Indian-American Vivek Murthy was today administered the oath for the top post of US Surgeon General by Vice President Joe Biden at a ceremonial ceremony here, becoming the youngest-ever in charge of the country’s public health.

37-year-old Vivek Hallegere Murthy is now the highest ranking Indian-American in the Obama Administration.

To have the opportunity to serve as Surgeon General is an extraordinary honour and a profound responsibility, and I want to thank President Obama for entrusting me with the stewardship of this office.
–Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General

Murthy took the oath on the holy Gita.

“He is eminently qualified for the job,” Biden said on the occasion and described his family as an “incredible” family in particular his grandmother who was present on the occasion.

“I am who I am because of my grandmother’s faith, my father’s strength, my mother’s love, my sister’s support and my fiancée’s unyielding belief in me. I am blessed to have all of them here with me today. I will always be grateful to them for the sacrifices they have made,” he said, with his parents and family members seated in the audience.

The point is, we cannot effectively address the challenges before us until we treat health as a shared responsibility. That is why we have to build the great American community,” Murthy said.

Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the current Congress, was also present at the ceremonial event.

Having travelled across the country for the past several months, Murthy made several announcements in his policy speech.

“We will combat misinformation with clear communication. Whether e-cigarettes or the latest diet fad, marijuana or the measles, we will give the American people the best information so they can make good decisions for their own health,” he said.

“In a world in which a lie can spread around the planet at the speed of a keystroke, we will harness the power of new technologies so that the truth has a fighting chance. And if that means I get to team up with a furry little Muppet to tell parents to vaccinate their kids, then all the better!” he added.