Statement: ANA Applauds Appointment of Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams as Acting U.S. Surgeon General

Contact:  

Veronica Byrd, 301-628-5057
veronica.byrd@ana.org     
David Allen, 301-628-5391
david.allen@ana.org

Silver Spring, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) applauds the appointment of Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, RN, FAAN, to the position of Acting U.S. Surgeon General.  Dr. Trent-Adams, a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, was appointed to this position on April 21, 2017.  Previously, she served as Deputy Surgeon General in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps.

“Throughout her career, Dr. Trent-Adams has been a champion for public health with a clear focus on improving access to care, particularly for poor and underserved communities,” said ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.  “As a nurse, she brings a unique set of perspectives and experiences to the public health arena.  We congratulate her and are pleased to continue to work with her in this new capacity as we pursue our mission to improve health for all Americans.”

Dr. Trent-Adams served as Chief Nurse Officer of USPHS from November 2013 through May 2016. In this role, she advised the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the recruitment, assignment, deployment, retention, and career development of Corps nurse professionals.  Prior to joining USPHS, she was a nurse officer in the U.S. Army.

Dr. Trent-Adams received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Hampton University, a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She became a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2014.