C. Everett Koop

C. Everett Koop (October 14, 1916 – February 25, 2013) was an American pediatric surgeon and public health administrator. He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and served as the 13th Surgeon General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan from 1982 to 1989. Koop was known for his work to reduce tobacco use, AIDS, and abortion, and for his views on euthanasia.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

C. Everett Koop was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 14, 1916. He attended Dartmouth College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937. He then went on to study medicine at Cornell Medical College, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1941.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing his medical training, Koop worked as a surgeon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1946, he became the surgeon-in-chief at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. During his time there, he became a pioneer in the field of pediatric surgery, developing new procedures and techniques.

In 1982, Koop was appointed as the Surgeon General of the United States by President Ronald Reagan. During his tenure, he worked to bring attention to important public health issues. He was particularly known for his efforts to reduce tobacco use, and he played a key role in the development of the Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health, which has been credited with significantly reducing smoking rates in the United States.

Koop also made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of AIDS. He was one of the first public officials to recognize the severity of the AIDS epidemic, and he worked to promote AIDS education and prevention programs.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Koop's work as Surgeon General had a significant impact on public health in the United States. His efforts to reduce tobacco use and to address the AIDS epidemic have been widely recognized and praised. He is remembered as a dedicated public servant who used his position to improve the health and well-being of the American people.