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Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Golden Eagle Award for contributions to national security by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). The award will be presented at the SAME 2008 Academy of Fellow Golden Eagle Awards Dinner on March 29 at the Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Va.
Dr. Carmona is being presented with a Golden Eagle Award for his leadership in national security by addressing this nation’s greatest asset—the health of its people. While serving as Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona championed the cause of public health, focusing on efforts such as prevention, preparedness, health disparities, health literacy, health diplomacy and global health.
Dr. Carmona also oversaw the development and implementation of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) from a fledgling concept to a force of more than 450 units and more than 80,000 medical, public health and other volunteers. He understood the need to support emergency response preparedness at the local level and encouraged individuals and organizations to partner or volunteer with the MRC.
Dr. Carmona was operational commander of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, a capacity in which he served a critical role in supervising response efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. During the multi-state, multi-event response by more than 3,000 USPHS Commissioned Corps officers, 7,000 MRC volunteers and 1,500 “federalized civilians,” Dr. Carmona exemplified leadership and was the face of national health response efforts.
Prior to being nominated and confirmed as Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona was the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System; a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine at the University of Arizona; and the Pima County Sheriff's Department surgeon and deputy sheriff.
Dr. Carmona also has held progressive positions of responsibility as chief medical officer, hospital chief executive officer, public health officer and chief executive officer of the Pima County, Ariz., health care system. He also has served as a medical director of police and fire departments and is a fully-qualified peace officer with expertise in special operations and emergency preparedness, including weapons of mass destruction.
A native of New York City and a combat-decorated veteran of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Dr. Carmona completed a surgical residency at the University of California, San Francisco, and a National Institutes of Health-sponsored fellowship in trauma, burns and critical care. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is certified in correctional health care and in quality assurance.
In October 2006, Dr. Carmona was named Vice Chairman of Canyon Ranch, an acclaimed health and wellness company with resorts, spas, residential communities and lifestyle products. He also is Chief Executive Officer of the company’s health division, president of the non-profit Canyon Ranch Institute, and the first Distinguished Professor at the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.
