On Sept. 23 former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Antonia Novello delivered a special keynote as part of our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Antonia Coello Novello, MD, MPH, DrPH
14th Surgeon General of the United States
On March 9, 1990, Dr. Antonia Novello was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to serve as the 14th Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service. Her appointment marked two firsts: Dr. Novello became the first woman and the first Hispanic ever to hold this position. As Surgeon General, Dr. Novello advised the public on health matters such as smoking, AIDS, diet and nutrition, environmental health hazards, and the importance of immunization and disease prevention.
