General Vivek Gupta has been awaiting confirmation to be the next surgeon general since last fall . Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak is the acting surgeon general . Known as the `` nation 's doctor , '' a confirmed surgeon general could fill a void as the administration 's face on Ebola although as some former officials have said the office does n't have much direct responsibility and is rather weak . One author says the position was stripped of its real power in the 1970s . That same author says the most successful surgeon generals have been those that can stand out .
General Vivek Gupta has been awaiting confirmation to be the next surgeon general since last fall . Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak is the acting surgeon general . One author says the position was stripped of its real power in the 1970s . That same author says the most successful surgeon generals have been those that can stand out .