Biography of the Deputy Surgeon General

RADM Boris D. Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H.

Deputy Surgeon General
U.S. Public Health Service

Rear Admiral Boris D. Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H RADM Boris D. Lushniak has been the Deputy Surgeon General since November 2010, assisting the US Surgeon General in articulating the best available scientific information to the public regarding ways to improve personal health and the health of the Nation. He also assists the Surgeon General in overseeing the operations of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps comprising of approximately 6,700 uniformed health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote, protect, and advance the health and safety of our nation.

RADM Lushniak was introduced to the USPHS in 1983 as a senior medical student when he completed an elective with the Indian Health Service in Winslow, Arizona. He began his USPHS career in 1988 as a Lieutenant, entering the service as part of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and initially was stationed with the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Cincinnati, Ohio where he conducted epidemiological investigations of workplace hazards. In 1990 he was accepted for CDC’s long term training program and completed a 3 year residency in dermatology at the University of Cincinnati after which he established an occupational skin disease program at NIOSH. During his time at CDC he also served on special assignments and disaster response activities in Bangladesh, St. Croix, Russia, and Kosovo, was part of the CDC/NIOSH team at Ground Zero (World Trade Center) and part of the CDC team investigating the anthrax attacks in Washington, DC. In 2004 he transitioned from CDC to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the Chief Medical Officer of the Office of Counterterrorism and was appointed FDA Assistant Commissioner in 2005. While at FDA he was deployed after Hurricane Katrina to serve as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) representative in San Antonio and also served as the FDA Deputy Incident Commander for the 2009 pandemic response. He was promoted to Rear Admiral, Lower Half in 2006 and attained the rank of Rear Admiral, Upper Half in 2010. In 2010 RADM Lushniak completed his tour with the FDA as the Assistant Commissioner, Counterterrorism Policy and Director of the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats within the Office of the Commissioner.

RADM Lushniak was born in Chicago to post-World War II immigrants from Ukraine. After completing studies at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago he was admitted to the six-year Honors Program in Medical Education at Northwestern University and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Sciences in 1981 and obtained his medical degree (MD) in 1983. In 1984 he completed the Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree at Harvard University. He completed a residency in family medicine in 1987 at St Joseph Hospital in Chicago and a residency in dermatology at the University of Cincinnati in 1993. RADM Lushniak maintains board certification in dermatology and preventive medicine (occupational). He served as a staff physician in dermatology at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and is adjunct professor of dermatology at the Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences.

RADM Lushniak served as the co-executive director of the USPHS Music Ensemble from 2006-2011 and is a member of many professional organizations including the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Dermatology, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Dermatological Association, the American Contact Dermatitis Society, the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), and the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America. He has received numerous USPHS awards including the Surgeon’s General Exemplary Service Medal, two Outstanding Service Medals, a Commendation Medal, and two Achievement Awards. In addition he has received the AMA Dr. William Beaumont Award in Medicine and the AMSUS Sustaining Member Lecture Award as well as DHHS Secretary and FDA Commissioner awards. He resides in Rockville, Maryland with his wife Dr. Patricia Cusumano and two daughters Larissa and Stephanie.