Regina Marcia Benjamin (born October 26, 1956) is an American physician and a former vice admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps who served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States.

[1] Benjamin previously directed a nonprofit primary care medical clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and served on the board of trustees for the Morehouse School of Medicine.

degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed her residency in family medicine at the Medical Center of Central Georgia.

"[5] After entering solo medical practice in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, Benjamin worked for several years in emergency rooms and nursing homes to financially support its mission.

After receiving an MBA from the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, she converted her office to a rural health clinic.

In July 2016, Benjamin joined the Board of Directors of Darkness to Light,[13] a national nonprofit advocate for child sexual abuse prevention.

[14] On July 13, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the choice of Benjamin for the position of Surgeon General of the United States[15][16][17][18] and as a Medical Director in the regular corps of the Public Health Service.

[19] On October 7, 2009, Benjamin was unanimously approved by the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

[19] Benjamin accepted the Obama's nomination, and made clear her dissatisfaction with the current health care system, in terms of accessibility as well as cost.

"[21] In January 2010, Benjamin released her first document, entitled "The Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation."

In it, she highlighted the alarming trend of overweight and obese Americans, and offered a blueprint for grassroots efforts to make changes that promote the health and wellness of families and communities.

She was endorsed by Lloyd Dean, the president of Catholic Healthcare West, the largest hospital system in California, who issued a statement saying he was "delighted" by her nomination.

She was also featured on the December 1999 cover of Clarity Magazine and received the 2000 National Caring Award, which was inspired by Mother Teresa.

On May 28, 2011, she received an honorary degree of Doctorate of Humane Letters from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, after which she delivered the address for the school's 205th commencement.

On May 18, 2012, she received an honorary degree of Doctorate of Science from the University of Rochester Medical Center's School of Medicine and Dentistry.