American Heart Association Voices Strong Support for Dr. Vivek Murthy

PRESS RELEASE

Washington, D.C., December 9, 2014 — American Heart Association President Elliott Antman, M.D. issued the following comments today in support of Surgeon General Nominee Vivek Murthy, M.D.:

“As Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy would be a strong ally in the fight against heart disease and stroke. With a commendable academic and professional background that spans more than two decades, Dr. Murthy is a proven leader and distinguished physician. He is acutely aware of the health issues our country faces and, most importantly, understands the crucial role prevention and public health promotion plays in averting illness.

He has pledged to focus on five key areas as Surgeon General, including two of the association’s top priorities: preventing obesity and reducing tobacco use and related deaths — issues that are critical to improving the cardiovascular health of every American. We have high confidence in Dr. Murthy’s experience and we believe he is an excellent candidate to serve as our nation’s Surgeon General.

The American Heart Association fully supports his nomination and we urge the Senate to confirm him as soon as possible.”

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