CNN's Sanjay Gupta approached for Surgeon General

From CNN.com: CNN's Gupta approached for surgeon general

The Obama transition team approached Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, about becoming U.S. surgeon general, according to sources inside the transition and at CNN.
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The transition team is impressed with the combination of Gupta's past government experience, as a White House fellow in 1997 and a special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton, along with his medical career as a neurosurgeon and his communication skills, the transition source said.

Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He regularly performs surgery at Emory University Hospital and at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery.

I think this is an interesting choice for Surgeon General. The role of Surgeon General doesn't seem all that important in terms of policy, but is a very public position for shaping American's attitude towards health. As Surgeon General, Dr. Sanjay Gupta would be one of the most recognizable Asians in government.

According to Wikipedia, the Surgeon General reports to the Assistant Secretary for Health who is the principal adviser to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In the Obama Administration, that will be Tom Daschle.

I find it refreshing to have a candidate with a background that I can relate to as a second generation Asian American.