U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher Will Not Seek Reappointment

U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher said yesterday he will not seek reappointment after his four-year term ends in February, though he intends to "serve the remainder of my term in its entirety," the Associated Press reports. Satcher, whose "most prominent work" has involved disease prevention, mental health and AIDS campaigns, said he will consider "how I can best serve the nation" once he steps down and will use his status to promote increased medical research (Associated Press, 8/17). Some conservatives "wanted Satcher to resign" in June after he released a report "saying there's no evidence that teaching abstinence from sex works," the Associated Press reports. Satcher "has never expected" President Bush to appoint him to a second term, the Associated Press reports (Associated Press, 8/17).