Antonia Novello | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commissioner of theNew York State Department of Health | |
| In office June 1999 – December 31, 2006 | |
| Governor | George Pataki |
| Preceded by | Dennis P. Whalen(Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Richard F. Daines |
| 14thSurgeon General of the United States | |
| In office March 9, 1990 – June 30, 1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | James Mason(Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Robert Whitney(Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1944-08-23)August 23, 1944 (age 81) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (BS) University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (MD) Johns Hopkins University (MPH) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Rank |  Vice admiral |
| Unit |  USPHS Commissioned Corps |
Antonia Nuvelio Novello (born August 23, 1944) is a Puerto Rican physician and public health administrator. She was avice admiral in thePublic Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as 14thSurgeon General of the United States from 1990 to 1993. Novello was the first woman and firstHispanic person to serve as Surgeon General. Novello also served asCommissioner of Health for the State of New York from 1999 to 2006. Novello has received numerous awards including more than fifty honorary degrees, was elected to theNational Academy of Medicine in 2000, and has been inducted into theNational Women's Hall of Fame.[1] Her memoir,Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service, was published in English and in Spanish in 2024.[2][3]
Antonia Novello, born on August 23, 1944, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was the older of two children; she also had a half-brother. After her divorce, her mother, Ana Delia Flores, remarried. Novello did not know her father. At birth, Novello was diagnosed withcongenital megacolon, a condition that required Novello to spend two weeks every summer in the hospital. Although Novello was told at eight years old that she should have surgery to correct her problem, it would take another ten years before such an operation would happen. Nevertheless, Novello managed to excel in her study to become a doctor. Her experience with that disease, left such an impact on her that she vowed to become a doctor so that "no other person is going to wait 18 years for surgery."[4]
At an early age, Novello's mother, a school teacher and later high school principal, stressed the importance of an education. Novello excelled in her education and graduated from high school at the age of 15.[5] She attended theUniversity of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. She went on to theUniversity of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan[5] where she received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1970. That same year, she married Joseph R. Novello and they both moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she continued her medical studies. Novello began a pediatric internship atUniversity of Michigan Medical School. She became the first woman to receive the "University of Michigan Pediatrics Department Intern of the Year" award.[6] In 1973, Novello and her husband moved to Washington D.C. to begin her residency in pediatric nephrology atGeorgetown University School of Medicine Hospital until 1976.[6] She earned her Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 1982 and her Doctorate in Public Health also from Johns Hopkins in 2000.
In 1976, Novello opened her own private practice in Springfield, Virginia, where she worked as a pediatrician. However, she soon realized that she lacked adequate emotional detachment for her work so she terminated her practice. Novello stated in an interview, "When the pediatrician cries as much as the parents do, then you know it's time to get out."[6]
In 1979, Novello joined thePublic Health Service and received a commission in thePublic Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). Her first assignment was as a project officer at the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases of theNational Institutes of Health (NIH).[7] From 1976, she also held a clinical appointment in pediatrics atGeorgetown University School of Medicine. During her years at NIH, Novello worked on an MPH degree from theJohns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, receiving the degree in 1982.[8]
Novello held various positions at NIH before being appointed toAssistant Surgeon General grade in the PHSCC[citation needed] and assignment as the deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in 1986. She also served as Coordinator forAIDS Research for NICHD from September 1987.[8] In this role, she developed a particular interest in pediatricAIDS, which caught the attention of theWhite House.[7]
Novello made major contributions to the drafting and enactment of the Organ Transplantation Procurement Act of 1984 while assigned to theUnited States Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, working with the staff of committee chairmanOrrin Hatch.[8]
Novello was appointed Surgeon General by PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush, beginning her tenure on March 9, 1990, and was appointed to the temporary rank ofvice admiral in the regular corps while the Surgeon General. She was the first woman and the firstHispanic to hold the position.
During her tenure as Surgeon General, Novello focused her attention on the health of women, children and minorities, as well as on underage drinking,smoking, and AIDS. She played an important role in launching the Healthy Children Ready to Learn Initiative.[7] She was actively involved in working with other organizations to promoteimmunization of children and childhood injury prevention efforts. She spoke out often and forcefully about illegal underage drinking, and called upon theUnited States Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General to issue a series of reports on the subject.
Novello also worked to discourage illegal tobacco use by young people, and repeatedly criticized the tobacco industry for appealing to the youth market through the use of cartoon characters such asJoe Camel.[8] A workshop that she convened led to the emergence of a National Hispanic/Latino Health Initiative.
Novello was controversial amongabortion rights advocates due to her support of a policy prohibiting family planning program workers who received federal financing from discussingabortion with their patients.[9]
Novello left the post of Surgeon General on June 30, 1993, with the administration of PresidentBill Clinton praising her for her "vigor and talent."[9]
After leaving the position of Surgeon General, Novello remained in the regular corps of the Public Health Service. She was assigned to theUnited Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as Special Representative for Health and Nutrition from 1993 to 1996 reverting to her permanenttwo-star rank ofrear admiral. In 1996, she became visiting professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. She retired from the Public Health Service and the PHSCC shortly after with the grade of vice admiral.
In 1999,Governor of New YorkGeorge Pataki appointed Novello as Commissioner of theNew York State Department of Health. She served until 2006.
From 2008 to 2014, Novello was vice president of Women and Children Health and Policy Affairs at Disney Children's Hospital at Florida Hospital inOrlando,Florida.[10]
On June 26, 2009, in a plea deal with prosecutors, Novello pleaded guilty to one felony count of filing a false instrument involving a worker's duties.[11] Her guilty plea was accepted by the court on August 13, 2009.[12] She was sentenced to pay $22,500 in restitution, a $5,000 fine, and spend 250 hours doing community service at a medical clinic for uninsured patients. Outside the court immediately after the sentencing, her lawyer called the crime an "administrative processing offense – nothing else."[13] On March 31, 2022, by order of the Albany County Court, Judge Roger D. McDonough, the records were sealed.[14]
As of December 31, 2014, Novello retired from her position as an executive director of public health policy at Florida Hospital - Orlando.[15]
Selected awards and honors include:
Public Health Service Commendation Medal, 1983
Public Health Service Citation Medal, 1984
Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon, 1987
Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal, 1988
Public Health Service Unit Commendation, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994
Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal, 1989
Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation, 1989
Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal, 1990
Public Health Service National Emergency Preparedness Award, 1990
Public Health Service Foreign Duty Award, 1990
United States Coast GuardMeritorious Service Medal, 1992
Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal, 1992
Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service, 2018
Commissioned Officers Association Ribbon
Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Ribbon
Reserve Officers Association Ribbon
Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, 1993
Order of Military Medical Merit
Puerto Rico Merit Cross 2023
Surgeon General Badge
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services BadgeNovello has been awarded more than 50 honorary doctorates.
Novello was married to formerUS Navy flight surgeon and psychiatrist, Joseph R. Novello.[17] She was the sister-in-law ofSaturday Night Live alumnusDon Novello, creator of the character personaFather Guido Sarducci.
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| Preceded by | Surgeon General of the United States 1990–1993 | Succeeded by |
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