Today we had an inspiring visit from RADM Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH, the Acting U.S. Surgeon General, and RADM Scott Giberson, BSPharm, MPH, the Acting Deputy Surgeon General.

Lushniak offered thanks to America’s pharmacists for our growing contributions to public health and patient care. He commented on our work with immunizations, heart disease, diabetes, and smoking cessation.

In particular, Lushniak highlighted the upcoming 50-year anniversary of a report by former Surgeon General Luther L. Terry, MD. The report on the highly deleterious health consequences of tobacco use, Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, was issued on January 11, 1964. It hit the country “like a bombshell!” The report showed a 70% increase in the mortality rate of smokers over nonsmokers. Just a few years prior, most Americans disbelieved there was a connection between smoking and cancer.

We look forward to working with the U.S. Public Health Service in the coming months to assist in their efforts, especially on this serious public health issue. We know that if we can prevent young people from starting by the time they are 26 years old, the risks of them ever becoming a smoker drop dramatically.

CEO Blog - October 21, 2013

Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, ScD (Hon), FAPhA
APhA Executive Vice President and CEO