NLN Congratulates Rear Admiral Susan Orsega for Her Appointment as Acting U.S. Surgeon General

A career commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Corps and nationally recognized specialist in infectious diseases, Adm. Orsega is exceptionally qualified to oversee the Public Health Service at this critical time in the nation’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. As the director of Commission Corps Headquarters, she has played a vital role in managing the agency’s personnel, operations and readiness.

“On behalf of the National League for Nursing, I applaud Admiral Orsega for her service as a nurse and now as acting Surgeon General at a time when our nation needs leaders like her the most,” said NLN Chair Dr. Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, RN, EdD, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAONL, FAAN, Professor and Dean Emerita at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and president of The Wise Group. “We are confident in her ability to work closely with Vivek Murthy as he awaits confirmation by the Senate.”

“I am so proud of my colleague Rear Admiral Susan Orsega who will serve as an outstanding role model for the value of nursing education and experience in meeting the nation’s health challenges,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The National League for Nursing applauds President Biden for this appointment and encourages his administration to continue to ensure that nurses will play a central role in the development and implementation of its public health agenda.”

For more information about the role of nursing education in our nation’s health, visit NLN.org.