( CNN ) -- The Obama transition team approached Dr. Sanjay Gupta , CNN 's chief medical correspondent , about becoming U.S. surgeon general , according to sources inside the transition and at CNN . The Obama administration approached CNN 's Dr. Sanjay Gupta about becoming U.S. surgeon general . Gupta was in Chicago , Illinois , in November to meet with President-elect Barack Obama on the matter , sources said . Gupta has declined comment . The transition team is impressed with the combination of Gupta 's past government experience , as a White House fellow in 1997 and a special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton , along with his medical career as a neurosurgeon and his communication skills , the transition source said . Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta , Georgia . He regularly performs surgery at Emory University Hospital and at Grady Memorial Hospital , where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery . Watch CNN 's John King report on Sanjay Gupta as possible surgeon general » . CNN released a statement saying , `` Since first learning that Dr. Gupta was under consideration for the surgeon general position , CNN has made sure that his on-air reporting has been on health and wellness matters and not on health-care policy or any matters involving the new administration . '' Gupta joined CNN in 2001 . As chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit , he is a lead reporter on breaking medical news , provides regular health and medical updates for `` American Morning , '' anchors the half-hour weekend medical affairs program `` House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta '' and reports for CNN documentaries . Based in Atlanta , Gupta also contributes health stories to CNN.com , co-hosts `` Accent Health '' for Turner Private Networks , provides medical segments for the syndicated version of `` ER '' on TNT and writes a column for Time magazine . He also anchors the global health program `` Vital Signs '' for CNN International and is featured in a weekly podcast on health issues called `` Paging Dr . Gupta . '' Just after joining CNN , Gupta became part of the team covering the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks on New York and Washington . Later that year , he led breaking news reporting on a series of anthrax attacks . Learn about notable past surgeon generals » . In 2003 , Gupta reported from Iraq and Kuwait as an embedded correspondent with the U.S. Navy 's medical unit -- and worked alongside them , performing brain surgery five times . iReport.com : Share your thoughts on Obama 's cabinet picks . In addition , Gupta reported from Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami that swept the region in December 2004 . He also helped cover the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans , Louisiana , in 2005 . He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical Center .
Based in Atlanta , Georgia , Sanjay Gupta is CNN 's chief medical correspondent . Obama team likes Gupta 's combination of government , medical experience . Comment: In 1997 , Gupta was White House fellow and adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton .