Antonia Novello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonia Novello
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| Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health | |
| In office June 1999 – December 31, 2006 |
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| Governor | George Pataki |
| Preceded by | Dennis P. Whalen (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Richard F. Daines |
| 14th Surgeon General of the United States | |
| In office March 9, 1990 – June 30, 1993 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | James Mason (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Robert Whitney (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 23, 1944 Fajardo, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (BS) University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (MD) Johns Hopkins University (MPH) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Rank |  Vice admiral |
| Unit |  USPHS Commissioned Corps |
Antonia Coello Novello (born August 23, 1944) is a doctor and public health leader from Puerto Rico. She served as a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. From 1990 to 1993, she was the 14th Surgeon General of the United States.
Dr. Novello made history as the first woman and the first Hispanic person to become Surgeon General. She also led the New York State Department of Health from 1999 to 2006. She has received many awards, including over 50 honorary degrees. In 2024, she published her life story, Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Antonia Novello was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, on August 23, 1944. As a child, she was diagnosed with a painful medical condition called congenital megacolon. This meant she had to spend two weeks in the hospital every summer.
Doctors told her she needed an operation when she was eight, but she wasn't able to get the surgery until she was 18. This difficult experience inspired her. She decided to become a doctor so that, in her words, "no other person is going to wait 18 years for surgery."
Despite her health challenges, she was an excellent student. Her mother, who was a teacher and high school principal, always told her how important education was.
Education and Medical Training
Antonia was a brilliant student who graduated from high school when she was only 15. She earned a science degree from the University of Puerto Rico in 1965. She then went to the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and became a medical doctor in 1970.
In the same year, she married Joseph R. Novello. They moved to Michigan, where she began training as a pediatrician (a doctor for children) at the University of Michigan Medical School. She was so good at her job that she became the first woman to win the "University of Michigan Pediatrics Department Intern of the Year" award.
Later, she specialized in pediatric nephrology, which is the study of kidney diseases in children, at Georgetown University. She also earned a Master's degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 1982 and a doctorate from the same university in 2000.
A Career in Public Health
From Private Practice to Public Service
In 1976, Dr. Novello opened her own medical office in Virginia. However, she found it very difficult emotionally. She cared so much for her young patients that she often cried with their parents. She said, "When the pediatrician cries as much as the parents do, then you know it's time to get out."
She closed her office and joined the Public Health Service in 1979. This allowed her to help many more people at once. Her first job was at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She later became the deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. There, she became very interested in how AIDS affected children, which brought her work to the attention of the White House.
First Female and Hispanic Surgeon General
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush appointed Dr. Novello as the Surgeon General of the United States. The Surgeon General is often called "the nation's doctor" and is a leading spokesperson on public health matters. Dr. Novello was the first woman and the first Hispanic American to hold this important job.
As Surgeon General, she focused on improving the health of women, children, and minority groups. She started important programs like the Healthy Children Ready to Learn Initiative. She also worked to make sure more children got their immunizations to prevent diseases.
Dr. Novello was a strong voice against underage drinking and smoking. She spoke out against tobacco companies for using cartoon characters like Joe Camel to advertise to young people. She also started a national health plan to help Hispanic and Latino communities.
After three years of service, she left the position in 1993. The new administration of President Bill Clinton praised her for her "vigor and talent."
Later Career
After serving as Surgeon General, Dr. Novello continued her work in public health. From 1993 to 1996, she worked for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as a special representative for health and nutrition.
In 1999, she was appointed the Commissioner of Health for New York State, a role she held until 2006. From 2008 to 2014, she worked at a children's hospital in Orlando, Florida. She retired from her position there on December 31, 2014.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Novello has received many awards for her work. Some of her most important honors include:
- Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal, 1992
United States Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, 1992
Humanitarian Service Medal, 2018
Surgeon General Badge
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services Badge
Some of her other notable awards are:
- 1991, The Elizabeth Blackwell Medal
- 1993, Department of Defense, Legion of Merit Medal
- 1994, Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame
- 2000, Elected to the National Academy of Medicine
- 2002, The James Smithson Bicentennial Medal from the Smithsonian Institution
- 2020, Named one of the 100 Women of the Century by USA Today
Personal Life
Dr. Novello was married to Joseph R. Novello, who was a psychiatrist and a former flight surgeon for the US Navy. Her brother-in-law was Don Novello, a comedian famous for playing the character Father Guido Sarducci on the TV show Saturday Night Live.
See also
In Spanish: Antonia Novello para niños
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican scientists and inventors
- History of women in Puerto Rico
