Richard Carmona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Carmona
17th Surgeon General of the United States
In office August 5, 2002 – July 31, 2006
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Kenneth P. Moritsugu (acting)
Succeeded by	Kenneth P. Moritsugu (acting)
Personal details
Born	Richard Henry Carmona (1949-11-22) November 22, 1949 (age 75) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (2011–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (before 2011)
Spouse	Diana Sanchez
Children	4
Education	Bronx Community College (AA) University of California, San Francisco (BS, MD) University of Arizona (MPH)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army U.S. Public Health Service
Rank	Vice Admiral
Unit	Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Army Special Forces
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

Richard Henry Carmona (born November 22, 1949) is an American doctor, nurse, police officer, and public health leader. He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He also served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States. This important role means he was the top doctor for the entire country.

President George W. Bush chose Carmona for the job in 2002. He finished his term in July 2006. After leaving office, Carmona spoke out. He said the Bush administration sometimes ignored scientific findings. This happened when the findings didn't match the administration's ideas.

In August 2006, Carmona went back home to Tucson, Arizona. In November 2011, he decided to run for the United States Senate. He wanted to represent the Democratic Party in Arizona. Even though he was an independent before, he joined the Democrats for this election. He lost the election by a small number of votes to Jeff Flake.

Richard Carmona's Early Life and Education

Carmona was born in New York City and grew up in Harlem. His family came from Puerto Rico. When he was 16, he left DeWitt Clinton High School. In 1967, he joined the U.S. Army.

Joining the Army and Becoming a Medic

While in the Army, he earned his General Educational Development (GED). This is like a high school diploma. He then joined the United States Army Special Forces, which are highly trained soldiers. He served in the Vietnam War and was a combat veteran. He started his medical career as a Special Forces Medic. He was hurt during his time in Vietnam. Because of his injuries, he received two Purple Heart medals. These medals are given to soldiers who are wounded in battle.

College and Medical School

After leaving the Army, Carmona went to Bronx Community College. He earned a degree in nursing there. In 1977, he graduated from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He got a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry. In 1979, he earned his medical degree from UCSF. He was recognized as the top graduate in his class. Later, in 1998, he earned a Master's degree in Public Health (M.P.H.) from the University of Arizona.

Richard Carmona's Medical Career

Carmona worked in many different medical jobs. He was a paramedic, a registered nurse, and a physician. He completed special training in surgery at UCSF. He also did a fellowship in trauma, burns, and critical care. This training was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Leadership in Healthcare

Carmona is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. This means he is a highly skilled surgeon. He is also certified in correctional health care and quality assurance. He has held many important leadership roles. He was Chairman of the Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System. He also served as Chief Medical Officer and CEO of a hospital. He was a public health officer and led the Pima County health care system. He is also a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona.

Richard Carmona's Law Enforcement Career

Carmona also had a career in law enforcement. He worked for the Pima County Sheriff's Department starting in 1986. He eventually became a deputy sheriff. He was the medical director for the county's police and fire departments. He was also a leader in the SWAT division. He had special training in emergency situations. This included preparing for dangerous events.

Richard Carmona as Surgeon General

Carmona talks about a report on osteoporosis.

Becoming the Surgeon General

President Bush chose Carmona to be the 17th Surgeon General in March 2002. During the process, some people asked about his leadership style. They also asked how long it took him to get certain medical certifications. Carmona said he was someone who liked to make changes. He said he always treated people with respect. Senators from both political parties praised his skills. They supported his nomination. The U.S. Senate approved him on July 23, 2002, with a vote of 98 to 0.

Speaking Out on Secondhand Smoke

In 2006, Carmona released a very important report. It was about the health effects of secondhand smoke. This is smoke from other people's cigarettes. Carmona's report clearly showed the dangers of being around secondhand smoke. He said, "The debate is over. The science is clear: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard."

The report encouraged places to ban smoking indoors. It also noted that these bans did not seem to hurt businesses like bars and restaurants. After leaving his job, Carmona told Congress that the Bush administration had tried to make his findings seem less serious. He said they pressured him not to speak in a trial against tobacco companies.

Earlier, Carmona had told Congress that he would not mind if all tobacco products were banned. The Bush administration did not agree with this statement.

Richard Carmona's Career After Surgeon General

After his time as Surgeon General, Carmona took on new roles. He is now the vice chairman of Canyon Ranch. This is a company that runs resorts and spas. He is also the president of the Canyon Ranch Institute, which is a non-profit group. He is a professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. He has also been in charge of the COVID-19 response at the University of Arizona. In 2010, he joined the board of trustees for Ross University School of Medicine.

In 2006, some Republicans tried to get Carmona to run for Congress in Arizona. However, he decided not to.

In October 2013, Carmona joined the board of directors for Herbalife. He said he was interested in the company's focus on nutrition science. He also saw it as a company that helps families in communities that need more health and economic support. In September 2021, Carmona joined the board of directors for McKesson Corporation.

Concerns About Political Influence

On July 10, 2007, Carmona spoke to a committee in the United States House of Representatives. He was joined by two other former Surgeons General, C. Everett Koop and David Satcher. They talked about how politics sometimes interfered with the Surgeon General's work.

Carmona said the Bush administration stopped him from speaking about certain health topics. These included embryonic stem cell research, global climate change, and abstinence-only sex education. He said the administration's political views sometimes went against scientific and medical opinions.

Carmona also said that the administration tried to weaken his report on secondhand smoke. He claimed they pressured him not to testify in a tobacco industry trial. He stated that anything that didn't fit the political agenda was ignored or hidden. Carmona even said he was told not to attend the Special Olympics. This was because the event was sponsored by the Kennedy family. He was also told to mention President Bush three times in every speech he gave.

The Washington Post later reported that an official named William R. Steiger had stopped Carmona's report on global health. This was because it didn't match the administration's political goals.

Carmona said that other former Surgeons General told him they had never seen such strong political interference. They felt it was worse than ever before. Koop said he faced less political pressure. He also noted that later Surgeons General had less access to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Carmona, he said, was treated with even less respect than others.

Richard Carmona's 2012 U.S. Senate Election

Carmona campaigning with former President Bill Clinton.

Carmona was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona. He ran to replace Senator Jon Kyl, who was retiring. Carmona said he would use his science and medical experience in the Senate. He believed this would help him approach issues in a thoughtful way. He also said that health issues should not be made political.

On November 6, 2012, he lost the election to the Republican candidate, Jeff Flake.

Richard Carmona's Personal Life

Richard Carmona is married to Diana Sanchez. They have two daughters and two sons. They also have two granddaughters and two grandsons. Carmona lives in Tucson, Arizona.

In the 2024 United States presidential election, Carmona supported Kamala Harris.

Awards and Decorations

These are some of the awards and decorations Richard Carmona received during his time as Surgeon General.

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See Also

• List of Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican military personnel