Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Jerome Adams Confirmed As Surgeon General With Bipartisan Support

FILE PHOTO: Health Commissioner Jerome Adams speaking at a HIP 2.0 briefing in 2015.
Gretchen Frazee/WTIU
FILE PHOTO: Health Commissioner Jerome Adams speaking at a HIP 2.0 briefing in 2015.

Indiana Health Commissioner Jerome Adams will become the country’s new surgeon general. Adams had bipartisan support from all senators present during the vote to confirm this week.

During a hearing, Adams said the opioid epidemic will be a main focus and changing prescribing practices is an important piece of that.

“I intend to go out into the community, to medical schools, to dental schools, to nursing schools because we can’t forget that the prescribing community is more than just physicians – and partner with all the people that are part of this chain,” says Adams.

Adams helped stem Indiana’s opioid involved HIV outbreak as he advocated for a syringe exchange program.

After his confirmation Adams tweeted thanks to Hoosiers who he says have trusted and supported him.

Adams, who is also an anesthesiologist, will serve a four year term.

Jill Sheridan Poulos is the managing city editor at WFYI. She was previously a member of the IPB News teams covering health and science, and at WFYI as a reporter and anchor.
Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.