Summary: Dr. Richard Carmona was the 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), the only Surgeon General unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. He is currently the Chief of Health Innovations at Canyon Ranch and a distinguished professor at the University of Arizona. Born to a poor Hispanic family in New York City, Dr. Carmona experienced homelessness, hunger, and health disparities during his youth. After dropping out of high school, Dr. Carmona enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. While serving, he earned his GED and went on to become a combat-decorated Special Forces Vietnam veteran. After leaving active duty, he attended Bronx Community College of the City University of New York through an open enrollment program for veterans. He received an associate of arts degree. He then attended the University of California, San Francisco, where he received a bachelor of science degree and medical degree. At the University of California Medical School, Dr. Carmona was awarded the prestigious gold-headed cane as the top graduate. Trained in general and vascular surgery, Dr. Carmona also completed a NIH-sponsored fellowship in trauma, burns, and critical care. Dr. Carmona was then recruited jointly by the Tucson Medical Center and the University of Arizona to start and direct Arizona’s first regional trauma care system. Dr. Carmona has also served for over 32 years with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Tucson, including as deputy sheriff, detective, SWAT team leader and department surgeon. He is one of the most highly decorated police officers in Arizona, and has won numerous awards. Needless, to say Dr. Carmona is brilliant and has lived a life full of incredible accomplishments, but putting all of that aside I can say Dr. Carmona is a humble and kind soul. It was beyond an honor and privilege to interview an American Hero. Dr. Carmona shares his thoughts on what we need and can do to improve the health of not only Americans but all of us as global citizens. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed speaking to him. Thank you for listening as always and please share this podcast with anyone you think would enjoy it! Please rate the podcast wherever you listen. You can find me at http://howtohealth.org.
