JEROME ADAMS, MD

As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member of the President’s Coronavirus task force, Dr. Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. As WISH-TV’s Medical Expert, Adams is skilled in not just the science, but also in communicating the science to the public and making it relevant to various audiences.

Adams earned degrees in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, a Medical degree from Indiana University, and a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley. He spent several years as a private practice anesthesiologist before being recruited back to Indiana University, where he spent nine years teaching medical students and residents and rising to the rank of Associate Professor.

Prior to becoming Surgeon General, Adams ran the Indiana State Department of Health and led Indiana’s response to Ebola, Zika, and HIV crises. During his tenure as Surgeon General, he issued advisories urging Americans to carry Naloxone, warning children and pregnant women about the dangers of vaping and marijuana use, and urging more focus on suicide prevention. He also served on the White House Coronavirus task force, urging Americans to take precautions to protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19, and to get vaccinated.

He is currently a Distinguished Professor and the Director of Health Equity Initiatives at Purdue University, and teaches clinical anesthesia at Eskenazi Health in downtown Indianapolis. Adams is a practicing anesthesiologist and an author.

Adams’ passion lies in raising awareness of and addressing social drivers of health. He want to help build communities where no one faces barriers to making healthy choices.