Fresh Loaf

Jake Tapper of ABC News tweets that President Barack Obama today will name Dr. Regina Benjamin as surgeon general.

Benjamin, who’s the founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Bayou La Batre, Ala., isn’t as entrenched in Atlanta as local heartthrob Sanjay Gupta. (The CNN anchor and Atlanta-based neurosurgeon opted not to be considered for the post in March.) But she’s got a connection.

From Benjamin’s bio:

Regina Benjamin received a B.S. (1979) from Xavier University of Louisiana, attended Morehouse School of Medicine from 1980 to 1982, and received an M.D. (1984) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; she also holds an M.B.A. (1991) from Tulane University. She completed her residency in family practice at the Medical Center of Central Georgia (1987).

Finally, those liberal elitists are showing some love for Southerners! 

(Courtesy MacArthur Foundation)

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The Washington Post reports President-elect Barack Obama has asked CNN’s Sanjay Gupta to become the next surgeon general. Gupta, who does a commendable job performing heart surgeries neurosurgery (thanks, mom!) when he’s not practicing journalism, lives in Atlanta with his family.

From the Post:

Gupta has told administration officials that he wants the job, and the final vetting process is under way. He has asked for a few days to figure out the financial and logistical details of moving his family from Atlanta to Washington but is expected to accept the offer.

UPDATE: Rick Sanchez has been asked to accept the role of New Media Czar. Wolf Blitzer to become deputy undersecretary of beards! We just might get some Atlanta folk in this administration!

(Thanks to Andisheh for bringing this to my attention.)

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