Interim United States Surgeon General Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak was in Little Rock on Wednesday serving as the keynote speaker at the Low Income Advocates Leadership and Community Development Conference at the Doubletree Hotel.
Lushniak, who has been in office since July 17 after then-Surgeon General Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin departed the position, spoke to the crowd of about 200 about preventative healthcare and the measures individuals can take to ensure a healthy life.
During his visit, Lushniak participated in a "Surgeon General's Walk" — trekking the "Medical Mile" along the Arkansas River with a group of children from eSTEM Charter School as part of a promotion of a healthier lifestyle. Lushniak also met with state Surgeon General Dr. Joe Thompson to discuss ways to improve healthcare within the state.
Lushniak's visit was part of a two-day event titled “Bridging the Health Divide: Healthy Families, Sustainable Communities.” The event aims to bring together and assist advocates of low income work, according to a news release.
Officials such as former state and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. M. Jocelyn Elders were also scheduled to speak at the event.
Lushniak, who previously served as the assistant commissioner with the Food and Drug Administration and in several capacities with the Center for Disease Control, was named deputy surgeon general in 2006 before his interim promotion.
Read more about this story in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.