M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D.
U.S. Surgeon General U.S. Public Health Services
Department of Health and Human Services

As surgeon general in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D., holds one of the most visible offices in government from which to advocate healthy behaviors.

Dr. Elders was nominated as a surgeon general by President Clinton on July 1, 1993, confirmed by the Senate September 7, and sworn in September 8. She is the first African-American and only the second woman to hold this prestigious post. Dr. Elders is responsible for PHS Offices of Population Affairs, Minority Health, Women's Health and the President's Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports.

A native of Schaal, Arkansas, Dr. Elders is the oldest of eight children. She never saw a physician prior to her first year in college. At the age of fifteen she received a scholarship from the United Methodist Church to attend Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon graduation at age eighteen, she entered the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant and received training as a physical therapist. She later attended the University of Arkansas Medical School (UAMS) on G.I. Bill. After graduation in 1960, she worked as an intern at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock. Upon completion of her pediatric residency at UAMS, she obtained a master of science degree in biochemistry. In 1976, she joined the faculty at UAMS as a professor of pediatrics and received board certification as a pediatric endocrinologist in 1978. Based on her studies of growth in children and the treatment of hormone-related illnesses, she has written more than 150 articles for medical research publications.

As a provider in many of the programs supported by the Public Health Service, Dr. Elders has hands-on experience as a physician in the public health clinic and at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. Before her appointment to the position of surgeon general, Dr. Elders was director of the Arkansas Department of Health.

Dr. Elders was elected president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers in August 1992. She has been active in civic affairs as a member of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Northside YMCA and Youth Homes. She was listed in "100 Outstanding Women in Arkansas, "Personalities of South" and "Distinguished Women in America." She has won awards such as the Arkansas Democrat's Woman of the Year, the National Governor's Association Distinguished Service Award, the American Medical Association's Dr. Nathan Davis Award, the Dr. Lee Humanitarian Award, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women's Candace Award for Health Science.

Dr. Elders has received honorary doctorate of medical degrees from Morehouse College, the University of Minnesota and Yale University and honorary doctorate degrees form Philander Smith College, Connecticut College, Hendrix College and LeMoyne Christian College.

She is married and has two sons, Eric and Kevin.