Richard Carmona facts for kids

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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 also served as a politician. He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. From 2002 to 2006, he was the seventeenth Surgeon General of the United States.

President George W. Bush chose Carmona for the role in 2002. After his term ended in 2006, Carmona spoke out. He said that the Bush administration had sometimes ignored scientific findings. These findings did not always match the administration's ideas.

In 2006, Carmona returned to Tucson, Arizona. In 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 sought the Democratic nomination. He lost the election by a small number of votes to Jeff Flake.

Early Life and Education
- Military Service
- College and Medical Training
Medical and Law Enforcement Careers
- Leadership in Healthcare
- Working in Law Enforcement
Surgeon General of the United States
- Becoming Surgeon General
- Focus on Secondhand Smoke
After Being Surgeon General
Running for U.S. Senate
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Richard Carmona was born in New York City in 1949. His family came from Puerto Rico, and he grew up in Harlem. When he was 16, he left DeWitt Clinton High School. In 1967, he joined the U.S. Army.

Military Service

While in the Army, Carmona earned his GED. This is a certificate showing he had the same knowledge as a high school graduate. He also joined the United States Army Special Forces, which are highly trained soldiers. He served in the Vietnam War as a Special Forces Medic. A medic is a soldier trained to give medical help.

Carmona was injured during his service in Vietnam. For his injuries, he received two Purple Heart medals. The Purple Heart is given to U.S. military members who are wounded or killed in action.

College and Medical Training

After leaving the Army, Carmona went to Bronx Community College. There, he earned a degree in nursing. In 1977, he graduated from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry. Two years later, in 1979, he received 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.). He received this degree from the University of Arizona.

Medical and Law Enforcement Careers

Carmona has worked in many different medical jobs. He has been a paramedic, a registered nurse, and a physician. He completed special training in surgery at UCSF. He also had 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 has also been certified in correctional health care and quality assurance. He held 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.

Working in Law Enforcement

Since 1986, Carmona also worked for the Pima County Sheriff's Department. He 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 preparedness. This included preparing for dangerous situations.

In 1999, while off duty, Carmona was involved in an incident. He saw a driver hurting another driver after a car accident. He stopped to help. During a confrontation, Carmona used his weapon. The other person was killed.

Surgeon General of the United States

Richard Carmona releasing a report on osteoporosis.

Becoming Surgeon General

In March 2002, President Bush nominated Richard Carmona. He wanted Carmona to become the 17th Surgeon General of the United States. During the process, some questions were asked about his leadership style. People also asked about how long it took him to get certain medical certifications. Carmona said he liked to question old ways of doing things. But he also said he always treated people with respect.

Senators from both political parties praised Carmona's skills. They supported his nomination. On July 23, 2002, the U.S. Senate approved him by a vote of 98 to 0.

Focus on Secondhand Smoke

In 2006, Carmona released a very important report. It was about the health effects of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the smoke from tobacco products that others breathe in. Carmona's report made it clear how dangerous secondhand smoke is. He stated, "The debate is over. The science is clear: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard."

The report suggested that indoor smoking bans should be put in place. It also noted that these bans did not seem to harm businesses like bars and restaurants. After leaving office, Carmona told U.S. Congress that the Bush administration had tried to make his findings seem less important. They also pressured him not to speak in a trial against tobacco companies.

Carmona once said he would not object to a ban on all tobacco products. This was if Congress chose to do so. The Bush administration quickly said they did not agree with this statement.

After Being 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 non-profit Canyon Ranch Institute. He continues to be a professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. At the University of Arizona, he has been in charge of the COVID-19 response.

In 2010, he joined the board of trustees for Ross University School of Medicine. In 2013, Carmona joined the Board of Directors for Herbalife. He said he was interested in their focus on nutrition science. He also saw how Herbalife offered opportunities to families in communities that needed more health and economic support. In 2021, he joined the board of directors for McKesson Corporation.

Running for U.S. Senate

Richard Carmona campaigning with former President Bill Clinton.

In 2012, Richard 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 experience in science and medicine in the Senate. He believed this would help him approach issues in a thoughtful way. He has criticized politicians who make health issues about politics.

On November 6, 2012, he lost the election. The winner was Jeff Flake, a Republican.

Personal Life

Richard Carmona is married to Diana Sanchez. They have two daughters and two sons. They also have two granddaughters and two grandsons. The Carmona family lives in Tucson, Arizona. In the 2024 United States presidential election, Carmona supported Kamala Harris.