

• Remarks at press conference to launch Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General
  Subject: "The Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke"

2005

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

September 28, 2005

• Remarks by the Surgeon General at the 2005 Senate Hispanic Leadership Summit
  Subject: "Improving Healthcare in the Hispanic Community"

September 9, 2005

• Ask the White House Transcript
  Subject: Hurricane Katrina

July 26, 2005

• Remarks by the Surgeon General at launch of "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities"
  Subject: "A Call to Caring"

June 15, 2005

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Office of Public Health and Science, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: Suicide Prevention Among Native American Youth
  Before: The Indian Affairs Committee, United States Senate

June 5, 2005

• Keynote Address at Global Health Summit
  Subject: "A Priority of Global Health: Why Now?"

May 19, 2005

• Keynote Address at Society of Military Engineers (SAME) National Education and Training Conference
  Subject: "Society of American Military Engineers"

May 2, 2005

• American Lung Association Press Conference with Surgeon General Carmona and Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis to Launch “World Asthma Day”
  Subject: "World Asthma Day"
  • Photo: Surgeon General Carmona speaks at American Lung Association event to increase awareness of how to prevent and control asthma.
  • Photo: Surgeon General Carmona and Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis talk at American Lung Association "World Asthma Day" event.

April 29, 2005

• National Safe Kids Campaign Press Conference to Launch National Safe Kids Week
  Subject: "The Importance of being safe in the water and on land"
  • Photo: Surgeon General Carmona talks with a participant at the National Safe Kids Campaign event about the importance of being safe in the water and on land.

April 26, 2005

• Press Conference with Mexican and Canadian Health Officials to Announce "Vaccination Week in the Americas"
  Subject: "Vaccination Week in the Americas"
  • Video: Surgeon General Carmona on "National Vaccine Week in the Americas" and "National Infant Immunization Week"

April 6, 2005

• Keynote Address at National Student Nurses Association Conference
  Subject: "The Future of Nursing"

March 23, 2005

• Keynote Address at 19th Annual Symposium on Career Opportunities in Biomedical Science
  Subject: "Learning and Leadership in Medical Research and Health Services"
  • Photo: Surgeon General Richard Carmona addresses attendees at the 19th Annual Symposium on Career Opportunities in Biomedical Science. Surgeon General Carmona emphasized the need for more young Americans of color to pursue careers in the health sciences.

March 21, 2005

• American Bakers Association
  Subject: "Food, Family, and Culture: Bringing Home the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans"

March 14, 2005

• Keynote Address at Congress of Healthcare Management: American College of Healthcare Executives
  Subject: "Today's Leaders Addressing Tomorrow's Challenges"

February 28, 2005

• 2005 Indian Health Service Combined National Councils Meeting
  Subject: "Putting Our Patients First: Making the Connections, Meeting the Challenges"

February 16, 2005

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: Report of the HHS Task Force on Drug Importation
  Before: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate

February 7, 2005

• Keynote Speech: 2005 National Early Childhood Conference
  Subject: "The Value and Promise of Every Child"

February 1, 2005

• National Children's Dental Health Month Kick-Off with Colgate Dedication of New Mobile Dental Van
  Subject: "The Surgeon General's Call to Action on Oral Health" Comes to Life for Kids"
  Photo: Surgeon General Richard Carmona talks with children at Gibbs Elementary school in Washington, D.C./li>

January 27, 2005

• Meeting of the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics (NCHPEG)
  Subject: "The Importance of Family History in Health Care"

January 26, 2005

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: Report of the HHS Task Force on Drug Importation
  Before: The Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate

January 12, 2005

• Surgeon General's Workshop on Healthy Indoor Environment
  Subject: "Opening Remarks"

January 11, 2005

• J.P. Morgan 23rd Annual Healthcare Conference
  Subject: "2005: The Year of the Healthy Child"

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2004

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

December 21, 2004

• Release of Report by HHS Task Force on Drug Importation
  Subject: "Opening Statement"

November 10, 2004

• Meeting of American Public Health Association International Health Section
  Subject: "Global Health"

November 8, 2004

• Press conference to launch "U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative"
  Subject: "U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative"

November 1, 2004

• American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month Opening Ceremony
  Subject: "Native Culture is Native Treasure. Keeping It Alive and Well."

