Published on Apr 15, 2014 (history of Dr. Carmona)
17th US Surgeon General, Dr. Richard Carmona speaks to an audience of Herbalife sales leaders about his life, his passion for public health and the huge power of the Herbalife network.
Herbalife Chairman and CEO, Michael Johnson introduces Dr. Carmona and explains how they both share a belief in the power of good nutrition. Watch to find out more about Dr. Carmona's background and how he attained the position of United States Surgeon General because of his commitment to prevention as an effective means to improve public health and reduce health care costs while improving the quality and the quantity of life.
Prior to becoming an Herbalife board member, Dr. Carmona shared with Michael Johnson in conversation that what Herbalife is doing is what he wanted to do as the Surgeon General of the United States of America.
Dr. Carmona talks about the very real threat of obesity and unhealthy eating habits to public health at large, and how he believes the personal support offered by Herbalife distributors, either one on one or through nutrition clubs and other social settings, could be the key to addressing this issue. As Surgeon General of the U.S., he felt frustrated that he could not do more and that if he had known about the Herbalife network, he would have found a way to leverage it for the good of all.
Born to poor emigrant parents of Puerto Rican descent, Dr. Carmona dropped out of high school, and at 17, with no education and no job, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he had a very successful career in the Special Forces.
After leaving active duty service, Dr. Carmona studied at the University of California at San Francisco and received a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry and his M.D. with honors as the top graduate. He also received a master of public health degree from the University of Arizona.
Trained in general and vascular surgery, Dr. Carmona completed a National Institutes of Health-sponsored fellowship in trauma, burns, and critical care. The NIH is one of the world's foremost medical research centers.
He went on to become the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System, a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine at the University of Arizona, and the Pima County Sheriff's Department surgeon and deputy sheriff. In 2002, Dr. Carmona was nominated by the President and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to become the 17th Surgeon General of the United States. In 2006, Dr. Carmona successfully completed the statutory four-year term.
