Skip to main content
Subscribe
  • Login
  • My Account
  • Logout
  • Register For Free
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Current News
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • Digital Health
    • Transformation
    • ESG
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Blogs
    • AI
    • Deals
    • Layoff Tracker
    • HLTH 2024
    • Sponsored Content: Vital Signs Blog
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • From the Editor
  • Events & Awards
    • Awards
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Virtual Briefings
    • Webinars
    • Nominate/Eligibility
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 40 Under 40
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Innovators Awards
    • Diversity Leaders
    • Leading Women
    • Best in Business Awards
    • The 2030 Playbook Conference
    • Innovations in Patient Experience
    • Leading Women Conference & Awards Luncheon
    • Leadership Summit
    • Workforce Summit
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Diversity Leaders Gala
    • - Looking Ahead to 2025
    • - Financial Growth
    • - Hospital of the Future
    • - Value Based Care
    • - Looking Ahead to 2026
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Sponsored Video Series - Checking In with Dan Peres
  • Data & Insights
    • Data & Insights Home
    • Hospital Financials
    • Staffing & Compensation
    • Quality & Safety
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Skilled Nursing Facilities
    • Data Archive
    • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
    • Surveys
    • Data Points
  • Newsletters
  • MORE+
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
    • Sponsored Content
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. People
April 29, 2017 12:00 AM

Surgeon General Murthy's exit creates uncertainty over opioid addiction fight

Maria Castellucci
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print

    In a Facebook post written after being fired from his post as U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy pointed to his work addressing addiction as a top accomplishment.

    "I am exceedingly proud of what our team and our officers have done to bring help and hope to people all across America," Murthy said when asked why he didn't resign instead of being fired by President Donald Trump two years into a four-year post.

    After being appointed by President Barack Obama, Murthy highlighted the opioid epidemic as one of the Obama administration's top priorities. He urged physicians to change how they prescribe pain medication and worked to diminish the stigma associated with addiction. In a landmark report in November, he called addiction one of the biggest public health problems of the past 50 years.

    An HHS spokeswoman said Murthy was asked to resign after "assisting in a smooth transition" under Trump.

    Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and former chief nurse officer in the corps, will fill Murthy's role on an interim basis. Surgeon general is a confirmed post and requires full Senate approval.

    The Trump administration's decision has some opioid addiction experts concerned that strides made to tackle the epidemic will be stalled or squashed.

    Andrew Kolodny, co-director of opioid policy research at Brandeis University, thinks the move is a step backward.

    Kolodny said he questions the Trump administration's goals for combating the crisis with Dr. Scott Gottlieb's nomination to lead the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the rumored pick to head the Office of National Control Drug Policy, U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.). Both have strong pharmaceutical industry ties that some say could help collaborative efforts to curb practices that aid addiction. "I am worried that we've just finally started to see the real driver of the problem—overprescribing," Kolodny said. "If we lose the focus on that, I'm worried the epidemic will never come to an end."

    Dr. Krisda Chaiyachati, a physician and researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who has studied opioid use, believes the Trump administration won't give up on the issue. But, he added, "We haven't received clarity on the strategy moving forward" to combat the epidemic.

    There are also concerns over the president's proposed 20% cuts to the National Institute of Health's $30 billion budget. A $500 million appropriation to help states expand opioid prevention efforts is not new funding, but money previously authorized under the 21st Century Cures Act.

    Public health

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    mh-20250509-Dr-John-Whyte-AMA
    Dr. John Whyte to serve as American Medical Association CEO
    mh-20250505--Emily-Hazen-CEO-Aya-Healthcare
    Aya Healthcare names CEO to succeed company founder
    Most Popular
    1
    Here are new state healthcare laws taking effect in 2025
    2
    Meet Modern Healthcare's 2025 Leading Women
    3
    New York-Presbyterian layoffs affect 2% of employees
    4
    Evernorth, Optum, CenterWell units buoyed insurers in Q1
    5
    Epic CEO Judy Faulkner on AI, antitrust and consolidation
    Sponsored Content
    People on the Move Newsletter: Sign up to receive a bi-monthly, sponsored content newsletter announcing new hires, promotions, and special accomplishments in the healthcare industry.
    Get Newsletters

    Sign up for enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today
    MH Magazine Cover

    MH magazine offers content that sheds light on healthcare leaders’ complex choices and touch points—from strategy, governance, leadership development and finance to operations, clinical care, and marketing.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Modern Healthcare empowers industry leaders to succeed by providing unbiased reporting of the news, insights, analysis and data.

    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Help Center
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2025. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Current News
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • Digital Health
      • Transformation
        • Patients
        • Operations
        • Care Delivery
        • Payment
      • ESG
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Blogs
      • AI
      • Deals
      • Layoff Tracker
      • HLTH 2024
      • Sponsored Content: Vital Signs Blog
    • Opinion
      • Letters
      • From the Editor
    • Events & Awards
      • Awards
        • Nominate/Eligibility
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • 40 Under 40
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Innovators Awards
        • Diversity Leaders
        • Leading Women
        • Best in Business Awards
      • Conferences
        • The 2030 Playbook Conference
        • Innovations in Patient Experience
        • Leading Women Conference & Awards Luncheon
        • Leadership Summit
        • Workforce Summit
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Diversity Leaders Gala
      • Virtual Briefings
        • - Looking Ahead to 2025
        • - Financial Growth
        • - Hospital of the Future
        • - Value Based Care
        • - Looking Ahead to 2026
      • Webinars
    • Multimedia
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
      • Sponsored Video Series - Checking In with Dan Peres
    • Data & Insights
      • Data & Insights Home
      • Hospital Financials
      • Staffing & Compensation
      • Quality & Safety
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Skilled Nursing Facilities
      • Data Archive
      • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
      • Surveys
      • Data Points
    • Newsletters
    • MORE+
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing
      • Sponsored Content