October 19, 2004

• President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Meeting
  Subject: "Visit with President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports"

October 14, 2004

• Launch of "Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General"

October 2, 2004

• Keynote Speech: 170th Anniversary of Tulane University Health Sciences Center
  Subject: Opening the "Doors of Discovery"

September 20, 2004

• Meeting of Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN USA)
  Subject: "National Strategy on Suicide Prevention"

September 16, 2004

• United States Hispanic Leadership Institute Annual Conference
  Subject: "Shaping a New Vision for America"

August 2, 2004

• 2004 National Medical Association Meeting
  Subject:"Eliminating Health Disparities: Acting Today, Planning for Tomorrow"

July 30, 2004

• National Association of Local Board of Health
  Subject: "Local Boards of Health: Global Vision. Local Leadership."

July 28, 2004

• 2004 State Child Care Administrators Meeting
  Subject: "Shaping America's Future"

July 9, 2004

• Keynote Address at Academy of General Dentistry 2004 Annual Meeting
  Subject: "Dentists' Many Roles in Prevention, Public Health Preparedness, Eliminating Health Disparities, and Improving Health Literacy"

June 27, 2004

• American Nurses Association 2004 Convention
  Subject: "Your Voice, Your Health, Your Life"

June 24, 2004

• 2004 National Refugee Program Consultation: Achievement and Challenge
  Subject: "Health Care That Works: Promoting Cross-Cultural Communication"

June 16, 2004

• Health and Human Services Roundtable on Prevention of Child Maltreatment
  Subject: "Preventing Child Abuse and Maltreatment"

May 27, 2004

• Launch of Report of the Surgeon General
  Subject: "The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General"

May 26, 2004

• Rollout of the National Initiative on Physical Fitness for Children and Youth with Disabilities
  Subject: "I Can Do It, You Can Do It"

April 30, 2004

• National DNA Day
  Subject: "Education: Your Best Preparation for Success"

April 5, 2004

• Task Force on Drug Importation Listening Session #2: Pharmaceutical Development and Distribution
  Subject: "Welcoming Remarks"

April 1, 2004

• Launch of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month
  Subject: "Stopping the Heartbreaking Cycle of Child Maltreatment: Improving Prevention and Protection"

March 19, 2004

• Task Force on Drug Importation Listening Session #1: Consumer Groups
  Subject: "Welcoming Remarks"

March 15, 2004

• Presentation for Directors of Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública
  Subject: "Health Without Borders: Research, Outreach, and Outcomes"

March 10, 2004

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
  Subject: "Organ Donation in the 21st Century: National Efforts to Narrow the Gap"

March 9, 2004

• Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health meeting
  Subject: "Opening of Meeting: Tobacco-Related Disparities Among Racial and Ethnic Groups"

March 2, 2004

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: The Growing Epidemic of Childhood Obesity
  Before: Subcommittee on Competition, Infrastructure, and Foreign Commerce, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate

February 12, 2004

• National Medical Leaders Meeting
  Subject: "Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Abuse: Vision and Strategies"

February 10, 2004

• National Library of Medicine Board of Regents Meeting
  Subject: "Health Literacy: Key to a Healthy Pregnancy"

January 20, 2004

• American Society for Law Enforcement Training (ASLET) 17th Annual International Conference
  Subject: "Education and Training: The First Steps in Achieving National Preparedness"

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2003

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

December 1, 2003

• 15th Annual World AIDS Day Observance by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "Educate, Motivate and Mobilize Against HIV/AIDS"

November 13, 2003

• The Health State of the City of New Orleans' Conference, Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana
  Subject: "HIV/AIDS Prevention, Research, and Treatment: New Strategies and Investments"

October 30, 2003

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: "Meeting Our Nation’s Important Public Health Challenges: Transformation of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps"
  Before: Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives

October 22, 2003

• 2003 National Recreation and Park Association Congress and Exposition, St. Louis, Missouri
  Subject: "Making Prevention Fun: Improving America’s Health through Recreation"

October 17, 2003

• March of Dimes Volunteer Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "The March of Dimes and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Partners in Preventing Birth Defects and Infant Mortality"

