He was an early name in today 's pediatric surgery , and then served as the Surgeon General of the United States and as vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps from 1982 to 1989 , under President Ronald Reagan and was thought of as the first `` celebrity Surgeon General '' . He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , and served as thirteenth Surgeon General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan from 1982 to 1989 .