Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Are some people talented at (almost) everything?

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's medicine man, is being considered by president-elect Obama for Surgeon General.  

Dr. Gupta probably wouldn't be where he is, with a prominent spot on CNN, without being a good doctor.  But his position on CNN has something to do with his likeability -- his appearance and ability to communicate well on camera.  Are those qualities that we really value in a SG?  

He could just be a brilliant doctor and a great communicator.  One of my non-law student friends was asking me the other day about my peers in school.  I told him that they're extremely intelligent, and he asked if they also have interesting personalities.  Are they smart and the type of people you'd want at your party?  My answer was, generally, yes.  It's very intimidating, but my class (and the other classes at my school too, I'm sure) are both intelligent and well rounded.  They're the type of people you're jealous of in high school and college: football team captain, speak 3 languages, double major in chemical engineering and political science and a model on the side.  Seriously?  Ugh.  

Maybe Dr. Gupta is just one of those all-around talented people.  And that can't be a bad thing in a SG.  

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That would make him the sexiest surgeon general to hit the small screen since C. Everett Koop started selling those old people bracelets.

Guy Fawkes said...

I might be a bit of a dilettante, but I'd love to think that I aspire to be one of those genuine jack-of-all-trades guys once I get enough education, maturity, and experience. Dr. Gupta exemplifies these qualities to an impressive degree. Barack Obama does too, although I detest almost all politicians regardless of their public political views :P

Michael from dadcation.com said...

I like him. I met him on the tarmac in Kuwait City in spring 2003. I was carring mangled bodies off a C-130. He was hitching a ride and providing coverage of the war for CNN. Very sharp and friendly, even at 3am local time!

Kevin McKague said...

Sanjay and I both went to Novi (Michigan) High School, where I knew him to be the epitome of focused study and conscientious behavior. He also did a pretty good David Bowie impersonation.

I'm excited for my old friend, and hope he gets a seat at the table with Sec. of Health and Human Services Tom Daschle in the health care reform debate.

By the way, I'm looking forward to the release of your book.

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