October 16, 2003

• National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "Launch of "FirstGov en Español" Web Site"

October 7, 2003

• Nashville Surgical Society
  Subject: "Prevention and Preparedness: Medical Reserve Corps Serving America"

October 6, 2003

• National Conference on Correctional Health Care, Austin, Texas
  Subject: "Public Safety is Public Health; Public Health is Public Safety"

October 1, 2003

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: "Reshaping America's Health Care for the Future"
  Before: Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress

September 29, 2003

• National Dialogue on Cancer, Kennebunkport, Maine
  Subject: "Obesity and Cancer: The Scientific Links and the Future of Prevention"

September 22, 2003

• Opening Keynote Remarks at Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
  Subject: "Secondhand Smoke and Hispanic Families: Smart Decisions Result in Better Health"

September 22, 2003

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: Ageism in Healthcare: Are Our Nation’s Seniors Receiving Proper Oral Health Care?
  Before: Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate

September 19, 2003

• Pfizer Sixth National Health Literacy Conference
  Subject: "Health Literacy: Key to Improving American’s Health"

September 17, 2003

• Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration – United States Library of Congress
  Subject: "Hispanic Americans: Honoring Our Past, Surpassing Our Present, and Leading Our Future"

September 10, 2003

• Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research
  Subject: "Nursing Research: A Key to the Nation’s Health"

September 10, 2003

• National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "Be MedWise” - The Surgeon General’s Prescription for Safe Use of Over-the-Counter Medications"

September 9, 2003

• Commission on Children at Risk, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "Connecting for Children’s Health"

August 9, 2003

• American Psychological Association Plenary Session, Toronto, Canada
  Subject: "Building Resilience: Psychology’s Role in Emergency Preparedness"

August 6, 2003

• Symposium on Family Violence: The Impact of Child, Intimate Partner, and Elder Abuse
  Subject: "Family Violence as a Public Health Issue"

July 26, 2003

• Navy Surgeon General’s Exercise in Operational Leadership
  Subject: "The Role of Military Medicine in Civilian Emergency Response"

July 16, 2003

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: The Obesity Crisis in America
  Before: U.S. House of Representatives

June 18, 2003

• Commissioned Officers Association of the Public Health Service Meeting
  Subject: "The Commissioned Corps: 'Walking the Talk' of One Department - Critical Junctures in the Path to Corps Transformation"

June 14, 2003

• American Medical Association House of Delegates
  Subject: "Health Literacy in America: The Role of Health Care Professionals"

June 10, 2003

• American Enterprise Institute Obesity Conference, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "American Enterprise Institute Obesity Conference"

June 3, 2003

• Testimony by Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services
  Subject: Can Tobacco Cure Smoking? A Review of Tobacco Harm Reduction
  Before: U.S. House of Representatives

May 30, 2003

• U.S. Mexico Border Health Association Annual Meeting
  Subject: "Border Health is Public Health"

April 29, 2003

• National Oral Health Call to Action, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  Subject: "Launch of National Oral Health Call to Actions"

April 3, 2003

• National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, Aspen, Colorado
  Subject: "National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic"

March 29, 2003

• Preparedness and Pharmacy Science, New Orleans, Louisiana
  Subject: "American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) Conference - Academy of Students of Pharmacy (ASP) Opening Session"

March 11, 2003

• National Managed Health Care Congress Summit, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "Reducing Racial and Cultural Disparities in Health Care: What Actions Now?"

March 5, 2003

• American Medical Association’s National Advocacy Conference, Washington, D.C.
  Subject: "Remarks to the American Medical Association’s National Advocacy Conference"

February 21, 2003

• Future of Life Summit
  Subject: "Future of Life"

January 22, 2003

• Public Safety Wellness Week, Orlando, Florida
  Subject: "Public Safety Wellness Week"

January 20, 2003

• Reserve Officers Association
  Subject: "Partnerships, Prevention and Preparedness"

January 17, 2003

• North American Veterinary Conference
  Subject: "North American Veterinary Conference"

January 16, 2003

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance, Rockville, MD
  Subject: "Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance"

January 6, 2003

• 2003 California Childhood Obesity Conference
  Subject: "Remarks to the 2003 California Childhood Obesity Conference"

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Last revised: January 10, 2008