Sylvia Trent-Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sylvia Trent-Adams
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health | |
| In office January 2, 2019 – September 30, 2020 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy Surgeon General of the United States | |
| In office October 25, 2015 – January 2, 2019 |
|
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Vivek Murthy |
| Succeeded by | Erica Schwartz |
| Surgeon General of the United States Acting |
|
| In office April 21, 2017 – September 5, 2017 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Vivek Murthy |
| Succeeded by | Jerome Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 15, 1965 Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | Hampton University (BS) University of Maryland, Baltimore (MS) University of Maryland, Baltimore County (PhD) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army USPHS Commissioned Corps |
| Years of service | 1987–1992 (Army) 1992–2020 (Public Health Service) |
| Rank |  Rear Admiral |
Sylvia Trent-Adams, born on June 15, 1965, is a retired leader from the U.S. Public Health Service. She held a high rank, similar to a rear admiral. From 2019 to 2020, she was the main deputy assistant secretary for health.
Before that, she was the Deputy Surgeon General from 2015 to 2019. She also served as the acting Surgeon General for a few months in 2017. Dr. Trent-Adams retired from the U.S. Public Health Service in 2020 after more than 33 years of service.
After her retirement, she joined the board of directors for AMN Healthcare in 2020. In 2022, she also joined the board of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). From 2020 to 2022, she was a top leader at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC). In 2022, she became the President of UNTHSC. During her time as president, the university received a very large grant to study Alzheimer's disease. She also helped start a new College of Nursing at UNTHSC. In July 2025, Dr. Trent-Adams became the President and CEO of IHI.
Contents
Education and Early Career
Sylvia Trent-Adams studied nursing at Hampton University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. She then received a Master of Science in nursing and health policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Later, she earned a doctorate (PhD) in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
She received a scholarship from the ROTC program for college. After graduating, she served as an officer in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps for five years. She worked as a nurse on the cancer unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Public Health Service Career
Dr. Trent-Adams has held many important jobs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her work focused on making healthcare easier to get for people in need. As a healthcare professional and leader, she helped create systems to improve public health, especially for groups that often face challenges.
Before joining the Office of the Surgeon General, she worked for the HIV/AIDS Bureau. There, she helped manage a large program that provided care for people with HIV/AIDS who did not have health insurance. She also helped train healthcare workers.
Dr. Trent-Adams started her career in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in 1992. She has written many articles and given presentations to various groups. Before joining the Public Health Service, she was a nurse in the U.S. Army. She also worked as a research nurse at the University of Maryland. She completed internships in the U.S. Senate, where she learned about healthcare payment systems and the roles of nurses and psychologists. She has also been a guest lecturer at universities. Her nursing experience includes working with patients who had injuries, cancer, and infectious diseases. She led important councils for federal public health nurses.
Serving as Acting Surgeon General
On April 21, 2017, Dr. Trent-Adams was named the acting Surgeon General. She took over from Vivek Murthy. When she took on this role, she became the second person who was not a medical doctor to serve as Surgeon General. She was also the second nurse to hold this important position. She was replaced by Jerome Adams on September 5, 2017.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Trent-Adams has received many awards for her service. In 2017, she was given the Florence Nightingale Medal by the Red Cross. This is the highest international award a nurse can receive.
Personal Life
Sylvia Trent-Adams grew up on a farm in Concord, Virginia. She graduated from Appomattox County High School in 1983. She is married to Dennis Adams, and they have two daughters.
Images for kids
-
Officer-in-Charge Badge
-
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services Badge
-
Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal
-
Surgeon General's Medallion
-
Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal
-
Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal
-
Public Health Service Commendation Medal
-
Army Commendation Medal
-
Public Health Service Achievement Medal
-
Army Achievement Medal
-
USUHS Distinguished Service Medal
-
United States Public Health Service Presidential Unit Citation
-
Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation
-
Public Health Service Unit Commendation
-
Florence Nightingale Medal
-
Public Health Service Global Health Campaign Medal
-
Public Health Service Ebola Campaign Medal
-
Public Health Service Special Assignment Award
-
Public Health Service Foreign Duty Award
-
Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award
-
Public Health Service Global Response Service Award
-
Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award
-
National Defense Service Medal
-
Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon
-
Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon
-
Army Service Ribbon
