President-elect Barack Obama has approached CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta to be the country’s next surgeon general. The Indian-American neurosurgeon has impressed the Obama transition team with the combination of Gupta’s past government experience, as a White House fellow and a special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General

More about Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Based in Atlanta, Dr. Sanjay Gupta contributes health news stories to CNN.com and CNNHealth.com, co-hosts “Accent Health” for Turner Private Networks, provides medical segments for the syndicated version of ER on TNT, writes a column for TIME magazine, anchors the global health program Vital Signs for CNN International and is featured in a weekly podcast on health issues called “Paging Dr. Gupta.”

In addition to his work for CNN, Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty of the department of neurosurgery at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and regularly performs surgery at Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital, where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery.

Gupta has been published in a variety of scientific journals and has received numerous accolades. His health reports swept all three health and medical awards in 2006 – the first year the National Headliner Awards honored such journalism in a dedicated category. Also in 2006, his report, “Sabrina’s Law,” earned him his first Clarion award, and “Charity Hospital,” his first Emmy®. He is also a contributor to 60 Minutes and the Evening News with Katie Couric on CBS.

In 2003, he was named one of PEOPLE magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” and a “pop culture icon” by USA Today. In 2004, the Atlanta Press Club named him “Journalist of the Year.” He has won the Humanitarian Award from the National Press Photographers Association, a GOLD Award from the National Health Care Communicators and the International Health and Medical Media award known as the “Freddie.” His first book, Chasing Life, was released in the spring of 2007 and became a national bestseller and was also the subject of a one-hour documentary of the same name on CNN.

A board-certified neurosurgeon, Gupta is a member of several organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Council of Foreign Relations. He serves as a diplomat of the American Board of Neurosurgery and is a certified medical investigator. Gupta is also a board member of the Lance Armstrong LiveStrong Foundation.

Gupta received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate of medicine from the University of Michigan Medical Center.