At TEDMED two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. It was eye opening, to say the least. Surgeon General Benjamin was pleasant, but didn’t exactly impress. My personal feeling is that she wasn’t the most qualified person for the Surgeon General role. That said, I would like her to succeed in her mission, but am skeptical she's up to the task.
Surgeon General Benjamin encouraged the TEDMED attendees to lead a healthier life and get out there and move around. But like most things with the White House – it was a do-as-mandate-not-as-I-do. I didn’t see Regina Benjamin at any of the TEDMED exercise opportunities such as the walks or yoga or in the gym at the Hotel del Coronado.
But my lunch with Regina Benjamin was eye opening. First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched the new Food Plate (i.e., the replacement to the food pyramid). But Michelle Obama should talk to Regina Benjamin because she didn’t get the memo – Regina Benjamin’s actual food plate looked more like Michael Moore’s than the new recommendations from Michelle Obama.
Of course, this is the White House where the President smokes and exposes his two daughters to second-hand smoke.
Public Health in the United States seems to be moving in the wrong direction. We need real public health leadership. Instead, we’re getting health tips from Aunt Jemima and the Marlboro Man.
Surgeon General Benjamin encouraged the TEDMED attendees to lead a healthier life and get out there and move around. But like most things with the White House – it was a do-as-mandate-not-as-I-do. I didn’t see Regina Benjamin at any of the TEDMED exercise opportunities such as the walks or yoga or in the gym at the Hotel del Coronado.
But my lunch with Regina Benjamin was eye opening. First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched the new Food Plate (i.e., the replacement to the food pyramid). But Michelle Obama should talk to Regina Benjamin because she didn’t get the memo – Regina Benjamin’s actual food plate looked more like Michael Moore’s than the new recommendations from Michelle Obama.
Of course, this is the White House where the President smokes and exposes his two daughters to second-hand smoke.
Public Health in the United States seems to be moving in the wrong direction. We need real public health leadership. Instead, we’re getting health tips from Aunt Jemima and the Marlboro Man.